Rare and interesting car sightings

[werkhorse]

Swift... Yes when I bought it in the mid 90s it was very original with only 110,000 miles on it with the 2 speed power glide. Great for cruising about but not really the best for a young diesel apprentice and when, after doing many miles on all sorts of Tassie roads, the bellhousing cracked and let the tranny drop out I replaced it with an M21 4 speed and lifted the diff ratio up from 3.36 to 3.08 and fitted spitfire II mags, much more appropriate for a young lad. Apart from that it was still very original when I reluctantly let it go in the mid 2000s.

[TA3001]

Saw this in a BP tonight, and thought one of the forum members here might like it, so here it is. No idea of the model, looks vintage.

vcl.jpg (80.25 KiB) Viewed 6840 times

[boronia]

G-O-G-G-O........

DSC02864small.JPG (49.68 KiB) Viewed 6620 times

YES, the Dart

[Swift]

^ a six year old could easily drive that.

[boronia]

Anyone older might have a problem getting into it LOL. No door, fixed seat, fixed steering wheel.

[Swift]

Did you check to see if there are mower blades under it?
Designed by Germans really??!!

[scott]

Found a fake VN Group A.

https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/muscle/232843-1990-vn-hsv-ss-group-commodore-213r.html

It is a 1988 model really according to the compliance plate.

[scott]

Another one, A 1973 Charger- $175,000

https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/muscle/232279-1973-vj-e48-valiant-charger-770-pack-11560-klms.html

[boronia]

Did you check to see if there are mower blades under it?
Designed by Germans really??!!

The chassis is German. The body was by Bill Buckle in Sydney.

[Swift]

^Bill Buckle of Brookvale fame. Of course reliant on fibreglass, it was really like a kit car.
Very interesting finds Scott. That VN group A replica is well done and would suit someone who always wanted one but can't afford or locate the genuine article. The price is a bit ambitious though. Would a genuine one cost much more, should one be found on the market?
You wouldn't want to ever drive the VJ Charger on public roads. It's like an expensive art work on wheels. I have the privilege of (I think) hearing a triple Weber 265 CL Charger once, and I thought it was an exotic high powered motorbike coming up the hill. It's sound was very unique coming out of a car.

[Swift]

You don't see many of these, especially in such great shape. The wheel covers look quite good on a silver car.
A nicer shape than the VT IMO.

[scott]

I saw a 1994 VR Lexcen today, in green that was spotless and not oxidised like many other 1990's cars. My old VR Lexcen, was a different shade of silver being one of the first built, and it was badly oxidised, but no paint shop wanted the job, so I left it. I sold it to my cousin, then the bogans trashed it, and it got scrapped.

[Swift]

Sorry to hear another go by the wayside, Lexcens tended to be bought by more conservative buyers and therefore less likely to be abused than their Holden counterparts -in theory at least.
There is an abandoned (or was) VS I came across recently in a laneway in Kingsford here in Sydney with a smashed drivers window mint in colour. Shame to see what it's still an attractive and modern looking car gradually rotting away unloved and likely to get further vandalised before being taken away to be scrapped. It only had 150k on the odo, although that could be suburban only km which is much harder in components than open road km. The bonnet had nasty scrapes as well.

[scott]

Spotted on returning from family Christmas celebrations in Victoria's Surf Coast was an immaculate, unmolested white late 80's XF Falcon panel van, a rare sighting nowadays, a nice break from the dual cab utes and SUV's.

[scott]

Found this survivor 1983 KB Laser Ghia up for grabs.

https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/cars/1983-ford-kb-laser-ghia-235760

When Ford was top dog in Australian motoring, just look at them now, their best seller is a dual cab ute.

[Swift]

Good find Scott. That car should go to a collection never to be daily driven again.

[scott]

Found today was a 1972 HQ Statesman Custom up for grabs for $39,500, the base model Statesman, this one has the rare three manual on the tree, no power windows, power steering or aircon either.

https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/cars/1972-hq-holden-statesman-custom-253-v8-235982

[Swift]

^ you've done it again scott. The colour, the (lack of) features, the bench seat, and last but not least, the three speed column manual mated to the 4.2!!

My report is the sight of a BMW NSW patrol car with it's lights flashing as it drove past me at the bus stop yesterday. It's sad to see the Falcadore gone, but this looked fabulous in NSW Police livery!! Bring it on.

[scott]

I have seen some VW Passats doing the rounds for Victoria Police, they are becoming more regular as VF Commodores are slowly retired from police duties. I believe there are some BMW police cars on order for Victorian coppers.

I wonder if any ZB Commodores will go into police service?, I know there is a batch in South Australia. Holden could do with some sales, only 9,040 ZB's were sold last year.

[Swift]

I doubt the police will order many front drive Commodores if at all, except maybe for non pursuit duties like the Camry.
The cops must not be complaining getting to flog BMWs for a living. BMWs actually respond well to being thrashed around and the tax payer gets to worry about repairs, if any. It really is a fantastic new era.

[B10BLE]

Speaking of BMW reliability, BMWs probably make a great first car, especially the 3 series E90.

[scott]

The only problem with BMW's is the high maintenance costs and the cost of parts.

[Swift]

The only problem with BMW's is the high maintenance costs and the cost of parts.

That's the whole problem with them!!

[Swift]

The last model Meteor in Eastgardens.

[Swift]

Saw a Ferrari red 1976 VK Valiant Regal sedan in immaculate looking shape coming the other way while I was waiting at lights on Wentworth Ave, Eastgardens today. A gent who looked in his 50s or 60s was driving.