For Bec Harding and Valda Moore, there’s nothing more enjoyable than telling people they’re the owners of classic cars.
“We get asked all the time: ‘Is this your husband’s car?'” Ms Moore said.
“We love it as I always strike back saying: ‘No mate, it’s mine. Why would it be my husband’s?'”
Both are proud owners of classic Chevies which they show as part of the Queensland Chevrolet Club.
For Ms Harding, her 1983 C10 Silverado came with a slice of Hollywood.
“My Chevy was imported from Virginia by the producers of Aquaman and it was used in the film before being put on display at Movie World,” she said.
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“It was then road registered in Queensland and sold at auction with other props after the movie was shot.
“A lady at the Gold Coast bought it and had it for a year then I bought it off her.”
The car came equipped with re-upholstered seat covers proudly sporting tridents as a nod to the film, which Ms Harding said was a conversation starter.
“When I tell them it was in Aquaman, they say: ‘Oh my God, did Jason Momoa sit in it? Can I touch it?'”
But what she loved most about the car was its authenticity.
“It has its original 350 Chevy engine and paint job, and I’ve just had a few bits and pieces done to it like the sound system, but I really love the original factor and like to keep it stock-standard.”
Why the Chevrolet?
Both women said the “cool factor” was a big part of being a Chevy owner.
“They’re cool classic cars and many are rare here in Australia,” Ms Harding said.
“Mine is a long bed and you just don’t see as many of them as most are short beds.”
The car’s length does have its challenges when it comes to everyday use.
“It’s like driving a battleship and sometimes it’s got a turning ratio of one too,” Ms Harding said.
“It has a left-hand drive so you have to think about where you’re going as you can’t do drive-throughs — they don’t fit.
“You can’t get tickets in ticket windows and you can’t really go to shopping centers as they’re too big, but it’s worth it.”
‘She’s special to me’
Ms Moore’s prized possession is her 1964 Impala wagon which originally had a life as a hearse.
“The Impala has the right-hand drive and most Chevies have left-hand drive coming from the States so she’s unique,” she said.
“I’m her second owner as she was first bought by a funeral home in Caloundra and used as a hear.
“She has seats at the back, but we don’t use them so the kids can put a mattress in the back and take it to the drive-in.”
Ms Moore said she was often asked about how she parked such a car.
“She’s a big girl and they make the parks for smaller cars now, so she can be hard to park but you get used to it.
“I’m always told how cool it is; she’s very special to me this girl.”
With dozens of members in their club, Ms Moore said she enjoyed being able to talk to people about her pride and joy and the other cars the club showed.
“It’s wonderful to be able to share our love for cars, and being ladies of the group, we get to show everyone that anyone can drive a classic car.”
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