IN 2005 Jim Andreadis flew to America to buy a race-track tuned muscle car and came home with an enormous luxury vehicle he says handles like a wheelbarrow full of wet cement.
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Mr Andreadis is participating in the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine in Bendigo later this month. The event celebrates VACC’s formation in Bendigo in September 1918.
Mr Andreadis, from Kialla, aimed to buy a 1969 Boss Mustang in 2005 but was thwarted when the car sold at auction for twice the advertised estimate. Admitting he was caught up in the hype of the glamourous Florida auction event, Mr Andreadis then became enamoured with a 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire sedan.
“This beautiful, sleek, black car was driven over the stage, I had no idea what it was, but I thought, ‘This looks alright’ and I bid for it. When the auction stopped, and it was knocked down to me I thought, ‘Holy moly, what do I do now?’,” Mr Andreadis said.
“I said to the auctioneers, ‘I’ve made a mistake. Can you sell it to the underbidders or someone else? I’m happy to take a loss and pay another commission’, but they didn’t do anything about it, so I transported the car to Australia.”
However, the former owner of Shepparton’s SPC Ardmona factory sales outlet now says he couldn’t be happier with the way things worked out.
“It’s a fun car, it makes you happy when you drive it and people wave and smile when they see it passing by,” 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. For details visit vacc.com.au
More cars in the cavalcade:
Motorhome to roll down Calder
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.
‘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.
Happy wife, happy life: How Barry Collett can keep motoring
BARRY COLLETT has a good understanding of the saying, ‘Happy wife, happy life’.
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.
Life-long love-affair with Lancias began the day Paul Vellacott got his licence
Paul Vellacott has had a life-long love affair with Lancia motor vehicles.
The Castlemaine resident obtained his licence on his 18th birthday in 1958 in his 1927 Lancia Lambda, and has maintained a passion for the brand ever since.
Founded in Turin by Fiat racing drivers, Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin, the brand quickly became known for innovation and excellence.
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.
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