Fletch ventures to Portland in Victoria, one of our first European settlements that proudly boasts over 200 19th-century buildings. It's a fitting location for the 8th Annual Portland Classics by the Bay.
The event continues growing, with 327 cars and bikes displayed this year, including a fantastic variety of vehicles from classic, custom, stock, original and motorcycles too. Highlights include 17 Cadillacs, plus a big draw card for enthusiasts, the Shannons Super Rig. Fletch believes this event has grown to be one of the best car shows in the Southern Hemisphere, high praise indeed.
Whilst checking out the show, Fletch meets Doug, an enthusiast with some ingenuity. Doug always wanted an EH Holden, and when he turned fifty, he gifted himself one. A person with quadriplegia for 27 years, Doug reengineered the vehicle to cater for his disability, with the front seat automatically coming out the passenger side for him to access and the rear of the wagon incorporating a cane to lift his wheelchair into the car. Five years plus in the making, he gets around to all the car shows he wants in his classic EH with a difference.
When we talk original vehicles, Marks' 1925 Dodge Bros Pick up is just that, in absolutely original condition and running order; the number plate reflects its condition 'AZ FOUND'. Originally from Dimboola, the vehicle has spent most of its life in the western districts, and when first found, a new set of plugs was all it needed to be up and running, with little or nothing being done to the vehicle since. As Fletch says, "If only this vehicle could talk."
A 1979 XY Ford Falcon with a 3.6 litre, six-cylinder in stock condition is owner Brad's pride and joy, originally his fathers' car, and it has substantial sentimental value. The story goes that his father was a shearer back then, and when he had shorn 200 sheep, he went and bought the XY Falcon, and it has been with the family since. The vehicle was registered until 2006 and since repainted but kept as stock with only a modest engine enhancement, essentially as his father had it.
Lisa's 1963 Hillman Minx convertible is as pretty as a picture, in beautiful condition with a white exterior and an eye-catching red interior. Impressive is that this is one of only six delivered to Australia and is believed to be 1 of the remaining 2. Fletch believes the styling with the modest fins at the rear is similar to the Cortina of the 60s and influenced by the US Buick models of the time. Lisa has owned the car for five years and recalls when she acquired it; it was mechanically sound but looked awful through neglect. As Lisa put it, "a bit of elbow grease and it came up well," just look at it today.
The classic all car enthusiasts want is an original 1968 HK GTS Monaro with a 397 Chev V8 engine. Owner Tony was looking for one around nine years ago, but every time he went to buy one, he got pipped at the post. It appeared that museums in the eastern states were buying them all up. He finally purchased one from a local RAAF base, only to discover that the vendor was selling his father's car. When the father found out he had sold the car, he immediately wanted to buy it back, but Tony wasn't going to let this one go. The car is an outstanding example of the model, and as Tony says, "the HK Monaro is a one of a kind and an honour to own". The car comes with complete paperwork, original registration plates and keys.
