Achieving the impossible

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 34

Achieving the impossible

ROY SHERBORNE

To own a vintage car has always been my dream, but the cost has always been a worry. Would it end up costing me thousands of dollars?

I joined the Vintage Car Club about five years ago and could appreciate the benefits of membership almost immediately.

I became even more determined to own a vintage car, but with no particular mechanical ability or trade background it looked as if I would have to save for a professionally restored vehicle.

Club members convinced me, however, that even though I had no experience, I could, nevertheless, achieve the seemingly impossible. Then, four years ago I answered an advertisment, and for $750, I obtained a pile of beaten up pieces which had once been an unusual-looking Whippet Overland sedan of 1926-28 vintage.

It was a Model 96 and only a few were imported to New Zealand from Canada.

I realised what a momentous task had to be undertaken when all the pieces were at home. At first, the prospects did not look very promising.

Pieces which were not rusted together, either fell off or broke off. I labelled all the parts I could and then started cleaning and painting the chassis.

By the time the Electrolux spray painting unit was completely worn out I had almost taught myself how to put the undercoat on.

Doing the mechanics was slow. It was a matter of reading a manual and then having the patience to get it to work. Fortunately, a friend from the club who had done it all before was able to help.

I am not the best when it comes to carpentry. When I cut a 30 centimetre length of wood in half I usually end up with one of the pieces about 20 centimetres long. Fortunately, a club member was able to help me with that too. The restoration is now almost completed. I am having a few minor problems with the final paint job. The car has had seven coats so far and it is not quite right. I may get a professional to do the upholstery, but I will have done most of the restoration myself by the time the car is on the road, probably before the end, of the year. It will be the first Whippet Overland to be restored in New Zealand. Others are being restored, but they are in earlier stages than mine. In four years I have spent about $4500 on the car. That averages out at less than $25 a week, or about the price of a carton of cigarettes.