The 1904 INNES - Australian Motoring History
The history behind this dream collectible car doesn't stop there, before the Innes belonged to current owner Geoff Simmons, it was part of the personal collection of H.R Arnott - Australia's biscuit king.
In his time as a vehicle maker, Innes built one and possibly two single-cylinder cars (including Simmons' vehicle) then constructed a four-cylinder model. All were bought by H.R Arnott, who entered this particular vehicle in the 1905 Dunlop Trial, one of the first reliability trials held anywhere in the world.
Another piece of motoring history states that Arnott was also one of Australia's first motorists to be booked for speeding, being fined 10 shillings for travelling down a Melbourne street at 13km/h, reportedly in this Innes.
Then, this iconic vintage car just disappeared.
After years of obscurity, the highly collectible car was found in 1955 - in a paddock by a gentleman called George Robertson, a member of the Veteran Car Club. When Robertson found it, some parts had been taken from the car, but basically the 'bones' of the original car were all there.
Simmons bought the vintage car from Robertson in 1985 and began a 20-year 'labour of love' car restoration to rebuild this piece of motoring history. Simmons spent years sourcing original parts from all around the world to restore the car to its former glory.
Simmons searched the world to find Lacoste parts that could be used in the Innes and then used a De Dion engine that he already had. Simmons then set about personally making the other parts in his own workshop - including external contracting, transmission brakes, linkages and rear wheel brakes in his home workshop.
The Innes made its first public appearance on Australia Day last year, and is now offered for sale (www.justcars.com.au)
"We finished the rebuild in late 2009 and it made its first public appearance at Sydney's 2010 NRMA Motorfest," Simmons said.
At 9HP, the Innes cruises at 30mph (48km/h) and it does about 20 miles per gallon (14 litres per 100 kilometres).
This piece of motoring history is listed for sale exclusively on www.justcars.com.au for $70K.
Simmons said, "I want to buy a steam car and have regrettably been told that I have to sell one of my cars before I am allowed to buy another."
