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25-08-2019, 01:56 PM | #1 | ||
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I was thinking about back in the 1960's what new car would I of bought and why.
I remember asking my dad why he bought the new HR Holden special 186 auto over the XR Falcon 500 200 auto and he said that he just liked the HR better. I was with him the day that he bought the VG Valiant 245 2 BBL ute, it was a toss up with that or a HG Holden 186 ute and he asked me what I thought was the one that I liked best, I said the Valiant and he bought it. Now I was thinking what year was the best to buy new in the years, you can challenge this if you wish as I would like to debate it, as to sedans. 1961 XK Falcon 144 manual I would go for. 1962 RV1 Valiant 225 auto any day a better car. 1963 AP5 Valiant 1964 EH Holden Premier 179 auto 1965 AP6 Valiant 225 auto Regal 1966 VC Valiant V8 auto Regal 1967 XR Fairmont V8 auto 1968 XT GT T Bar auto, because of the C 4 auto is magic. 1969 you can't get a HT GTS350 or GTS308 4sp until Sep so XW GT 4sp it is. 1970 HT GTS350 4SP. 1971 HG GTS 308 T Bar auto 1972 HQ GTS 308 T Bar auto but 4sp would be fine to. as the 350 it is gutless crap and the auto is just pathetic but the XA GT 4sp would be the most powerful but I do not like the 4sp unless you are driving it flat out fanging but around town it's a pain as it's so heavy and clunk clunk change I hate and the FMX auto is crap the T Bar has the right set up, but the FMX is boring dopy box, not as shockingly hopeless as a Holden's T 400 but still boring. I don't like the rear leaf springs under the Falcon as you can not push them as hard at high speed over 180 KM/H in corners they become a danger but the HQ one can just sit back and hold it flat with out a worry, but it understeers like a pig at low speed turns and the GT does not. So I would say what was the best car to drive flat out doing distance of 400KM say and you can enjoy it, getting to destination not warn out and eager to party on as tho you just came in from next door. that's the thing that points to a real drivers car is it not. Or how about a Rover 3500s or Leyland P76 V8 4SP Targa Florio or Chargers E55 340 V8 would have to be Valiant's best high speed touring car. One may wonder what the Europeans though of our cars at the time as they think nothing to drive at 200km/h from top of Germany to Italy. And looking at an old Australian 1971 Rover Brochure it was boasting of a comfort cruising speed of 90mph I think. |
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25-08-2019, 03:13 PM | #2 | ||
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Yeah, you lost me when you said you would buy a HQ.
Without doubt the worst rear suspension in the history of Australian Motoring. I could never get my head under to actually have a look (because they were always dragging on the ground) but I suspect that ex-factory they used some form of marshmallow Now, a HG 350 Monaro. Aside from the rust, that's something I could live with. Last edited by Crazy Dazz; 25-08-2019 at 03:34 PM. |
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25-08-2019, 04:00 PM | #3 | ||
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Nice thread! Mind you back in the day for me was 90's when all these 60s and 70's cars were at the bottom of their depreciation curve...
I'll start at 1963 model year maybe with a couple of years between upgrades, with a bias toward 6's but some V8s in there: 1963 AP5 225 Regal (spells "Lager" backwards) 1967 VE Regal with 2bbl 225 1968 XT GT, agree. 1969 XW GS Fairmont 302 with the lovely C4. Great road cars. Gold stripes. 1970 XY GS Fairmont 302, with the radials and redwalls Honourable mention the 2502V, but the 302 is a light, tractable unit. In teal, gold stripes again. (now in this time if choosing a wagon the Holdens were up there as a choice) 1972 Tough one... Probably the XA Fairmont GS 302, but there's the 265 Pacer and HQ GTS 308 as well, pretty good time really! The Holden understeered but had the nicest vision outside. 1974 XB Fairmont GS 302. Ford would've loved me as a simple, repeat buyer! So I choose a custom paint colour to make life harder for the factory... 1977, ugh, choice between the emissions control cars: HX, CL and the new XC... XC Fairmont GXL with the big banger 351 to offset the emissions, a narrow choice as the CL Regal was pretty good with the Hemi 265 6. 1978 - all changed, HZ Premier 308 with RTS. Well done Peter Hannenberger. 1980: XD for the size. Probably a Fairmont. Try a 6 auto. 1983: VH Commodore 253 SL/X. Had one in family, lovely car. A lot of you will choose the ESP, fair enough. Rest of the 80's I go on strike. They say VL was the best but I've never been into them. 1988, EA vs VN, they are both pretty rough. Ford's sort them out eventually: 1992: EBII S-XR6 auto. Clear winner, best handling Falcon since XT GT and those beautiful GS 302s that followed. Some quality gains in EBII too. 1994: ED XR6 auto, (though I have the XR8 Sprint manual now) 1996 EL XR6 auto Dark green, if it was still Poly Green. Full body kit as it's horn. 1997 VT SS 304, in that dark blue, what a package.... This is another one of those times with a lot of choice like 1972. I'd equally take a Fairlane by Tickford, or an EL GT, or the last 185Kw EL XR8s. 1998 AUI Fairmont Ghia VCT, again what a package, (and I'm tyred of the VT - excuse the rear suspension pun). AU is a shocker but the high end cars look good, really good in regency red Ghia, and the engineering is solid. They outsold the high end Holdens too, bet you didn't know that! 2000 AUII Fairmont Ghia VCT 2001 VXII Calais supercharged, for something different. 2002 AUIII XR8 manual, for the Windsor, in Blueprint. 2004 BA XR6 Turbo in that dark purple colour, so nice! 2005 VZ SS with 6L and manual. A cracker. Here there's a break: Holden has Adventra and Ford the Territory, but this is about sedans. A separate wagon/SUV list would be good too... 2007 VE SS 6L, quite an amazing product when new. 2008 BFII F6 Typhoon R Spec, legendary vehicle. In Lightning Strike. 2009 F6 2011 G6E turbo. Great product. Dark colour with tan trim. Now after 2012 it gets a little Hazy - when did the Supercharged GT's come out? I'll have one of those. 2013 VF Calais V8, dodging their 6cyl. Beautiful interior new and a good outside makeover. Choose the white interior in Regal Peacock green. 2014 FGMk2 G6E Turbo. 2016 FGX XR6 Turbo Sprint. The ultimate Barra and ultimate Aussie. 2017 VFII SSV Redline.
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I6 + AWD Last edited by Sprintey; 25-08-2019 at 04:07 PM. |
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25-08-2019, 08:41 PM | #4 | |||
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Al tho the 4.0L Falcon 6 was great I like the 5.0L V8 any day from the EB II on, not until the FG 4.0L was it a real good setup with the 6 sp auto that I could live with that over a V8. Holden IRS was crap until they got the VX setup as they would kick the arssend out at high speed corners because of to much toe out and in was created until they got the bars that reduce that crap with the VX. I tried to buy a VZ 6.0L manual when they first came out but waited 4 months and gave up and hung on to me VY SS loved that car. |
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25-08-2019, 08:58 PM | #5 | ||
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Hi Mick,
Ive always loved motor cars ever since i was a younger. I remember at the age of 13 years old seeing Allan moffats Mustang racing around oran park. My other members of my family apart from one brother don't share my passion for motor cars. when i was 21 years old long time ago now my sister gave me her old car which need some work. It was a 1964 Chev belair with a 307 chev motor and really great cruising car. I got the motor fixed up and got it spray painted and had it for years till rust ate the chassis away and it couldn't be fixed. What a great car to cruise around in apart from the brakes which i lost one night at 11pm after a rear wheel cylinder started leaking and the brake fluid leaked out the back of the wheel cylinder. I managed not to hit anything and i was driving thru the back streets of Paddington in Sydney that night so lady luck was looking down on me that night. |
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25-08-2019, 09:16 PM | #6 | |||
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I loved the Holden Ford rivalry at the track they were real great days of stirring the possum and making some people get so wound up that they could make them dance. some Valiant people were about the traps as well to wind up . |
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25-08-2019, 08:01 PM | #7 | |||
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I was thinking back to the days, just how good were them cars ? that's why I put this up. One has a perception of what they like in a car and so what is that ? My father in law says that fast cars never were of interest to him at all and he has different standards that he goes by and complains about test drivers pushing a car to limits, he thinks such is just rubbish, but I say if you do a test you do it thoroughly no stone is unturned with me but I can respect others opinions that such is their cup of tea. One clown I know claimed that the Datsun 260 C ect was so much better than the Aussie cars and why he claims such but to me such things I would never bother with at all but I think that such people get mixed up with a 260 C and a 173 Belmont, when in fact the price of such is in the class of a V8 GTS or a GT so no the Aussie cars wipe the floor with such rubbish truly and yes the 260C may flog a 173 or 200 falcon but so what. |
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26-08-2019, 12:37 PM | #8 | |||
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Quote:
Holden nearly made a Torana GTR-X to compete https://www.classicdriver.com/en/art...ustralias-240z
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26-08-2019, 03:35 PM | #9 | |||
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But the 240Z is not a bad little jigger in it's self to be sure but look at the price as well. no one bagged the 240z But look at the 240K I had one of them what a bucket that was and people claim that they were good . Take 1979 Datsun 260Z $12570 to $13850 Or 1979 Holden 253 4sp GTS from $9584 Or 1979 Toyota Cressida from $9160 Or 1979 Datsun 280 C from $12385 Or 1979 Kingswood SL $6780 Or 1979 Commodore SL/E 4.2L auto from $10828 |
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25-08-2019, 03:40 PM | #11 | ||
Shenanigans..............
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HQ-HZ Kingswood.
If they diddn't bounce off a brick wall, it would be demolished. |
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25-08-2019, 05:03 PM | #12 | ||
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BMC Morris Mini Cooper S, either Mk 1 or 11 only car I ever regret selling
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25-08-2019, 06:18 PM | #13 | |||
All Bran = Regular Member
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Quote:
We have a winner! I had a MK2 Cooper S in 1970. Mate had an XU1. In 1972 both of us sold our car to each buy a motorbike to ride around Australia. Great trip but to this day we both regret getting rid of the cars.
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25-08-2019, 06:33 PM | #14 | ||
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As the question is about '60s cars,
# 1. Falcon XT GT manual in Candy Apple Red (which I could not afford to buy.) # 2. Holden Kingswood 186S, 4 speed Opel box with enough options to make it a 4 door GTS in Picardy Red. ( which I did buy at about $3,200 on the road.) |
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25-08-2019, 08:12 PM | #15 | ||
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hi guys,
I had a valiant Charger once till 2006 anyway and sold it. If I had my time again I would buy a Ford XC Allan Moffat Special, A Ford Fairmont with an 351 motor also a Ford Cobra 5.8 litre 4 speed. P.S I had a Holden HQ Kingswood back in 1986 and it wasn't the best car I ever had! |
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25-08-2019, 08:58 PM | #16 | |||
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HQ with 202 auto were just total crap, manual 202 is much better, but for a big car they needed a 253 at least, where did you see 200 XA-B Falcons they were mainly 250's. you have to put good shocks on them GT 130 Monro at least or they are rubbish. The old 245 and 265 Hemi 6 were good performers with a 2 barrel carby if tuned right and the ADR27A on engines were better tuned than the Holden and Falcons. The 215 Hemi 6 was rubbish. |
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25-08-2019, 09:09 PM | #17 | ||
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when i was 21 the CEO of the Company i worked for in Sydney had a ZG Fairlane which i would detail for him every week.
He later updated that Fairland to a ZJ Fairlane both V8s and he would be lucky to drive 10,000 ks a year. |
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25-08-2019, 09:48 PM | #18 | ||
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I had a HR Holden special 186 auto in the late eighties - bought it for $200 . I was sceptical about having a 2sp Powerglide auto, I used it as a daily driver for about 3 yrs, and I have to admit it performed quite well - wasn't a world beater of course, the transmission was so flexible. The car never gave me any major issues either. Do you remember much about your old man's one Mick ?
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26-08-2019, 03:06 PM | #19 | |||
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My mum got a XR Falcon 500 200ci auto and I still have that down the paddock but the HR went out to the reef in 1979. She was a white Special with red inside and I remember mum would hook in to it taking off all the time and dad would be just flat to the floor on the highway and I liked that, but that seemed to be the norm back in them days with everyone's dad that I knew of. When it was brand new the first day I painted all the chrome on it with house paint, yep I remember that day |
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26-08-2019, 07:51 PM | #20 | ||||
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Quote:
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27-08-2019, 11:33 AM | #21 | |||
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All one really needs is front disc brakes in the main, but I have driven some cars with rear disc brakes that I have though some better with rear drum brakes as well to be sure. but then again I did hate my LH SLR5000 rear drum braked for sure as it would be locking up at times over 180KM/H when hard on the brakes. |
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27-08-2019, 12:25 PM | #22 | ||
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Back in Sept '84 I bought a Brand new WB Ute (V8 hamburger with the Lot) it was one of the last ones ever Built. drove it around for 9 yrs & sold it for a couple hundred dollars More than I paid for It..!
I thought i was Smart!!! because in that 9 yrs My father was onto his 3rd car & had flushed a heap of Money down the Toilet in Depreciation... One of my Few regrets in life, is Selling That Ute.. |
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27-08-2019, 01:03 PM | #23 | |||
Cabover nut
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Had a few other problems with it like exploding the diff, on the Harbour bridge in peak hour. Sold it off and bought an older HX panel van (before RTS), which was a far superior van, imo. Previous owner had already fitted tramp rods, 1 inch Lovell sway bars F and R. It was a fun car to drive, sold it in 95 and still regret it. Brother had a s**ty brown Datsun 180B around the same time. hideous !
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27-08-2019, 03:28 PM | #25 | ||
When in doubt, GAS IT!!
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I had 253 4spd HQ's back in the 80's, all set up the same way.Lower the front ride height a little. A set of Air shocks for the back fixed the soft rear spring problem, a nice fat sway bar on the front and 8" mags all round and my Q handled quite well on road or dirt. The day I saw the first HQ races from Simmons Plains on the TV I knew I was on the right track because my Kingswood, looked and sat exactly like the racing Q's. I nearly jumped out of my chair in excitement,"LOOK, LOOK, that's my car!!"
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. HERS- BFIII Wagon Gold, alloys, dual fuel, bullbar, big tow pack, trans cooler, fully rebuilt HD suspension, Clarion, alarmed, full 2 1/2" sports system, mint body MINE- AUII Forte Meteorite, dual fuel but otherwise bog stock. MINE- AUII Fairlane Sportsman Liquid Silver over meteorite,HIDs', Airhog, Eagle Leads, dual fuel, custom rear springs, BA slotted discs + a second one for spares . |
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30-08-2019, 06:25 PM | #26 | ||
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I can vouch for a 68 xtgt auto. im lucky enough to have a low mile one and between the trans and the comfortable seats I cant get enough of driving it
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27-08-2019, 04:12 PM | #28 | ||
HSV - I just ate one!
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HQ SS Sedan, red, 253 and auto....
HQ GTS Monaro, black, 350 and 4 speed XY Falcon 500, yellow, 250-2V, 4 speed XC GS Ute, 351, Auto XE ESP, monza red, 4 speed WB Magnum ute, 308, auto VN SS Group A ED XR8 Sprint, Cobalt blue, manual, cruise, bodykit….. :'( I'd be happy to have had those if I'd been there at the time.... Kinda happy with what I've got that has been built since the mid 90's
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I dont care if some prius driving eco-hippy thinks its politically incorrect for me to drive a V8..... I'm paying for the fuel! Last edited by Interceptor; 27-08-2019 at 04:36 PM. |
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27-08-2019, 06:29 PM | #29 | ||
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Hi, Hayseed,
If only we could get a crystal ball mate to look into the future? Like you there's not a day I don't think about the Valiant Charger i had and its not just the money it was really fun to drive. I used to work with a guy way back in in 1977 when I was a very young guy and this guy had a XW GTHOand he was complaining to me about how much petrol it uses, so he was going to sell it. Mondeomatureguy |
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28-08-2019, 01:08 PM | #30 | |||
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Big brothers mate had a VH Charger 265 2 BBL manual and picked me up from school and fanged it about I thought it was great, he was sniffing around looking for young girls haha the next day as we were on parade he came and did a burnout out front, looked real good and the Principle was that impressed that he wanted to know who he was well that was the end of them stunts from him. The only other Charger I have been in was my aunties 215 auto base model. Big bro had another mate with a 318 auto Charger, I remember him trying to start it in a shed at about 5 in the morning, that sound I love it eeerrerr eeerreerr clunk clunk clunk eeerreerr and so on love it! best sounding starter motor ever. it was just so loud in that shed and I was say 20m away. |
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