Fletch is in Wagga Wagga, NSW, visiting three enthusiasts with classics from three completely different eras.
First is Wayne with his fully restored 1929 Buick Tourer, an Australian assembled model coming out of the US as a motor, chassis, gearbox, diff and wheels, and Holden's coachwork. The car was advertised in the local Wagga newspaper and purchased by a friend who recognised the historical value of the vehicle before it was bought by Wayne.
The vehicle required a complete nut and bolt restoration as the car was pretty much a basket case. Midway through the restoration, members from Wayne's car club suggested that they assist him in completing the resto to travel to an event in Alice Springs. Club members turned out every week to get the job done, only for the engine to fail them just before the trip.
Today the vehicle is complete and original in every aspect, with beautiful Buick plaques on the running boards and art dec dashboard. It's an excellent example of a 1929 Buick Tourer.
Next is Wagga local, Les, with his modified 1965 Pontiac Parisienne. Les discovered the Pontiac in a paddock while cutting timber and had it towed back to town to start the restoration.
The car required a complete restoration, including modifications to Les's liking. The unique arrow point design of the car is very stylish, almost like a Batmobile. The pillarless design is as close as you can get to a convertible.
Fortunately, Les had another '65 Pontiac as a donor car; while not pillarless, it allowed him to combine the best of both vehicles. Today the Pontiac is as straight as an arrow and a beautiful example, having won 14 car shows. Les says he feels 'King of the road' when he drives it, and he drives it every day, it runs like a gold watch.
Fletch often goes to massive sheds; this time, it's a modest 6x6 meter shed, so as Fletch says, 'It's not about the size of the shed, but what's in it.' This time it's not a complete car, but a work in progress, another full restoration that will bring this iconic vehicle back to pristine original condition.
The car is a 1978 308 HQ GTS Monaro Coupe. Peter, who previously owned the car sold it in 1984 due to the pressures of a growing family. He recently purchased it back, albeit in pieces and has begun the painstaking restoration.
Right now, there has been a lot of work to the chassis and body, as Peter eagerly awaits the return of the engine. The final colour scheme will be the iconic Silver with orange stripes of the HQ era. Peter says he had great memories of the HQ in his youth, and even today, working on it with his friends brings out the kid in him. Peter says, "it's a one-man, one car. love affair."
