History
In 1968 I was employed part time at a service a station in Black Rock as a driveway attendant and as workshop assistant.
A client gave me 2 Standard 10's and I rebuilt one from the two.
I painted it white and decorated with stickers of the time.
I was only 15 at the time so I could not drive it on the road and gave it to my family and for my dad to drive.
We added a roof rack and packed it with a 12' x 12' canvas auto tent, 6 folding canvas beds, folding chairs, table and camping cooking gear.
We did many camping trips together, 4 kids, Mum and Dad. Walhalla and Omeo amongst other places and the most memorable which included driving the Alpine Way before it was sealed then on to Albury.
On a trip through Beechworth, we drove down a steep incline down to a creek then up a steep incline. The Standard only made it half way up. Everyone had to get out of the car, back the car and take another run at it without passengers.
Just before descending from the mountains to reach Albury we stopped to check the brake fluid to find it nearly empty. Topped up, we continued on. We had decided to see the film "The Italian Job" in Albury. We approached the high footpath kerb, NO BRAKES, Dad pulled on the handbrake which came off in his hand. We stopped very hard. Not much we could do, so we saw the movie.
The police did not appreciate me running in front of the car with a torch to warn traffic ahead on our way back to the camping grounds.
(A stone had ruptured through the brake line).
The Standard lived on for a few more years, quite a sight as it moved along with one tire smaller in diameter than the other 3.
It finally expired after much abuse and I cut it up in pieces with an oxy torch.
What memories.
Claude
