The Irish FE FC Fleet

[Paul In Ireland]

So, 2pm was the arranged time to collect the FE. Had a hickup when they told us we were 3 days overdue and that'll be another $300 before we will release the container.... It was the clearance agents fault but we got the hit all the same. Anyway, pulled up to the dockyard and theres our container - green of course:



Over to open it and we realise that this time they have used a bolt instead of the old wire and lead plug. No boltcutters with us of course but a hacksaw and impatience can do wonders! 2 minutes later we are in to the sweet smell of petrol and old cars:



Whilst the other 2 lads set to work on the jag I headed up the back to get the real car out:



Whilst I also have pics of the jag making its Irish debut, I will skip over them and move onto more important things. The first thing was to get everything out of the way of the FE to give it a free run to the outside world:



Here we go then... Wheels touching down onto Irish soil.... One small step for and FE, one giant step for - who am I kidding, there have been FE's here before at some stage. I figure there must have been because I know of a couple in England and the Embassy in London used to get a half a dozen new Holdens sent over every year back then as well. Anyway, the modern landing:



Do you think I look a bit pleased?? 



Then I got out and saw some dirty cat had taken a walk over the bonnet before the container had been closed up - fecking cats!!



So, out of the port and over to the servo for some Irish juice which is currently $2 a litre - down from $3 a couple of months back:



Off we go down the freeway to my office. Knock a few cobwebs off and the ole FE flies along like a trooper, so here we are heading east out of Cork city:



Back to the office and I had better load up the car trailer as I have a 35k trip home and I don't feel like doing 3 trips this evening back and forth. Here we are with the 2 cars:



And now for the arty shot:



And here is the real proof - and FE and an FC side by side in a garage in Ireland:



When I get the chance and get a nice sunny day, I will get them out and cleaned up a bit and take a nice shot. This could take some time thought as it is winter here....

Hope you enjoyed the picture show and I know I'm going to enjoy driving them around.



Paul
 

[Paul In Ireland]

Oh yeah - my parents asked if I wanted aything and I said some violet crumble and some family snack would be nice...

Wow, did they ever come through for me  :





That's 10 bags of vc, 6 snack bars, 6 packs of clinkers and some other stuff. Geez, that'll last til... like about... Christmas?? 


Paul
 

[NosFEratu]

Congratulations Paul

Good to see your Dad finally thought you were responsible enough to get your hands on the FE. 

Are you sure that grin wasn't you being hypo from sugar?

Nice to see you now can now add the dreaded Nasco hood ornament to your arsenal! 

Kathi

[NosFEratu]

Clinkers! Yay - what good taste!   

[NascoHunter]

Great stuff Paul,
   The FE still looks great. l can remember the car from when it was in Melbourne and I even drove it back then.  You've done well.
Cheers,
 Tony.

[jack_fc]

 A comprehensive and well-illustrated report!   (as was expected   )

Good on ya, Paul; your Christmas has started already!!

cheers jack

[mcl1959]

Your enthusiasm has been rewarded with a fine FE to add to the FC.  Well done!

Have a great Christmas with your new toy

Regards  Ken

[mikey]

Forget about the tax on the car, just wondering how much tax you had to pay importing those lollies!!

[Paul In Ireland]

Mikey - tax was about $5,200 give or take a bit all in. The FE part would have been about $400 given that its stated value was $1800 . That total is VAT and as the company "owns" the cars, and we are the company, we are VAT registered and can therefore reclaim the VAT as part of the business. To import cars privately would require deeper pockets than I have.

[Glenn 'Stinky' Stankevicius]

$5,200

It would have been cheaper (and more fun) to have done a "Melbourne to Ireland Rally" 

[Paul In Ireland]

It would have been cheaper (and more fun) to have done a "Melbourne to Ireland Rally" 

I think you may be onto something..... count me in!!

[RET]

It would have been cheaper (and more fun) to have done a "Melbourne to Ireland Rally" 

Sounds like great TV. Would that be "From Pakenham to Paris", or maybe "The Long Way Up" ?

Great to see the two cars together there, Paul. Good on ya

cheers
RET

[Rabbitoh]

Well done Paul.
That good one you have, (the FE ofcourse ) looks the same scheme as mine, 'Granite Grey' over 'Castle Grey'?
Welcome to the 'two greys' sub-category of the Victorian Club

[KFH]

Well done Paul.  The cars look great.  Have you wiped the smile off your face yet?

Keith

[EffCee]

You finally have them, well done, don't eat them all at once or you'll get a tooth ache. 

By the way the FE looks absolutely great, bet you will need to suck on some lemons to try and get the smile off your face

Happy motoring in your FE

Regards

Keith
F4+
 

[Paul In Ireland]

Just to add a couple of things.

That shiny reflective stuff on the ground is water.

The little drops of stuff on the windscreen are called rain.

I have still to get the spare engine out of the boot and put on the trinkets back on like the dress rings etc. It needs a good clean as there is a fine film of dust all over that if left would get rubbed into the paint and make me cranky! I have a list of things to do mechanically like a couple of seals, break checks etc. before I really get flying in it.

I also have to come up with a name - any suggestions? I believe I need one for the Ute as well. Have been trying to think of them but it needs more alcohol than I am drinking at present - however I may be able to remedy that over Christmas. On holidays now til the 5th Jan so I have time.....


Paul
 

[NosFEratu]

How about "FE" and "FC" as in Effie and Feck    But I'm sure you can come up with something just as lame if you drink too much!  Or you could call the ute "FC Ute" as in Feck U (with a silent T)!  Yeah I'm tired - time to go to bed!   

[Martin]

Well done Paul.  That's a nice pair.  (Usually when I say that I get slapped     )

How about "Bluey and Curly".  Can't get much more Ozzie than that.

Merry Irish Christmas.

Martin

[zulu]

Have to agree with Martin Paul, they look good together, Dave & Mabel come to mind.
Cheers, Gary

[Paul In Ireland]

Dave and Mabel does have a ring to it but not too sure thats for me.

I will think of something although "Bluey" for the ute does seem a good fit.