A car for the O'l fellas

[BaitDropper]

 

So who here is O'l enough to remember or name this O'l girl

Edited November 12 by BaitDropper

[zmk1962]

Vanguard around 1960s ?

[BaitDropper]

23 minutes ago, zmk1962 said:

Vanguard around 1960s ?

Yes you are correct,  A 56 Aussie built Space master deluxe if you please.. LOL

It sat for 23 years half covered when the original owner got to old to drive.

I just couldn't help myself. A mate got his 63 station wagon with 30K on the clock, this one was used as there main car, but apart from the cill of the 2 rear guards where the bung holes were blocked, which I'll have to cut out, pretty well rust free. 

I'm a sucker for punishment.

[frankS]

Yes I had one of these when I was about 17, that was back in about 1965 didn't have it long (couple of months) swapped it for a 6 cyl Zepher. (the Vanguard was slow and the Zepher was a rocket)

I think the old vanguard was one of the last cars that still had the crank handle option for starting. And if my memory is correct think it was 6 volt system. same as the holdens of that vintage.

Frank

[noelm]

I am bit of a Holden fan, especially the HT Monaro (Monaro’s in general really) but, those old Zephirs bring back memories of surfing trips up and down the coast, my good mate had one that smelled horrible inside, the old guy be bought it off told him he kept the seats nice by wiping pee on them……that car looks like it will be a great fun thing to have.

[BaitDropper]

1 hour ago, frankS said:

Yes I had one of these when I was about 17, that was back in about 1965 didn't have it long (couple of months) swapped it for a 6 cyl Zepher. (the Vanguard was slow and the Zepher was a rocket)

I think the old vanguard was one of the last cars that still had the crank handle option for starting. And if my memory is correct think it was 6 volt system. same as the holdens of that vintage.

Frank

My first car was the old mans 59, I did a huge milage in that old girl while I was an apprentice, of course it was a complete mess once I'd finished with it, but I had many a memory.

And Yes, the old crank handle, this one still has the original in the boot with the other tools, it was par for the course that on a cold morning or if you left the old valve radio on over night, out came the crank handle LOL. It's a 12 volt system. About 15 odd years back, a 1960 mk2 Zephyr fell into my lap which I did a complete rebuild on, it went well and was much quicker than the old Vanguard, but I had no real emotional connection to it, so when I was offered a good price for it, I had no problems selling.

 

[noelm]

Restoring cars has to be a hobby, there is thousands of “projects” left in bits, rusting away that we’re going to be “done up one day” unless it’s a true hobby/passion, and you have the space to spare, don’t even consider starting it……over the years I have done (and very sadly sold) and FJ panel van, an FC panel van (loved that car) a HT Monaro, (damn I wish I had it now) a HR X2 Premier, my mate had the rarest HR I have ever seen, and to my knowledge, the only one ever built….a factory premier wagon (not unusual) but a four speed……never seen a manual premier in my life, let alone a “4 on the floor” it was fathers, bought new and handed down, he sold it, and last he heard, it was written off in a crash and sold to the metal recyclers!

[BaitDropper]

1 hour ago, noelm said:

I am bit of a Holden fan, especially the HT Monaro (Monaro’s in general really) but, those old Zephirs bring back memories of surfing trips up and down the coast, my good mate had one that smelled horrible inside, the old guy be bought it off told him he kept the seats nice by wiping pee on them……that car looks like it will be a great fun thing to have.

I'm not sure how far I'll go with this one in all honesty Noel, so far its like a trip down memory lane with it, so I'll just continue tinkering and see what happens.

I wasn't really looking for another project, but when I got the call, I couldn't resist, I had the space, so hey, why not.  The leather seats are toast inside and as mentioned the 2 back guards at the bottom need cutting out and new pieces welded in, which I have sourced, so once that's done then it's basically rust free, which for these cars is rare. 

I'm going to get it road worthied after I've gone over everything, tyres, brakes and the cooling system which I am doing now and general maintenance, then I'll see if I go the whole hog.

I'd always had it in the back of my head that one day I would do another car, but the prices of older cars has gone through the roof, finding and doing up an old Monaro for instance is pretty much out of the average man's wallet range, in fact, anything ford or Holden of that era commands ridiculous prices.

[noelm]

Yep, Monaros and GT Falcons are just way over priced, but, people buy them. Restoring an old car is great fun, but, it takes time, especially if you want to restore it back to original condition, looking for parts, driving all over the country on wild goose chases, but, it’s part of the game. Go for it and enjoy the ride…..literally.

[noelm]

Just as a side note, and maybe someone on here might know. I see lots of old Fords and Holden’s for sale with “no tags” now, as far as I understood, you cannot/should not ever remove the “tags” how does rego go if you buy one, then put different numbers purchased elsewhere? or even a car with no numbers……how does that work?

[frankS]

My first car was a Hudson Hornet I raced it at the old West mead track and won a 20 lap feature race in it when I was 16. My first legal road car was a Austin a 40 . I ended up having 5 a 40's including a convertible with a holden grey motor in it. I have restored many old cars . My favourite car was a new E H with 4 speed on the floor only 1 of 2 new cars I have ever bought the other was a XY Falcon 250. I wanted the GT but insurance at the time was almost the price of the 250 sedan. 2nd choice was a Charger but I went to the showroom to buy one and the demo model wouldn't start so I went down the road and bought the Falcon.

I tried to remember all the cars I have owned once and lost count of the number of cars I have owned. 5 A40's, 5 Chrysler Centura's one with a hemi 265 4 speed that I would put up against any car on the road at the time including v8's .

My last restoration was a 1952 Humber Snipe that once transported the queen soon after being crowned, but that's another story. That car with it's background would be now worth over 1,000,000 dollars. I sold it for pretty well nothing.

Frank

[noelm]

My good mate inherited his grand father’s A40, it was a four speed column shift, pretty neat for back then, most cars were only three speed. I have this strange inkling to do a Charger, at least they are affordable to buy one in need of TLC, don’t know much about them really, but old Holden’s I know inside out.

[frankS]

I have had 2 Chargers a 215 and a 245 would love a 265 but have never had the opp to buy one.

The 318's are out of this world.

Frank

Edited November 12 by frankS

[BaitDropper]

It's a mine field Noel and does depend which state your in as well.  Roads NSW does not recognise Vic roads for instance, ie, I had to pay stamp duty on my boat trailer, which I bought new in Vic in 2011 when I shifted up here. In Vic,  stamp duty for a new boat trailer comes under another name, so I got stung twice. The ACT I believe don't pay stamp duty, I was told that when I was having my debacle with roads NSW. Then you have the fact here in NSW, even if you've owned a vehicle for 15 years, registered in another state, it is not recognised here, I had to ring up the previous owner of my cruise craft and get him to make an official receipt with his drivers licence and previous registrations he had on the boat here in NSW before they would accept ownership, ridiculous !!.

I'm kinda lucky with this Vanguard, I have the original receipt from 1956 where the owner bought it from the car show back then, but they also do require engine no, model no ( no chasis no on them) so no doubt I will have the same issues I did when I moved up, I am unsure what would happen if I couldn't supply engine no etc...  Oh, I do have the original 1956 number plates that came with it as well, so for this vehicle I'm sure I would have enough info.

One thing I found interesting here in NSW, I can make a booking for a road worthy inspection then drive this Vanguard legally to said mechanic outlet without having to obtain a non registered permit as you do in most other states, of course I would get insurance as well, but the mere fact a potential un roadworthy vehicle can be driven for such a purpose is kinda mind boggling.