FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

The SA EH Car Club came for a look the other day so I gave a few of the cars some fresh air.     

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2974.jpg)

It was a good chance to clean them up, take them for a run and move some around ready for some more work on them.

                                                                   (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2973.jpg)

This is roughly a third of my cars.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2970.jpg)

Feel free to drool over the sheds.

                                                                   (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2975.jpg)

The FC ute and trailer and the two tone green FC were the cars that went to The Nationals.

Robin

Hey Robin
Nice pics.
Nice cars.
Nice sheds.
I enjoyed seeing your 2 tone green FC, as it is the same colour combination as mine.
I like the look of the FE wagon.
Must be hard to decide which car keys to pick up come time for a run.
Regards
Alex

Your my new idol... i love the fe wagon.

Whilst it is hard to decide which car to take on a run the decision is often helped by answering the questions:

"Which ones are going?"

"Will they get there and back?"

This often makes the decision very easy.

Robin

Another picture of the FE wagon. It has done 56000 miles now and was in the Echuca Museum for 20 years when the Hughes Brothers owned it. We have repainted the roof and restored the floor. One of my favourites too. Saw it on the website on a Thursday, drove to Ballarat on the Friday and bought it on the Saturday.

PS:Hamish is even wearing his Nationals T shirt.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2978.jpg)

Congratulations Robin you have achieved the fantasy of everybody on this website, i'm feeling very envious right now and i've got my drool bucket in front of me ;D

I only got two oldies and they get me into enough trouble,thou I,m still working on a bigger shed for her ride on mower maybe 30x20 I,ll keep dreamin and droolin
regards mal

Holly crap  :o  ... Nice collection.. Done well. How do you maintain all those girls??

So that's where all the FEs and FCs have gone ;D
Nice sheds too.
ACE  8)

The whole idea was to have something to do when I retire. Should keep me busy. Do you want to see the rest of them?

I see you have kept yourself busy in retirement. As for  wanting to see your other cars, ABSOLUTELY ;D ;D ;D

Haven't actually retired yet. Still a few years away.

We'd still like to see the others, hang on i'll get my drool bucket ready ;D

A couple more. The business sedans (217's).

I have collected cars from all states except NT and WA.


The FE taxi was in Queensland, but I purchased it from Canberra where it had been somewhat neglected. Mind you I have not got around to doing much with it yet either. It has the working meter and taxi light on the roof. Sadly the original red interior is gone and a tan FE special interior is in its place. The car was ordered in black paint.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2985.jpg)

The FC Staff Car was of course Ken McLean's from Victoria. (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2980.jpg)
http://fefcholden.org.au/forum/index.php/topic,8026.0.html

Robin

Do you have a picture of the Taxi Meter in the car?
ACE  8)

Hi Robin just wondered if the samon fc wagon is the one from Qld originally? I saw it on ebay a couple of times and then lost track of it as it used to be next door to where i was working .

how many do you actally have??

With the purchase of my FC217, Robin has now achieved the amazing feat of having all 14 FE and FC models. Plus a few extras along the way - A top effort since most of the cars are really stunning examples as well.

Ken

1. A picture of the Taxi meter. (sorry slightly blurred)
                                         (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2987.jpg)

2. The Terraglow and Adobe Beige wagon was from Queensland.

3. I currently have 20.5 FE and FC's including the trailer. I have cut back a bit as I was up to 22 at one stage.

4. Ken is right, I set out to have one of each of the models. I don't actually have an original FE van but I have all the bits to build one. On top of the 14 models I have some spare parts cars, my original FC and a vanette.

Here's a couple more photos:

Front of the Taxi

                                                        (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF0062.jpg)

Shed shots from a while back

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF0109.jpg)

                                                       (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF0107.jpg)


Robin

That taxi meter must be extremely rare, a different world back then, notice the dollars are only double digits, that wouldn't get you very far nowadays.

That taxi must have still been in service after decimal currency came in, or have you replaced the taxi meter. I suppose the rarer type of taxi meter would be one in pounds shillings and pence. I for one have never seen one. Even so it is an amazing example of a taxi

I don't know how you find time to maintain them all, I bet you can't wait to retire. You will never have been so busy in your life just driving all of them. :D :D

Robin,
         This is the first time we have seen the Taxi since we sold it.  My wife said it looks lonely! and that we should never had sold it.  Oh well, I guess everyone would like to turn the clock back some time or another.  Very nice collection of cars, happy retirement!!

Michael

Robin, do you have some shots of the paving on the floor?  I love the paving

Ken

Ken, have you been on the turps?
Nice collection Robin, I thought I had a problem till I saw your shed  :o
Your aims are similar to mine, retirement projects, only trouble is, I have to keep working to afford the hobby  :'(

You obviously haven't seen the floor Zulu!  ::) ::) ;D

So, is there a bunkhouse whereby fellow FC and FE'ers come to stay a while and help out a bit and drive a bit and talk a bit etc.? Sort of like an early holden retreat centre - you could retire now and make money from that!

So, if you have all those cars, I must meet your wife! My shared collection runs to 8 cars and I thought we were a bit mad. Just got back Sunday from collecting a 1967 Volvo 121 2 door Amazon. Gotta love the classics....

I still want to get a couple of more FE/FC's over here for my shed - money is the ONLY barrier!

I have a friend who comes up and works on the cars with me. He is very good with old Holdens having around 40 of his own. His 2 specialities are wrecking and restoring. Very handy friend to have. He was at the Nationals with his FE sedan called Maybellene,with the metal flake red roof.

I don't currently have a bunkhouse, but I someone wants to come over and work on the cars I will work something out. There are a lot of talented people on this web site.

I do alot of the mechanical work on them and the local mechanic is also good as he grew up with them and tells me stories of what he used to get up to in the old girls.

I find the best way to keep them going and the most fun is a frequent drive around the block, which in my case is about 50km, even just into town and back is 13km. Works all the bits and stops them clagging up.

As for the floor of the shed I will have to get a new shot as the hard drive crashed a few moths ago and all was lost.

As for the wife, Caroline drove one of the cars to The Nationals and helped out with some of the events and registrations. She has even suggested that we should have one with adjustable height seats for her to drive. Well if you are going to change the seats you may as well do the motor to a 350 with a six speed and all the rest. I think that is what she meant.

I said right from the start that the cars were an investment, and this has been prooven to be true. I generally try to buy cars that are in top original or restored condtion so I don't spend too much fixing them up, but some a so rare that you just have to take what you can get. If I find one better than what I've got I will buy that and sell the other one.

Heres some more photos:

Parts cars

The Hawk Wagon

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2990.jpg)
When I found it there had been a hawk nesting on the front seat. Entered through the missing quarter vent window on the passenger door. The nest was in the drivers seat and the hawk sat on the steering wheel with all round vision. The owner used the car to get from his plane to Adelaide when he flew over. One day it stopped and that is where it stayed for many years.

The FB
                                                 (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2991.jpg)

Bought it for the scratch plates and a few other bits. If you want any FB parts let me know. I have sold a lot but there is still a fair bit there.

Restorers:

The Junee FE Wagon FE229

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2994.jpg)

You can never have too many FE wagons. Hope to restore it one day. Too few of these around to wreck this one.

The Aunties car FE 215

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2995.jpg)

Owned by the 2 unmarried aunts, of the guy I bought it off of, from new until they died. Covered around 53ooo miles. My guess is the dealer painted the roof green to make it look like a special.
                                                               (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF2998.jpg)


Robin

Hey Robin
Thanks for the extra pics.
Please keep 'em coming.
Regards
Alex

Great pics Robin!

Please post some more, I like the little stories about how you came across them too.

Nige

Hey Robin,
I agree with the others keep the pics and stories coming, very interesting.Thanks for sharing,
Cheers,
Graham

There are still a few more to do. The photos are harder to get as they are packed in the sheds but I'll do what I can.

Robin

I agree, I find this very interesting

This is what Ken was wanting to see.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3005.jpg)

There is also an "FC" at the other end of the shed but it is a bit harder to get to. Oh the things you do when you have 8 pallets of pavers to lay.

The oil spots are from my Ascot Grey FE.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3000.jpg)

This one came with a heap of paperwork including the Packing Slip.

                                                       (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/packingslip001.jpg)
And The Warranty

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/warranty.jpg)

There is also the "Customer's Service Record of Mobilubrication Service", a couple of old rego papers, "Good Housekeeping" book , Owner Manual and a card titled "Driving Instructions and Manufacturer's Warranty".

More pictures of the car:
                                                       (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3001.jpg)

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3002.jpg)

                                                       (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3003.jpg)

The car has done around 35000 miles and was resprayed by the previous owner.

The dealer, Gilbert Motors, that sold the car was one that I bought several cars from, until they recently lost the Holden franchise and are now a Toyota dealer only. Sad really as they had been selling Holdens for a long time, but they were apparently asked to spend a lot of money to upgrade of get out. There have been a few small dealers pushed out like this and it only leaves the Mega dealers.

As I said the colour is Ascot Grey and I actually bought it from a guy in Ascot Park. I saw the car advertised and put off calling for 2 weeks as I was giving the other buyers a go. When I rang he said he had been waiting for me to call and if I offered $6500 for it he would take it. He was asking $8500 from memory. He had 24 cars and was moving to a retirement home and was only allowed 2 cars.

It is a great old car and I love to drive it. I find the two tone gery FC's a bit bland (each to their own) and it seems, rather comon but the FE in the single colour grey I like and I have had several people comment that the Grey FE is there favourite of my collection.

We have taken it to Mt Gambier on 2 club runs and have had to replace the head as it developed a large crack on one of these trips. The kids also did some damage destroying the plastic seat surrounds as they were bored on the way to Mt Gambier. Thank God for Nintendo DS's.

Robin

PS: If you were wondering what was in my back yard, I'll show you:

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3046.jpg)

Nothing but room for expansion! (the first fence is not the back fence)

Robin, The delivery docket appears to be the docket the body shell carried when completed to CKD form. This docket should then have been removed & completed by the manufacturing plant when the vehicle was assembled. I can't remember seeing another one of these dockets in a car.
It's interesting the car wasn't completed until a month after the body was finished.

Ken

Hi Robin,
What is the interior colours of the Ascot Grey car?
Cheers,
Graham

Graham,
Interior Colour Scheme is: Fall Red & Parchment Ivory
Robins, collection is truely amazing; all those cars, all those stories.
I will certainly be watching for more pictures as Robin gets around to it.
Geoff_K

This is my FC 219 Standard Station Sedan.

I had to borrow the tailgate badge for my ute for The Nationals.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3006.jpg)

I had been scouting around for one of these for a while and approached a couple of people that had one, but they were not ready to sell yet.

Finally one appeared on ebay. It had a 179 and trimatic but the conversion was very much a backyard job and the floor had not been modified to take the auto so it hung down a lot at the rear. Because of this it would be easy to refit a grey and gearbox. I was the only bidder and won the car. There was a heap of parts with it but they could not be sent with the car so I had to work out a way to get them from VIC.

Loading the car was difficult as there was an offset muffler mounted sideways to make up for the weird angle the motor was on. The muffler fouled on the trailer and stopped the car. With a better run up it was on but getting it off was also difficult.

I had won the car on ebay on a Saturday, and the club newsletter arrived on Monday. "FC Standard Wagon for sale". DOH! It was local and mostly original. Even the same colour. I went and had a look and but it was 6 of one and half a dozen of the other as it had bucket seats fitted and for some reason the vent in the cowl had been bogged up. The handle is still connected though, so one push and it will pop up. I did not buy it but I bought 10 bumper over riders in good nick for $50.

Time passed and the guy with the second wagon rang me up and offered it to me for $1000 off. It was just after Christmas so money was short and I had to decline.

Then it appears on ebay a couple of months latter and it does not meet its reserve. He re listed at a lower price with no reserve and it was now getting tempting. I won it by 10 cents due to the quirk of ebay. When I spoke to the owner he congratulated me and reminded me to bring the 10 cents.

Anyway I now had both, deliberated for a year or so as to which one to keep, removed some goodies from the one I was selling and sold it on ebay and it went back to VIC.

So this is the second one. As you can see there must have been an issue with brake lights as there are 2 in the back windowand 2 below the bumper as well as the original ones. Maybe the Tamworth sticker has something to do with this. It also came with lots of spare parts and about 5 sets of keys. There is a CB radio and dymo labels under the bonnet of the engine and chassis number. There is even a light under the bonnet.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3010.jpg)

The story of how I got the parts that came with the first one is an adventure in itself involving a road trip, a HR and a car trailer.

Robin

Very interesting reading Robin - please keep the stories coming.

Kathi  8)

Don't want to go off track from your wonderful post, but this might help others.  :)

Did you happen to try and get the car onto the trailer with the trailer hooked up to the tow car at all?

This caused me grief only once and quickly learned my lesson, from now I always unhook the trailer from the tow car and chock the rear wheels of the trailer. When you drive/pull the car onto the trailer the front end of the trailer goes right up in the air and this gives a better approach angle for the car to roll up. If working alone, as it gets near to near level, yank on the handbrake and drag the car through the brakes so it doesn't go to far forward and tip down. Time to reverse the tow car to the trailer (hard bit if alone)
Was taking my daughter to a play center a short time ago, it is in a industrial area and drove past a mechanics where this young guy and his Mum were desperately trying to get his broken down car onto a car trailer. (was going to cost too much to fix, so were taking it home) It was stuck halfway up, poor young bloke was dripping with sweat after trying heaps to get it on. Pulled up and asked if they needed help, they said yes of course.  Rolled the car off, unhooked the trailer and pulled it back on. 10 mins work and I pulled the car on for him and didn't even raise a sweat. :D

cajerridoc back to lots of pictures after this short interruption.  :)

Cheers  M

Great Stories Robin,

Keep em coming!

Nige

Robin,
         Did you buy a red FE ute from Vic??  I know its history very well

No I have not loaded a car onto an empty trailer. I've never had a problem with a normal car.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3040.jpg)

                                                             (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3041.jpg)

As for the FE ute, I did buy one that came from VIC but it was purpley blue. I sold this one to collecta who has since sold it again.

The one I have now came from Cairns. It only cost $450 to get it all the way from Cairns to Adelaide. When I asked how much the other way, it was $1600. This was a few years ago so the prices would have changed but it shows the advantage of having car manufacture(s) in your state.

Interesting thing about this one is I put a canopy on it that came from Tasmania via NSW and the mounting holes line up with the screws that are already in the ute for the angle brackets, as if it used to have a same or similar canopy on it before. The canopy is made of Tasmanian Oak I think and I was told the plans for the canopy were available from the Holden dealers.

Anyone got an FE standard interior in green?  And a green roof lining too. It would be handy as I currently have FC door trims and an FE special seat in the ute.

Yes the ute still has no indicators.

Robin

I haven't tried that method of loading a car either, might give it a go next time, I like the ute canopy Robin,

I have a Lowline canopy on mine, it's like a bad suit, touches every where & fits no where  :P, but I can't complain as it only cost me a slab and a long drive.

I see what Ken meant about the shed floor now, nice  :) I have a ramp in my shed divided into 3 sections with a quarter panel sheild badge concreted in the centre of each bit.

The grey FE with the packing slip & the 217 cab are nice finds also.

Cheers, Gary   

And I thought I had some projects!
 Well done Robin, its people like you that keep the history and culture alive for our kids to inherit later down the track. It was great to meet you at the Nats. Keep up the good work. Ive got four cars to keep me busy and one wreck and my Missus thinks im obsessed, i'd hate to think what your Missus thinks.
                      Cheers Scott

He's one for the nostalgic. My first FC. I have had it for about 30 years. Paid $90 for it and my dad and I restored/modified it in the back shed. It took us several years as I was still at school when I got it. Not looking too good now as it has been off the road for 20 years and the rats were nesting in it where I had it stored. It has a 149 that is bored to a 161 with quarter race cam and ported and polished head. I also had the centres of the chromies moved to be exacting on the legal limit for wheel track. This pissed off a policeman who got down in the mud to check the track one night.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3004.jpg)

In 1983 I drove it through the Ash Wednesday fires, I don't know why, but I did and my brother and I picked up about six people who had abandoned a fire truck and car in the middle of the flames. The only way I knew I was still on the road was the cats eyes in the middle of the road. I could feel them through the steering. Dodged the fire truck which was burning and the burning car and found the people who were going to lie on the road to get away from the smoke. They climbed in and on the car, two hanging on the open back door as my brothers bike was in the back seat, no time to move it. As I went to move off the engine stalled. The radiator had burst and the steam went straight into the air cleaner. I flicked the key, she fired up, in a good way, and we got out of that hell. I was later awarded a bronze medal for bravery from the Governor. The car was so hot that when I touched my bike that was in the boot I got a burn on my hand about 2x6cm and it came up about 1.5cm in height. Ouch! But the FC survived, Still has most of the burn marks on it.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3011.jpg)

My nephew used it for a while then my brother and my wife. It found an Opel 4 speed and I think Torana bucket seats along the line. Now it needs another restoration.

Robin

Hi Robin

Wow - remarkable story.  I think the car definitely deserves a little attention now. It would be a great "good news" story for any TV station if it were to be rejuvenated and for those that you rescued to meet up with you, your brother and the FC again.  And also a good reminder to everyone of the dangers of bushfires.   

Kathi  8)

I agree it would make a good news story, only one more to go cathy and you've made your 100th :) :)

G'day Robin.....

I'm enjoying reading your various yarns that go with your many FEs and FCs....!! You've got plenty of great pics there also!! PLEASE KEEP 'EM COMING!!!

You've certainly got an awesome collection there.... I'm very jealous!

Reading that last yarn about you driving your first FC through the fires reminded me that I've actually seen an article about that!! A quick look through my old Grey Matters issues (number 34) and here it is... ;)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/Hewart/oldclips/greyscan.jpg)

That's quite a claim to fame!!

Keep those pics and stories coming!

That's inspiring Robin, it must be nice to know you've made a difference.

That old girl certainly deserves some TLC, what a pedigree!

Cheers
John

Champion effort Robin!

very interesting thread too.

Cheers

Ed

Robin,

What an inspiring story, I absolutely love hearing about all your cars. Each one seems to have touched someones life along the way. I love hearing about stories such as yours.

Regards

Keith

The real reason we were there was that the radio was urging residents to go home to their houses so we were trying to reach my brother's house. It turned out that his house was OK, but his fire wood was gone. The police had got his HR X2 Premier out of the shed near the wood heap and the the fire just went around his house. 100m up the road there was another burnt out fire truck that had got stuck on a tree. I think 2 people died there.

I headed for the local oval figuring that it would be a safe place. This is where I put the small fires out in the car near the filler and next to the battery, patched the radiator and burnt my hand. I went around to the bowls club to get some ice, and they were all inside as the light was too bad due to all the smoke. They didn't realise that they were surrounded by fires. Their answer was "Well we had better have another round then" from the bar.

I believe I was guided through, as I took a turn off I would not usually take, and it turned out there were 3 burnt out cars blocking the other road. I drove through flames and basically did all the wrong things that you should not do in a bushfire and got through, but at the time I never once thought I would not get through.

The original article of the the time had a much better and younger photo of both of us.

Robin

And Pedro - for my 100th!

Well, I'm still "speechless" due to Robin's story!  Now that I've finished work and had a little time to reflect I recall hearing of this at the time.  I'm so glad you still have the FC - aside from being your first FC it has such a great history with being the "driving force" of a great rescue.

I remember the bushfires distinctly.  I was extremely pee'd off with a bunch of MFS guys at the gym my sister and I taught at - this group believed it was a job for CFS volunteers and they had no intention of offering any support unless they were told to by the MFS as part of their paid work. My level of respect for that lot certainly dropped especially knowing the risks that so many people were taking to help others.   >:(

My sister and I, along with a lot of other entertainers, were very happy to do a large number of free floorshows to help raise funds for those affected.  Not much I know in comparison to the efforts of many others but it was what we were good at and it was the best way for us to contribute a little.  And yep, we were all a little younger and better looking then too!  ;)

Robin, you, your brother and your car were obviously destined to be there. Congratulations.

Kathi  8)

Well,I have no problem admitting I went very croaky just then reading this story out to my wife...What an incredible story and probably felt like nothing to you at the time.I remember a long while ago seeing the photos of the inside of your shed titled "one of my sheds" and thinking how awesome it would be to have such a collection.Well done mate,look forward to more photos.Cheers,Jamie.

Wow, sounds like you have been to hell and back in that ol' FC.
I agree with the others, she deserves to atleast be put back on the road.
When you do get to it, perhaps you can get a mural replica of your bronze medal painted on the glovebox.
Congrats on being in the right place and for doing what you did.
Regards
Alex

Get a little trax model, same colour, hit it with a bit heat, mount it and give it that "bushfire survivor look" and give it out at the nationals as a perpetual trophy for "FE/FC Service to the Community" or something like that. A bit about Robin's car can go with it as the inspiration - I know Robin was driving but as they say - "The Car's the Star!"


Or maybe I will just shut up for now....

Wow.  What a great story.  The car needs restoring and a plaque attached to it telling of the effort that you and your brother went through to rescue the people.  It has historic significance It was the case of being int the right place at the right time.  Love your collection.  Keep the stories coming.

Keith

To all, thanks you for your comments.

There is, however, no need to be jealous or envious. The whole idea of this is not to be better than anyone else because I have more cars. It is to preserve as many FE and FC models as I can, and we are all part of that. Whether stock or modified, they are being saved and enjoyed and I think that this is the reason we are here and we all have different ways to save the cars. There are many very talented people out there that restore their cars from the ground up. I am not one of those, so I chose to collect cars. I have them restored by others and I do what I can, but to those of you that do the whole thing yourselves, my hat is off to you.

Oh yes, and of course you are all welcome to visit and spend a while looking around.

Any way you say you want more?

Well then:

FC 229 Station Sedan in Terraglow and Adobe Beige with a black and white interior.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3025.jpg)

I bought this car on ebay and it came from Queensland.

                                                                      (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3030.jpg)
It had been repainted in 2 pack before I bought it.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3033.jpg)

I used this one to get to work for a couple of months shortly after I got it as the engine on my VX wagon died and there was a lot of debate about the cause and who was paying. It was on the way home from work one afternoon that I discovered that the wipers were not operational. It was OK, I only had a drive of 75km to get home. It rained all the way. I love rain!

Robin

Now that's a nice looking wagon, best car in your collection so far, although i may be a little biased towards STATION SEDANS(ok make that a lot) ;D ;D

Robin that is a truely inspirational story, a well deserved award. You should be truely proud of the old girl (bet you wouldn't have made it in a new commodore  ::).

Robin have you got all the history on this one ? Might be able to help you out if you dont.

I have no more information about the wagon. Any you have would be good to share.

Robin

The Vanett 2 door, no floor.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3017.jpg)

                                            (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3019.jpg)

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3020.jpg)

                                            (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3022.jpg)

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3023.jpg)

There has been a back seat added and the front seat is split to allow access to the back. Windows have also been added to the sides.

Got this one a few years ago from Stawell. I picked it up at Nhill, left home about 0530 in the morning, got to Nhill about 9-10 loaded up and was back in time to pick up my son from school. It came with a set of Y frames and these were on the roof rack on the car on the trailer.

This car has an engine number V*********P which from another thread on this site means the number is a Victorian Police issued number. Possibly a brand new engine was fitted at some stage.

The car is a definite Fred Flintstone car with little floor left and the top missing from the petrol tank.

Robin

Interesting van.
Dig the split seat, is the top hinged?
That's something you don't see every day.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Alex

What an interesting find, I have never seen one like that. Were the vanette's offered from the factory or is this one that someone has converted from a van?

The front seat must fold because there is no way to get into the back seat otherwise.  The qn is - does the back of the seat fold down, or does the split section lift up and forwards?  Presumably the latter.

David

This is from Alex's Accessory of the week in the members section.

"Bailey Motors was a business in Melbourne who specialised in conversions to Panelvans. This included adding windows to vans and also included adding additional doors to convert them into Station Wagons. The quality of their conversions often leaves those that have seen 1 of these vans thinking it was a factory option.
Ken McLean owned and restored 1 such example which had an extra door added on the passenger side."


http://fefcholden.org.au/forum/index.php/topic,13156.0.html

As for the seat. Well, I have not been on that side of the van to find out. I will have to have a look, but as the base is also split I would guess the whole seat tips.

The FE 219.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3042.jpg)

                                            (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3044.jpg)

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3043.jpg)

As you can see it is a bit buried in the the workshop at the moment. Actually its been buried for about 6 years. These don't come along everyday, so when you find one you have to grab it. This one has had the factory indicators fitted.

I had this register for a few years but the brakes were shot so I did not drive it. The rego was coming to an end so I thought I would make a last ditch effort to get it going. I put all recondition cylinders on and filled it with fluid and prepared to bleed the system, but there was no fluid coming out of the cylinder. I soon found a pool under the front of the car where the brake line had rusted through and that was it. Time was up as far as the rego went, so I reused the cylinders on the grey FE 225 and the FE 219 has not moved since. Sad but true.

I have also never found the chassis number and others have tried in vain also. I cant even feel anything on the underside from the stamping.

An interesting point on this car is it is FE-219-79-A so it is a real early one. The current engine number starts with a "U". This was used on FJ utes and vans that were produced whilst the FE sedans were in production. Did this car get a leftover block that was destined for an FJ or was it swapped down the track? The engine has been reconditioned, but that does not always mean that it was swapped. I guess if someone has a list of the "U" engine numbers they could work out if the number is right near the end of production or not. This might give a clue.

I bought it from Kathy Textor and this was the second time Kathy had owned the car. We have pictures in the club archives of a younger Kathy and a younger, much better looking car. "Shake, Rattle and Roll" is what she called it I believe and she used to take her young girls to school in it.

At some stage it was sold at Mt Gambier and she would see it now and then. It was for sale in a car yard I think she said and the price was too high, but it sold at some stage and she found it again in a back yard and asked what was happening with it and then, home it came.

A later rationalisation of Greg and Kathy's car saw me lucky enough to purchase the FE 219 Station Sedan and the FC 2106 Ute.

Kathy may be able to correct and\or add to this story.

Robin

There is some "mysterious" connection between FE/FCs and Mt Gambier, this wagon my FE Sedan, Nadia's FE Ute (Kalangadoo, but close enough) and I almost bought an FC Station Sedan from the Mount too  ???

Robin, the U engine numbers ran in the same series with the L engine numbers whilst they were being manufactured so it is possible that a mistake was made and a U engine was put in the FE.  I will try to find out what the engine number should be in the car, but the chassis number would of helped

Ken

My FC 215.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3018.jpg)

                                                            (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3024.jpg)

This car was restored a couple of owners ago and it looks like they used a few FE parts to do it. It has the FE stainless on the front guards and an FE speaker grill, but it scored an FC Special back seat.

Other interesting features of the restoration are:

The leg of the left Y frame has been repaired with a U shaped piece of checker plate.

It also got a colour change to white from Adobe Beige I think

The head lights were wired such that on high beam both the high and low beams were on and on low beam only the highs were on.

Added to this were quartz halogen lights of 100/55 watts and the reason for the charred wiring loom and the extension cord that replaces it is now apparent.

The van in waiting.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3012.jpg)

                                                        (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3013.jpg)

I have had this for a few years. There has been a lot of work done with repair sections in the floor and the body prepared for painting. There are however bubbles appearing in a few place so we will have to got back to basics.

Slim put his van on the market about a week later. I was already committed to buy this one so I did. About a year or so later Slim dropped the price of his van a bit and it seemed a better proposition so I bought it too.

I then tried to sell this van. The first buyer changed his mind after waiting a few months, the second did the same but I did get a deposit and the third won it on ebay and then did not pay for it. He did, however, get what goes around comes around when he sold a car and was not paid for it. When he complained on ebay I was able to console him by telling him my story of how I had been treated the same by someone who did not pay.

After all of this I concluded that the van and I were meant to be together. Anyway the van is now destined to become my FE van.

Robin

Hi Robin

Yep - karma's gonna get ya!  What colour do you have planned for the Van?

Kathi  8)

The ID tag says Adobe Beige but this week I am leaning towards PMG red as my first job was in Telecom and my brother started with the PMG and I still have his Blazer from when he was in training around 50 years ago.

Robin

Hee hee hee - would be a nice little touch, but can you fit it into it?

Kathi  8)

:-X

Kathi,

You had a chance to find out today but you did not finish the run with us.

Robin

Hi Robin

It was great to see all you guys out today - we took our own trip down memory lane after we left you guys at NorthPark!  John insists that I tell you I'm shy and a bit of recluse - despite what most people think!

So, while I'm happy to have a little bit of fun on here, or stalk people while they're out cruisin' I'm actually a little bit of a wallflower and feel funny mixing with people.  Maybe I will overcome that one day!  :-[

But it was good to see you all out - geez you're worse than me, you can really put your foot into it when you take off at the lights - you white line screamer! I heard those tyres spinnin' on the white lines!  :o

Kathi  8)

I was being chased by a mysterious Black FE. Why shouldn't I take off fast?

Robin

Drats, you saw us - and there I was thinking we were doing a good job at being inconspicuous!  ;D

Kathi   8)

Here's something you don't see every day.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/ehnewsletter.jpg)

2 of my FC's on the front cover of an EH newsletter.

And something else from the collection. A project in waiting, The guy I bought it from found out he had cancer and would not have had time to finish it. So far neither do I. It has a fold down front seat and the interior is in good condition. Trouble was it lived near the beach.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3034.jpg)

                                                    (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3035.jpg)

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3036.jpg)

Robin

thanks for sharing these cars with us .

btw ... nice philips radio in this car .. not too many of them around .

c-ride  :)

Robin,

You never cease to amaze me with your collection of cars, Thanks for not only sharing the cars withus but the stories behind the cars also.

Keith
F4+
 ;)

Unusual door pull handle on that car Robin, have to agree with Coolaride, unusual radio also.
You'll get around to doing it up eventually, thats what I keep telling myself  ::)
Cheers, Gary

Thanks for the comments. Must say I have not paid too much attention to the radio or door handles. I will have to check them out.

Robin

It's been a while but there is something new in the side yard. When I say new I mean old.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3547.jpg)

I saw this one for sale at Old Oldens and by time I decided I would like it it had sold. That was around April / May this year I guess.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3548.jpg)

But then it turned up on ebay. Turns out it had had two owners since it was at Old Oldens in about 6 months.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/cajerridoc/DSCF3549.jpg)

I now have 2 ute trailers but this one has had a lot more work done to the front to round it off and they have even used a tailgate skin which can be removed.  The 2 trailers are 15 apart in rego numbers. I registered one of them but the other was done by someone else, probably the same day at the same rego office.

I do have something else new to the yard but it is not quite ready to show yet.

Robin

So thats where all the spare badges go.....

what a legend holy fire truck that would have to be australias greatest collection  :o :o :o :o :o :o there must be an award for that  :P :P