AS A QANTAS pilot, Peter Miller is used to operating modern, sophisticated machinery, but since retiring nine years ago he’s found more time to pursue one of his other great passions, vintage cars.
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Mr Miller, of New Gisborne, is the proud owner of a rare 1925 Alvis 12/50 roadster and is looking forward to participating in the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine in Bendigo later this month. The event celebrates the VACC formation in Bendigo in September 1918.
“I’ve owned Alvis cars for quite some time but the 12/50 is legendary, it’s just an absolutely fabulous motor car and I’ve always wanted one. They are very hard to find so when it came on the market I didn’t hesitate,” said Mr Miller.
Built in England, the 12/50 was shipped to Melbourne in 1925 as a chassis-only vehicle, then fitted with a sports tourer body which was discarded when it became a race car. In the ’90s the Alvis was sold to a new owner in Queensland who converted it back to a road going sports car, adding a newly crafted ‘duck back’ body to the chassis. It was then sold to a Tasmanian enthusiast, who sold it to Mr Miller two years ago.
“It’s unusual for a sports car like this to be an Australian motor car from new,” said Mr Miller.
The car has been quite reliable in that time, requiring only routine maintenance but recently a crack was discovered in the engine’s cylinder head. Despite the car’s age and rarity, Mr Miller had no problem finding a replacement head.
“I just phoned a contact in England and he put one in the post. It was pretty simple, really. Funnily enough, the replacement head I’m putting on initially came from a Melbourne car. It was sent over to England and I brought it back,” he said.
Mr Miller takes the car out for a run every few weeks and has added nearly 10,000km during his period of ownership. “For a 94-year-old-car, that’s not bad,” he said.
You can see the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine from 12pm-4pm on Saturday 22 September in the Bendigo Town Hall precinct.
The free event will showcase up to 200 cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and motorcycles while the VACC Centennial Cavalcade will feature 100 different vehicles from 100 different years, driving from Melbourne to Bendigo. For details see vacc.com.au
Camping enthusiast to drive distinctive motorhome
NO MATTER where Alan Stevens travels, it always feels like home.
That’s because the camping enthusiast from Eaglehawk has an impressive collection of vintage camping vehicles, but none more distinctive than his 1952 Austin Loadmaster motorhome.
The vehicle is certain to catch the crowd’s attention when it appears at the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ‘n Shine in Bendigo later this month, an event that will celebrate the formation of VACC in Bendigo in September 1918.
Vintage work vehicles to make the Calder cavalcade
George Dawson has been surrounded by commercial vehicles all his life.
The Bendigo resident obtained his first truck in 1950, running it twice weekly between Raywood and Bendigo as a general carrier. Three years later, Mr Dawson and his father successfully tendered for a school bus contract at Raywood.
With help from retired panel beater Ian Rye, Mr Dawson has lovingly restored two vehicles to participate in the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine in Bendigo later this month.
‘Legendary’ Alvis 12/50 roadster to go on show for cavalcade
AS A QANTAS pilot, Peter Miller is used to operating modern, sophisticated machinery, but since retiring nine years ago he’s found more time to pursue one of his other great passions, vintage cars.
Mr Miller, of New Gisborne, is the proud owner of a rare 1925 Alvis 12/50 roadster and is looking forward to participating in the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine.
“I’ve owned Alvis cars for quite some time but the 12/50 is legendary, it’s just an absolutely fabulous motor car and I’ve always wanted one. They are very hard to find so when it came on the market I didn’t hesitate,” he said.
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