Car clubs to celebrate 150th anniversary of first car in Canada

What's believed to be the first car in Canada will be recognized this weekend at an event in South Rustico, P.E.I.

The car was purchased in Philadelphiafor $300 by Father Georges-Antoine Belcourt and arrived on the Islandin 1866, after being built in Bayonne, N.J.

The P.E.I. Antique Car Club and the National Association of AutomobileClubs of Canada will be recognizing theBelcourtcar as the first in Canada this Sunday at the Farmers' Bank ofRusticoMuseum.

The horseless carriage, as it was known then, was powered by steam.

"He brought it in to help him get around the parish and minister to his flock," said Rudy Croken, president of the P.E.I. Antique Car Club. "But after finding out it didn't work out all that great, he lost interest in it."

The one-seater was shipped to Charlottetown and then brought to Rustico by a team of horses, according to the museum.The steam chamber was 1.2 metres talland the motor was connected to the wheels by a chain. It was completely open, withno windshield and no roof.

Croken said there is some documentation about the car, but they'd love to have more, including what happened to it. He's also hoping to someday have a permanent display about the original car on P.E.I.

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