A fabulous race prepped 1930s Bugatti Royale had been unearthed in Estonia in 1986. For forty-five years it quietly sat secretly sequestered in a barn on the farm of Mihkel Oja’s just deceased father Jaak Oja. It’s discovery has inspired the grieving Oja retinue from America to devise a wild scheme to smuggle the car out of Estonia. Because they envisioned an independent Estonia in the not too distant future, their intention called for selling the Bugatti in the west to fund an Estonian technical trades academy. It would serve as a magnificent memorial to honor the patriotism of Mihkel’s deceased parents. At the same time sneaking this “Mona Lisa” of vintage cars out from under the repressive Estonian communist government’s nose would serve to celebrate Jaak Oja’s antipathy to Estonia’s communist regime.

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 17- The Best Laid Plans)

ESTONIA 1986

All men selected by Valentina to bring the Bugatti plan to life, called themselves the “Forest Brothers.” The name would honor the roughly thirty thousand native Estonian men who in WWII chose not to submit to the Germans nor subsequently the Russians. These thousands of men instead armed themselves and melted into the dense Estonian forests. From then on, these Forest Brothers conducted a brutal guerilla war against first the Nazis, then the Soviet occupying forces. They continued to fight for years even after the end of the War.

WWII Forest Brothers

Viktor Karmään joined by loyal extended Oja family members Roman, Andrus, Peeter, Aleksander, Margus and Madis formed the core of the new Forest Brothers. In the suppressed but patriotic native Estonian culture the sacrifices of those who came before were held in the highest esteem. Unspoken but understood, these new Forest Brothers, like their WWII namesakes, would give their lives rather than betray a comrade. Not alone, the Forest Brothers had the support of women from the extended Oja family; all no less dedicated than their brethren. Olga, Katrin, Marina, Helen and Elena would call themselves the Forest Sisters. Together as a clandestine assemblage of righteous co-conspirators, they formed a resourceful and fearless ad hoc network dedicated to a single purpose. They would make Mihkel Oja’s plan a reality. Consisting of craftsmen, local police, dock supervisors, port administrators, town officials, loggers, […]

The passing of Jaak and Ann Oja, Mihkel’s parents, triggered a domino effect of unforeseen events including the discovery of a priceless Bugatti Royale unknown to the world and hidden for almost 50 Years on the Oja family farm in Estonia. This whirlwind of death and discoveries blurred Mihkel’s daily life turning it into a vivid jumble of lives past, present with a future tracking towards a very dangerous tomorrow. With the backing of a supportive team of family members, Mihkel had decided to surreptitiously spirit the unique Bugatti out from behind its Iron Curtain captivity. Meanwhile, over 1000 miles away fate stood poised to unleash the obsessive desire of a second suitor.

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 16- Bugatti Royale Resurrection)

ESTONIA 1986

Like a soothing balm to relieve the pain of his parents’ death, the idea of absconding with the Bugatti brought peace to Mihkel’s otherwise anguished mind. Successfully bringing this ultimate barn find to market in the west could fund the Estonian technical school that would honor his parents. Mihkel understood the odds did not favor success. His team possessed a very limited time window in which to carry out this crazy gambit. The schedule for Valentina’s Estonian folk dance tour would soon draw to a close. Mihkel with his cover as part of John Taylor’s research team enjoyed a bit more flexibility, but not that much. Dawdling had no place in executing the plan. Mihkel felt evermore uneasy courtesy of the tightening grip of a dwindling time line that threatened to thwart any escape. While Mihkel had gambled his life against the odds before, now he had included his loved ones in the dangerous game all would be playing.

With the basic plan set and Mihkel at the helm, each member went into action. Valentina immediately plunged into mobilizing the trustworthy support team needed to translate the plan into reality. She drew only from the close knit but expansive ranks of trusted Oja family members. She deftly allocated Mihkel’s stash of American hard cash. Highly prized American greenbacks would play a critical role in greasing the, at times ill fitting, moving parts of the team’s rough-hewn plan. The team’s intended actions functioned far past any grey area

Estonian Communist Party First Secretary, Karl Vaino (left) […]

After forty-seven years Mihkel’s life had come full circle. He had surreptitiously returned to his Soviet occupied Estonian homeland. His mother’s death had abruptly and painfully tore open an aching void, long repressed, that had been gouged out by his separation from his parents. He felt compelled to return home to reunite with his elderly and, now, widowed father; Soviets be damned. He knew precious little time had remained for him to do so. Upon Mihkel’s return home his father would pass on a long held secret as his time ran out.

Unknowingly, Mihkel’s return would create a calamitous collision of men and machine set in motion decades earlier at the start of WWII.

In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 15- The Ultimate Barn Find)

ESTONIA 1986

With his strong and weathered hands clutching his favorite photo of Ann to his chest, Jaak Oja’s last wish had been granted. He had passed in his sleep. Adorned with a gentle smile, Jaak’s last expression in life spoke to the peace experienced as he reunited with his beloved Ann. Mihkel cried. He cried for the loss of his father. He cried for the loss of his mother. He cried for the lost years apart from his parents, family and homeland. He cried for the loss of comrades in arms. He cried for the loss of his country to tyranny. He cried the tears that had been stored for half a century behind a dam of stoic determination to survive no matter the pain or hardship.

The loss of Ann and then Jaak Oja served up a brutal one two punch for the loyal and large Oja family in Estonia. The emotional gathering of the grieving Oja kin served to bring Jaak’s son Mihkel and grandson Jack close to the bosom and deep into the heart of the close knit, patriotic and loving Oja clan.

Amidst the tears they allowed themselves to laugh. One topic that generated great laughter and pride at beating the system centered around the packages of rags sent to Jaak and Ann Oja from America. These rags mixed in with other low value items usually made it past the Soviet customs agents. Inspectors accustomed to stealing the good stuff viewed the contents unworthy of pilfering. However, these rags included left or right pant legs of American blue jeans. The […]