Morris E, the chick magnet
When Bob Elliott drove into the recent Dubbo Classic Cars and Coffee he got plenty of looks in his vintage Morris ute, painted a blue as bright as a Saharan sky at noon.
The Morris was at the head of a convoy of English cars the avid Dubbo collector owns, all those vehicles just a bit out of the norm for the local event.
“This is a bit later in shape, the 1940s, they’re called a Morris E series,” Mr Elliott told Dubbo Photo News. “They were fairly common in a sedan or saloon type configuration, this one’s fairly rare because it’s a ute. It’s been all done up, there’s been some modifications to it.”
Bob said he enjoys collecting cars that are off-beat or just that little bit different. “I’ve got the Morris vehicles because they’re English. I’ve got a ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s Morris but I’ve also got a few Renaults which are really, sort of, French – the French are very different when it comes to car design.”
But he says he doesn’t make the monthly trip to Victoria Park just to give his vehicles a run, or even just to check out some other Sunday drivers.
“It’s not just about cars, it’s about people catching up, people getting together and it’s a great catch-up.
“All these cars here are mine,” Bob said, adding that family had travelled long disttances to enjoy the day too. “My brother-in-law has come from Gosford, and my brother is from the middle of Queensland – this is the first time I’ve seen him in 30 years, and he’s driving a little Morris.
“You get family coming for the day and you meet up with a lot of people you haven’t seen for ages, and you also meet a lot of new people,” Bob continued, describing Dubbo’s Cars and Coffee as “a great day out”. He loves the fact you can walk up to anyone standing in front of a car, and whether it’s their car or not, they’ll be on for the chat. “You can say anything you like except criticise that car – you can criticise the person,” he laughed. Mr Elliott believes Dubbo Classic Cars and Coffee is regarded by many people as their monthly ‘mental health’ day where they can just chill out. Everyone can have a conversation about anything, from the basics relating to cars right down to discussions about deeper issues where people may get relief just by talking with a mate.
“You don’t have to join anything, you can come if you want, or not, you can stay for as long or as little as you want, and I think the venue is just superb.”
He described the experience of driving one of his cars through the park as “a bit like being in a fashion parade – all eyes are on you”.
“Let’s hope it continues,” he said. “Cars and Coffee is a great event.
“Don’t forget to write in the article that my little Morris ute is a chick-magnet,” he laughed.