Wharekaka welcomes cars with a past!

Recently Wharekaka residents were treated to a rare sight. A line up of very special cars on their front lawn. This wonderful event had been organised by the Wharekaka Auxiliary.

And if these cars could talk… they are part of our local history that the residents would identify with.

There is Stewart Barton’s 1908 Holsman, built in the USA. The sons of Stewart’s great grandfather brought it for him.  It has been in the Barton family since that day and you see it pottering around Martinborough on special occasions.  The design is based on the high American horse drawn buggies of the day.   

Parked next door is Murray Parker’s Wolseley Siddeley 1909, English built. Its design is influenced by the luxury carriages the English gentry used. This car has a story attached to it.  Originally bought by Murray’s grandfather, who was the Mayor of Blenheim, it was commandeered by Lord Kitchener when he arrived on his NZ tour.  The car had just been landed, spanking new, on the wharf at Lyttleton when Lord Kitchener spied it and asked if he could ‘borrow’ it to get to Christchurch. It was also believed that the Duke of Gloucester had a ride in it on another occasion.   Edward Parker sold it in the 1920’s. However, in a series of fantastic coincidences it came back into grandson Murray’s hands many decades later. 

Also in the line-up were John Kennedy’s 1922 Rolls Royce that has seen quite a few journeys by sea in its lifetime, Gary Wall’s smart black 1948 Wolseley, and Dave Stewart brought along his 1936 Riley with the number plate ‘Life of…” 

Finally, as a foil for these grand old dames, Randal Warner brought his two Jaguars, the dashing red 1964 model and the 1971 white E-type Jag.