How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

Graham Clark.

Graham Clark

By Lyle Griffiths

Graham’s father’s family had settled in Featherston around 1908, his mother’s family in Carterton. For Graham, the Wairarapa is home. 

After attending Featherston School, Graham commuted to Wairarapa College daily by steam train on the Wairarapa line. Two years later he decided that that was quite sufficient in the way of education. It was time for a new chapter.

He was taken on as an apprentice electrician at Cotter and Stevens in Martinborough.

“Your first job, and you naturally think that it is time to purchase your own car. My first car was a 1939 Vauxhall 10. The roads were largely gravel, except in town. Naturally, the cars did not go quite as quickly as they do today, and you could pretty much do as you liked on the roads. But the roads were maintained by the District Councils, who had their own employees, and they were maintained to a remarkably high standard.

My first vintage car was a 1947 Hillman. It had had quite a checkered past. Mrs Griffiths who lived in Martinborough purchased it brand new from Les Campbell, the Mayor, who owned Campbell’s Garage. She died in 1985 and the car was put up for auction. Tinny Malten then took ownership of it. After a couple of other owners, it finally ended up at John Harvey’s place at Dyerville, left by a worker who unexpectedly died on the Remutaka Hill, while helping someone else in trouble. I was doing some electrical work for John and saw the car just sitting there. It was a wreck. I bought it for next to nothing. I took possession, put it on the trailer and brought it home. I worked on it in my spare time.

By the time it was completely restored it was beautiful. We travelled to the South Island in it three times for wonderful holidays.

Once a car enthusiast, always a car enthusiast. Walking down the road one day I spied a 1925 Model T Ford chassis just lying there. Well, I couldn’t leave that opportunity wasting, so I brought it home. Ford Motors produced 15 million Model T cars between 1908 and 1927. I started from the base and collaborated with a friend of mine in Featherston, who was also restoring his Model Ford. We used the Model T Restoration Handbook.

Finding the parts was a challenge. We had great fun going all over the North Island chasing parts. We found some original front doors. The canopy was remade in Martinborough. The seats were re-upholstered in Martinborough. The tyres were purchased. One of the wooden spokes on the wheels was broken so we mended it. It is a wonderful car and so easy to drive. The Model T was the forerunner for the automatic gearbox. Tin Lizzie is now back to her former grandeur. “

And just as a side-line there are also five vintage bikes that Graham has restored. A hobby for a lifetime.