Model A meet brings vintage to city

BEAUT BUY: Ann and Ken Gehrke with their 1930 Model A Ford.

David Nielsen

A GATHERING of about 180 Model A Ford owners in Ipswich next month will provide vintage car fans with an experience they'll never forget.

Raceview Model A owner Kev Dale will be showing off his sparkling pride and joy, "Henry", for the first time.

"It's only been on the road a couple of weeks. It's just been registered," he said.

"I spent two years and thousands of hours working on it.

"There's not one bolt or screw on that car that hasn't been pulled apart.

"It's cost a lot of money."

Mr Dale said Henry, manufactured in 1930, had sat in a shed since the early 1960s in need of restoration.

"It originally came from Kyogle. I've traced it back to the family that owned it," he said.

"It had never been touched.

"I brought in thousands of dollars worth of parts from America.

"I restored it but someone else did the upholstery.

"It's entered in the judging at the meet under the touring class category."

The National Model A Ford Meet from March 26 to 30 at the Ipswich Showgrounds will attract proud owners from around the country.

Tuesday, March 27, will be the best public viewing day.

Run organiser Ken Gehrke said the cars would go on a "discover Ipswich" tour that day.

"We leave the showgrounds at 9am, and I've notified every school we're going past," he said.

"We've got 180 cars entered in the meet. There's up to 1000 Model As on the road in Australia.

"They were a very popular car.

"This year, the meet has a commercial theme. We'll have the XXXX truck, a fire truck, a tow truck and a mourning car."

Mr Gehrke has driven in his own Model A Ford, Beaut, since 1939 when his father bought it.

"I've been driving it since I was 12. We lived in the bush in those days," he said.

Model As were made in Australia from 1928 to 1931.

Ann Gehrke said Beaut had a charm all of its own.

"Everyone wants to talk to you, and you get sore arms from waving," she said.