Ian Riley, Tarrangower Times

Hidden in sheds, under tarps and out of sight in Maldon, are some amazing things.

This is a 1925 Oldsmobile Tourer, which obviously means it’s now 100 years old.

Here’s a fun fact: it was Oldsmobile that pioneered the production line, not Henry Ford, although he certainly picked up the idea and ran with it with his Model T.

Looking back, cars from this era all look similar to me, but in their day, the brands all represented different market segments.

Oldsmobiles were upmarket cars and part of the General Motors family.

They were a cut above the Buick, but not as expensive as a Cadillac.

I find it interesting how the advertising gurus can control our perceptions; human nature hasn’t changed since the twenties (you could write a thesis about that).

Some Oldsmobile models were as expensive as a house.

What has changed though, is the technology. Although it gets along quite well at 60 to 80 kilometres per hour, you really need to watch closely what’s going on up ahead, or you’ll be getting much more excitement than you planned on. The problem is the brakes.

Only on the front wheels and then only mechanical, not hydraulic, so I wouldn’t be comfortable driving the Olds in Melbourne traffic. No shock absorbers either, but we’re talking 100 years ago and so it’s not fair to make any comparisons.

This car was the subject of a very thorough restoration about 30 years ago and then unfortunately, the owner passed away and his widow left it virtually untouched until recently. It’s pretty close to what a brand-new 1925 Model Oldsmobile would have been.

To drive a 100-year-old car today is to experience a completely different attitude to travel.

It was the new freedom, to go wherever you wanted, at three or four times the speed of a horse, something which is hard to imagine today and the reason that enthusiasts love these old vehicles.

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 30 May 2025.