Automobile Treasure Comes to Nelson

What a beauty! That was our opinion and the opinion of hundreds of others who in the last month have been fortunate enough to view and see in action Evan Moorhouse's latest acquisition, a 1913 vintage Mercedes. Evan bought the 19ft monster at Timaru, it was railed to Blenheim and he drove it in top gear (the only gear it possessed at the time) in pouring rain from Blenheim. Space does not permit a full description of this remarkable machine, but some of its specifications will undoubtedly be of interest. It has a 24 litre capacity, larger than anything else on the road; six 6 3/8in bore cylinders with an 8in stroke; three spark plugs to each cylinder; a fuel consumption of about 3 miles to the gallon (it consumed 15 gallons between Blenheim and Nelson). This, in fact, is a car. Incidentally, Evan needs some 750 x 18 tyres for her. Anyone help?

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The Mercedes shortly after its arrival from Blenheim

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The exhaust box is of rocket proportions

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Evan fitting the spark plugs preparatory to a test

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On its first Nelson run manpower was used to start her (when she did fire she leapt down the road like a frightened stallion).