Barry Collett has a good understanding of the saying, ‘Happy wife, happy life’.
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The British car enthusiast from Wandong is the owner of a highly desirable Austin-Healey 3000, but his wife, Margaret, is less enthusiastic about the breezy, open-top sports car. Mr Collett needed to remedy the situation if he was to continue enjoying his recreational motoring.
“My wife absolutely hates the Austin-Healey 3000, so I went looking for something with a ‘lid’ on it,” he explained.
Finding E-type Jaguars too common and Aston Martins too expensive, Mr Collett settled on a 1960 Jensen 541R saloon.
The car is sure to catch the eye of people attending the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show 'n Shine in Bendigo later this month. The event will celebrate the formation of VACC in Bendigo in September 1918 and Mr Collett’s Jensen will be one of the stars of the show.
According to Mr Collett, the Jensen feels quite modern to drive, even over long distances. “I’d go as far as to say it is one of the world’s great motor cars that has stayed under the radar,” he said.
Most importantly, Mrs Collett also approves of the car. “We can jump into it and she doesn’t get her hair ruffled, so it works quite well,” said Mr Collett.
Little is known about the Jensen’s history; however, the car has spent much of its time crossing the world’s oceans in a shipping container.
“I bought it from a chap in Adelaide who picked it up in America and took it back to England for 18 months. When he returned to Adelaide he brought the car with him,” said Mr Collett. “Apparently, a few Jensens found their way to America via US servicemen who were stationed in Germany and stumbled upon them in England.”
As a retired motor repair professional, Mr Collett is well qualified to personally maintain the car.
“I have done 45,000-odd miles and it has never missed a beat. I’ve taken it to South Australia and up through the Flinders Ranges and toured Broken Hill and Silverton. We also did three laps of Tasmania about seven years ago,” 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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