You can also click on someone's name next to their post, which takes you to a page that shows their profile.  From here you can click the 'Send this person a private message' link.

Also, under the user's picture there are a series of little icons, including a house (a link to their home-page), an envelope (to send them email) and what I think is supposed to be an 'In Box', which is a direct link to send that person an IM or PM, as they're called. (Instant Message or Private Message).

cheers
RET

Harko,

Here's one that will appeal to you....

cheers
RET

PS - There's something a little funky about that URL, so if the pic doesn't appear for you, try this link: http://www.zombiehotrodwear.com/showcase/admin/pics/SEGGJIcr7.pjpeg

No worries - happy to help.  And I do know everything, just don't ask me to remember it all at once!

I haven't lost my mind, I've got it backed up on tape somewhere.....

This is in answer to Howie's question.  I was with Craig at RS, so he knows I can't answer that one!

It sounds to me like someone's had their leg pulled about the originality of this car.  But if it is 100% original, get the engine number and compare it to the chart you can find here:
http://www.fefcholden.org.au/techinfo/enginenos.html

• If the number is somewhere very near L439507, then I guess it's possible that it is a hybrid.
• Check the chassis number.  If it doesn't start with an '8', then there's no way this thing could be original.
• Verify the other codes on the ID plate that the colour and trim inside and out match the actual car.

cheers
RET

PS - It couldn't be 100% original, because FE utes had no front indicators ex-factory.  98% original, perhaps....  

[edit: added post-script]

There's a summary offence in the NSW legislature from the "Motor Traffic Regulations" Body of Law (of 1935) which states that it is an offence to:

Open door of vehicle so as to cause danger to self/to other/to impede traffic.

It was repealed in 1999.  Presumably one of the benefits of spending a little extra cash on a Special was that you had the luxury of legally unlocking and entering the vehicle via the driver's door in the comfort of your own driveway or garage

The fact that the law was repealed doesn't mean that it's now legal to endanger traffic in this way (of course).  That offence is now covered by the "Australian Road Rules under the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) (Road Rules) Regulation 1999":

A person must not cause a hazard to any person or vehicle by opening a door of a vehicle, leaving a door of a vehicle open, or getting off, or out of, a vehicle

What a mouthful
cheers
RET

I'm sure Ken the Guru could give us the absolute answer on this, but it's my understanding that the strengthening was added to the vehicle in production sometime in late '56, but the earlier cars were never recalled to have it fitted.  Certainly there are plenty of '56 FEs getting about today without it.

In a more general sense, I don't think the idea of Safety Recalls became prevalent in Australia until the 70s.  They were a by-product of Ralph Nader's campaign in the US re the Corvair: "Unsafe at Any Speed" and all that.  Was the HQ the first car to suffer a limited recall?  I have an idea it was - I think I read that in "Heart of the Lion" - but as always, I stand to be corrected....

cheers
RET

Harko,

You're in NSW, aren't you?

According to the RTA "Guidelines for Light Vehicle Modifications"

The max engine size allowed (in cu. in.) is 0.294 x original weight in kg, where

• "Original weight" is the original (unmodified) "tare weight" of the sedan version of the vehicle model fitted with the largest engine available for the model but without optional accessories such as air conditioning and tow bar.

That means the max engine size = 1040 x 0.294 = 305.76, which presumably means 307/308 would scrape in.  That 1040 figure is from memory - sedan kerb weight might be a bit more.  I wouldn't have thought there was 100kg difference between a sedan and a wagon...

Anyway, the document can be downloaded from the RTA's website, at http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/vsi06.pdf

Hope that helps,
RET

Well, fair enough then.  That makes perfect sense.

Seems a shame to crush it tho, there's the front half of a stretched limo FE there  

RET

OK, I'll bite.  What on earth possessed you to pick it up then?  

I'm sure that's no mistake.

Wayne brought it to my attention that we've hit a double-century in registered users.

Thanks everyone for participating.

Ron W of Qld, thanks for joining, sorry there's no special prize for being the 200th  

RET

Here is the AHD application form for members of the NSW club (I've amended it so the AHD organisers know we are to be charged the 'early' price):

http://www.fefcholden.org.au/nsw/tmp/2002ahdef.pdf

Download it, print it and get it in the post tonight or first thing tomorrow.

See you at the All Holden Day,

RET

Brad,

Someone else asked this question as well.  Most of the people who have posted images of this type use Adobe PhotoShop.  There are other tools around that do similar things, but PS is without doubt the premier program of this type.  Which is just as well, given its price-tag

If you go to somewhere like http://download.com, you will find there are stacks of Image Manipulation tools out there, like Paint Shop Pro, GraphicConverter, CorelDraw and so on.  Even MS Paint that comes with Windows is theoretically capable of this sort of thing, but you'd be really doing it the hard way with that POS.

The other thing worth bearing in mind is that most of these tools have a considerable learning curve.  If you have access to PhotoShop, make sure you get the CD with the tutorial on it as well - it is an excellent primer on what you can do with the software.

Hope that helps,
RET

Guys,

Here are a few bits and pieces to throw in the mix:

Here's one of my earliest PhotoShop attempts.  Here's a tip: find a photo with an uncomplicated background to use for this sort of stuff.  Mottled brickwork is a definite no-no.

Here's a HQ given the FC treatment.  I wouldn't sully the beautiful lines of the FE with this sort of thing  

cheers
RET

He also  suggested what colors would be the best for the models

Blue and white with flames and Tilli's stripe?  

I heard more than a year ago that the blue/white and 2t-green FCs where definitely going to be the last of them, because the mould was going to be broken down for use in FE models.

Apparently they've been asked about FEs ever since the FC was first released, and the success of that model shocked even Trax.

cheers
RET

I'm not sure when they started making them, but I believe you can still buy them new over-the-counter in NZ.

cheers
RET

Well if you're going to be that exact, the original grey motor is 132.5 cubic inches  

132.5 x 16.39 = 2171.675cc

cheers
RET

How many were made?  Who knows, but this page here will tell you more about the Wilsonia gauge: http://www.fefcholden.org.au/techinfo/nasco/other/wilsonia.html

cheers
RET

[two]

Surely the fingers slipped for two decimal places, or he hasn't noticed the full-stop key on his computer is broken.  $500 looks about right.  The sign on the windscreen suggests it's free