Historic journey along Overland Telegraph Line captures the imagination

Friends Brenton Whittenbury and Brenton Taylor are recreating the journey of Captain Edward Bagot across the centre of Australia 100 years ago. (Supplied: Brenton Taylor)

If you saw a car in the central Australian outback you wouldn't expect it to be a vintage 1925 Studebaker … let alone two of them, driven by two men called Brenton.

Back in the day, the century-old cars were known for their durability and size, according to Brenton Taylor who has been driving one of the Studebakers alongside his friend Brenton Whittenbury in the other.

"The Studebakers were chosen because they could seat seven people," he said.

"They've got very large motors, ours are 290 cubic inch or 4.8 litres, so big, torquey, heavy cars, quite luxurious.

"They cost about three times as much as a Model T Ford back in the day and they were often chosen by entrepreneurs to start their businesses in the outback, like Captain Bagot was doing."

The Studebakers have been handling the challenges thrown at them. (Supplied: Brenton Taylor)

The old friends are driving the cars from Adelaide to Darwin and back, along the route of the old Overland Telegraph Line, recreating the journey of Captain Edward Bagot 100 years ago.

The original convoy comprised two Studebaker cars and two trucks, a Thornycroft and a Graham, but on their journey Mr Taylor and Mr Whittenbury have been accompanied by five support vehicles.

Mr Taylor said Captain Bagot completed the journey to open up the outback for tourism and paying passengers.

"His main reason was to provide a tourist product, if you like, that people would pay good money for," he said.

"He had 12 passengers that paid 100 pounds each, which is about $8,010 today."

One of those passengers was Mr Whittenbury's great grandfather Clarence Judd.

The convoy is travelling along the route of the Old Overland Telegraph line. (Supplied: Brenton Taylor)

Mr Judd was an amateur filmmaker from South Australia, who documented the journey.

"I had seen the movie as a child, but it had only ever really remained in the family, you know, it wasn't for general release," said Mr Whittenbury.

"It just captured my imagination in those early days and I've been thinking about making this trip for a long time.

"Then about three years ago, Brenton and I were talking and we thought, 'well, why don't we do it'? And here we are today."

The convoy has passed through Coward Springs on its journey. (Supplied: Brenton Taylor)

The friends left Adelaide on May 18, exactly 100 years after Captain Bagot, and expect to arrive in Darwin on June 6.

Along the way Mr Taylor a