Is this an FE special? I found it in a forest.

[rowan194]

Hi all,

I'm new here, in fact I didn't even know what an FE special was until a few hours ago.

Yesterday I came across a bunch of about 15 abandoned classic cars in a forest clearing. The youngest one looked to be from around the early 70s. I don't think they were just dumped, it looks more like some sort of racing/smashup club. At the time I was mainly interested in taking photographs, but I've now become very curious about the history of the cars, and why the site has been abandoned (it's my guess that at least one of the cars has been stationary for 30-35 years - it has an adult tree growing through it!)

So, is this an FE special? I found pics doing a web search and it looks the same. "Holden special" written across the rear boot was a good starting point.



I'll probably be returning to the site next week and this time I will be taking photos of compliance plates and other "hints" in an effort to better trace the history of the cars and try to find some clues about what they did there all those years ago.

[TorqueFC]

yes thats a fe special!!!. although it does have a rear number plate surround(fe's only had them on the front) it is definately a fe special sedan. were there any goodies on the car???. is there a chance you coudl email me a few more pics??? my email address is kenkanifff@hotmail.com

[graham_fuller]

Hey Torque,
Fe's had nuber plate surrounds both front and back FC's only had them on the back.You are correct about it being an FE Special.
Cheers,
Graham

[earlyholdenfan]

Nice shot!
When you head back to get more pictures, could you get a shot of the body ID plate on the firewall on the pass side and the chassis number, and if it still has an engine get those numbers too, there is a register of vehicle indentification numbers on this forum and it would be great to add more detail to it!
Cheers
Matt

[20.4_seconds]

  he he...aint nothing like finding a heap of old holdens out in the bush...
That looks fairly knackerd but a heap       of half decent parts to be had there...

Can't wait for the rest of the photos, great find Rowan...
and well done in not just forgetting about them and doing a bit of research to find out what they were.


p.s First dibs on any Bosch heater doors if there are any in that lot  

Nick

[rowan194]

When you head back to get more pictures, could you get a shot of the body ID plate on the firewall on the pass side and the chassis number, and if it still has an engine get those numbers too, there is a register of vehicle indentification numbers on this forum and it would be great to add more detail to it!

Sure. Next time I hope to document as many plates as possible, as there's a good assortment of cars. It would be fun to see which one the oldest is. I think the FE is in with a good chance!

As far as parts go, I'm not about to reveal the location of this find, it's part of the forest now and I don't believe in disturbing nature. It looks relatively untouched (read: not vandalised) so I think it's best left that way. I don't think 30+ years of weather - without windows - would leave anything that useful anyway...

[Sarge]

As far as parts go, I'm not about to reveal the location of this find, it's part of the forest now and I don't believe in disturbing nature.  It looks relatively untouched (read: not vandalised) so I think it's best left that way. I don't think 30+ years of weather - without windows - would leave anything that useful anyway...

Rowan
         Thats why we call it car restoration, repairing and preserving the cars of the past so that the generations of the future can see how things from the past looked and worked in their true glory and not a wasted away state. My youngest son ( 8 ) does enjoy looking through mag's and such on old Holdens but you show him one in the workshop undergoing restoration or one that's finished and he is beside himself and full of questions about how they did thing's in the past and compares them with the way cars are made today. OH and of coarse so we can enjoy them our-self's. Is this not better than the trees enjoying them? Its impossible to describe how it make you feel when you put one of these Old Holdens back on the road,


Cheers
Sarge

[rowan194]

Firstly the ID plate as requested... when I took the pic I thought it was completely rusted over, but the camera managed to pull out the detail. Here it is heavily manipulated to make it (somewhat) easier to read:



And the rest of the pics












And here's an idea of the collection of cars... there are about 10 more out of view

[Motörhead]

Hmmmm,

Rowan, are those car wrecks in a forest ON someone's property? There seems to be quite a fair few car parts floating around in those photos. If the forest is on public land then why not salvage some of the parts which are very obvious in the photos....parts like the FE radio grille, the horn by the back of the FE's right bumper and the (EJ/EH??) wheelcap. They may just be suitable to reuse so why let them 'return to nature' as you put it?? There may be quite a fair few things which can be reused but you won't know until you get in there and have a closer look....you may be pleasantly surprised.

Cheers ...... Pete

[rowan194]

Hmmmm,

Rowan, are those car wrecks in a forest ON someone's property?

Yep, they are on private property. I originally thought they were part of the state forest, but it turns out that their property borders it, and they didn't replace the fencing when it burnt down (way back in 1969). Luckily the owner didn't mind me taking photos, so long as "that's all I was doing"

The cars have been sitting there for 25-30 years as I had guessed. They were originally raced at a nearby speedway, NOT the 5+ acres of cleared grassland next to the dump as I thought...