Riverside Park Barham was bustling as the Veteran Car Club of Australia took over the park. Chris Sorensen an enthusiast from Bundaberg Qld, proudly stood beside his prized 1906 Buick Model L, a true American icon hailing from the United States. Acquired in 2012, this gem was lovingly restored stateside, preserving its authenticity down to the last detail. Tucked away in hidden nooks; like door interiors, original paint hues and upholstery patterns, guided the revival—horsehair stuffing, courtesy of skilled Amish craftsmen, evoking an era when foam was unheard of. Its crowning glory?
A prestigious win at the 2015 Hershey Motor Show, a testament to its pristine originality. Now Down Under for the 75th anniversary of the Victorian Veteran Car Club, it’s trailed the epic distance to take part. On the road, this two-cylinder beast hums at 25-40 km/h, demanding foresight with its modest brakes. No traditional gearbox here; the engine hides under the seat, powering via planetary gears and chain drive to the rear axle. Just two speeds: low for steep hills, top for cruising amid vibrations that rattle everything, including passengers. Yet, that’s the thrill—piloting a relic once owned by the wealthy, Chris tells me right hand drive was the norm even in the states, until left-hand drive became norm at Henry Ford’s whims.
A few cars over, Gavin Mutton’s 1916 Studebaker, a six-litre beast, roars with history. Originally imported by Canada Cycle and Motor, this rare machine, with its unique radiator and an engine with no serial number, was built for speed. In its glory days, it chased a 100 mph record on the Gold Coast’s beaches, hitting 85 mph in the soft sand. Later, it blazed the Sydney-Brisbane record, sporting three headlights and spare tyres after a promotional tail-chop. But fate turned at a 1919 hill climb when a crash wrecking the axle, radiator, and chassis, hospitalised a passenger and retiring it from racing. A visionary farmer on the Darling Downs repurposed the racing thoroughbred due to its powerful engine for the world’s first harvester, according to Gavin, a decade ahead of America. Parked up when its threshing speed and ground speed didn’t align, it rusted on a farm until the 1960s. Gavin later acquiring it, embarking on a 30-year quest for a faithful reconstruction. Now, gleaming as it did in its record-setting showroom days, it thrives on modern bitumen, defying its dirt-road origins. With only rear-wheel brakes and a heavy rear gearbox, it handles like a dream, despite it being designed to slide gracefully on dirt.
If two wheels were more your thing, from the sun-baked roads of Albany, Western Australia, a 1900s single-cylinder Triumph motorcycle, lovingly preserved in near-original condition, ridden by Geoff Berkin, rumbles into a vintage rally. Its 500cc heart powers a belt-driven, single-speed beast, geared low for rugged, hilly terrain. With no clutch to speak of, this relic demands a hands-on start: decompress, run alongside, and release once it roars to life. Topping out at 45-50 km/h—though capable of 65-70 in a pinch—it’s built for grit, not speed. Suspension? Barely.
The front wobbles with Triumph’s early design, while the seat takes the brunt of the bumps. Fresh from a shed, it’s a time capsule. The day was a feast for the eyes!
See all the pictures from the event in the issue.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 23 October 2025.
