History
In December 1956, I purchased a 1926 Chevrolet Superior V Tourer. It was my first car, and it was needed for transport from the family farm to my first job at the Department of Main Roads, 6 miles away in Tamworth. It cost me 55 pounds ($110) which amounted to more than 11 weeks wages at the time.
I chose a Chevrolet because my Grandfather's first car was a four cylinder Chevrolet National Utility which he purchased new at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 1929. I had fond memories of Grandfathers "Flivver"(as he called it). Grandfather had wanted a utility for some time, but waited until there was one available with four wheel brakes. By the time the (1928) National utility became available, the International (6 cylinder) passenger cars had reached the market.
My Superior had been fitted with a 1928 motor, which featured a freer exhaust arrangement amongst other things, and also had a Camping Body (the front seat squab was hinged and could be lowered to lay flat against the rear seat cushion, forming a bed). The Holden bodied Superiors differed from their American counterparts in that they were the first Chev tourers with external door handles, and featured a swage line parallel to the upper edge of the body.
An article in "Wheels" Magazine in about 1957 was headed "Wage Plugs Best Friend" and featured the Chev 4, of which there were estimated to be over 15,000 still in service in Australia at the time.
My first car served me well for about 18 months, when the desire to have something more modern caused me to trade it in.
I have now almost completed restoration of a Chev Superior V, this time a Roadster.My restoration project started life as a Roadster, but was cut back into a Utility at some time. This was a common fate for Tourers and Roadsters, especially during World War 2 when commercial vehicles were permitted a greater share of petrol ration tickets than passenger vehicles.
Recreating a 1926 Roadster with modern materials unfortunately requires some compromises, as many materials used originally are now either not available or not permitted (asbestos brake linings for example).
However when my 90 year old vehicle is back on he road again (Hopefully in about two months), I'll be able to relive (in a fashion) the pleasures and challenges of 60 years ago, associated with my very first car.
