Cars I

Cars I've Owned

Car 1:

MORRIS COOPER 'S' Mk II - My 1st car: This was my first car and it screamed!!! It had a 1/2 race motor in it (used to idle at 1400 rpm ... just), and it flew .... power from 3000 - 7000 rpm. It was off the road more than on the road, so I also learnt alot about the public transport system, and it got me into more trouble with the police than any other vehicle I've owned (but it was worth it!) The photo shown here is after I resprayed the car and am still putting it together. The car ran twin 1.5" SU carburettors (I tried a 45mm DCOE Weber and decided that this carb was highly over-rated), Longman tri-Y extractors, straight through exhaust with minilite wheels and Momo sports steering wheel. I blew more transmissions and diffs than you can imagine and ... to this day I still have a stripped pinion gear at home holding down a stack of paper. This ... is the car I teethed on before moving into Pontiacs, and a better "learning" car no-one could ask for ... everything is simple and in easy reach. A car that I'll always have fond memories of ..... I feel I betrayed it by selling it.

Car 2:

DATSUN 260C - My 2nd car: Primarily bought for my work at the time and used as a company car. Good passenger vehicle. Had many a good trip to the snow driving myself and friends in "luxury" for weekends. A very trouble free car that was well appointed.

Car 3:

MORRIS MINI 1100 - My 3rd car: Bought to do up as a race car but I eventually sold it to my brother who recently got his licence at that time. Had heaps of caster dialled into the front end so that the steering would "whip" back to neutral.

Car 4:

MAZDA RX-4 COUPE - My 4th car: This car I owned because my step brother had a 4 door version and I liked the power and I REALLY liked the overhead console!! This car had a twin disi 12A motor in it and the alarm on the tacho would sound at 6000rpm but quite easily wind out to "oh ...... somewhere off the dial" - the tacho was at full scale deflection at 8000rpm. This car (I think) was one of the worst cars Mazda made. I like the styling and the power, but the front end is WAY to light. I once changed lanes on an expressway at 120mph THROUGH NO CHOICE OF MINE ... this is scary stuff!!! I swear that this is why the RX7 has a very nice wedge shape to it. In Sydney at the moment, the rotary engined cars virtually own the dragstrip in the 10-13 second bracket ... it's as though having a V8 is like playing with a dinosaur ..... BUT .... give me my dinosaur anyday .... you can't beat style!

Car 5:

DATSUN 1600: - My 5th car: The old "combat dato!" Had a lot of fun in this car. Primarliy used to go windsurfing. I also owned a bike at this stage (Kawasaki GPZ 750 turbo) and so this car became my secondary form of transport (outside of work). We used to hoon this thing around also ..... they handled great ..... it eventually died of rust (tough on re-registration here in N.S.W. Australia).

Car 6:

PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM 1971 - My 6th car: 07/1986 - 02/1989. The best car I've ever owned. Original everything - 455H.O. numbers matching engine, TH400 no.s matching gearbox, totally stock and original, well optioned car. I only sold this as I had no garage to keep it in at the stage of life I was at. I came home from 3 weeks holiday and noticed a very light layer of rust forming on the paint ..... better someone else own it and look after it, than I wreck a beautiful car.

Car 7:

DATSUN 1600: - My 7th car: Like the previous .... just a beater to supplement the bike and the Pontiac - great cars. Had a lot of good times windsurfing with these cars.

Car 8:

MORRIS MINI MOKE 1275cc CALIFORNIAN - My 8th car: What a great car this was! I purchased this car for $2000 in really good shape, and decided that if I didn't fix the "little" things immediately then they'd never get done, so I put it into the apholstery shop to get a new top and new rear window in it. Next day I replaced the ratty looking floor rubbers and bought a proper jack and spare toolkit. The day after that I drove the car to my friends place and snapped a driveshaft "howling it" out of his driveway. The next day I bought a drive shaft and took the day off work to replace it. That night I drove to the local shops and some BASTARD stole it (Feb 1989) and I've never seen it since. All up I invested $2500 in that car and it was uninsured because I had my bike and other cars insured (costing me a fortune) and I figured "who'd steal this insignificant thing??" - I was wrong!

Car 9:

PONTIAC FIREBIRD 400 1968 Ram Air 1 - My 9th car: 06/89 - Present. A rare "gem in the rough". This car is 1 of 92 cars with TH400 transmission. I'll show more photos of the rebuild when I get them. A mess when I got it (don't you love the chrome wheels and the pop up sunroof!). But .... the interior was still original (except for a stereo) and the basics were there. It is currently in pieces and still waiting to be put back together. I am still restoring this one.

Car 10:

RS2000 ESCORT - My 10th car: Graham Epps and I owned this car for years and years ... Graham 1st for about 4 years
and then me for about 4 years ewhile the car stayed in storage for about 2 years. A lot of good times in our teens. Some SCUMBAG stole the car in April 1994 and we haven't seen it since. The car is a REAL RS2000 four door, and had a Celica 5 spd gearbox and dual front sway bars, load lifters on the rear leaf springs, with a new cam and engine rebuild just finished on it. The car is easily destinguishable by a large gap around the boot lid. The car had been stolen twice previously for joy rides and a shunt up the back resulted in the side stripes being removed and the gap between the boot lid and the body. Also torn Sceel racing seats on the passenger side and rust in the passenger side rear quarter. Any sightings of the car PLEASE e-mail me on the address shown on the front as the car was not insured. If you knew what they wanted for insurance .... you wouldn't insure it either ... all the other vehicles are!! (this should give some comparison when you look at the other vehicles!).

Car 11:

PONTIAC FIREBIRD ESPRIT 1972 - My 11th car: 03/1991 - 03/1994. I purchased this car without an engine or a gearbox. It was originally a Pontiac 350 with a TH350 transmission. My mate Jeff Whatman and I converted the car to a 4spd and dumped a '70 GTO 400 motor (RAIII) in it. The car had an open 2.78 rear which was replaced with a 2.41 posi. Initially we put a rock crusher Muncie in the car bit with that "cruisy" rear end it burnt out clutch plates quicker than me with toast! I went on a trip to the USA and carried back with me a 4spd centre console, 2 centreforce 2 clutch and pressure plates (10.5" and 11") and a Super T10 Trans from a '79 T/A specifically designed to be mated with the 2.41 rear end (had a 3.44 1st gear .... what a ttransmission ... wish I'd kept it (sob)). My "play car" which was sold to help finance the convertible. After the engine and gearbox install a new lower valence panel and Formula hood were added with the matching rear spoiler. New carpets and a 4 spd console from a '78 Trans Am were added. Thanks to Lincoln for helping with the interior, and to Mick for paint matching. The gearbox was originally a *real* Muncie M22 rock crusher but I needed some "cruisability" out of the car and so the Muncie was turfed when I added a 2.41 posi rearend. I ended up carrying back in my hand luggage from the USA a Borg Warner Super T10 with the rare "super low" 3.44 1st gear which complemented the rear end perfectly.

Car 12:

PONTIAC FIREBIRD 400 CONVERTIBLE 1968 - My 12th car: 01/1994 - 02/1996. This car just "made you feel good"! This was my pride and joy. I traced this car for SEVEN YEARS and three owners before it finally became mine. This car is rare! To the best of my knowledge (and I was National Secretary of the Pontiac Car Club here in Australia for 5.5 years!!!) there is no other convertible as fully loaded as this one in Australia. The car needs tidying up and I eventually sold it to a fellow club member who a) has a lot of garage space, b) has the right attitude to get this car fixed up as it deserves and c) has more time and money than myself to do the right thing by the car - heck .... I had to move residence and don't have ANY garages anymore (sob!). I've been on 5 trips to the USA in the last 7 years and I still haven't seen a Firebird 400 convertible over in the USA that is as loaded as this ..... although one must exist somewhere (This includes 4 POCI Nationals!). I was trying to buy one in the USA figuring I'd find one like this, but ..... to no avail .... I really think that American's have a better chance of finding a car like this by coming to Australia than they do in he USA (at least for a reasonable (well ... to Australian's) :) price). Options include: Air Conditioning, Deluxe Interior, Power Windows, Power Top, Power Brakes, Disk Brakes, Posi Differential, Fold Down Rear Seat, Remote Trunk Release, Tilt Steering, Power Steering, Hood Tach. The car was used for the Miss Australia Quest in 1994/5.

Car 13:

HOLDEN CAMIRA WAGON - My 13th car. Bought this car unregistered and needing new doors and fairly extensive body work .... but ..... mechanically it was sound and it only cost $200! Never did get to finish it, and I had other projects in life arriving soon so I sold it to someone else as a project.

Car 14:

DATSUN SUNNY STATION WAGON - My 14th car: Don't laugh ...... this was a great car ( I sold it to my brother). Bought the thing off a friend out of rego with some rust and the need for new tyres. Fixed 'em all up and got it registered and it's a great car. Was sold to many other people I know and finished it's life on a farm up at Tamworth ... I think it is still there!

Car 15:

TOYOTA CROWN SUPER SALOON - My 15th car: Back to a passenger vehicle and this one had it all ... Power windows, power steering, remote radio and dual (front and rear) A/C, 4 way sound and a fridge built into the rear parcel tray. Cruise control, courtesy lights everywhere, plush interior, climate control, remote trunk release, overdrive automatic trans ... great car. I only sold this car because I had too many darn vehicles!!

Car 16:

PONTIAC FIREBIRD 400 4SPD COUPE 1968 - My 16th car: 11/1994 - 06/2004. My "race car"!! I've known this car since a friend of mine (Jeff Whatman) bought the car from a car magazine editor. The car had caught fire under the hood, and Jeff rebuilt the car from scratch. He used a lot of nouse, and some of my parts to put back together what was a mess. The car was then sold to another of my friends in '91 and he and I entered it into the next 2 years worth of Repco mountain Rally's. The car has a strong 400 Pontiac engine (putting it mildly), and we were beaten in a winding hill climb course by 4 1/100th's of a second by a quattro-valve Lamborghini Uracco (rare car ... most weren't quattro-valve). We ended coming 2nd outright in a 6 day rally the 1st year and 7th outright the second year. Lack of money stopped us running since then. I acquired the car when the tax man took a liking to my friend (same as he did me earlier this year!). That's OK though because my friend has a '73 SD455 Trans Am!! The car has a Ford manual steering box hooked up to a tilt steering column. It has extractors a 4160-list 3310-2, 4 barrel Holley, a Super T10 extra wide ratio gearbox and a 3.08 posi rear end. It's a pretty basic car other than that it WAS A/C but that had to be turfed after the fire, and I'm currently replacing the remote mirror now. The heart of the coupe is '69 Pontiac 400 running 10.5:1 compression (we still use leaded gas down here :-) ), Crane roller rockers, ported and port matched manifold and heads to REALLY increase the flow through these little babies, extractors into a 2.5" exhaust system with low restriction mufflers, a Holley open plenum aluminum manifold, Holley 4160-3310-2 vacuum secondary 780cfm carb running just a little on the rich side at the moment (I'll fix that soon), RA IV cam, centreforce 2 pressure + clutch plate, declutch fan, Jacobs computer ignition (can't speak highly enough of this), Champion R series plugs degreed into place, Mallaroy Unilite distributor running 19 degree / 1000 rpm's advance curve with 22 degrees of mechanical advance at 16 degrees at the crank (all advance in by 3000 rpm). The rear view shows the chrome rally II wheels widened to 8" wearing 235x60x14 on front and 245x60x14 on the rear. The rear suspension is stock and a HO Racing 1.5" sway bar sits in the front with stiffened springs. Cornering is hard work with the manual steering box and I'm thinking of putting another box in. By using the manual steering box I didn't have to cut into the frame rail and so the strength in the subframe is still there. Speaking of which the car also has new rubber body mount bushes and a subframe connecting kit. A set of ralley guages waits to be installed, as soon as I can find some GM pins for the plug that fits into the back of the instrument cluster.

Car 17:

TOYOTA CELICA 1987 - My 17th car: A fantastic car. I bought this off my sister when she went overseas recently. It's loaded with 5spd, A/C, electric sunroof, tilt/telescopic steering, power steering, lowered, 4 spkr stereo, tinted windows, 4 way adjustable seats, power mirrors. Cruised beautifully and with fuel injection it was good and power and fuel economy. Many a trip away with this car and it even got my mate to the church ...... well .... almost on time in November '95!

Car 18:

MAZDA 323 HATCHBACK SS 1982 - My 18th car: Another good car. It's been hit lightly on the driver's side front fender and door, but it came with 13months rego, mag wheels and Pirreli tyres, electric sunroof, 5spd, twin carbs, stereo, A/C and a towbar for $2500 - not too bad!!

Car 19:

MITSUBISHI EXPRESS VAN 1990 - My 19th car: This van was great. I got it off my brother with an overheating motor. Had it towed to Whatto's where he reconditioned the engine. Then I had Mick put a new roof on it and remove other rust and generally tidy the car. Then Stewie and I fitted a CD player and remote central locking. This van was so convenient, and served me well. Eventually (and ironically) I sold it back to my brother when he needed another work truck. Great car.

Car 20:

FORD FALCON EA STATION WAGON 1988 - My 20th car: This was purcashed from my step father's company and had always been his company vehicle. I knew the history of the car, and it was a 5spd with dual fuel, A/C, PS, tow bar and electric brakes. A very useful car. I fitted a CD player and that was about it. The car was cheaper to run than my motorcycle due to the LPG fuel. The hail storm of April 1999 basically wrote off the car and did damage to the van mentioned above.

Car 21:

Mitsubishi Colt 1989 - My 21st car: This was purchased from one of my sisters friends. The car had been broken into and some minor vandalising done. She was emotionally scarred towards the car and just wanted it out of her life ..... she was going to sell it to a wrecking yard! The car was fine and my uncle fixed the minor body damage at his panel shop. Gave this car to a my friend Kelly. Ironically, 4 weeks after I gave it to her in great condition (full respray ... the works!), Sydney got hit with the now famous April 1999 hail storm and the car was turned into a lunar landing map. As we had got the car so cheap we didn't bother insuring it full comprehensive (expensive $$$ as Kelly had no previous insurance). Kelly eventually sold the car and bought a new Holden Astra so it served its purpose.

Car 22:

DETOMASO PANTERA GT5 1985 - My 22nd car: 01/99 - 06/2007. What can I say. I am one of the lucky few that can actually claim to have owned the car they have always dreamed of. I saw my first one of these in 1976 while waiting at the park in Richmond NSW to catch the bus home from school one afternoon. It was a GTS model 1977 I think, pretty much brand new, and it throbbed past so beautifully I have never forgotten it. I knew then that one day I would own one. This one has been extensively modified, by both myself and the previous owner. The original engine now sits in the corner of the garage ,and a new 406ci Ford SVO block with SVO aluminium cylinder heads, forged pistons, rods, steel crank, deep sump, custom oil pick up, high volume oil pump, custom fuel injection and a Motec engine management system, roller cam, roller rockers, race valve springs, titanium retainers and stainless valves now take its place.

Car 23:

MAZDA 121 1988 - My 23rd car: This was taken onboard from a friend leaving to work in the USA. I needed another car like a hole in the head and if it wasn't for the generosity of my panel beating uncle (Ross Swavley Smash Repairs Mittagong N.S.W. .... free plug!) then I would have spent waaaay too much money on this car. Basically it needed a repair to every panel and a new door and guard courtesy of my friend being the victim of hit and run accidents, and some bad luck from friends. A very sound mechanical car I eventually finished fixing her up and now my dad and step mom drive it around.

Car 24:

HOLDEN COMMODORE VP SERIES II WAGON - My 24th car: This was fleetingly "owned" by me as a partial payment for a new car I got my mum. My brother had a more immediate need for it with a new baby looming so it basically went straight to him!

Car 25:

MAZDA 929 4 DOOR SEDAN 1984 - My 25th car: 06/2000 - 04/2004. This was also part of the partial payment from mum, but I was meant to fix up the broken bits and sell it for her. In the process, I started driving it and it has been my daily driver ever since! I can relax when driving this car. It is one of the few automatic transmissioned non performance cars I've owned and I almost forgot what it was like to relax on Sydney roads. This car was great but finally blew a head gasket and it wasn't worth fixing so sold it to one of Whatto's mechanic mates. A nice car.

Car 26:

PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM CONVERTIBLE 1992 - My 26th car: 02/2002 - present. Again - a dream car. I was at the Pontiac Nationals in 1990 in the USA, when they unveiled the new look '91 model. This "look" would run from 1991 to the final model in 1992. I loved this look and when Pontiac re-introduced the convertible in 1991 all my Xmas' came at once. It took a while but this car eventually found me. The previous sale fell through and the car was parked not 600m from where I lived in Mascot. Car has 305ci motor, TPI, 4spd auto and all GTA options except 4 wheel disk brakes and the 350 motor (not available in conv body type). Even has the rare leather interior. This is a great car to drive. I love it. It had QLD rego and as previously mentioned, I couldn't stop that day but it re-appeared 1 month later, and after a brief negotiation - it was mine. I fell in love with the way Pontaic took it's nose design cues straight from the Banshee III Concept Car and ... and that this would be the first official Pontiac Firebird convertible since 1969. I knew I would have one ... one day ... and 20th February 2002 was the day!

Car 27:

NISSAN NAVARA TRAYBACK UTE V6 D20 1994 - My 27th car: 03/2003 - presentWhat a great car ..... I have probably done more "useful" motoring in this car than in any other I've ever owned - so have my friends ... when you own a ute .. everyone is your friend!. It runs on dual fuel so is very economical to run, has a V6 3.0L engine, 5 spd manual, A/C, PS, tinted windows, Haymen Reece towbar, rubber tray bed, removable builders racks, colour matched mag wheels, sports steering wheel and I fitted a bench seat to replace the buckets - so it has both sets of seats. I fitted a new tannau cover, padded headrests, new steering wheel boss to make the horn work, new centre console piece to replace the bit that was vandalised, quartz Halogen inserts 130W/90W with new headlight asemblies and FIAM electric dual horns. CD player and the car is just how I like it - it's great!

Car 28:

HOLDEN APOLLO 1995 - My 28th car: 02/2004 - 07/2006. I primarily bought this car for Mel as a work horse, and we got a good deal on the car from one of Mel's friends who was updating and couldn't get a good trade in because of the kms (176,000kms). Mel used this car for a while until another friend of ours went over seas and we "updated" to their cars, so Mel started driving a Honda Legend! Sold the car to one of Mel's friends and the car has been good to them. (It is after all a rebadged Toyota!)

Car 29:

HONDA LEGEND 1988 - My 29th car: This car has power .. well .. everything! it's a great car but as we soon discovered it's not a great "family" car. Although it was the flagship car for Honda in 1988, our family of 4 was so cramped we couldn't budge much once in the car. Admittedly a baby seat in the back is maybe not a fair comparison, but the car itself was great ... leather interior. The V6 engine knew how to drink petrol though!

Car 30:

MERCEDES BENZ 380SEC 1984 - My 30th car: This is a really pretty car. I've always loved the SEC Benz's. I wanted a 560SEC but never had the right one come along. This car came along through my friend heading overseas and it was at the right price (with $3000 worth of Lorinser wheels and tyres no less which really set off the look). A really beautiful car to drive, but again - heavy on petrol even t hough it's only a 380!... but you are doing it in style!! Alot of options on these cars ....a cool arm that passes you the seatbelt, 8 way power seats, cruise, phone car kit .... and the car handles beautifully. This is one of those "quandry" cars ..... you want to keep it, but you know it's not practical. If I were rich I would store this car and use it in years to come when it will be a "classic".

Car 31:

BMW 740iL 1998 - My 31st car: Wow is what describes this car - WOW in big letters. This is THE car ... I love this car. I'm at a different phase of my life now where the safety of the people in the car with me (mainly my family!) is foremost. This is the kind of car where you can say to yourself "... if they die in this car then I know I have done my absolute best to protect them ... and I can live with that". 10 airbags, designed crumple zone, extended wheelbase for more occupant space in the protected cell area, split fuel tanks also in the protected cell area, deadlocking doors in case of accident with double side intrusion protection, double pane glass all round, anti lock brakes 4WD brakes, stability control to help with handling, front / rear parking sensors, self levelling suspension, self adjusting xenon headlights, fog lights, rain sensing windscreen, auto-dimming rear vision mirror, heated external mirrors, auto adjust for reverse passenger mirror, remote entry with auto alarming, 4.4 litre V8, 5spd adaptive auto transmission with triptronic, 10 way power seats with memory, rear office suite, nappa leather deats, dual TV, GPS navigation, DSP 10 speaker surround hifi system, 6CD stacker+cassette, drink holders front / rear, split A/C front + dedicated rear, rear electric blind, rear side door blinds, dual telephones. There's more ... I just haven't got the energy to go on - hell ... there's even a self charging torch in the damn glovebox. This is the ultimate car. I have a friend who has been trying to get me to buy a BMW for years ..... I didn't listen and it wasn't until Mel and I went on our honeymoon that I drove around in my old friend Dave's car in Thailand (his is a 1995 model but still an E38 shape). I was hooked. We cruised ... I'll repeat that ... we cruised at 220km/h on the highways of Thailand - this car is amazing ... you don't even know you are doing those speeds. Silent, quick, good fuel economy (I get ~15l / 100 kms just local but that drops dramatically to 9.2L/100kms on a trip - so the car loves crusing!). It is just such a beautiful, roomy car - you can RELAX in this car. What a car!!