Bubsie, our mighty centenarian Citroën, is just hours away from starting the adventure of a lifetime. Best of all, it will retrace its historic circumnavigation of Australia! In 1925, Olympic champion Nevill Westwood was behind the wheel of Bubsie. This amazing machine went on to become the first-ever person-powered vehicle to make this epic journey, travelling 17,500 kilometers in under six months! The trip is scheduled to begin in June 2025. This special event will mark almost a century since this original voyage ended on December 30th, 1925.
Bubsie, a 1923 Citroën 5CV, was not only a vehicle. It was a revolutionary machine that opened up vast new landscapes to high-speed automotive travel. The car’s remarkable journey took it through rugged terrains and remote locations, showcasing the resilience of both man and machine. Below, we see Bubsie’s return to safekeeping after the trip. Recently it had an amazing restoration done which took more than 1,000 hours, changing the appearance of the car from a boring reddish brown to an incredibly attention grabbing yellow.
A Journey Back in Time
Nevill Westwood’s circumnavigation of Australia in 1925, when road development was just as basic if not more so than today. She encountered a lot of difficulties on the excursion, including punishing weather and the truck’s inability to go off-road. The common knock on Bubsie was that it was “a very low-tech car”, that you had to drive it using unusual driving methods.
Mr. May, speaking on behalf of the team restoring the road, emphasized the challenges faced along the byway. “These guys drove with their knees up through the steering wheel,” he said, emphasizing the car’s lack of modern comforts and controls. Bubsie had a long string of mishaps over the course of the trip. It self-destructed as it bush-bashed its way across the Australian landscape.
To its legacy as the first passenger car, let us remember that its spirit of pioneering extended to helping our fellow travelers. On the first trip, Westwood and his travel buddies picked up a convoy of stranded motorists and gave them a lift. As stated by Mr. Amos, “In the automobile there were two white women and a white man. They had run out of water. They were severely dehydrated.” Westwood’s generosity made it possible for him to share his own home water supply and help put their broken-down vehicle back on the road.
The Restoration Effort
Bubsie’s restoration turned out to be quite a challenge. Mr. May noted that “we had to fabricate a lot of new panels because it was just so old.” The process took extreme care and attention to detail, staying true to the original while making sure the vehicle was still road-ready. Luckily, the professionals found Bubsie’s motor was in excellent shape. Thanks to this crucial finding, they were able to fully restore it, bringing it back to life and drivable once again!
The ongoing transformation process has generated a new wave of interest in Bubsie’s historic importance. And we have very big plans of getting a replica of Bubsie! Its debut performance was a year ago this week, and it has since traveled to four cities throughout Australia. The replica will join the original Bubsie on his thrilling adventure soon to come. This unique partnership highlights just how far automotive technology has come since Westwood’s day.
Looking Ahead
Bubsie getting ready for its epic retracing adventure that begins in June 2025. Automotive history enthusiasts and enthusiasts alike are going abuzz with excitement! The route will mirror the original path taken by Westwood almost a century ago, allowing for reflection on both the challenges faced by early motorists and the advancements made in vehicle technology since then.
Ms. Cook remarked on the importance of this journey for Australian history: “It does chime with what we know of him,” referring to Westwood’s adventurous spirit and determination. We hope this iconic journey will set a course for many young explorers to follow in their own journeys. It’s a celebration of the people who paved the way—literally—for today’s automotive travel.
