Nigel Bills was an enthusiastic motoring advocate before and after the second war. This involvement
subsequently lead to him being one of the inaugral proponents in the formation of the Veteran Car Club of
Australia (Tasmania).
His father-in-law E.H.Thompson was the owner of the 1922 Itala, (which is still resident in Tasmania), and
was purchased new when Thompson was the manager of Henry Jones IXL in Hobart. This vehicle was
subsequently banished to rural farm work on the family property at Swansea until it's recovery in the early
1970's.
On Nigel's demise in the mid 1990's, his wife passed on the photo album to the current owner of the Itala.
The photographs listed form a wide and varied collection of vehicles, with many of the photos taken in South
Australia, and at the Rob Roy hill climbs in the early 1950's.
The veteran era vehicle photos appear to be Tasmanian origin.
The captions allocated are as written under the photos in the album, or on the rear of the photo where
applicable. Educated guesses are made where nothing appears.
Some photos of note are:
1. "Blue Lake' Vauxhall - was rescued from a watery grave at Mt. Gambier, and restored and is still going.
2. 1901 Oldsmobile - Most likely to be the Ash Bester vehicle from Hobart, which was used in the VCCA
(Tas) for many years by R.Cuthbertson. Still in the Hobart area.
3. 1913 Siddeley-Deasy - then owned by Gordon Fysh, now by his grandson Andrew McDougall. (VCCA
Tas.)
4. 1913 Renault - then owned by George Brown of Launceston, and painted red. Now owned by Geoff Hunt
of Mackay, Qld.and painted white. Was an entrant in the 2010 National Veteran Rally held in Tasmania.
5. The type 40 Bugatti, was owned and driven by Nigel Bills in Tasmania for several years.
6. The only motorcycle photos in the collection are of Geoff Duke's factory Gilera. Not known where the
photo was taken.
7. Hupmobile - 1910 Model 20
8. Maybach - As the photo is dated 1947, it would have to be Maybach 1 (One of the photos shows 6 Amal
carburettors, while the other only has twin carburettors. The radiator height has altered also, along with the
installation of a firewall.)
9. Minerva/Austin/Standard - VCCA (Tas) run? 1905 Minerva , E.J.Walkem, 1914 Austin owned by Ernie
Sims, and Standard possibly J.W.Taylor.
10. Plumbing on Kleinig's Hudson. - at the second Bathurst race meeting, Easter weekend 1939, Frank
Kleinig in his Kleinig Hudson started near the rear of the field and about three quarters of the way through
the 150 mile (241.4 km) race had passed all but one car, which he was catching fast, when a piston
collapsed. The connecting rod then punched a big hole in the side of the block. Thereafter, the straight was
known as Con-Rod Straight.
11. Porche & De Dion. - Photo taken in Moonah, Tasmania
12. SS1 - Photo taken while Nigel Bills in service in England.
13. Vauxhall 30-98 OE142 - Vehicle now in England.
14. Tractor is a Caterpillar 30 Petrol unit
NOTES ON NIGEL BILL'S PHOTO ALBUM COLLECTION
which is Below
Veteran Car Club of Australia (Tasmania )Inc
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