Maybelle was first registered as REA 232 on 21st June 1957, when supplied by Colemore Depot of Roebuck Lane, West Bromwich to Mrs. Dorothy Marshall, of Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, who had already reached the age of 70.

Due to advancing years, Mrs. Marshall ceased driving and the vehicle was transferred in the late summer of 1972, with approximately 30,000 miles recorded, to Guy Hughes of Lichfield. Having recently passed his driving test, it was purchased as his first car. Guy drove, and maintained the car until May 1976, from which time it was driven by his father, although still owned by Guy, until August 1992, at which time it was re-registered under its current registration mark; the original registration mark having been transferred by Mr. Hughes to a new vehicle, wishing to retain the number for sentimental reasons.

The car was M.O.T.'d and garaged until being sold, reluctantly due to constraints of space etc., to the current owner, Andrew Bywater, a work colleague of Mr. Hughes Jnr., on the 27th June, 1993, at which time the M.O.T. certificate was still valid. Consequently the car was still in a fit condition to be driven the five miles back to its new home near Cannock. The recorded mileage at this time was 91886, still on the original engine.

The car has since been fitted with a larger 1098 cc engine and gearbox. The brakes have also been changed to 8-inch front drums to cope with the extra power! The semaphore indicators have been immobilised in favour of the later flashers which are safer in today's modern traffic.

Contact Andrew & Judith Bywater, e-mail mirabelle@mirabelle.freeserve.co.uk telephone 01543 278474