Commissioned by Trevor Davies, owner Arlington Motors, this mural depicts two technological advancements from different periods in history: an old model T style car and an astronaut in orbit above the Earth. A slogan in a digital alarm clock-style font reads “STATE OF THE ART CRASH REPAIRS”.


Originally there was a second component to the mural on the Douglas Street-facing side of the building. Consisting of various car logos on a burgundy background, it disappeared when the building was renovated c.2008.

Maribeth Coleman, ‘Public Art and Publically Accessible Art’

Christopher John Finlayson, ‘Arlington Motors’ (1993), Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington
Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, Nov 2025

Christopher John Finlayson, ‘Arlington Motors’ (1993), Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Image: Maribeth Coleman, ‘Public Art and Publicly Accessible Art’ courtesy Wellington City Libraries Recollect CC BY-NC-ND

Arlington Motors

Christopher John Finlayson

Type

Medium

Dimensions

1993–Current

Artists

Description