OUT AND ABOUT

[gilberthenry]

There was a 47 Packard that used to attend the concourse events held at Lilydale in the late seventies. All midnight blue and absolutely magnificent. In 48 they lowered the grille height by about half, and totally ruined the dignity of the whole car.

Hello Gerry, yes as you can see by my post just up from here the 1948 Packard is a strange looking beast as you alluded to.

CLUNES TRUCK SHOW 10Th March 2024

MOOMBA PARADE CANCELLED !!! Having lived the bulk of my life in Queensland these words don’t resonate with me as they might to the true blue Melbournian. Yes, it is hot.
Yesterday we left home in our 1929 Chrysler to head for the old gold town of Clunes where the Annual Truck & Vehicle Show is held. At between 7 and 8am it was a delight to be driving through the beautiful farming country of this region. We were hoping to see a Citroen DS which was to call in on its way to Tasmania.
Brother Michael turned up not long after us from Castlemaine in his 1950 Cyclops Rover as we were setting up our display. We were glad this event wasn’t cancelled because of the hot weather but didn’t expect a big turnout.
The mostly dry heat doesn’t bother me as does the often sauna conditions experienced in Queensland.
Surprisingly there was a decent lot of cars along with the many trucks and some buses on display. Our wind-up gramophone and trinkets of the past gave joy to many as they reminisced of days gone by. Close by in a shed the owner of a red Mark VII Jaguar showed us a two tone green Mark VIII Jaguar for sale at $10,000. The engine ticked over nicely which was fun to hear as these engines were the life blood of the XK120’s, 140’s and 150’s. It needed finishing off with upholstery and dash work which I suppose the young crowd would rather put in to an old Holden EK or more excitedly, a Monaro. To ask the youth of today to become excited about a Traction or DS is probably pushing it as much as this grand old car.

The journey home was without drama although a few steep long hills might have told a different story. The Hot day might not have helped to bring the DS to Clunes or it might be still travelling the highways from Queensland as I write this.

The Saturday a week before saw us travelling to the Ballan swap meet in our 1955 Light fifteen. I picked up some old blinker parts which allowed me to finish a project of replacing the 1970’s versions that were still on the car. Some after market blinkers get away with it but some do not.

For everyday transport the ’68 Safari and ID19 have been going well along with the Big six. We were out to a market in Kyneton for some olive oil and on the way home, in our 1954 Sunbeam Alpine, came across about 20 pre 1953 Indian motorbikes which again was good fun.

John

 

[gilberthenry]

Michael informed me that William has arrived in Victoria in his early 60's ID19. He is a friend of the person in the later DS who might have come to the Truck show.
So the Citroens are coming from far and wide - - heading for Tasmania.

Oh yes, that IS A LILO next to the traction in the last pic in the last post - - - picked up at the swap for $2 - - -
Ocean Grove here we come !!! - - - - even with grab handles & fins ! I reckon this could be a good addition to a display with the Safari one day.

Just had to put in these pics of the Indian bikes at Trentham last Saturday.

John

PS :- Michael tells me that he often started the Traction using the crank handle - - just for fun. I'll have to try it.

 

[gilberthenry]

MALDON SWAP 17th Mar. 2024

Off reasonably early to the Maldon swap. The weather was good as we parked our 1968 ID21F Safari amongst the other old cars in the specially reserved section.
We sell, or try to sell, old electrical parts through our website “authenticlightingandhardware” so we are always on the lookout. Many of these things are becoming thin on the ground but it is still fun to have a focus when going to these events all over the country.

On the way home we stopped in at Maldon for a cuppa so it was a great day. As we all know the different models of the DS range attract the public like - - honey to a bee.

John

 

[gilberthenry]

MORTLAKE FEDERATION PICNIC 24th March 2024

Mortlake has this annual car show in March which has a good country atmosphere. Cars mainly come from the Colac-Camperdown, Ballarat, Warnambool and Hamilton regions even with some coming from Geelong and Melbourne.
So that we didn’t have the long drive early in the morning we decided to go on the Saturday and stay there the night ready for the next day.
We called into Clunes for the annual book fair arriving there about 9.15am and picking up the odd bargain. The rest of the drive to Mortlake was taken up by stopping at the odd second hand shop and enjoying the Western District country side. As we were having some lunch and some tea from a thermos which we had packed we witnessed some vintage car enthusiasts pull over to check the load of a veteran car they were pulling on a trailer which would be unloaded at the event the next day. In convoy with them was a 1948 Dodge in beautiful condition. On the next day there was a similar Dodge to this one in very original condition but black. It had been a taxi and you could imagine it in the day with passengers getting in - - and out.
And so we stayed at the Mt Shadwell Hotel that night having quite a decent pub meal before retiring.
Arriving early next morning in our 1968 Citroen Safari we unpacked and cobbled up a bit of a display. We focused on picnic tables etc of the era for a bit of fun. Not long after Roy and Esther sidled up beside us in a great looking Dyane. They actually won a prize for this “crazy looking car”.
Needless to say it was a great day with music from a wonderful band as a back drop.
It was interesting to see an inline 4 cylinder Indian Bike parked next to a similar Indian Chief of similar vintage - - - both coming from Warnanbool.

John

 

[Robbo Renno]

Great report.

 

[gilberthenry]

Easter Monday 1st April, 2024

On Easter Monday a few of us were off to see the Easter Parade in the historic town of Maldon situated in the central Goldfields of Victoria.
The Castlemaine Car Club was given an area at the top of town called the Beehive Reserve to display some cars so we were eager to be part of the celebrations.
Janet and I went for tea and cake at a little café on the opposite side to Le Sel (its doors now closed forever) before the parade was to start and loved looking across to the beautiful old buildings for which Maldon is famous.
The street parade was simply wonderful, the locals putting in an energy and vibrancy which showed in the quality of the floats and rolling exhibits. There was the Maldon Brass Band, Scottish bagpipe band, penny farthing bicycles, Brendon Baker’s wonderful steam engine chugging up the main street, a horse-drawn wagon from nearby Sandy Creek Clydesdales, and a Chinese dragon display. Also in the parade were a good turnout of old cars including a 2CV van and a beautiful DS.
Afterwards we strolled down to the Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum to look at some wonderful displays in Adam Torey’s shed complex before heading for home.
Apart from our 1955 Light 15 some cars were - - a lovely 1938 Austin Seven Ruby, a 1928 Chevrolet and brothers’ Michael and Hans came in a 1924 Hupmobile and a late 50’s Humber Hawk.

John & Janet.

PS :- Brother Michael received a call from friend, William Hastie who had just returned home to Brisbane from the Tasmanian Citroen Cit-In. He had a great time driving his Australian assembled 1962 ID19.

 

[gilberthenry]

GUILDFORD CAR SHOW 7th April 2024

This last Sunday we took our 1928 Packard “Cabriolet” to the Guildford car show and spotted Ken’s beautiful green 1922 Citroen B2. Ken’s health is not great so he has decided to sell this car. He’s only just come back from the Tasmanian Cit-In where he took the car.
Michael came in his yellow 1923 B2 so it was fun to have two of these rare cars at an event.
Michael also has the black 1923 B2 tourer and an un-finished B2 van so he is becoming a bit of an expert on this model as he often drives them around Castlemaine.

I have listed Ken’s car in the CARS FOR SALE COLUMN.

John

 

[gilberthenry]

MUCKLEFORD MACHINERY Apr. 2024

Having a day out we went to the Maldon market this last Sunday 14th April picking up some treats to have later in the day.
After, we stopped at the Maldon footy field where there were a few old cars.
We were in our 1968 ID19b and brother Michael in his 1923 B2 tourer. We then made our way to Muckleford where there was a machinery event over the weekend next to the station. Catching up with friends in this setting was good fun.
Then, off to Castlemaine through the back roads.
Seeing the B2 travelling these country roads at such a speed is a credit to Michael who has got this car running beautifully.

A great day, John