Bay to Birdwood 2024: In the front seat of a 1923 Willys Overland

It’s not just the appearance of Michael Neale’s 101-year-old motor car that’s unlike anything most of us have ever seen. See how the magnificent machine actually drives.

It’s easy to get swept up in the passion of the Bay to Birdwood, especially if you’ve scored a front seat from one of the 1500 incredible machines making the journey.

For 67km – or about two hours – you achieve an almost celebrity status as one of the lucky ones to actually drive the iconic event, passing tens of thousands of people lining the roads with barbecues and beers to see the motoring spectacle.

Living out my one and only Driving Miss Daisy moment in the trusty hands of Bay to Birdwood chairman Michael Neale, I’ve gained a healthy respect for King Charles and Co for their commitment to their royal tours.

Michael Neale at the finish with his 1923 Willys Overland. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Michael Neale and Advertiser reporter Tara Miko with the vintage vehicle. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Mr Neale’s 1923 Willys Overland might be quicker on the flat than the horse and carriage the sovereign rolls out for fancy occasions but it’s matched for speed when heading uphill – a journey I wasn’t entirely convinced we would make when we set off from West Beach.

But I was happily proven wrong and reminded of the hardiness of these machines, some built a century ago.

Modern cars – my late-model Volkswagen included – could only aspire to have such longevity.

See the photos: Bay to Birdwood puts on another classic display

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Mr Neale’s 101-year-old car with its hand-wound windscreen wiper and only one side-view mirror isn’t an easy beast to drive but he manages every twist and turn of the Adelaide Hills with ease.

“I’ve got wooden spokes, I’ve got no front brakes just unsophisticated back brakes – and it does not react like a modern car,” he said.

“It’s in very good condition but I can’t stop as quickly as a modern car and when we’re out driving on the roads, I think you become super conscious of everything that’s happening around you.

David Martin in his 1913 Darracq 16HP Tourer. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Darren Booth, Amelia Booth, Estefanie de Sousa, Ben Fisher and Byron Booth 7 with their Ford 65 XP Fairmont. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“And you sort of have to drive very defensively.”

And as much fun as it is for him to roll out the classic for the Tier 1 event – the largest of its kind in the world – it’s just as meaningful for the thousands who celebrate the drive each year.

“Everybody just loves the day a bit and they line up in their thousands on the side of the road the whole length of the run,” he said.

“And I think to see people coming out and waving to us, they make is special for us – and that’s why we love coming out.”

While the Tesla Cybertruck proved a contentious addition to this year’s fleet, Mr Neale said it was a coup for Bay to Birdwood to host the vehicle.

“We were the first Tier one event to offer a prize for EV conversions of historic cars,” he said.

“We’ve got a vehicle from every decade of the 20th century and maybe a glimpse of the future.

“That’s why it was really important for the Bay to Birdwood to take a leadership position on the EV concerns as part of history in motoring.

“This vehicle here is 101 years old. The average lifespan of a car in Australia is 10.6 years so this is nine life cycles of a car.