Charabanc brings Roaring 20s romance back to town

An old bus from 1927 has been restored and brought to Bunbury by two passionate vintage car enthusiasts. Upon returning to Bunbury after cutting their travels short, Kevin and Ruth Bird stumbled upon the old Charabanc. “My wife and I were travelling around Tasmania and living on a big camper bus which I had decked out and then the pandemic hit and we were told to go home,” Mr Bird said. “We returned to Bunbury, both out of a work, and I came across this old bus that an elderly gentleman in Yallingup was selling. He used it for weddings but the interior was outdated and it all got a bit much for him so I thought to myself this could be great for Bunbury.” After picking up the vintage car, the Birds spent six weeks stripping down and fixing up the interior as well as repairing the motor. The 1927 Ford Charabanc replica was imported from the UK 10 years ago and is one of two that exist in the world. “The idea is to bring a bit of romance into Bunbury, I wanted people to feel emotion when riding in the vehicle,” Mr Bird said. “Every part of this bus has something special about it and we hope to share this with the people of Bunbury.” The car seats five guests and of last week is being used around Bunbury for charter and special occasions.