It wasn’t the flashiest or the fastest on display, but at 100 years old, the 1926 Austin 7, affectionately nicknamed Chummy, carries a history as rich as the family who now lovingly care for it.
Roger Parish, 86, made his debut at the car show with Chummy, a car he calls “so special because it’s finally on the road in its centenary year”.
The Austin 7, produced between 1922 and the early 1930s, earned the nickname Chummy for its cosy, intimate seating, just over three feet wide, forcing passengers into close company.
The design now delights Roger’s grandchildren as much as it did drivers a century ago.
Roger’s journey with Chummy began thanks to a thoughtful tip from his daughter, Trudi.
While working in Western Australia, Trudi spotted the little car on Facebook Marketplace and immediately thought of her father.
“Dad has always been a hard worker,” she said.
“Growing up, he provided for the whole family, often going without to make sure Mum, my siblings, and I had everything we needed, so I thought it was time Dad treated himself.”
Roger bought the car in May 2025 from the McNamara family.
It was unregistered and hadn’t run for years, but the bodywork was beautiful, and Roger could see potential.
With guidance and hands-on help from his mechanically minded son-in-law, Dean, the tiny car was lovingly restored, made roadworthy, and finally registered for the first time since 1986.
“It’s just wonderful; we’ve got it running in its 100th year, and that makes it all the more special,” Roger said.
The car’s first outing was more than a hobby, it was a homecoming.
Roger grew up in Yarrawonga, attended local schools, and lived in the area with his wife, Dale before moving to Shepparton for work in 1973.
“It’s a bit surreal to be here for my first car show, driving a car that’s a century old in the town where I grew up,” he said.
Trudi, who has taken on the role of Chummy’s chief polisher, has lined up a string of local car shows for her father.
Roger admits he’s never really had a hobby, so it’s a new chapter filled with excitement, family, and community admiration.
The little brass details, the polished windscreen wipers, and the quirks of the pedals all tell a story, not just of an iconic car, but of a man who has spent a lifetime caring for others and is now finally enjoying something purely for himself.
“I get a lot of fun out of it, it’s just beautiful, and to drive it, well, it’s different but in the best way,” Roger said.
As the sun glowed over the Yarrawonga foreshore, Chummy gleamed in the afternoon light, a testament to endurance, family love, and the joy of discovering a lifelong passion, at 86.
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