History
My father was a painter who ran his own one man business. And so it was that during school holidays I always found myself press ganged into service, which I guess in retrospect was useful as I can now paint and hang wallpaper - among other things I learned while "on the job" with Dad.
One day in December 1978 we were working at a block of flats in Darling Point and I noticed what appeared to be an abandoned car in the visitors car spot. Several of the residents had already complained about it and the body corporate was very happy when I showed interest in the unregistered beige HK Holden Kingwood Wagon with its liberal spattering of undercoated patches.
My father's client actually knew a sergeant at the local cop shop and before the week's end he had tracked down the owner, made it clear that if the owner didn't sell his car (with the doctored rego sticker) he'd not only have to move it but face other costs as well. Before I knew it I was the proud owner of this vehicle for the princely sum of $100.
A friend with a tow truck transported the "eye sore" as Dad called it, home before I spent my last few dollars on a battery. Low and behold the car started first go and I spent many happy hours in the ensuing weeks cleaning polishing what was left of the paint and exercising the 186 red motor and its 2 speed power glide transmission up and down our driveway until my Mum & Dad offered to pay to get my Holden road registered if I'd just cease the incessant backwards and forwards driving outside the kitchen window.
The day my HK was taken out for its rego check was the day I discovered it didn't change gear so the trip to the "Pitts" at the local registry became a detour to the local mechanic - who just happened to know a spray painter.
Two weeks and a $620 loan later I made it to the rego inspection appointment (with a working tranny and no undercoat patches), passed and after paying more of my savings, proudly fitted my brand new number plates next to my brand new P plates. I was so excited as soon as I arrived home I took two pictures of my pride and joy - hey, film wasn't cheap in those days, two photos was a lot!
Sadly one year and about 21,000 miles later a guy who had just picked up his orange Datsun 180B from a panel beaters ran a stop sign and plowed straight into the side of my beloved HK Wagon.
Luckily for me his insurance covered my costs and after repaying the outstanding loan and selling the still drivable "wreck" to a panel beater I bought a customised '73 Escort Van, but that's another story.
