A CAR buff's crusade to return a rare Kidderminster-made vintage vehicle to the area is on the right track.

The County Museum, Hartlebury, has raised £15,000 to buy one of the two remaining Castle Three cars.

Now Robert Barber hopes district businesses will help reach the £20,000 target needed to buy the vehicle from a private owner.

And to further his cause he is staging an exhibition of the Castle Motor Company at the museum from Saturday. one of the Castle Motor workshops run by Lewis and Baggot. On the left, wearing a cap, is Jack Baggot and on the far right is Bill Lewis.

Mr Barber, who traced the story of the car in his book on the history of Kidderminster in the 19th and 20th centuries, said: "I am hoping the exhibition will spark further interest in our campaign.

"The Castle Motor Company was a major company in the town and I'm sure many people will remember their parents or grandparents working there, so hopefully we will have a good turn-out."

The Castle Three Motor, produced by the motor manufacturing company founded in Green Street in 1907, was a victim of its own success.

The rare three-wheeler caused a sensation at the 1919 Olympia Motor Show and the company received more than 3,000 orders.

However, it could not keep up with demand.

The engine suppliers could only supply a few units and with car giant Ford threatening writs over infringement of their patented drive mechanism, delays resulted and interest waned.

Eventually, 350 cars were produced but the advent of the Austin Seven in 1922 saw off a host of small manufacturers including the Castle Three. Charlie Knight who restored the Castle Three motor, in the car Hartlebury Museum aims to buy.

The Castle Motor Company, which was the official repairer for the AA and RAC and deemed to have the finest equipped garage in the Midlands, was doomed when carpet baron Sir Herbert Smith bought the firm and turned the premises into a carpet factory.

Mr Barber's exhibition includes various photographs of the site, workshops, workers and cars giving a rare insight into Kidderminster's vehicle past.

He said: "If the company had gone into car production, there is a distinct possibility it would still be in business today producing bodies for vehicles such as fire engines and ambulances.

"It is ironic they produced such a worthy product and received far more orders than they imagined possible, only to fail."

The exhibition runs until October 1.