My EH has just been nudged out of the garage by an EK

Oldnblue · Post by **Oldnblue** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:30 pm

Hi guys

I'm new to the forum but have been tuning in for a while now.
I've recently purchased a 'little ripper' (as the inspecting mechanic called her) of an EK sedan - unmolested save for a re-paint and re-condition of the grey and 3-speed.
My wife and I have an EH ute but have wanted to buy an EK for some time. It was only in the last few months that we started looking seriously though, and after seeing some terrible cars (and some not-so-terrible), we lucked upon the fabled 'country car'...only had two owners, with original papers and books that show she's never left the town of origin.

The seller lived over 1500kms away, so all inspections were handled by 3rd parties and after a couple weeks of phone calls, emails, photos and reports, the car arrived on the back of a truck and we were amazed by what great condition she was in. Besides the expected (albeit very slight) wear on the car, it looks much like it would have the day it rolled off the factory floor.
The guy who did my QLD safety certificate for me actually thanked me for letting him look at the car (spends most of his time around old Holdens etc), and said it was almost 'too good to be true'.

I haven't had a chance to take too many clear photos of her yet, but will post the ones I do have.

She drives like a charm, and looks a million dollars...now the age old question - to leave stock, or mod??!! We certainly hadn't figured on finding a car in such good shape, so this hadn't entered our minds until now.

For those who are interested, here's the EH...

Not sure if we're going to hang onto her though as she's suffering some pretty nasty cancer of the floor/chassis.

blue ute · Post by **blue ute** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:07 pm

Gee whizz what an absolute gem - in that condition why would you ever consider modifyng it & decrease it's value - but that's just my opinion

EK61_STU · Post by **EK61_STU** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:14 pm

I totally agree! Leave her original....that's my opinion anyway

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:33 pm

Damn! Looks like new, awesome. I'd be torn, but in the end I'd probably leave it alone....

Oldnblue · Post by **Oldnblue** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:01 pm

I hear you, believe me, I hear you...lol.

When we started looking, the idea was to find as good a base as we could to work with, and take it from there. Some of the mods we'd planned were simple, like fully re-conditioned disc brake front end, lowered suspension etc, but I'd also considered the option of an engine/trans swap and everything that would have come with it.

That was when we figured we'd probably find a car that was already modded, or was in far poorer condition though.

No way did we think we'd stumble across one in such good condition.

So now, I'm torn. I still have the original images in my mind (that have been floating around in there since I was much younger), but now just can't bring myself to seriously consider chopping into such a beautifully kept car. Mechanically, besides the fact that a grey with 3-speed isn't exactly the most practical as a daily city driver, the car runs perfectly. Starts with a purr, doesn't skip a beat, and cruises along just fine...so there's no real need to change a thing. Anytime I even think about mods I start to feel guilty and toss any thoughts out the window...lol!

So I may just have to buy yet another car to play with and leave this old girl exactly as is (well, except for the addition of seat belts...regardless of any "to mod or not to mod" discussions, I'm not about to use my 4-year-old son as a projectile).

My wife's gonna kill me

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:59 am

Mate, I've been in the very same quandry...... read my story www.smoothsplace.com

In the end there are only so many good ones left, and to modify them is sacrilege. On top of that, it really does decrease their resale value.

She does look a beauty and I for one would be very sad to see it changed from original. Even the seat belts! I understand the problem, start looking for the "correct" NASCO optional seat belts.

There's nothing wrong in owning (2) 'cept the second should be a stylish FB with that beautiful flash down the side.

Regards, Smooth

WINDOWLESS_61 · Post by **WINDOWLESS_61** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:53 am

That's a great find, it still amazes me that there are cars out there that are in this good a condition. As for modifying it my opinion is to leave it original and try to find the original seat belts to protect the youngun's. Speaking from experience i bought a 1 owner from a 92 year old and kept it in garage. After the purchase of house and the sale of cars to fund the deposit this car turned into my daily driver it to had no seat belts and after a few close calls driving in Sydney traffic and pressure from wife and family fitted aftermarket belts.
I,m assuming that your not going to use this car as an every day driver are you ? It looks to good for that, anyway that's what the Hyudai's etc. are for!
Where about's are you located ? i'd love to see this car at Nationals next year.

Smooth you should be able to help him out with belts surely ?

Ian B

parisian62 · Post by **parisian62** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:59 am

G'day OldnBlue,

Welcome to the forum. The EK you have purchased is a gem. I saw it at the FB EK Nationals in Albury this year and met the then owner. No debate about this one - leave it original.

Why dont you put it on vintage plates and get a second one to modify etc...

Were you told about the story of the car? I think I have this right...The original lady owner of your EK had a sister who had an FB. It's owned by Karen a member of the forum. See here http://www.fbekholden.com/forum/viewtop ... 72&start=0 about three quarters of the way down for a two tone blue FB under the name Karen.

Regards
Stewart

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:00 am

I would leave it original but it would be lowered. At least you can restore the height when you want.
Well done on the purchase Oldnblue ya lucky barstard

Post by **Blacky** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:35 am

Welcome to the forum Oldnblue, nice score there mate ! I have modified every car I have owned until I picked up a totally original ute , the temptation was there but I have manged to keep it standard - the only mods are springs , wheels , etc so it can be returned to standard.
The car you have bought is WAY too good to chop up IMHO.

Oldnblue · Post by **Oldnblue** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:34 pm

Well, after much discussion with my wife, we've decided to keep her pretty much as is (not that there was any real argument there in the first place).

The only exceptions now will be:
* seatbelts - my wife is pretty adamant that they need to be aftermarket and pro fitted. I guess if I ever need to, I can swap them for NASCO belts.
* lowered springs - again, the old springs can always be re-fitted if need be.
* new rims/whitewalls (and there's a special spot reserved in the garage to keep the original 13s).
* Venetians

The car is going to be my daily driver, but well and truly looked after. I managed to scoot around the city in my EH on a daily basis up until recently and the only battle scars came in the form of a deliberate fuel spill down one panel from some twerp who must have figured it was funny as all get out.
I wasn't laughing.

The background story on the car sounds right. The owner lived in Wagga Wagga so Albury Nationals would be spot on. I'll go check the link and have a peek.
Cheers, Scott

Oldnblue · Post by **Oldnblue** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:53 pm

smooth wrote:There's nothing wrong in owning (2) 'cept the second should be a stylish FB with that beautiful flash down the side.

Regards, Smooth

Hey Smooth,
You're on the money there. My wife is a big fan of the FBs particularly the wagons so she's not going to be hard to convince. All I have to do now is find the cash, pop it away in an account ready to use at a moments notice, and then just keep my eyes and ears open until a decent project car pops up.

And 'Frank' is just gorgeous. What a find!!! I love the wheel spats (is that the right term?? Someone once told me they were called 'skirts')...are they hard to source?
Cheers, Scott

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:23 pm

Oldnblue wrote:
smooth wrote:There's nothing wrong in owning (2) 'cept the second should be a stylish FB with that beautiful flash down the side.

Regards, Smooth
Hey Smooth,
You're on the money there. My wife is a big fan of the FBs particularly the wagons so she's not going to be hard to convince. All I have to do now is find the cash, pop it away in an account ready to use at a moments notice, and then just keep my eyes and ears open until a decent project car pops up.

And 'Frank' is just gorgeous. What a find!!! I love the wheel spats (is that the right term?? Someone once told me they were called 'skirts')...are they hard to source?
Cheers, Scott

Cheers Scott,

Mate, Spats or Rear Wheel Covers is the correct term.
Skirts are the name given too the Fibreglass ones produced and sold by Smooth Cruzin (Customs) in QLD or Johns Rod & Kustom in Melbourne.

Regards, Smooth

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:30 pm

WINDOWLESS_61 wrote: Smooth you should be able to help him out with belts surely ?

Ian B

Err, it's taken me near on 10 years to collect enough belts and bits and pieces to put a (6 set) together for my Station Sedan. Not to mention the cost. I do have some spares that I will most likely sell in the near future as I'm going to cut right down on the collection and limit myself to that for the wagon and small display. NASCO has taken over my life and I need some of it back!

Anyone need something NASCO for a FE/FC?

Regards, Smooth

mrs ratbox · Post by **mrs ratbox** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:19 pm

smooth you'll like this, 3" roof chop 2 door conversion with suicide doors FB flash facing backwards from the front wheel arch and down to the sills dropped on the ground small block chev flat black paint