The FC HQ custom.

[customFC]

Here's another pic a mate sent to me from Kelly's Kustom Korner found in Street and Custom Magazine.
The exhaust outlets are a bit hard to see, but they are ugly.

Regards
Alex

[Ed]

oh yuck...


I have memories of a wagon on Ebay with a similar treatment?

or how bout the blu HR V8 with rear rolled pan sporting WB lights.. yucko..

thanks for showing us what NOT to do.

Cheers

Ed

[customFC]

Hey Ed.
Here's a pic of the eBay wagon.
I didn't think the taillights looked that bad on the rear of the wagon. Might be because the wagon has a squarer rear than the sedan and they kinda match the rear profile. Had they been frenched in without the bold chrome surround, I think they would have bordered on awesome. (Maybe that's just my taste) Also, the rear flares look to be well done. This guy (has been) is in the SA club.
Regards
Alex

[streetneat]

I reckon that tail light treatment works very well on a number of different early Holdens.... This Wagon works as it blends in well and the Chrome helps to set it of just nicely... The cars Colour helps tremendously with this as well. Paul Kelly used to work in my shop with me for a while, and now owns a business called Smooth Cruzin at Beenleigh  (3287 5900). He still writes pieces for mags from time to time and is still heavily involved with Custom body work... One of the last great craftsmen... (sorry Paul ....should have saved that comment for when youve passed on... ) Cheers streetneat...

[customFC]

Personally I think the no chrome option would look better. Here it is removed.

BTW, if the owner of this wagon is viewing this, please don't take this as a criticism of your car. As I stated earlier, I think the mods on your car are very tasteful....just exploring other options.
Regards
Alex

[customFC]

Taking it a step further with a little bit more dechroming.
Regards
Alex

[streetneat]

Ahhh Alex.... Hmmm preffered the second option a bit better... The 1982 Caddy lights I used would work  bit better as the dont have the sharp aggressive angles that the HQ lights have... On the dechchroming how about dechroming the rest  of the car? ... got to keep the theme continuing... I still reckon that on this particular car with the fact he has chrome everywhere else it works better than only dechroming some of it.. That blue Metallic paint is the secret as to why it looks so good with Chrome.... Note his hinges are chromed as well.... The Mono Chromatic look (zero chrome) of the late eighties and early ninties has gone thankfully... these cars need a hint of chrome here and there to keep them balanced other wise the understatemnet look is over done.... Cheers streetneat.....

[Spinner]

I agree with Streetneat, a bit of chrome keeps the car in balance.  I suppose it's what we're used to though.

As for the wagon, I reckon that those taillights make it look like a Simca Aronde Wagon.  Dechromes, it looks like a Chev Nova Wagon.

Cheers

[Fast_Eddie]

I think this wagon in grey and white would look spot on.......

....and I'd probably replace those HQ tail lights with a standard FC set.  

[customFC]

An FC needs chrome to make it a classic. I would keep chrome, just tone the amount down. Bumpers and grill would remain, as would the FC flash. Headlight rims would get binned in favour of something less bold.
Regards
Alex

[Ed]

maybe someone can photowhizz up some HK-HG ute lights on this wagon?  not sure if they are too short and wide tho.

[mcl1959]

I reckon the HQ/FC look was pretty good - this is my first FC.  Do you want to see what the front looked like?

Ken

[oldgmh]

mcl1959 - sure would like to see the front of the FC.

The wagon looks best with all the chrome - that is one of the features of the older classic type cars.  

If one doesn't like chrome then one should go out and buy a non-chrome plastic looking VK commodore - and they already have discs, EFI or V8,  A/C and power steer !  But it isn't quite the same eh !!

[mcl1959]

I don't need lots of encouragement !!!!!!!!
Here is the front - I put a lot of hours into those headlights and taillights I can tell you

Ken

[robbzfc58]

kool  ken   alex will be proud of ya

                    trev

[streetneat]

Taking a wild guess- are the headlights International truck? When was this mod done? Some time in the seventies?... I remember back in the very early eighties Whilst I was going to college that I saw several of these style of custom Holdens still getting around. The HQ tailight treatment was one of the most popular.These mods are not appreciated as much today as most see the customising on early Holdens as sacrilege... I still like it though.... The trick is as you have done here, is to make it look like it grew there naturally.... Cheers streetneat

[customFC]

Just what the world needs more of......extra headlights.
Trev......I am proud of Ken. I was shown these pics many years ago......it's good to see them again Ken.
What colour did you paint this car? I still can't recall seeing another FC using a set of International headlights and keeping FC indicators.
Regards
Alex

[mcl1959]

Alex the car was dark blue with a black vinyl roof and dark black tinted windows.
The FC indicators had to be cut out at the top to fit around the base of the headlight rim.  Lots of work here as well which is probably why no one else did it.  The cuts were hard to get right as well so as not to get a large gap, I think I ruined 5 parklights till I was happy!
Streetneat yep AA Inter headlights, Alex uses AB.  The car was built in the late 70's.
Here is a bit of a list of the final body mods apart from those seen
Morris 1800 flush door handles
Mazda RX3 fuel tank behind the rear seat
Datsun 180B side petrol filler door
There were 2 topless petrol tanks in the boot floor with a chipboard lid.  The spare sat flat in these along with all other tools etc.
Boot had panels fitted and trimmed all round with an FC roof light inside.
Headlining was crushed blue velour (cringe)
Seats were Valiant Charger
Centre console ran from the dash to the rear seat - I cut a genuine Nasco parcel shelf in half to fit up to the console !
Toyota Corolla centre handbrake
I had a lot of fun with this car and it was sold in the mid eighties.  I'm pretty sure it has been dismantled now.

Ken

[mcl1959]

Here is the interior, its just so horrible to look at now - but everybody was using that horrible diamond pattern vinyl.  yuk  yuk  yuk

Ken

[robbzfc58]

hey ken    its a good thing that car fashions change
    im sure it was very impressive at the time
  colour combo sounds good
            cheers  trev