The owner-driver seen above is the unmistakable Fernando Palma, long-time fan of this site and R4 lover. Here for the first time in autumn 2007 he presents his ultimate masterpiece. Probably tired of living in the shadow of his friend João Seabra's magnificent Naranja Mecânica restoration of 2003 (see #PP118 for the first of many sets showing that glorious spectacle), Fernando has now responded with a restoration project of his own.

His girlfriend calls the car 'Maria', after the letters 'MR' on the number plate (a tradition I think just may have been copied from myself!), and Fernando comments that he thinks the car is female, but very 'Mary-Boy', by which I assume he means 'Tom-Boy'!

Here the car is pictured with João's Clockwork Orange.

The car has been repainted in this very traditional shade of powder blue (Bleu Île de France 412 to be precise), in fitting with many of the early model R4s from the 1960s.

More photos of the car have since been added at number PP251 in this section, a couple of stops up the cyber-highway from here. You can find an additional pic gracing the Star Car page of this Gallery (number SC30).

Hundreds of photos from before, during and after the restoration project were posted on the following forum:
http://forum.motorclassico.pt/showthread.php?t=530