Here's a car that would definitely be described as a survivor.
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It's had a history in Parkes and it's now in the loving care of Rodney and Jennie Barnes of the Central West Car Club.
"We bought this car last year" said Rodney.
"It's a 1928 Chev Tourer and it's spent most of its 90 years right here in Parkes."
As far as Rod and Jennie are aware the following is a brief history of the life of their Chev.
It was bought at auction by Bert Frecklington in 1936.
Bert already had a couple of Chev's as work utes on his farm.
The intention was to keep this one as a spare with thoughts of it too being cut down to a ute, which was a popular conversion in the day.
By the time the two other Chev's had expired, purpose built utilities were available so the Chev survived as a tourer.
In the late 1970's, John Robens of Elizabeth St became the custodian of the Chev.
Bert still owned it, but John drove the Chev as part of the Antique Motor Club for several years until 1984.
In these times it saw plenty of use including a trip to Tasmania with the club.
It sat for a time then in the motor museum in Bogan Street in Parkes until a small fire caused the museum to close.
The Chev's roof was damaged and while building repairs took place at the museum, the Chev was parked in Ed Frecklington's shed in Hill St and never returned.
This was where Rod came across it while doing some building work.
Neither Ed nor his boys had a passion for the old Chev and they were happy to sell it off to clear shed space for their own cars.
"In 2017 when I picked it up it had been sitting up on blocks" said Rod. "I put air in the tyres that day and I haven't touched them since."
A change of fluids, fresh fuel and a new battery and the Chev kicked into life.
"Since then it's had some minor repairs but otherwise it runs like a dream" Rod said.
"It's pretty rough up close but on the flipside it's too good to restore so we're happy to keep it as is."
"We've nicknamed the car Jane" said Jennie. "I've calculated that it ran out of rego in December 1984 - the same month and year that our daughter-in-law was born and she loves it , so Jane it is!"
Join us
Meetings held first Wednesday of the month at the Leagues Club at 7:30pm.
Feel free to join us at 6:30pm to 7pm for a social dinner before the meeting.
For more information visit www.centralwestcarclub.com.
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