Continued: – We managed to hitch a ride back to Sydney and immediately returned in a rather decrepit British Dodge truck we used to take rubbish to the Kurnell tip. It was a long night, a very long night. On dismantling it was apparent that a big end bolt had broken, they were unoriginal bolts… Read More
Max’s Mutterings – Seven
Continued: – In the Alvis Club I won 7 All Night Trials, competed in the Petit Prix de Tourisme at Marsden Park airstrip, won a Hill Climb at Old Razorback, competed in VMC Mountain Rallies and participated in Historic Racing at Amaroo Park in the 1970s. Alvis Day by the Ferry at Lower Portland was… Read More
Max’s Mutterings – Six
Continued: – One day a man came into the shop at Enmore where I worked to enquire who the owner of the Alvis parked outside in Stanmore road was. His name was Norm Adams, who started the Alvis Car Club and was the President for 21 years. He gave me the little green card that… Read More
Max’s Mutterings – Five
Continued: – Jack Bradley became my very first Alvis contact. (He was the one at cricket with the green tourer from the previous post.) Not much later he brought his friend Mac Job to look at my car. Both ex Air Force types. Mac Job wanted to buy it, I expect as spares for the… Read More
Max’s Mutterings – Four
Continued: – I was working in a rather large service station on Canterbury Road, sometimes in the workshop and sometimes in front serving petrol (no self service back then.) In my spare time I studied the Payen, Byrne & Blackford gasket catalogue. From this I learnt that I had bought an Alvis 12/50 1923 to… Read More
Max’s Mutterings – Three
Here begins a four part series of Max’s recollections of his first car (recently restored) to coincide with Alvis Day being held at his home tomorrow. Recounting my early days with the 1923 Alvis SA 12/50 – Chassis 2345 – Engine No. 2689 Early in 1950… I first saw the Alvis in a farm shed… Read More
Jonathan’s Gibberish Electric Cars
There has been ever increasing talk in the media and by politicians, in Australia at least, about the future of motor vehicles. In particular about the phasing out of the internal combustion engine, with some manufacturers even stating they won’t be making any at all by 2025. I find this a quite laughable proposition –… Read More
Max’s Mutterings – Two
In 1969 we relocated to Central Mangrove with 2 trucks and in late 1972 established Vintage Motor Garage, with the intent of providing a repair and restoration service to Vintage and Classic Car owners. The first jobs were an ex-QANTAS Studebaker limo, a Brookland’s Riley and a burnt-out Vauxhall 23/60. The first body we built… Read More
Max’s Mutterings – One
Introducing John Maxwell Houston, the first proprietor of Vintage Motor Garage. He will be sharing some of the eventful episodes of his earlier life, his work at Vintage Motor Garage and perhaps some motoring adventures over the years. Firstly, a little background – John Maxwell was born at Dulwich Hill, Sydney in 1934, the youngest… Read More
Jonathan’s Gibberish Episodes and Episodes
The history of VMG has had many different episodes and this is a new approach for Vintage Motor Garage into the future. I want to get useable information out to those that are seeking help with their own restorations. I am well placed to assist owner restorers by carrying out actual work and by using… Read More
