Memories
In the 70’s and 80’s my grandfather was a foreman at the GM factory in Dandenong.
When he was ready to retire he promised to reward himself with a new car from the factory. The VH was his favourite but by then they had stopped building it and he wasn’t a fan of its successor so he ended up not getting is new car.
As a gift to him, and a thanks to his years of service to the company, Holden retooled the production line to build the last ever VH SL/E to roll of the line especially for him.
He treated that car with as much passion, love and respect as he did with all other things in his life.
Eventually my grandpa passed away and that big saloon was too large for my grandmother to drive so she reluctantly sold it. Despite myself, my brother, my uncle and cousins all desperate to hold onto my grandpas baby, grandma was determined not to have any fighting over it. So she sold it to a young kid who had just earned his P’s.
Five years later my brother called me up and said “So Grandpas car is for sale”. He had randomly tried doing a search for the old rego and sure enough it was gra doas car. Same cigarette burns from grandma in the seats. Same damaged vinyl from 5 year old me kicking the back of the centre console.
I happened to be looking for new wheels at the time and quickly snatched it up for a bargain $3500.
Today her restoration is in the early stages with a $30,000 paint job recently finished and the reassembly about to start soon.
This car will eventually be back in the same condition it was when my grandfather drove it off the production line.
