Story: Coaches and long-distance buses

Mount Cook service car

Mount Cook service car

A Mount Cook Motor Company driver carries three women passengers in one of the company’s first Cadillacs, near Queenstown. On the running board are an acetylene-gas generator for lighting, a tin of oil and a new tyre, still wrapped. The company started running service cars in 1906, having operated a coach service for the previous 20 years. Its first cars were De Dions and Darracqs. They took carrier pigeons in crates, so that if the cars got stranded, help could be summoned by air mail.

Using this item

Canterbury Museum, Harry Wigley Collection
Reference: 1982.163.866

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jane Tolerton, 'Coaches and long-distance buses - Service cars', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/20924/mount-cook-service-car (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Jane Tolerton, published 11 Mar 2010