Dalbeattie Men's Shed's vintage car replica to get first outing on July 17

A replica vintage automobile painstakingly built by a group of Dalbeattie motor enthusiasts will get its first outing this weekend.

The project to assemble the Skeoch Cycle Car has taken more than three years – with a few false starts along the way.

But now the amateur motor manufacturers at Dalbeattie Men’s Shed can look in their rear view mirror on a job well done.

The tiny two-seater car will be unveiled at Colliston Park on Saturday at 10am – 100 years since the original starred at the 1921 Scottish Motor Show in Glasgow.

Men’s Shed secretary Geoff Allison thanked the local community for keeping the project on the road.

He said: “The whole car has been built from donations from local people and businesses in cash and in kind which included workspace, expertise and components.”

The landmark unveiling comes a century after James Baird Skeoch put his cycle car into production at his Millisle Works in the town.

Only a handful of the cars had rolled off the production line when fire ripped through the uninsured factory.

The disaster brought to an end Skeoch’s dream of making motoring affordable.

However, the blueprints survived – and Skeoch’s grandaughter Fiona Sinclair gave them to the shed team to recreate the car.

Mr Allison said: “It was February 2018 when we agreed to take on the project.

“The plan was to have the car finished by January 28, the 100th anniversary of the original car’s appearance at the Scottish Motor Show.

“We were well on our way when Covid hit in March, 2020, and we moved the car out to Palnackie.

“We got back on programme and were almost there by the end of 2020 and ready for the paint shop.

“Then came another lockdown and that really fouled things up.”

Originally, the shed had targeted the 2021 Scottish Motor Show to unveil the replica Skeoch.

But the pandemic convinced the team to show off the car only at local venues for now.

“On Sunday July 25, it’s going to Threave Gardens with an exhibition of vintage and veteran Hillman and Singer cars,” Mr Allison said.

“Then, the following Sunday, it’s going to Robertson Gemini in Castle Douglas for their 100th anniversary celebrations.

“It will be there until August 13.”

Anticipation is growing ahead of the Skeoch going on display at Colliston Park.

“We are hoping the public will turn out this weekend to have a look and learn about how this car was designed and manufactured in Dalbeattie 100 years ago,” Mr Allison said.

The car will be on show at the bandstand on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm.