But Reg Johnson of Levetts Road certainly can.

His 1923 Buick cuts a distinguished figure as it still choofs around town.

Reg and his Buick first made headlines in The Young Witness in 1995.

It’s almost 20 years since the article was published and there’s no slowing either of them down. 

The Buik was bought from a Young dealership, formerly called Laxens and was originally a ute that belonged to Reg’s neighbour.

He bought it for $400 in 1975 (his neighbour using the money to buy his first colour TV), restored it and had a vinyl covering installed.

The Buick is equipped with three gears - back to front - two wheel breaks and a choke. 

The phone number on the steel plate that came with the car, attached to the dash, is 20.

“I think the car really belongs to the town,” Reg said.

“It was not a cheap car, it was twice the price of a Chevy.” 

A treasured gift, Reg uses every opportunity he has to show that the Roaring 20s really were the glory days – when these vehicles tackled ditches, narrow slopes and rugged terrain as the only form of transport for local farmers. 

“They’re really good on dirt, they’re made for it… You’ve got to remember these were the vehicles farmers used in the 1920s.”

Reg is very much a boy trapped in a 71-year-old man’s body. 

These days you’re likely to find the retired panel beater working away on his Buicks, 1965 Chevy or 1974 Jaguar. 

Why? It’s simple. 

He loves cars – particularly the vintage ones, as was evident by the collection of five vintage and classic cars that sat hidden under plastic covers around his property.

But take a step into his study and it becomes quite clear Reg’s admiration for these four-wheeled creatures stems well beyond the workshop.

Lining the western wall of the room was cabinet after cabinet of toy and model vintage cars. 

At the back, sitting in a worn, dusty wooden glass case on its own were the Dinky Toy cars from his childhood.

“These cars are from my childhood. There are 26 and each one has its own story to tell,” Reg said.

Like the mobile crane he received for Christmas from his widowed mother at age 10.

“I wanted the Coles Crane because it was bigger and better and fancier, but I was given this one because that’s all she could afford,” he said.

“I was disappointed at the time but I’ve come to treasure it.

“The cabinet also includes a car I made myself (at 10) out of Balsa wood. That’s my first body!”