Five vehicles turn 100 at Cars and Coffee Murray Bridge
Some stunning 1926 vehicles, including a one-of-a-kind Ariel motorcycle, have been celebrated at a monthly get-together.
This story was contributed by Joanne Lovell.
A 100th birthday party has been held for five vehicles at the March gathering of Cars and Coffee in Murray Bridge.
It was a small meet on March 1, with only around 90 cars attending due to the weather forecast.
Four cars and trucks and one motorbike built in 1926 were present, along with a bike and three other vehicles built in 1925.
These are their stories.
Bruce Davies’ 1926 Bean light truck
This truck is 98 per cent restored.
The Davies family purchased it in 2011 and have replaced most of the electrical items.
Mr Davies, the owner, has taken the truck in the Christmas pageant, formals and weddings, and holds the slowest lap time around the Bend Motorsport Park.
Stuart Heard’s 1926 Chevrolet buckboard
Mr Heard has owned this vehicle for 26 years and driven it for 21 years.
Its motor has been reconditioned but its body and interior is as it was manufactured.
It has been to Alice Springs, the first time via Uluru and the second time via the Oodnadatta Track and Finke Gorge, which many new four-wheel drives find challenging.
Mr Heard drives the truck 70 times per year.
You will often see him driving around in his work high-vis.
The Chevy starred in a film called Sundowner, filmed at Old Tailem Town.
It has also done the Bay to Birdwood and will be attending the Sporting Car Club of South Australia’s Old Crocks Run this year.
Asked if he trailered the buckboard to Adelaide, Mr Heard’s answer was no.
Julie Wehrman’s 1926 Chevrolet one-ton light truck
This vehicle was restored by Eric Wehrman and family and first registered in 2001.
In 2010 and then again in 2014 the truck was driven to Alice Springs, where it came second in a gymkhana.
It recently starred in a movie filmed at Old Tailem Town, yet to be released.
Nick McCue’s 1926 Chevrolet Superior
Mr McCue has owned this vehicle for five years.
It has been used as a local get-around.
It was restored many years before the McCue family purchased it.
Rodney McCue’s 1926 Ariel motorbike
This is believed to be the only overhead valve 1926 bike in Australia.
1926 was the first year Arial built their own engines.
1926 and 1927 were very low-production eras.
It was fully restored by Mr McCue.
- Next meeting: Cars and Coffee Murray Bridge meets from 8-10am on the first Sunday of each month at Murray Bridge’s wharf.
