Ngapara gold dredge master Robert Ross, of Alexandra, was the first owner of the 1904 Humber Humberette and it remains roadworthy with a current warrant of fitness.
''She's gorgeous,'' Central Stories collections manager Rachael Welfare said yesterday.
''When we were given the chance to have her on display, we said, 'Oh my God, yes please.' It's entirely appropriate to have it here, given its link to an Alexandra dredge master and the fact that it was the first car in Central Otago, we believe.''
The Ross family named the car Josephine and it bears the registration number D295, with the D standing for Dunedin where it was registered. Mr Ross' widow gave the vehicle to some friends, the Turnbull family of Galloway, in 1946, much to the delight of twins Bob and Bill Turnbull, who were then aged 16. The boys restored the car and it remained in the ownership of Bob Turnbull, who died last year, aged 81.
The 927cc, 6.5hp car had a top speed of 50kmh and was insured for about $50,000. It was the only one of its type in New Zealand and one of 12 in the world, Mr Brabant said.
''When the brothers picked it up, the belt was driving a saw to cut firewood, so it needed some restoring.''
On New Year's Eve in 1952, the brothers drove it from Christchurch to Dunedin, which took 19 hours and 55 minutes, going an average speed of 32kmh.
''They picked up a hitchhiker on the way, so it was pretty slow up the hills,'' Mr Brabant said.
The vehicle has no odometer so it was impossible to calculate how many miles it had travelled, but the Christchurch trip was believed to be its longest. Photos of the Ross family learning to drive the car will be included in the museum display and Josephine would be taken out for drives on special occasions, Miss Welfare said.
