Just a quick note to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. Over the years I have gotten more than most out of this forum as so many of you have been incredibly generous with your time and expertise to help improve our book from year to year. All your feedback, even some of the grumpy ones, have been very constructive and positive. In the past few year's, we have attempted new layouts and ways of doing things. I am the first to admit that some didn't work, some were confusing and others were rushed. With the upcoming 23rd edition in February, I am looking at high fives as I have been working almost exclusively on the book since last March. Even when on a week's break to Bateman's Bay earlier in the year, Jenny and Lily shared the driving as I sat in the back seat on the laptop. My only demand when we stopped for lunch was that I could recharge the computer while we tucked in.
Finally a big thank you to Kathryn and Mark for the very professional forum site they obviously put a lot of work into. Unless you do something like this [or write a book] it's hard for most people to comprehend just how time-consuming it can be. Well done guys and again to everyone, have fun and stay safe.
Cheers
Greg
Best wishes! :good:
Best xmas wishes to you and yours Greg and hope you have a safe and enjoyable new year.
Best wishes Greg. Have a great xmas
All the best Greg have a great festive season looking forward to the new guide
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and you family Greg.
Merry Christmas and Happy new year Greg..
Ho, Ho, Ho to you also Greg! Looking forward to your new addition.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/hohoho.jpg)
Thanks Greg
agree 100% with your comments about that hard work
But golly mate - do slow down a bit ... you only live once you know!
It seems that you will now have the catalouge early year for realease not the end of year
as long as we/collectors know we can anticipate the release
although i reckon you might miss Christmas trade as over the years I have been given the catalouges by family members for chrissy
enjoy the xmass heatwave ... like the rest of oz!!
cheers Robbie
Hi Guys,
Thank you all for the Christmas messages, Much appreciated. I hear what you say robbiegal. I wouldn't want to drop dead tomorrow, but boy, I could do with the rest! Wow, Unicorn, if you have the three Ford GT's posted in your garage --- I'm on my way over. Had a chance to have a short drive of a GTHO during my time at Racing Car News. Scary to think that happened when the coin was being released! A couple of things have stuck in my mind after all these years. The horn being
activated by squeezing the inside of the steering wheel and the fact it took 38 gallons to top up - that was eye watering even if you could afford the price of the car. It cost around $5,000 for the Bathurst qualifier at a time that a Ford Capri V6 [my favourite] was about $2500. While a heavy foot made the tacho whip around the dashboard, the dramatic fluctuations of the fuel gauge was a close second. Good to see life isn't all about coins.
Cheers
Greg
Hi Again Unicorn,
Thought you might enjoy these shots from Lachlan's three seasons in Aussie Racing Cars. Great memories.
I am not sure if the pics attached themselves. I'll post and redo later after my 17 yo daughter wakes up. Could be after lunch.
Greg
A belated HO, HO, HO, Greg!
I posted this on FB for Jack LeBrocq and his mum, so I had it handy... :)
(http://www.motorsportretro.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/artist-Mike-Harbar-depicting-the-three-leading-XY-GTHO-Falcons-of-Allan-Moffat-John-French-and-Fred-Gibson.jpg)
Love the drawing McDuck!!! :good:
A mate bought one in 1971. What a great thing it was, but just reading an earlier post, I didn't know they took 38 gallons :shock: that's roughly 170 litres. He must have felt like a trucky when filling up
Yes, the "Bathurst" tank was an option I think, a huge capacity. I remember when I was younger our neighbour bought a new one too. It was Monza Green with black trim. (I know he now wishes he'd kept it!!!)
Footnote: You'd probably not be surprised that one of my favourite Aussie movies is "Running On Empty" ........ (green's nice).
Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='103820' dateline='1484114377'(I know he now wishes he'd kept it!!!)
My ex collided with a Phase 4 GTHO that had just been restored. She flipped the van, split her skull open, and had the kids bouncing around like pinballs.
He speared a telephone pole and wrote the car off.
The cop who brought me the news about it had tears in his eyes when describing the car. :(
250 249 in existence, IIRC, and worth close to a million now, or so I heard.
BTW, unrelated, but check this out:
https://www.facebook.com/fulviohatesfb/posts/10154847228289449
*CRY*
Torana XU1 Bathurst model was similar. Tank was basically two bottoms welded together -standard tank was a dished bottom with a flat top. The extra bottom/top was in the boot making it completely useless for anything other than an overnight bag.
Idea was to reduce number of fuel stops required for the big race. I think Chrysler did something similar with the race chargers.
Yes, the R/T's had a 35 gallon option. (Took up all the boot). ....... we won't mention that they (265 6cyl) could beat a GTHO PIII (351 8cyl)over the quarter mile ..... oops did it. :laugh2: But they couldn't corner so were beaten at Bathurst by the HO's and XU1s.
On the HO pricing, I think this was the highest I'd seen, but there may have been one after that making a million dollars. I know there was one that was owned by a member of a big 1970's band member that was especially built/ordered. Darn memory I can't recall, but it may have been the black one I posted a pic of in another thread that's now in the car museum.
This is from the SMH.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/gtho1.jpg)
There's are whole heap on Mike Selby's site to drool over if you're inclined. (Mike's a top chap if you have some muscle/classic you want to sell, or buy for that matter).
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/muscle/sold.76754.50.html (https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/muscle/sold.76754.50.html)
Footnote: Do you think we've "carjacked" this thread? :mocking:
Quotewe won't mention that they (265 6cyl) could beat a GTHO PIII (351 8cyl)over the quarter mile
And what would the 318 cubic inch V8 with four speed gearbox have done? Before the big scare campaign killed all of that nonsense. [And now, if you have a spare $50k or $60k you can buy a new car that outperforms any of those -and they go 'round corners too.]
Nevertheless I know which I would like to have to drive.
I did have a drive of a rally prepared XU1 once in a state forest (dirt roads) and the steering wheel was just for hanging on to -the right foot had a dual function; make it go fast and steer it around corners. Locked diff would have made it a bastard to drive on a sealed road.
That would have been a buzz Jeff! Have been in a couple of XU1's (as a passenger) and was appropriately terrified.
From memory Chrysler sent a VG ute to Italy under cover to get the 265 & the webers tuned prior to the release of the Charger.
Yes, the new cars are now rockets (although chipped to limit performance I think), but I still dearly love all the classics, regardless of the stable.
Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='103833' dateline='1484120122'I did have a drive of a rally prepared XU1 once
I had one of these for a week back in 1976:
(http://www.bmsc.com.au/forums/attachments/australian-rallying-discussion/3147-hdt-gemini-pictures-scan1.jpg)
It was going into I think the Southern Cross rally the following week, and we had it on display at Chadstone promoting our CB radio club. So I got to drive it from Warrandyte to Chaddy every day, and drive it through the shopping centre to our stand (before the extensions that did away with the open-air section though).
Anyway, the car was ready to go, fully decked out in bright red and white race livery (Garry & Warren Smith, IIRC), with sparkly numbers even.
So one morning, coming down Blackburn Rd from Doncaster Rd, there's a long hill, followed by a slight rise and another downhill bit. And in the second dip was Cpnstable Dunstable and his trusty stopwatch (this was pre-radar and amphometers). He claimed I was doing 120km/h, and I told him he must be wrong, because I was only in third gear, and the car was still limited. Fortunately, it being a different era, we came to a compromise which still cost me a fair whack, but kept my licence intact. he did seem very impressed with the car, which he examined minutely, so that may have helped the situation. :)
I do recall it was loads of fun to drive outside of town. In traffic, not so much. :)
Super cool McDuck! :good:
I didn't think so at the time ;)
:laugh2: .... Yes the fine part wasn't so good, but burning around in it would have been fun.
We seem to have gone way off topic here....suggest starting a new topic to continue.
Quote from: 'humpybong' pid='103845' dateline='1484130190'We seem to have gone way off topic here....suggest starting a new topic to continue.
Why? Geminis are kinda like small HO's.. from GMH. :dodgy: