Here's something of a timewarp for you

**merv** · 19th January 2007, 22:27

Looks like this old Holden has got lost from the 1968 London-Sydney marathon or something that was won by the Hillman Hunter.

Cool huh!

**xwhatsit** · 20th January 2007, 00:02

Lol, wtf?! Aussies keep their old shitters -- so do Kiwis, but mostly by those who can't afford to upgrade. Aussies... just don't see the need, I think. Many, many ancient XE Falcons rolling around Brisbane, possibly only surviving due to the lack of a WOF system.

As an aside, where is that carpark? It looks very familiar, I think I've had a pie from that bakery.

**Hillbilly** · 20th January 2007, 02:22

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

Lol, wtf?! Aussies keep their old shitters -- so do Kiwis, but mostly by those who can't afford to upgrade. Aussies... just don't see the need, I think. Many, many ancient XE Falcons rolling around Brisbane, possibly only surviving due to the lack of a WOF system.

I've got a '77 XC - a real POS too!! I think I'll get a '78 VG Valiant Regal 770 next. For $3k I can pick up one that looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

**merv** · 20th January 2007, 09:38

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

As an aside, where is that carpark? It looks very familiar, I think I've had a pie from that bakery.

Its down the NSW South Coast at Narooma where we stayed for a couple of days on our recent holiday.

**merv** · 20th January 2007, 09:42

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

I've got a '77 XC - a real POS too!! I think I'll get a '78 VG Valiant Regal 770 next. For $3k I can pick up one that looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

So you wouldn't go and buy a real car like a new Toyota Aurion or something?

In NZ with all the Jap imports flooding in from '89 on we have very few old cars these days - hell I even parted with my 1970 Hillman Hunter - and that when it was sold originally was sold as the London to Sydney rally winner eh! You reckon it would be worth a lot now because of it pedigree - yeah right!

**Motu** · 20th January 2007, 10:58

It used to be the other way around - we'd go over to Aussie and see perfectly good cars abandoned on the side of the road....''Not worth the cost of rego'' they'd say.Shit,the Kiwi's gobbled them up,cheaper and in better condition than the wrecks we drove over here.Jap Imports have destroyed our used car market....and the motorcycle market.

An Austin 1800 would of won the London/Sydney if the silly mechanic at Perth didn't over tighted the rear wheel bearing,it was winning at that stage.Understandable - wheel bearings on all BMC's were thrust ball bearings with a preload spacer,you just did them up tight.The rally Landcrab had taper rollers in the rear,the factory mechanic just did them up tight like he always did.I went from a Singer Vogue (Hunter with wood trim) to a Landcrab....doubled interior room,and it was the best car on gravel I've ever driven....although it didn't go sideways well,but the ride was great.

**xwhatsit** · 20th January 2007, 11:15

Landcrabs are sweet. My Uncle still has one -- is about to paint it and do it up for his daughters to drive as they start getting their licences. When I was a kid, dad borrowed it while his car was out of action. I remember being terrified because when we were doing 60kph it felt like about 100kph because of the ride height and go-kart-style handling.

**MacD** · 20th January 2007, 12:27

Originally Posted by merv

Looks like this old Holden has got lost from the 1968 London-Sydney marathon or something that was won by the Hillman Hunter.

Cool huh!

I still have the Corgi model of the Hillman Hunter rally car complete with tyres and toolbox on the roof, and removable wheels with built-in jacks!

I think the tyres have perished unfortunately. Must dig it out of storage!

Hmm, there's one for sale on eBay UK for 55 pounds...

**merv** · 20th January 2007, 13:19

Beautiful.

Here's my Hunter in 1974 in the snow near Arthurs Pass while a student mate does his business - great machines they were I kept mine 14 years. I had the cool bronze colour.

**Motu** · 20th January 2007, 14:11

I got my Singer Vogue in a swap,for my 1976 CB750....I got it off Lee Rusty in another swap and ''HE SAID'' it had new everything inside,new chains and tyres,it was a real gem.The Singer was totaly fucked,the motor so worn it finaly refused to start and I had to fit new rings.They were both worth the same value,around $1500 - both in the same condition today the Honda would be worth over $5,000 and the Singer would be towed away by The Broken Car Company for free....otherwise you'd have to pay for removal.

**James Deuce** · 20th January 2007, 15:05

The Hillman Hunter that won had a Chrysler V8. Trying buying one in the shops in 1969.

**merv** · 20th January 2007, 15:29

Originally Posted by Jim2

The Hillman Hunter that won had a Chrysler V8. Trying buying one in the shops in 1969.

That bit I don't remember from the time - you got any info on that?

**Edbear** · 20th January 2007, 20:26

Originally Posted by Motu

a Landcrab....doubled interior room,and it was the best car on gravel I've ever driven....although it didn't go sideways well,but the ride was great.

Eh? Only car accident I've had was when I was forced off a narrow gravel road by a cattle truck. Power disc brakes and radial tyres turned it into a steeringless sled! My Humber 80 with 15" crossplies was a mean gravel racer! Dug into the metal and handled beaut!

The ride comfort on the open road of the 1800 and the space was in a class of its own for the time! Basically reliable if you looked after them properly, though a piece of hardboard behind the grill stopped the dizzy from drowning in the rain...

**Motu** · 21st January 2007, 11:32

At the time where we were living we had to go up and over a steep windy hill,it was gravel and the most unmaintained road in the area.The Hunter was in 2nd gear with severe axle tramp,almost uncontrollable,and hill starts on our gravel drive almost impossible.The 1800 was great,the long wheelbase and hydrolastic supension just absorbed to judders and I was able to go up the hill in 3rd gear with no axle tramp at all.with all the weight over the front wheels gravel road hill starts were no problem at all,even when I had the trailer loaded up with 3 bikes and the car full of gear,it would still go up my drive with no wheelspin.

I've had 4 1800's and we had an 1800 ute once where I worked - I love to get sideways on 2 and 4 wheels,but I got very comfortable with massive understeer too.Nothing like coming into a corner and dialing in damn near full lock understeer,then nailing it and unwinding the wheel.Maybe that's why I was so comfortable pushing my front wheel in big slides on a flattracker.

The Hunter only won through attrition,the Landcrab reached Perth in the lead on it's own merits.