New/old tow car

[kingy]

Luv em both Col, would it be fair to say the HD's are becoming a popular model - as you know they were known as one of the most unpopular models to be released, but i can't see why
Was it because the HR had disc brakes & and a few other mech. improvements that made it so much more popular?
I must say i would have preferred a HR thirty years ago, but now without a doubt i'd have a HD instead - what once seemed an ugly car now takes my fancy
Kingy

[Deleted]

Hi Kaybees.


Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!

Didnt realise when ya described it to me the other week that it was actually that good. . You have done well. One owner , unmolested old cars of any make are becoming harder and harder to find as the years go by and more and more people surcome to the "Throw away society" and the automobile 5 year use by date lifespan.

First car was a HD panel van with windows. Learnt to drive in it and at work in a windowless FB Panno. So was very familiar with using my mirrors for lane changing and reverse parking early in my driving life.

I think that the HD where shund because the EH's of the previous 2 years where such a styling success. People couldn't handle the "wide body with pointy bits at each corner" on the HD.

I didnt mind ... with ugliness came cheapness. So a first year 1969 apprentice 'lecko on $13.10 /week could save quickly and buy a '65 HD van in late 1970 when i got my license for $600
People use to laugh and point at the van.... until they realised that it was their daughter in the van with me.... The smile soon became inverted to a growl

Tough old cars the HD's. I ran up the back of an s model valiant while checking out some chicks at a bus stop. Caved the bum of the Mopar in but the HD "Pointy bits " stayed "Pointy". sorta acted like axe heads and sliced into the poor old Vals boot lid.

Pity they didnt build the engine mounts outta the same stuff. I carved a neat circle in the radiator with the fan.

I am off to the shed to start parceling up your Heater . Might try and get it in the post tomorrow before i head to Cessnock swap for the weekend. I took Matilda up there today. shes spending her first night away from home on her own. About 400 yards from the shed where i bought her from ;D

HD..... Holdens Delema
HR......Holdens Revival

Reddo

[cobber]

Neat,eh?...cheers, Col.

A man prone to understate things sometimes .

Cobber.

[sutcac]

Nice pick up Col ... love the old originals .......welcome to the early holden brigade .........whatcha gunna tow with it?

Sutcac

[earlee]

she's a beauty kaybee. ;D ;D

HD's and EJ's are my favourites - both quite hard to find a goodie. is it the 149 or the big block 179?

as you probably know, the HD's were called the "kidney splitters" in their day - supposedly dangerous for pedestrians - was all a storm in a teacup - same as the media supercar scare of the early 70's - look at the powerful cars available today..

[Jennison]

my old white HD prem wgn had discs , just the same as HR prems . It got written off by a flying windsurfer on the federal highway - but thats another story!! On top of that i had a white HZ premier wgn that got written off 13 yrs later in a head on collision only 100metres from where I lost the HD. I don't drive white premier wgns anymore - too bl__dy dangerous and running out of insurers.!!! regards jennison

[neilncheryl]

Hi Col
Very nice addition.
A friend of mine had HDs. Claims they were stronger than the HR.
He use to crack the body at the rear shock absorber mounts (he did rallys) on the HR but never on the HD. Thicker metal at the mounts apparently.
Enjoy the ride
Neil

[urkel1965]

The HD looks great.... but nothing compared to the '48. I have an EJ & FX, but that 48 puts my '53 48-215 in the scrap metal category. Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

That's one helluva schmick HD you have there Kaybee .......welcome to the wonderful world of HD ownership ;D ;D ........very impressive

Kaybee says: manual trans,no discs,no booster, no power steer, no heater , no radio..... ...poverty pack! .......sounds about as well equipped as our HD wagon

Our HD gave us some grief on our return trip from the 06 VV nationals in Morgan SA with Ditzy at the wheel .......she wasn't used to driving a manual car, but when you drive 1500 miles of road (Nullabour) with nothing to stop for, it doesn't matter.......until you arrive in Norseman WA, and are fast approaching a
T. junction with 800 kgs of brakeless Rowvan in tow, and Ditzy has a ......well ........Ditzy ... moment, and forgot what to do ie, brake, declutch, change gear and turn , ........... the lack of disc brakes, power booster, auto tranny, power steering certainly didn't help matters .......

but, I wouldn't have our HD any other way ;D .....


Ditzy at the wheel of our HD accross the nulla .......





The convoy grey FX ......thats interesting .....is that car featured in one of Don Loffler's books?

Mark

[tinnie]

So that's where that FX went, I've been lookin' at that FX for about the last 12 years, everytime I drive through Casterton. Noticed on the way back across to the Mount this year to get the broken Falcon that it was gone.

Col - schmicko HD......also known as the Hastily Designed model, because the holden prototype for the EH replacement was soooo ugly! I agree that like the FX, FE, EJ, the HD will be more of a collectable in time than the so-called 'more popular' HR.

My dad had a HD wagon (was well before my time) I've seen some old slides of it, from memory it was grey with white roof and had wheel spats....and venetians I think.....and knowing him probably lowered with a hiflow exhaust, headers and a lumpy cam or mebe not.
If only he'd kept it, that'd make a nice towcar.

Will the HD be making debut at Cora Lynn, Col?

Cheers,
Gristy

[HDTodd]

Hi Col, that's a very nice looking HD. They have always been one of my favorite model Holdens and in my opinion better looking than the HR (I still like HR's so if anyone owns one please don't be offended). I see yours has the original Stack badge on the boot, my EH had one but it was stolen, they're very hard to find and expensive when you do. Will you be bringing it to Coledale? I might take mine up this year.

[melburgorbust]

Hd looks fantastic. looking forward to seeing it on teh local streets very soon.