MILEAGE HISTORY — STUART BILBROUGH

74.6 miles (120km) to 81.0 miles (130.3km)

A former Clevedon Auto owner, Ivan Pavlovich, agreed to sort out the mechanics while keeping the car as original as possible. He took the Stude on its first drive in many years to check for road worthiness: Clevedon to Ness Valley and back. Apparently, there was lots of black smoke as she cleared her throat.

81.0 miles (130.3km) to 88.0 miles (141.6km)

Another drive post new oil, new radiator hoses, and replacement of those rubber engine parts that had long gone rock hard. New tyres, too. Ivan took the Stude on a short hill climb up Twilight Road close to Clevedon. This time there was not a hint of smoke.

88.0 miles (141.6km) to 93.2 miles (150km)

Stuart drives the Stude home to wait for approval from the NZ Transport Agency to retain the black plates (success), get an exemption for B-pillar restraints (eventual success), as well as re-registration and the WOF. At about this time, and before registration, was the 45th Ellerslie Classic Car show, where the Studebaker was entered into the Survivors Class but didn’t qualify for a place due to not being road legal. Game on for the 46th show.

93.2 miles (150km) to 97.5 miles (156.9km)

Stuart takes his terminally ill father, Peter, from home and down Burnside Road and back. Peter put up an amazing fight but lost his battle to cancer in October last year — a real shame, as he would have been hugely chuffed with the Stude’s placing first in the Survivors Class Competition at the 46th Ellerslie Classic Car Show this year.

97.5 miles (156.9km) to 103.7 miles (166.88km)

The first ride for the joint shareholder in the Champion, Stuart’s wife, Diana. These miles were an investment in the work still to be completed, cracking the 100 miles, with only 400 miles to go until the first official Studebaker factory– recommended oil change.

103.7 miles (166.88km) to 108.6 miles (174.7km)

A drive back to Ivan in Clevedon for the fitting of approved lap belts, which was the final hurdle to getting the Stude registered and its first WOF since 1984, completed by Pukekohe VTNZ. Don’t ask how much Stuart’s spent on car transporters, but, needless to say, he’s expecting a Christmas card from Papakura Towing.

108.6 miles (174.7km) to 109.1 miles (175.5km)

Half a mile added over the next five months while Peter Barnard at PJB Upholstery replaced the floor matting, completed some targeted rust prevention where surface rust had popped up, and fixed the roof lining. It was now December 2017.

109.1 miles (175.5) to 118.4 miles (190.5km)

Stuart’s 50th birthday and a selfindulgent drive to Clevedon and back on a beautiful summer’s day to top it off.

118.4 miles (190.5km) to 128.1 (206.1km) miles

Back to Clevedon the week before the 46th Ellerslie Classic Car Show to get a new WOF, which it flew through. Now road legal, the Stude was ready for entry into the Survivors Class Competition.