So, on re-reading the above entry I am yet to work out how to inflect a tone of sarcasm for others to accurately interpret.   

But hey, our family all thought it was quite funny about the red carpet and the Queen - especially seeing as dad would have loved for Australia to become a republic before he died!

Will go now and leave you all in peace - the body is falling apart these days and a, just starting to feel the effect of driving the FE for well over 4 hours today (FE = F'n Effort?). That being said, I'll still keep driving it until I need the zimerframe. 

[Woodville]

Sorry, that should have read Woodville GMH above - it was my dad who mainly worked at Elizabeth (he started at Woodville in 1946). Geez, how could I stuff that one up. 

Now here's something impressive! True story - my dad was responsible for rolling out the red carpet for the Queen's visit to Elizabeth.  He always said he would he wondered if he would have been sacked if she tripped up! 

We even have a copy of the GMH People magazine March 1963, Volume 15 Number 5 that has the a picture on the front cover of the Queen walking up the steps on the red carpet.  Wow - how impressive is that ? 

Hi Ret, the single colour Fall Red interior is certainly not unusual to me! But I guess I never really considered that maybe there are not too many black with red trim ones out there. I did know of a couple in SA but that was probably some 20 years ago. 

If anyone is interested here's a little story about how I got mine.

My dad's Uncle Stan was visiting his brother at work one day (Elizabeth GMH) and fell in love with the yet-to-be-released FE's.  He immediately ordered a black one and didn't care that he had to wait until November 1956 to get it. He only really drove it from his home in Prospect to the North Adelaide pub (and I remember as a kid my dad pointing it out there on many occasions). 

In October 1983, when he couldn't drive anymore, he told dad he wanted to sell it to someone who would look after it. Dad suggested I get it as a first car - so for $200 I got a one owner black with red trim FE Special Sedan with 68,142 mile on the odo (yes, I think he lived at the pub!). 

When I got it the paint looked like a blackboard from years of oxidisation but after a concerted effort it looked pretty good. I'd only polished the driver's half of the car when dad took it up to show him - he brought him out to see the "blackboard" passenger side and he was carrying on about how happy he was that I was looking after it.  The he went round to the driver side and just about had a heart attack!

Almost 25 years down the track I still have it with no intention of selling. It had a full rebuild just before Xmas 1989 and, despite the 14" rims, it is still pretty stock.  After the two hour trip out to Tanunda and then back today it has now done 133,960 miles (obviously I don't drink as much as him  ).

I am so very glad my dad's Uncle Stan had the vision (and patience) to order a black one.  I have definitely benefited from his decision - I absolutely love the combination and would never think of changing it.  You can't beat it - but I could be a little biased. 

Regards     

NosFEratu   

I personally like a classic 50's look.  My sedan is black with red rims and hollywood flippers and looks great.  However, my elk blue (huge surprise there) van has the same combination and looks great too. 

There are plenty of hubcaps out there - google "go-kat-go". That's where I got my flippers from - they also have the version without the flipper bar, as well as others.  Their prices are very good and my most recent set of flippers cost around $160AU landed (Sept '07).   

Pedro's suggestion will also look good and give it a more "Holden" look. 

It really all depends on what "style" you are after. This is a very personal choice as it can make or break the whole look of your car.  Have fun

NosFeratu 

Hi Bryan

I have a completely standard FE front end with brand new standard offset HT rims - no need to fit HT hubs. 

On two occasions we have tried HK rims on there and the wheels won't even turn because of the inside offset fouling the tie-rod end.  The HK rims have a deeper back spacing - this explains the different standard track measurement between HK's and HT/G's.

HK rims also have little slots in the outer part of the centre - if that description makes sense. 

Maybe your HT's rims were replaced at some stage in its life with HK ones - this used to be done regularly as there was no major impact by doing this? 

Check my avatar - I have been running these rims for around 7 years now and I replaced my original set with a new set last year when I donated them to the van.  I use my car regularly and have had no problems with them at all - absolutely no scraping or interference. 

We lowered it 2" all around by cutting the springs in the front and using lowering blocks in the back.  I have 195x75 Coker Classics on the rims and this combination gives the car much better proportion - I couldn't believe how much different it made my car look.  I am still amazed and still stoked   

regards       NosFEratu

I thoroughly agree with you Hewart - but then I could be a little biased 

Just a little word of warning if you want to fit 14" wheels use HT or HG.  HK rims are set in further and will bind on the standard steering arms.  Oh and you can buy them brand new. 

regards

NosFEratu
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200213480728&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

Come in Spinner - here it is - just for you 

[would]

Freaky that this one has come up within 24 hours of the first - I had to go out into the shed to check that mine was still there    Me thinks this one might have a replacement motor though!

But hey, good looking car - you can't beat original black with red. All it needs is a set of 14" Coker wide whites and flipper hubcaps - no wait, that would almost make it my car ! 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270225422027&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

Spotted on (F)e-bay tonight - hope the link works.   

Stinky - without this sounding heartless, it's good to hear the damage is mechanical and didn't endanger anyone's lives. 

We did a day trip to see the show on Saturday. There was a good array of cars on display and it was great to have a bit of trip down memory lane when I caught up with Steve Mason - his car brought back a few memories of my old V6 FC from 20 years ago (oops showing the age again)  

BTW Steve (sorry don't know your "pseudonym")  - don't forget to say hi to all the old USM guys for me.

Stinky

Yes, hope you and your family are ok. 

As much as we all hate the prospect of any damage to our cars we must always remember that cars can be replaced but people can't.

Congratulations Tuffute on getting it back! Some things are just meant to be! 

NosFEratu 

FantaC

I wish you all the best with your loan application and hope your business venture goes well.  It is not too often that you can combine your business with your "hobby" and have a legitimate tax deduction so if you can - do it!  Thanks to Stinky for his suggestion. 

I appreciate that sometimes we are in situations where we have to do things we don't really want to but have to.  However, if you can find a way around it then you have to think seriously about it. Even if it means putting it under covers for a few years - you have to consider the costs and benefits of it all (oh no - the number cruncher in me is showing )

I am glad you posted your question - it's demonstrated that there is a lot of support and understanding in the community.

Best of luck with it all and if you are successful, one of the next problems you will have will be the style of advertising you choose for your "canvas" - but that will be the fun part! 

NosFEratu 

FantaC

DON'T SELL IT UNLESS YOU REALLY HAVE TO (sorry about shouting but I'm a tad emotional at the moment!)

I agree with Stinky - you will definitely regret it. 

Windowless vans are hard to come by and everyone into these earlies know that and knows their worth as a result!  Yes, an unfinished car that needs work is a money pit but there is nothing like cruisin' in the car you love - made even sweeter when you know that you are driving one of the elusive body styles.

I found one 23 years ago (effectively rescued it from a future trip to Sims Metal) and always planned to fix it up. But due to a marriage bust up I regretfully had to leave it behind (and it was the ex's decision to sell it).  Ever since then, my current better half and I have been chasing them down but never seeming to be in the right place at the right time.   

I finally got one again last year. I didn't care that it had been modified - all I wanted was a windowless van with the back half in good nick. You can't believe how happy I was to bring another one home again

Add to that the surprise I got when I found out later that it was MY ORIGINAL VAN I had to give up years ago (I "heard" mine had gone up in flames many years ago).  My face hurt for days from smiling - actually it still does! . 

Don't sell unless you really have to - take Stinky's advice and, if you can  build it up as a business van and use it as a mobile signboard and tax deduction - do it! Leave it in the garage for a few more years if you have to but think long and hard before you make a decision to sell!

And before anyone thinks I am pro windowless vans and don't appreciate other body styles - my first car I ever had was an FE sedan.  I still have it and, as much as I love my van, my sedan always comes first! 

NosFEratu 

Hi Retro

I have these in 14" on both of my cars and they look damn fine - you can't beat them with red rims and Coker whitewalls.  

I got my last set for US$80 (same $ for 15") from Go-Kat-Go in the states.  (Don't know if this link will work  but at least you can google it easily if it doesn't   http://www.go-kat-go.com/holfliphubse.html) 

Word of warning - watch out when looking for these as some sellers seem to think that a set of caps comprises 2, not 4. 

I'm positive that postage was only US$50 - they came very quickly and were well packaged.

It was worth bringing them in from the states with the high dollar and there was no way I was going to get them any cheaper than that anywhere else and, believe me, I did a lot of research!  Hope this info helps.

My 2nd set were a birthday present to myself but when my other half gave me the second set of Cokers to go with them it was an even better day than expected.

Nosferatu