Sunday 24 September 2017
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I'm reluctantly offering up my 1959 Holden FC station sedan for sale. The only reason is that now I've finally found another fully restored wagon, Bec said I had to sell this one. Also, I don't have the time, health, money, garage, energy, patience, let alone talent to restore it myself.

I've owned this Canberra car since 1997. This wagon has been loved and it has been used. The previous owner had three small children and so do we. It's been a daily driver, camping car, mountain-bike transport and removalist truck. It's been all around Australia and it also brought all three of our babies home from the maternity ward. It's been too a few FE-FC Nationals and adopted by many club members (thanks Tierneys, Potters and Frenchs).

The original paint looks authentic. It has wear, minor chips, cracks and scratches and lots of flecks has come off during washes. There's one decent chip on the bonnet and a good scratch on the passenger door. The compliance plate indicates this wagon should be two-tone green but I can't find any evidence of a respray or tampered plate.

The body is very straight. There are a few minor dents but no rust and no rust repairs. The chrome is excellent, the front and rear bumpers and grille are like new. The glass and rubbers are in great condition.

The grey velour interior was done in the 1980s, replacing the original seat material, door trims and hoodlining. It is all very tidy with no tears but needs a good clean. It has black carpet and a Smiths heater. The old aftermarket radio has speakers hidden behind the door trims.

It has an ACT engineers certificate for a red motor, seatbelts, HR disc brake front and HR rear end and 13x7" cromies. It runs a 192ci with extractors, sports exhaust and sounds great. It's on its 4th grey gear box as I could never bring myself to modify the transmission tunnel to install a floor shift. Brake booster.

This is the perfect restorer wagon body you've been waiting for. Next Sunday, I'm advertising it publicly at the Summernats car club display. I'm asking $15,000, YFC059 plates not included.

More photos to come.

Cheers Tim Miller
0437 HOLDEN

G'day Guys

The search is over as I managed to find a Sunliner caravan less than 10km from my house here in Canberra. A lovely couple had owned it for over 40 years. The van needs a lot of work as it hasn't moved from their front yard in over 20 years. This rare Sunliner Super 16 (foot) version is completely original inside and out - it even has a bunk bed. Our intention is to keep this van completely original and tow it behind our stock two-tone green 1959 Holden FC Special Sedan.

Within a week of buying my first Sunliner, I was lucky enough to buy a second 16' Sunliner near Ipswich QLD. We bought it off a container ship captain who had replaced all the mechanicals and completely stripped the interior and put in all new walls, ceiling, floors, windows, cupboards and insulation. Our intention is to complete the renovation with all new appliances, a triple bunk (for our three boys under 7) and tow it behind our modified white & grey 1959 Holden FC Special Station Sedan (wagon).

Cheers, Tim

Thanks Heaps DJ, I really appreciate the offer (and the find).

If I don't have luck this weekend, I might divert next week's trip to Brisbane via Orange rather than Sydney to pick up the ute towbar (if the seller is willing to separate it from the package auction).

Cheers, Tim

Thanks JB

I gave them a quick call but unfortunately was advised that they stopped making tow bars for FE-FC Holdens a couple of years ago.

Cheers, Tim

Thanks Scott

I do remember seeing it at the Orange Nats (it was an opinion polariser). I'm sure I also saw that it participated in a few QLD Variety Bashes. I did the VIC Variety Bash in 2013 and will enter next year as it's going from Melbourne to Darwin. So I'd love to know if it's available.

Cheers, Tim

G'day Guys

I'm looking for a tow bar to go on my FC Ute.

I can pick it up mid-next week if you're located between Canberra/Sydney/Brisbane.

I hope to return home with a vintage caravan from Ipswich next Friday (6 November).

(I've found three tow bars here in Canberra but they all seem to fit sedans/wagons).

Cheers, Tim

G'day Guys

Just a very late follow up to see if anyone knows if this FC Crewman is still around? I've read that 'oldgmh' bought it in 2005 but can't find any reference to it since. I think I might have even seen at a FE-FC Nats. Is it still doing the charity rally circuit?

Next June, I'm going to raise dust and dollars on the 2016 Super Endeavour Rally which goes via outback QLD to Alice Springs for the Finke Desert Race, Uluru, Lake Eyre and back via Birdsville. I would love to enter an FC Holden or failing that, go the other end and enter a VL (the newest model allowed under the 30 year rule).

Cheers, Tim

Thanks for your advice Pete - I appreciate it.

I have never towed anything with any of my FC Holdens (I don't even have a tow bar yet). I've also not yet been able to ask any FC owners with vintage vans about towing. I was hoping to be able to tow a van about that same weight (700kg) with my stock grey motor powered sedan. Failing that, I've got my wagon that does have a mild 179 red motor with disc brake front end. What type of van do you have?

Cheers, Tim

Much appreciated DJ

I've just gotten back from Queensland after having looked at four Olympic Caravans and one Sunliner. There's one getting restoring now that's just about ready for paint, so this is perfect timing.

I was a bit worried that going ice green all over (with a forrester green stripe) would look a bit full-on and that I should keep the original cream on the top half. However, what you've done looks awesome - I really like it. I might have to get a shot of an FC Holden towing a Sunliner so that I can see if having both vehicles together in two-tone green is a little too much.

Thanks again DJ, Cheers Tim

G'day Artists!

I haven't had much luck finding a 1950s Sunliner Caravan, so I'm considering getting a 1960s Olympic Caravan instead. I've found one in cream (I think nearly all of the later models were in cream), but I'd like to have it resprayed in two-tone green to match my FC sedan.

Does someone mind having a go at changing the image below for me? I'd like to see it in Ice Green (where it's cream) and Forrester Green (where it's red). Of course, I'd like to see any other options you guys can come up with too. Maybe tri-colour: cream & two-tone green?

Cheers, Tim


     

Thanks Greg

Bec and I and the boys have entered and have booked a powered site at the Big 4. I was quite proud of myself (for booking last year) until Bec reminded me that we wouldn't have the Winnebago anymore. (She was right, after six months on the market, it finally sold last Friday).

So now we need a caravan. Is anyone towing a caravan to Toowoomba this year?

Cheers, Tim

G’day Guys

Last week, I finally sold our Winnebago which has been the third campervan (including a Kombi) for Bec and I and our three little boys over the last six years. It also towed our FC wagon around Australia after the Perth Nationals. Bec doesn’t want to give up camping, so she is looking for a modern car and caravan. However, as my daily drivers has always been FC Holdens, I’m looking for a 1950s Sunliner caravan to complement them instead. My tow vehicle is an FC wagon with a HR disc brake front with brake booster & drum rear end, 186 motor (but no tow-bar yet). I’ve also started another thread asking for help in finding an FC Wagon with a modern V6/Auto conversion to be a stronger tow vehicle.

As with an FC Holden rebuild, I don’t have the health, time, money, garage space or talent to do my own ground-up re-build on a vintage caravan. I need a completely restored and registered caravan that is big enough (14-18 foot if I can get away with it). It also needs to sleep four (preferably with a double bed and a bunk bed, so we don’t have to convert the dinette each night). I’m not looking for a show caravan but I do want it to be well-built and well-engineered and most of all, safe. I’ve been told I’ll need a fibreglass van as they are the most suitable (big enough and light enough) to tow behind an FC. I’d prefer an original interior (ie dinette and cabinetry) and retro paint scheme (ie two-tone) but would consider modern interior and exterior if it’s been done tastefully. Bec really just wants big fridge and a gas stove that works.

Does anyone know anyone that has, and may consider selling their 1950s Sunliner Caravan?

Even if the owners aren’t willing to sell, I would still greatly appreciate any leads or advice on what models to look for/avoid and what’s the longest/heaviest van I can get away with. I've read elsewhere on the forum that I can probably go up to 150% of 1150kg (FC Wagon Tare Weight). I’m located in Canberra but I’m willing to travel anywhere. If I can't find an Sunliner, I may consider an Olympic. If I can’t find a fibreglass caravan, I may consider a bond wood or Pre-70s aluminium. I would also consider trading my wagon or ute if the seller wants a new project or tow vehicle for their next vintage caravan. My budget is $10k-$20k. I’m not in a rush but I do need to find something before the Toowoomba Nationals (I’ve already booked my powered-site)!

Cheers, Tim Miller
0437 465 336 or tim@kombikids.com.au

G’day Guys

Last week, I finally sold our Winnebago which has been the third campervan (including a Kombi) for Bec and I and our three little boys over the last six years. It also towed our FC wagon around Australia after the Perth Nationals. Bec doesn’t want to give up camping, so she is looking for a modern car and caravan. However, my daily driver has always been an FC Holden. I’ve had my stock green sedan since I was 17 (1994), modified white wagon since I was 21 (1997) and modified red ute since 2008. My dream car is still an FC Holden: so I need your help to find an FC Wagon with a modern V6/Auto conversion.

I’m a full-time house-Dad who has to drop three boys under seven to three different schools each day. Driving and parking my manual wagon with fat tyres, small steering wheel and no power steering is killing me, but not as much as the alternative (borrowing my mother-in-law’s Corolla). I’d prefer not to drive my stock sedan every day (it’s on historic rego with no seatbelts) and the ute is pretty useless for kids (well, legally). And whilst my wagon already has a HR front & rear end, 186 motor and child-restraint bar I can’t bring myself to modify a rust free body that one-day someone else might like to restore to original.

To be honest, even if I wanted to, I don’t have the health, time, money, garage space or talent to do my own ground-up re-build. I need a practical daily driver with all the features of a Commodore (performance, comfort, handling, safety, economy, towing capacity) without actually having to resort to buying a Commodore. I’m not looking for a show car but I do want it to be well-built and well-engineered and most of all, safe. I’d prefer an original interior (ie bench seats) and original paint scheme (ie two-tone) but would consider modern interior and exterior if it’s been done tastefully. Bec really just wants air-con and wipers that work.

Does anyone know anyone that has, and may consider selling their FC wagon with a modern V6/Auto conversion? Even if the owners aren’t willing to sell, I would still greatly appreciate any leads or advice on what to look for/avoid. I’m located in Canberra but I’m willing to travel anywhere. If I can’t find a wagon, I may consider a sedan. If I can't find an FC, I may consider an FE (maybe). I would also consider trading my wagon or ute or both if the seller wants a new project. My budget is Commodore money. I’m not in a rush but I do need to find something before the Toowoomba Nationals (that can tow a vintage caravan, but that’s a whole other thread).

Cheers, Tim Miller
0437 465 336 or tim@kombikids.com.au

[Friday 26 July 2013]

G'day Guys

You do not have to be a member of a club to enter the ACT Holden Day.

However, please note that entries close Friday 26 July 2013, don't miss out!

You can check out some of the entrant images here | http://actholdenday.wordpress.com/entrants/

Cheers, Tim

G'day Guys

I need to buy a new FC Holden grille & front bumper bar to replace the ones on my wagon that were damaged in an accident. Some guy reversed his Winnebago towbar right into the front of my wagon! (Yes, it was me). My contact me on 0437 HOLDEN or tim@kombikids.com.au if you have any leads. I know there's a re-chromed front bumper on eBay for $600+. Just thought I'd try here first in-case anyone could use the money more.

Kind Regards, Tim

G'day Guys

You can also download a flyer for inclusion into your club magazine.



Kind Regards, Tim

I haven't seen the movie yet but I will, just to see these FC Holdens

You can see them in action in the movie trailer here | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ljho1cyEfg

   

Hope there is a great turnout for this worthy cause.

Have included it on Holden Heaven | http://www.holden.org.au/event/port-motor-mania/

Cheers, Tim