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Beerbowser: the ultimate in man-cave companions

25 August, 2016

When you’re out in the man cave, tunes cranking, spanners spinning, working on something that’ll no doubt be finished when it’s finished, sometimes you’re after some company — company that fits into the metalwork-orientated, petrolhead wonderland that is your shed, garage, or workshop. The only complementary item that suits such an environment is a Beerbowser. That’s right, it’s a brew-pumping ’50s–’60s petrol bowser capable of storing your yeast-produced liquid refreshments for whenever they’re required. 

Handcrafted using quality materials right here in New Zealand, Beerbowsers are the ultimate old-school-looking bowsers, yet pack a modern punch. With the ability to add a Bluetooth sound system and USB-charging capabilities, you can refill your favourite vessel with the bowser to your favourite anthem, and keep those power-hungry devices on charge. 

Based on Haier fridges, you need not worry about your 30-, 40-, or 50-litre keg turning warm due to mechanical error, either. Beerbowsers are built to order, which means that whatever is your favourite brand or style, it can be made to suit. 

There’s only one serious issue now though — we’re all going to need bigger sheds for our Beerbowser collections! They also have the added bonus of being able to slot into your original fridge spot in the kitchen with ease.

If you’re interested in checking out the entire Beerbowser range, or are wanting to get in touch with the talented team behind these creations, head to beerbowser.co.nz. 

Disclaimer: Beerbowser does not promote our products by brand. All Beerbowsers displayed have been custom made by customer request and are not marketed specifically by brand. The images are only examples.  © 2016 |  Beerbowser NZ  |  All rights reserved 

Grand Routier — in the french tradition

10 July, 2025

Sitting in Paddy and Patsy Williams’ Dunedin garage is a stunning example of one of these rare French grand routier sedans. It is a 1949 four-door Lago-Record Factory Berline sedan, to give its full name. Daughter Cath let us know how proud she was of her dad, who had been tinkering away in his garage on this car for so many years.
Without exaggeration, it has been a mammoth task. I first saw this Talbot-Lago in mid 2019. The long-nosed, sweeping, curved four-door saloon, clothed in its misty green metallic paint, was quite breathtaking. There’s more than a little English influence in it, too, harking back to company owner Tony Lago’s involvement in the Clement-Talbot-Darracq era. The long front wings and bonnet, usually multi-louvred, highlighted with artful touches of chrome bling, are typical of the era, but these were indeed luxury length. Interiors provided leather-clad, armchair-style seating and ample legroom, with touches of wood and surprising details such as dainty childproof interior locks — a far cry from today’s lozenge boxes.
Paddy, a retired civil and structural engineer, knows his way around a lathe. He has a well-equipped garage-workshop to assist in any machining tasks along with his other passion for restoring classic motorcycles.

The Great River Road

4 July, 2025

A few years ago my family, knowing my fondness for driving, gave me the book Unforgettable Road Trips: Thirty-Six Drives of a Lifetime by Martin Derrick. Most of the road trips listed take less than a day in places like Scotland, Monaco, and Australia, plus one in New Zealand. Most of these places were too far to go just for a short drive but four of them would take several days. My interest was piqued, and those four drives were added to the bucket list. To date, I have done three of them: ‘Route 66’ (USA 21 days), ‘State Highway 6’ (NZ 10 days) and ‘The Great River Road’ (USA 22 days). You can drive all of them in less time, but you could also fly over them. We wanted a decent immersion in their charms.
The great river referred to is the Mississippi. While the name conjures the deep south, the river actually starts at the bottom of the great lakes, before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico about 3800km later. The great road is more of a concept than a specific strip of tarmac, as you can drive down either side of the river on various routes. Regardless of which side you drive, time should be kept aside for detours to places such as Nashville, which is famous for something or other.