Adam Auditori and his 1899 De Dion-Bouton car recently chugged into the Port of Echuca to help promote a vintage car event that runs through Nanneella this month.
The car is closer to the old horse-drawn carriages that reigned supreme in the late 17th century to the first few decades of the 20th century.
About 60 owners and their cars will visit Echuca, Moama, Nanneella, Girgarre, Tongala and Torrumbarry Weir from March 14 to 17.
“While we are in your town, it will be an opportunity to look at the cars and get a photo of them,” Mr Auditori said.
Mr Auditori has had a lifelong passion for vintage cars and purchased his car two decades ago.
“About 23 years ago, I was at a chap house who collected old steam-powered cars, and I was looking at his collection, and he said to me, I have something to show you. Lifting the sheet that revealed the car,” Mr Auditori said.
“After 20-odd years of visiting and wondering if I could afford it, inflation made the car available.’’
Despite his admission that it could sometimes be temperamental, he has performed minor repairs, where he replaced the crank pin.
The engine, roughly the size of a large shoe box, powers the car at 36km/h depending on the number of passengers.
Driving about town creates great excitement from fellow drivers who gawk at the vehicle while passengers sitting aboard nervously waiting for them to go by.
“When people see me driving on the road, they tend to get too close as they try to look at the car or take pictures with their phones,’’ Mr Auditori said.
“That gets a bit hairy when other drivers do that.
“We had driven to Melbourne twice before and passed through the city centre.
“So the car must comply with the regulations when it was built.
“As you know, the vehicle doesn’t have indicators or brake lights, but it does have brakes on the gearbox and the differential gear, which uses manual foot brakes using mechanical linkages.
“The only electrics are the two headlamps on either side of the carriage.
“The car is fully insured and registered. The vehicle is on Red Plates and is certified with Shannons car insurance.
The Club Permit Scheme, also known as ‘Red Plates’, is a registration permit of an unregistered motor vehicle recognised by VicRoads to make limited use of motor vehicles aged 25 years or older.
“There’s the Veteran Car Club of Australia, Victorian division, and that will have all the information of the itinerary and where we will be each day.
For more information, please visit the following website: veterancarclub.org.au