A RARE vintage car saved the life of its owner after a drive through the Forest ended in disaster.

Lawrence Blewer (31) was on his way to Breamore House, near Fordingbridge, with his girlfriend in his 1934 Austin 10 when he was struck by a car.

The next thing he remembers is waking up at Salisbury District Hospital the following day.

Mr Blewer, of Strathmore Road, Bournemouth, is a member of the Three Counties Classic and Vintage Car Club and was taking part in a rally to celebrate the 70th birthday of his car.

He set out from Hamworthy, in Wimborne, and was travelling along the B3078 from Fordingbridge to Godshill when the accident happened.

About 1.30pm on Sunday, May 23, he realised he had missed his turning on the rally route and decided to pull in to Black Gutter car park to turn round.

"We had actually missed the turning we were meant to be on," remembers Mr Blewer.

"So I should not really have been there at all."

As he made the right turn, a car overtaking a queue of traffic smashed into the right-hand side of his car.

The back of the vintage car flew off through the air, the driver's side running boards broke and the steering wheel came off in Mr Blewer's hands, leaving a sharp spike sticking up, which missed piercing his body by inches.

He was taken to hospital suffering from head injuries.

His girlfriend, Vicky Gerry, of Layton Road, Poole, was treated for shock.

Mr Blewer received a whiplash injury and bruising to his shoulders and had to have plastic surgery on his ear.

The blue and black Austin 10, a Colwyn cabriolet nicknamed Bluebell, is still waiting to be assessed by insurers.

"Bluebell is dead," said Mr Blewer - but he realises he is lucky to be alive and believes the well-made car probably saved his life.

The car was manufactured at Longbridge, in Birming-ham, and was one of only 25 left in existence.

PC Tony Hatcher, of Fordingbridge Police, was at the scene of the accident and described it as "a major impact".

He said: "Bearing in mind how few safety features would have been built into that car at the time, they are very lucky not to have had more serious injuries.

"Safety was just not a consideration then.

"The car does not even have seatbelts.

"When these cars were built, you would be lucky if you saw another car on the road."

The Austin was hit by a Toyota Corina, driven by an Alderholt man.

Police are still investigating the incident.