I had to head over to Young yesterday to have a wisdom tooth out (yeah top fun!!) and as i was coming into town I thought to myself how it be great to see the old EK ute again.
Anyway just before i left town i called in to Aldi's to do some shopping... and just as i am looking for a park i spotted the old EK ute!!!
There was a spare park right beside it so i pulled up just as the driver was getting in to the ute.
I got him just before he sat down lol ..... and I introduced myself and told him i was doing up an old EK myself. I showed him a pic of my car on my phone then asked him if i could take a picture of the ute.... and he automatically posed beside it lol (i think he has done this before).

His name was Ray and he said he has had the old rig for around 36 years and he drives it daily.
I asked him if he ever has anyone asking him if he would like to sell it and his wife laughed and said, "we have a glovebox full of numbers people have left under the windscreen wiper".
It's kinda obvious he is in love with it!
Looked like it hadnt been polished for a decade but being an honest country rig there was no signs of rust in any of the usual suspect spots.
His wife told me they had a windowless FE panelvan that they gave to their son who did it all up and has won a few awards with it including a show in (Dubbo or Orange).... so id dare say the EK ute is in good hands for many years to come.
They said they drive it to town to do the shopping every Wednesday and it never skips a beat.
I wished them many happy and safe miles, gave the old girl a pat (the ute not the winnie red smoker). I smiled as i heard the old grey rumble to life, i gave them a thumbs up salute

Cant wait to have my EK parked beside it instead of the VN lol.
Rock on Ray!!