Oldies but goodies take to the road
STEPHEN Kidd’s 1913 Darracq stood out from the crowd at Saturday’s Dunedin to Brighton Veteran Car Rally.
Among the bright colours and polished chrome of the other cars, Mr Kidd’s vehicle — with dents and blemishes visible on its unpainted chassis — looked like it had just been pulled out from a barn.
Which it pretty much had: the vehicle being pretty much as it was when it was rescued and placed in storage by the Southward Car Museum in Paraparaumu.
‘‘It’s completely original — it wasn’t touched after it was pulled out of the barn,’’ Mr Kidd said.
‘‘The motor needed plenty of work, but the body is pretty much as it was.’’
After buying it three years ago, Mr Kidd carried out extensive mechanical work, but left the car itself as it was.
The engine is now in perfect working order and the Darracq has been on some long road trips — including one to Nelson and back.
‘‘It is one of the fastest cars here. It will get up to 60mph [96kmh], although I don’t take it much above 50mph,’’ Mr Kidd said.
‘‘It’s a threelitre engine and has pretty good power — it can keep up with modern traffic.’’
The vehicle had been absolutely worn out, and still had original dirt and grease inside.
‘‘I didn’t touch the outside because I like it the way it is — it has an aged patina,’’ Mr Kidd said.
‘‘The moment you touch a vehicle from what it is, you can never put it back.’’
The rally, in its 65th year, involved about 30 vehicles driving from the Octagon, along Kaikorai Valley Rd and then through Green Island and Waldronville, to Brighton Domain.
Wet weather did not deter the car enthusiasts, and many donned period costume to enjoy driving their treasures, rain or shine.