J is for JALOPIES

I could write alot more about James Pilgrim but decided with over 30 photos of old cars that this weeks subject would be "Jalopies".  Please click on the images to enlarge.

My grandmother was born in 1910 and she was a teenager before her parents had a car.  She never drove. The first car that my grandmother's parents owned was an "Overlander".  I think that this could be an "Overlander" below, but I am not sure so am happy to be corrected.

1928 - Coming home from cricket

The second car was the "Studey" - A Studebaker.  I am not sure how reliable it was as there is another photo of it being towed across the paddock by an old tractor in 1931.

1930 -  The Studebaker

Their third car, being the first brand new car was "The Chev"

1928 - My Great Grandparents and Grand Aunts in the Chev.

My grandmother wrote: "I am quite convinced that little people never think of hurting themselves.  I had finished my family before the others started, so Mum and Dad loved to have them up there and the car was often overloaded, so we used to have them standing behind the front seat.  One day Dad looked around and said to Don 'Don’t lean on the door mate, if it came open, you’d fall' and Don said 'It wouldn’t matter grandpa, I know my way home from here'."

1929 - Victoria Street, Nhill

Nhill- Bob Pilgrim's car

Mum reminisced about the old car they had when she was a child (pictured below).  Mum didn't like it and was embarrassed to ride in it.  She thought my grandfather was a dangerous driver and would overtake when he felt like it, saying "There is plenty of room for three cars on the road".   One day Uncle Rob and Uncle Don (my mothers brothers) were playing around with the car and mum was getting in their way.  Uncle Don had a hand on the spark plug and a hand on mum’s shoulder.  Uncle Don cranked the engine (no key in those days) and mum got a shock.  She cried and ran in and told Gran.  The boys got into a lot of trouble.

1949 - My Grandparents with my mother, aunt and uncles

My grandfather's Austin at Tarraville Church (built 1856)

The photo below is also my grandfather's car.  When my father was 17, he wanted to take a girl out so took the car without his father's permission.  He reversed out of the driveway without lights on and hit the fence, scratching the car.  He "copped a hiding"

1960 - My father

This post has also made me reflect on the many cars that I have owned over the years.  Unfortunately I didn't think to take photo's of them all but I will going forward.

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