History
My Dad was a driving instructor with the RACV in the late 60’s - early 70’s, and this car was one of the RACV Driving School vehicles. I believe it was Car 7 in that fleet. Dad bought it from the RACV in around 1970 or 1971. It remained our family car for many years, passing from my parnets to my sister when she turned 18. She didn’t treat it well, her boyfriend of the time thought it was great, even with its mere 188 cubic inch 6-Cylinder, it was much faster than his VW Kombi. He drive it almost into the ground, and in the hands of my sister it sustained a lot of panel damage. It was given to me when I turned 18, and I went straight into resto-mode and stripped it down. After dismantling it sat for a few years, before it went into a panel shop for restoration. A lot of work was done on it and although it needed most of the bolt-on panels replaced, it was virtually rust-free. It was never finished and sat in that panel shop for years, acting as advertising for the proprietor. In 2007 the panel beater retired and I had to move the car. It spent a few years living in a friends farm shed, and in 2013 it underwent a full restoration.
Modifications
The 188 cubic inch 6-cylinder has been replaced with a 302 Windsor V8, built to standard specs. The 3-speed column shift manual is how a Toploader 4-speed floor shift. Out went the front drum brakes (scary!!!) which are now XT GT spec. A GT grille and driving lights have been fitted too. The blue interior remains, but the bench seat has been replaced with XT GT bucket seats, re-trimmed to match the standard Falcon 500 rear seat. The factory accessory sunvisor will remain, as will the original drivers door weathershield, which was fitted by the RACV when it was new. Every modification or accerssory is period correct for the late 60’s - early 70’s. I even have a 60’s Esky to go in the boot.
