Community
11 November, 2023
Exciting rare car on display
ONE of the rarest cars in Australia will be taking pride of place at Sunday’s free car meet at DFO Cairns.
Australia’s only registered 1935 Hupmobile, owned by Cairns local and consistent local car meet participant Phil Gent will be on show.
“They weren’t a cheap car, they were more a doctor’s, lawyer’s type of car,” said Mr Gent.
“According to the club that I’m in (Hupmobile Club Australia-Wide), this 1935 Hupmobile is the only one registered on the road in Australia.
“They only ever made 275 of them, they’re extremely rare even where they were made in America.
“It originally came to Western Australia in 1936, then made its way to a second owner in Tasmania for about 50 years, who I bought it from.”
Mr Gent said that he didn’t have to do much work on it, and that it was in extremely good condition when he bought it.
“Since I’ve bought it, I’ve just had to service the engine and do a bit of body work,” he said.
“I was impressed by the condition that the car was in when I bought it.”
Mr Gent said he tried to get the Hupmobile involved as locally as possible.
“I just take it to local shows around Cairns, otherwise, I don’t take it out too much,” he said.
“The car’s 88-years-old. It’s a valuable car, so I try to show it more than drive it.
“I just love old cars, tinkering, restoring and collecting.”
The ‘cars and coffee’ meet is being organised by the All-American Car Club of Cairns.
A not-for-profit organisation, the club has almost 80 volunteers who all share an interest in American cars and have been volunteering in community events such as local swap meets and the Cairns Show since 1997.
Event coordinator Bob Aller said the event always seemed to have something new, interesting, and unexpected to see.
“We never know what’s going to turn up,” he said.
“The All-American Car Club is running the event, but you’ll see lots of cars from other clubs as well.
“The day that we hold the event could be the day that somebody brings along a rare car that they’ve just finished restoring. We’ve had people turn up with cars we’ve never seen before.”
The event is at the northern top level car park from 9am-1pm.
