General News
10 July, 2024
From farm carrier to national treasure
What was once a run-around vehicle on a local Wimmera farm is now a unique part of the Extra-Ordinary Things exhibit at Canberra's National Museum of Australia.
Not only is the 1967 VE-model Valiant Wayfarer ute a major part of ABC's Tony Armstrong's display until November, it has pride of place in the main foyer of the museum because it was too big to placed with the rest of Armstrong's exhibit.
But it is the story behind the vehicle that is the most intriguing.
Wilkur farmer Winston Chivell purchased the ute from GM Smith Motors in St Arnaud for a "drive-away" bargain price of $2646.
It was complete, with top-of-the-line upholstery and chrome fittings, and only sold at a discount price because a newer model had hit the market.
The powder-blue ute, with matching powder-blue upholstery, was one of three ordered by South Australian Police, but the order was cancelled when they opted for the later model
At the time, all South Australian Police cars were pale blue, and the colour was not available to the public.
On request, the roof was painted white to break up the blue colour, and for a cooler interior during summer.
Heating was added, as well as a Chrysler sun visor in the front and venetian blind on the rear window.
The Chivells entered the vehicle in the Deniliquin Ute Muster where it defeated 19 other utes for the top prize for its section.
Judges were looking for the oldest ute with original paintwork, original engine, continual registration and still in regular use by the owner.
"It's done a million miles," Mr Chivell said.
"We wore out a couple of engines, but my son Rusdin was able to recondition the original engine and put it back in the ute."
The ute sat unused for a month after the Chivells bought it, and was then used to go into town on a Friday for shopping.
As the family grew, a VE Valiant sedan was purchased and the ute was used for farm work, and later for carting hay, towing vehicles, and pulling vintage engines and other farm machinery.
"A reason it's in such pristine condition is that it has been kept in a lock-up shed," Mr Chivell said.
And why did he keep the ute and not trade it in years ago?
"I couldn't bear to part with it," he said.