FC Holden Sedan "Black and White Taxi Service Co-Operative" restoration

[fe350chev]

Here's the HD numbers. I'm not too interested in this car but the numbers may be of use to someone else? Ken?
And his FJ.


My attention now turns to finding more info about these cars I know about and working out why on the rego and insurance docs the FC is listed as a 1959? Also the latest date to prove its commercial use as a taxi is 1965. I have an insurance doc for the Fj proving it was still his in 1966, the same year he bought the new HD. I'm assuming the last rego was 1973. For the sake of preserving some history, this sticker that I found under the mat when I stripped the car will be reproduced when I get around to it.

[fe350chev]

The final bit of interesting information is that most adverts stressed preference for the newest vehicle possible. Given that there were only 20 licences given out to returned servicemen, companies already had many, but you had to be new to the business (in theory) and the adverts selling them are all rather private. However the penalties for breaching these 20 were harsh and various litigations occurred (by the state)  showing that it wasnt taken lightly by police and magistrates, who called blokes who did this "despicable" and of the lowest character to pose as an ex serviceman when they weren't. So it appears that he likely obtained the rare "b grade taxi licence" which was city restricted during the timeframe correlating with the article. I still believe the 1956 FJ of his was the family car but it could have been a taxi too. I would say it was early on because the act of parliament changed in 1956 to make it necessary for tighter control of licences to clean up the industry and I would suspect was used to ensure returned serviceman (especially injured blokes) got work.

[fe350chev]

Found this amongst parts last night.

[fe350chev]

Confirmed today it did have the holes for behind the c pillar trim extension. I noticed that the sway bar had the hole right through to the engine bay which is unusual.

[fe350chev]

Last night I found a chrome extension which slides over the 3 fins I have. So I'm after a left fin entension which are very thin. I will need some of those slide in bolt clips. I think someone said that they are available new. So this completely verifies that the car is a late 59.

[fe350chev]

Ok, today I brough the engine home from storage offsite. I took a pic of the extension I need too. Also I just cleaned up the gearbox and head a bit and the build date for the gearbox is 16/12/1959. The cylinder head date is 18/12/1959. Good to have a few more original parts than expected. I think I will preserve these items as they are and use the motor and gearbox from the FE in this one.
 

[fe350chev]

Started chipping away at areas to assess and I've started the repair on the front left corner. Pretty sad but the other side doesn't need much work. The engine has probably done a ton of Kays.  

[fe350chev]

Ok some more pics that are pretty self explanatory. I should get some time coming up to work on this more........hopefully.  

[fe350chev]

Ok got the car home. Looks like a 50's garage.  Taking out the outer sills and setting up for another round of blasting.

[fe350chev]

So, got blasting of a heap of stuff done, now to paint! This front left will need remanufacture.

[fe350chev]

Oh man, all primed after a big day. I'm buggered.

[Frankiej]

Haha I see my old mate Luke there blasting I bet he was buggered to.

[TTV6FC]

Excellent progress. Always looks nasty after you blast but at least you know what your dealing with now. Make sure you vacuum out the sills if you are not replacing them or the sand will blow out when you go to paint and really shits you off! Cheers, Jamie.

[fe350chev]

Thanks Jamie. I remember watching your build from start to finish. Not many happening compared to then.

Yeah Frankie J, I got held up last week with my son in hossy for 2 days. Thanks for the advice via text too 😉. Always willing to listen to a pro restorer. Everyone who saw your old stretched Fj resto who hadn't seen it, said with all the custom work it's held up brilliant. All the little bits take a lot of time. Must be hard to quote some of these jobs. Jamie you gave a lot off ppl confidence to give things a go.
I rubbed a lot of it down as well after blasting using the rubber gloves. The Chevy rocker covers came up beautiful. Even if I don't use them I'll bung some stickers on them and hang em up as shed decor.

[fcwrangler]

I agree with Jamie, make sure you blow out and vacuum as much as you can, your front pillars look like mine a bit daunting but time and perseverance will see it done. Take your time and it will all come together.
Jim

[Frankiej]

Yeah Deano the limo still looks great and goes just as hard, Richard is talking about giving it a paint job this year as its 18 years old now and always driven it has done 72,000 miles since it was built.
Who did you seen the car mate.

[fe350chev]

I've seen it getting around for years, but your blasting guy was talking about seeing it and other blokes looking at it, it's been to Adelaide a fair bit over the years (although could be others) and I'm sure I've seen it and friends commented as I've lived in Perth, Adelaide, here and Tasmania. So seen it at many shows over the years with dudes commenting. How did u go getting rego and in what state originally?

[Frankiej]

Hey Deano I built it in the 90's so wasn't so hard and I had a good engineer who dropped in on me regularly because my business was doing heaps of modified cars, his name was Werner ilhe and he was TIC transport industry consultants and a good bloke, they stress tested my car and did a massive brake test that scared the shit out of me lol, anyway the car was a pleasure to drive and has been shown all over the country, the other one I did is in Bunbury Western Australia as there is only five in the country hahahaha I built two of the five.

[fe350chev]

I thought three. That's what a mag said once.

[fe350chev]

I've done what I in no way intended to do and that's to do a complete every nut n bolt removed resto. Hmmm. Why did I do that! My intention was to get it on the road asap and then do a proper resto in say 5 years. The missus came out just staring looking at nearly everything gone, 😨 but I do have some significant health issues so want to get these finished while I can still do crappy things like lay under a dash and removing rusted nuts, pins and bolts! 😉