car club – Michmutters
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Meet the women with a shared love of classic Chevy cars

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.

Lady in black vest and jeans standing near a Chevrolet utility truck.
Bec Harding loves telling people the story behind the car.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)

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.

The interior of a car that has trident-pattern seatcovers.
The car’s interior just screams Aquaman.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)

“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.”

Action figure Aquaman sits on the dash of a car.
Aquaman on the dash is a reminder of the car’s Hollywood ties.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)

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.”

Bonnet of a brown Chevrolet utility.
The 1983 Chevrolet has appeared in films and was once housed at Movie World.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)

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.”

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