The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Veteran beauties on show in Perthshire and Angus
Finest convoy of famous names takes to the roads for Strathmore Ramble
Some of the oldest old timers in motoring caught the eye of Courier Country drivers as the finest convoy of veteran cars to ever visit the area took to local roads.
Famous names which have stood the test of time – as well as others long gone, such as the Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Company – were part of the Veteran Car Club (VCC) of Great Britain’s Strathmore Ramble, the first leg of a major Scottish gathering for pre-1919 vehicles.
Enthusiasts from across Scotland and south of the border have based themselves in Perthshire this week and an early port of call for the 20-car convoy was the Bridge View House headquarters of Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club (SVVC).
The club organises the annual Scottish Transport Extravaganza at nearby Glamis Castle every summer and it was to there that the fleet made the next stage of its journey.
The VCC was founded in 1930 and is probably best known for its famous London to Brighton run, which has featured many automotive rarities over the years and involved celebrity figures and royalty, notably Prince Michael of Kent, the club’s patron.
The oldest car on the Scottish run is a 1904 Jackson, with familiar names including Austin, Wolseley, Napier, Singer and Dodge also taking part.
Less familiar to all but the diehard enthusiasts will be a 1905 White Steam Car, and the Alldays and Onions machine, a rarity from the Birmingham firm founded in 1889.
Stephen Dear of SVVC said: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome them to Bridge View House – there were probably more veteran cars here than there have been at the last three Glamis Extravaganzas in total.
“It was an absolutely fantastic array of early cars, some which many of us had never seen before and some which we have only ever seen on static display, so to see them out on the open road was a real privilege.”
Enthusiasts braved the Scottish weather with their roofs down after leaving the castle, and the club paid tribute to both SVVC and Strathmore Estates for hosting the first run of this year’s tour.