Australian Driver Toured Azerbaijan in 1929 Pontiac
A traveler is driving a century-old restored roadster across international borders to raise funds for medical research.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Car Culture
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Australian traveler Rick Lindsay has brought a restored 1929 Pontiac Roadster to Azerbaijan as part of an international charity road trip. The journey aims to raise money for Parkinson's disease research focused on stopping the progression of the condition.
Why it matters
The charity drive highlights both the historical endurance of vintage vehicles and the global commitment to funding neurodegenerative disease research. Lindsay, who spent years restoring the antique car, chose to include Azerbaijan in his route due to positive experiences from a prior visit.
The vehicle is a 1929 Pontiac Roadster manufactured in Detroit that served as a work vehicle in Australia before its restoration. Lindsay plans to continue his expedition from Azerbaijan into Georgia and then into Türkiye.
The players
Rick Lindsay
An Australian traveler and vintage car enthusiast currently driving a 1929 Pontiac Roadster to support global medical research.
Pontiac
An iconic American automotive brand, known for its historic Detroit manufacturing, that produced this 1929 Roadster model.
The details
The 1929 Pontiac Roadster underwent a comprehensive restoration by Lindsay himself during the COVID-19 pandemic. After its initial sale in Australia nearly a century ago, the car was utilized for agricultural purposes before being salvaged for this mission. The current journey requires extensive mechanical reliability to traverse international borders through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye.
Timeline
The Pontiac Roadster was manufactured in 1929.
Restoration of the car took place between 2020 and 2022.
Lindsay met with journalists in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 1, 2026.
The Home Front
This trek reflects a broader trend of utilizing restored vintage machines to bring awareness to philanthropic causes. The endurance of a century-old vehicle in international travel underscores the value of long-term automotive maintenance and mechanical preservation.
If you own a classic vehicle, ensure you have documented all maintenance and restoration history to preserve its value and mechanical reliability. Owners of vintage cars should prioritize keeping detailed records of parts and work completed, similar to the documentation required for this international journey.
The takeaway
Maintaining antique machinery requires a long-term commitment to mechanical health and consistent care. Keep a log of your own home vehicle's maintenance records, which can be invaluable for future repairs or for maintaining the vehicle's long-term operational viability.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of travel and automotive history, see our Car Culture archive.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Trend.
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