After visiting Ron in August last year I e-mailed the Australian National Museum on his behalf.

My e-mail follows.

"My old friend Ron Westwood is the son of Nevill Westwood who was the first person to drive a car around Australia. He completed the trip in December 1925. Ron owns the car and has preserved much of the history of this unique achievement. I attach a photo of one of about 70 contemporary photographs of the trip. Ron also has diaries, letters and newspaper and other relevant material. He also owns this 80-year-old car which is licensed with the original licence plates still on the car

He has asked me to contact you with regard to the Museum purchasing the whole collection of memorabilia including the car which is a 1923 Baby Citroën 5cv, 2 seat boat tail, soft top, four cylinder engine. He has been offered more than $25,000 by a private collector, but expressed to me his desire, that the car should really be in the National Museum. I promised him that that I would approach the ANM on his behalf. He is physically unwell but really with it mentally and believes that the right place is a museum, as others do not appreciate the historic value of the collection."

Six months later, after much to do, the car left for Canberra on Monday 21^st of February. The photos below show the 5cv being put on a tilt tray truck with Ron very proudly in front of Bubsy. The 5cv was first loaded onto the tilt tray and from there into the back of the ANM’s transport truck which is dust proof. This photo shows Ron in the centre Al Roberts on the right and myself on the left. From here in front of Ron's house "Bubsy" was taken to a nearby car park to be put into the transporter. Ian Cramer and Peter Bucke from the ANM supervised the packing of the boxes of memorabilia and the loading of "Bubsy" into the transporter. Here the tilt tray truckie and the transport driver help Peter push "Bubsy" into the transporter. The plastic boxes in the foreground contain the collection of memorabilia that went with the car. The museum plans to make a complete display using the many photographs, letters, telegrams and other items that are contemporary with that famous drive around Australia. We returned to Ron's home and as Ron would have it, the success of the venture was duly celebrated, with a cold beer, a roll ya own smoke and general discussion life and all that.If you are in Canberra be sure to look for Ron's 5cv at the NMA.
 

The Editor ACE club magazine.

I can now tell you of the successful end to my crusade. After more years and dollars than I wish to remember, my Fathers Citroën 5cv has at last been recognised and verified as the first car to be- driven right round Australia. The Citroën 5cv and its history have been verified to the satisfaction of the historians and investigators at the National Museum of Australia. It took them many months to reach the same conclusion that we in the ACE club have always known.

To recognise this fact and to allow all Australians to celebrate my Dad's motoring achievements, the museum proposes to prepare a special area in the Australian National Museum in Canberra. The display will feature the Citroën 5cv and most of the photographs, glass slides, letters, newspaper articles, telegrams and the movie newsreel film from that historic trip.

I wish to thank sincerely, all of you, too many to mention individually, for your hard work and support over the years to keep the Citroën 5cv "Bubsy" on the road. I also thank Paul Blank for his efforts over the last two years to get the Citroën 5cv into a West Australian museum or the Whiteman Park Collection.

Unfortunately I am no longer able to participate in most ACE activities, but should a miracle occur and my health improves, I would like again to join in.

Cheers bastards.

Old Man Emu
(Ron Westwood).