Dubbo-based Achmea Farm Insurance Specialist Laurence Rogers shares the story behind Cactus, a 1969 Dodge Utility rebuilt from a bare shell in just 23 days, and why AgQuip remains one of his favourite events to connect with Australian farmers.
This year you’re bringing a 1969 Dodge Utility called Cactus to AgQuip. What’s the story behind it?
It all began in 2020 with the Wayfarer. I had been following an American car journalist named Dave on social media, who was always finding old vehicles and bringing them back to life. I sent him an Australian Valiant bumper sticker and it just started from there.
In the US, Valiants were pretty average cars. When Dave saw my Wayfarer, he said, “If you ever find one of those, I’d love to come to Australia and get it running.”
Well, I’d already found a ute about two hours from Dubbo, but it’d been through several floods. The dipstick had rusted down to about 10 cm long. Most people would’ve given up on it.
We eventually found what would become Cactus in Wagga, and that’s where the story really began.
Dave flew out to Australia in 2022 and, with about a dozen friends, we spent 23 days putting the ute together. We registered it and then drove more than 1,500 kms through regional New South Wales to prove it could be done.
The concept behind the car is pretty simple. Almost everything on it is made up of used parts, often things people were going to throw away. It shows you can build something interesting without spending a fortune.
Why the name Cactus?
Dave fell in love with Australian slang. I’d point to parts and say, “That’s busted”, “that’s stuffed”, or “that part’s a bit cactus”. The expression stuck.
What do you enjoy most about bringing an old vehicle back to life?
Every vehicle has a story. I enjoy figuring out why it’s off the road and then working out how to make it better than when it last ran.
Some of the best solutions come from unexpected places. The radiator in Cactus actually came out of a limousine someone was throwing away. For $50, we ended up with something that had better cooling capacity than the original part.
That’s the sort of challenge I enjoy, finding a new use for something people thought was no good.
Do you see any similarities between restoring an old vehicle and being an Achmea Farm Insurance Specialist?
Definitely. Both involve understanding what you’ve got, thinking ahead and paying attention to the details.
When you’re restoring a vehicle, it’s all about planning, problem-solving and understanding the consequences of the decisions you make along the way.
It’s much the same when I’m out on farm with clients.
We see plenty of old shearing sheds. Some are 80 or 90 years old and still strong because they were built properly and maintained well. Others are about to fall over because they’re being held together with fencing wire and baling twine.
It often helps to understand how something’s been built, how it’s being used and what might happen next.
What do you enjoy most about the conversations you have with farmers at AgQuip?
For me, AgQuip is a celebration of Australian agriculture. It’s a great place to connect. We meet people from all over the country in one place, and you get to have conversations with people from all sorts of farming backgrounds and regions.
I’m look forward to hearing how the season has unfolded and seeing what’s new, from machinery and technology to fresh ideas and different ways farmers are moving the industry forward. I’m always keen to hear what’s working for people. Everyone’s dealing with different conditions, costs and challenges, so it’s interesting to see how farmers are adapting and finding opportunities.
Every conversation gives you a different perspective, and I always leave AgQuip feeling inspired and having learned something new.
Insurance issued by Achmea Schadeverzekeringen N.V. (Achmea) ABN 86 158 237 702 AFSL 433984. Always read the PDS and TMD available from achmea.com.au/important-documents.