Bargain - The Perfect Runabout With Low Mileage
The Age
Wednesday March 30, 1994
Perth.
Irene Waite's husband, Arthur, wasn't paying her much attention. He was usually too busy with his head under a bonnet, or his hands on the wheel of a racing car, to meet his wife's automotive needs.
Mrs Waite wanted a sporty car for herself, built to her requirements, but somehow it never arrived, despite all the promises.
So she devised a strategy built on the premise that a man is most vulnerable to persuasion when his shortcomings are exposed in public.
At the first Grand Prix in 1928 on Phillip Island, where her famous husband was racing for his father-in-law's company, Mrs Waite turned up in a ModelA Ford, one of the latest on the market and a splendid head-turner. Which would have been fine, but for one thing: Mrs Waite had been born Irene Austin, the eldest daughter of the British car manufacturer Herbert Austin.
``It was quite embarrassing to the family company," says the Perth developer and vintage car collector Mr Louis Mostert. ``It didn't take long for them to build the car she wanted with space for the shopping."
In the historical motor trade it's known as Irene's car, but on the bonnet it says Austin Cub. Mr Mostert searched for years and eventually discovered the little car in New Zealand. He took it to South Africa then to Perth.
The Peppermint Grove Shire Council thinks Mr Mostert has too many cars to keep on a suburban block - he has six including Dame Nellie Melba's 1909 Renault - so Irene's Austin Seven is for sale at $30,000. How many miles on the clock? (The car pre-dates kilometres). ``It says 39," said Mr Mostert, ``but goodness knows how many it has done.
It's licensed and a lovely drive."
Despite the shame of his wife's public declaration at Phillip Island, or perhaps spurred by the gesture, Captain Waite won the Grand Prix in an Austin Seven against much bigger competitors.
And Mrs Waite got the wheels she wanted.
© 1994 The Age