As a nonagenarian and a local historian of respected repute, there isn’t much Stan Gratte hasn’t seen already or doesn’t know about.

Which makes the surprise sentimental present his family gifted him for his 96th birthday late last month — which left him overwhelmed and speechless — all the more remarkable.

In Mr Gratte’s family, there is an old FC Holden that was purchased new from Young Motors in 1958 by his mother, Ethel, with money left to her by her brother.

At the time, Ethel Gratte didn’t know how to drive, so at the age of 58 she began learning in that car, and since then the vehicle has remained in the family.

Through the years, the car was passed around from cousin to cousin, but eventually wound up sitting in the garage at Mr Gratte’s old poultry farm for about 40 years. Plans to restore the car kept getting pushed back.

However, over the past four months, Mr Gratte’s son Murray and grandson Thomas took on the hard work of restoring the old gem to its original condition.

Thomas Gratte is a motor mechanic and owns a business in Geraldton. The 26-year-old spent most of his weekends over the last four months working long days with his dad on the project.

Murray Gratte was inspired to fix up the old car as “a few years ago, dad couldn’t drive his car because of his mobility issues . . . he can’t get into it now, so we restored this one with the hope that he’d be able to drive that.

“Dad said it was his best birthday yet.”

On June 27, the whole family gathered at the old poultry farm to celebrate his 96th birthday two days earlier on June 25.

After a family lunch, Mr Gratte was surprised with the keys to the restored 1958 FC Holden.

Mr Gratte, a car connoisseur who still holds his licence at age 96, immediately took the keys and got into the front seat.

Hands on the wheel and the car filled with his wife and three children, Mr Gratte drove the car around the property. “I hadn’t forgotten how to drive it. I must have driven a million miles in cars like that,” he said.

The great-grandfather was aware the car was being restored but imagined the process would take a lot longer and did not know it was going to be a birthday gift.

He loved the seats of his mother’s old car, and drove through the property with a big grin on his face. Mr Gratte said the gift has added more to his life.

Last year Mr Gratte was gifted a miniature model of the 1958 FC Holden, which he treats like a prized possession. This year, he received the real deal.

With no seat belts, the car may need a few more modifications until it is deemed roadworthy and able to be driven around town, but Mr Gratte said, “That’s probably the nicest birthday present ever, and I’ve had a very interesting life.”

Born in Northam in 1930, Mr Gratte’s family relocated to Geraldton in 1935. He attended Geraldton Primary School and Geraldton Senior High School and worked a plethora of jobs, from a photographer with Gilda Studios, a salesman of radios and bicycles at Youngs Motors and a kangaroo and goat shooter, before being employed as WA’s youngest railway driver at age 23.

Mr Gratte got married in 1954 to his forever partner Joy. They have three children, seven grandchildren — and at last count, 14 great-grandchildren.

After he left the railways, Mr Gratte expanded his poultry business, where he became known as the “Chook Doctor” with around 6000 chickens on his farm.

He believed the secret to his long life was his wife of 72 years, Joy, who keeps him company.

“We make the perfect team,” Mr Gratte said.

Mr Gratte is a well-known identity in Geraldton, recognised for his efforts in preserving and promoting the history of the region.

Living in Geraldton for the majority of his life, Mr Gratte said he was a lucky man.

“It’s the best town in the world; what more could you want?”