mongrel

My 1962 Holden ute. This probably means fuck-all to most people, but I'm really gonna miss her.

Yeah, I know it's just a machine, but I loved that old thing- it ran on the smell of an oily rag, was always(ok- mostly) reliable, would carry just about anything I ever wanted it to, was solid as only vehicles of that era can be and had heaps of character.

But after 7 years, and untold(because the speedo cable broke long ago, so the odo hasn't been ticking over) miles together- including a lap around the eastern half of Australia- we've gone our seperate ways- it's problems had built up to a point that I couldn't afford to get them all fixed, and it has had to make way for a 'new'(only 20 years old!) Toyota van.

BigBlue2

Sorry to hear that, mongrel . I'll have a coldie in memory of the old girl.

Cheers,
BB2

ju'iblex

i understand. you should have seen the expression on my fathers face when his 1970 holden failed rego.

mind you, it was rusting from the inside, had rotting carpets, always stopped, the drivers door did not open, the handbrake wasn't working....

Gawdawful

I know what you mean, I still miss my 1975 Toyota FJ55 Landcruiser I sold in 1989. "Elsie" (LC) and I parted company because I was moving from Colorado, with no pollution laws outside of the 7 counties on the Front Range near Denver, to Salt Lake City, Utah with requisite emissions testing and equipment inspections. She wouldn't have passed emissions because of the modifications I had made to her intake and exhaust to gain more power. She was the absolute toughest four wheel drive vehicle I've ever owned and climbed the rocks outside of Moab, Utah like a mountain goat. *sniff* I should have modified it back to stock and kept her. Vehicles that replaced her just haven't had the same character or durability, a 1982 Jeep Cherokee Chief, a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and my current ride, a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

Warren in Oklahoma, feeling nostalgic

mongrel

Thanks- I'm doing the same.

It had to happen sooner or later, though. And she's going to be restored by a mate of mine, so that's good.

Sounds a little bit like mine. It didn't have too much rust, and both doors opened, but my handbrake was a brick- and many other things had stopped working.

That's what gets me. Modern vehicles just don't have the durability- they're throw-away items. With a proper restoration and maintenance, I can be reasonably sure my 41 year old ute will still be going in 10-20 years from now- I doubt my 20 year old van will be(although mechanically, it is in bloody good condition, for it's age).

And character? Does anything(well, mostly anything- my '95 Guzzi Sport 1100 had heaps of it, but we're talking 4 wheelers here) built after the '70s have any?

RawData

I'll blow the froth of a Guinness for your Ute. I believe that is similar to the Chevy ElCamino, yes? Half car, half pickup?
I had an '79 ElCamino for a couple of years, had some fun in it, but it couldn't get out of it's own way. Sold it for too little, got a 69 GTO. THAT car I miss greatly. It had character galore (and roasted the tires quite well).
And I agree, anything built after the early 70's just doesn't hold up (too much plastic).
Condolences.
RawData

Autonemesis

It would appear so:

mongrel

Yep. The picture Autonemesis posted is of a 1971 Holden ute, an HQ(mine was an EK).

Since I can't seem to find the photos of her at the moment, here's a pic I found on the web a few months ago(the only difference is that mine was cream, not yellow):

BigBlue2

I see your friend is into resurrections. Did you ask him if he's scared about going into competition with Jebus?

mongrel

I didn't, but maybe I should ask him- try to put the wind up him, since he's catholic.