After a century, an amazing journey ends at the Motor Show.

Australia’s history contains many stories of amazing feats and inspiring journeys. 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of adventurers Harry Dutton and Murray Aunger successfully undertaking the first north-south crossing of the continent via automobile.

On 30th June 1908 the pair set off from Adelaide in a brand new 1908 25hp Talbot, a 2.5 ton vehicle fitted with special ‘Stepney’ dual wheels and steel studded Michelin tyres.

At the time, there were no roads or bridges to simplify the journey that took them through some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet. Deserts, gibber plains, creeks and rivers, 60 foot (18m) sand dunes, tropical forests, bushfires and terrain that would be hard going for horses and camels lay ahead. The Talbot was the first time most people in the interior had witnessed a self-propelled vehicle for themselves, and we can only wonder at the impression this magnificent machine made on one and all.

On 20 August 1908, the Talbot rolled into Darwin and one of Australia’s truly epic journeys was complete. The expedition had taken 42 travelling days (51 days total) and covered 2,100 miles (3,400km). In contrast, a modern vehicle travelling at the speed limit can complete the journey in about 31 hours!

‘The Invincible Talbot’

The history of the Talbot marque is one of motoring’s most complex and fascinating. Originally founded in Britain is 1903 to sell the imported French made Clément-Bayard, the cars were renamed after the business’ patron Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury. By 1906, the Talbot was wholly designed and manufactured in Britain.

The Talbot marque reached the height of its fame in 1913 when Percy Lambert drove a 25hp model 100 miles in an hour at the Brooklands race track in Surrey England, literally making it the first ever 100mph car!

Talbot was taken over by the British controlled Darracq Company in 1919, which then amalgamated with the Sunbeam Company to form STD Motors in 1920. After its collapse in 1935, the marque was bought by the Rootes Group and appeared as the Sunbeam-Talbot. The Talbot name was dropped in 1955 and lay dormant until bought by Chrysler Europe in 1967. Several models were released under the Talbot name, but it again fell into disuse.

Late in 1978, the marque was bought by Peugeot and revived for a number of models. The last car to bear the famous name - the Talbot Express panel van - rolled off the production line in 1992.

You’ll just have to see it.

Presented in cooperation with the National Motor Museum, the original 1908 Talbot (SA Reg 474) is on display at the 2008 Adelaide Motor Show. It will be accompanied by text and objects designed to give visitors a sense of what Dutton and Aunger experienced during their travels. The National Motor Museum is developing a Travelling Exhibition which will be leaving Adelaide on Monday 30 June and arriving in Darwin on the 20 August 2008 exactly 100 years since the first journey. Along the way we will be visiting Communities and Schools in a specially constructed trailer developed as a self contained travelling exhibition detailing the journey undertaken by Dutton and Aunger.