Hi, As you may/may not know, I have gone through a few older cars. The first was a VB Commodore that got me to this site. It was restored, and went on to win a trophy and feature on the front cover of the local paper. Next was a 1981 Volvo 240 that was also restored, and also won a trophy. There was a certain retro/period charm attached to these vehicles. Solid colours, lashings of chrome trim, zero plastic anywhere. However.....as nice as they were, they never evoked nostalgia, as they were well before my time (I was born 1983). My current older tinkering vehicle is an ex-Olympic VTII Commodore. I have taken a different path to this, rather than a full blown restoration (which it didn't really need) I did as little as possible to make the car presentable and drive excellent again. Now whilst this isn't a fully-fledged classic car by any stretch of the word, to me it still evokes a nostalgia the older cars didn't. As a young driver, my parents had a VTII Commodore that was bought new, my first car being a '00 Corolla auto. I wanted a VT Commodore dearly but the parent's choice was to put me into something newer and more fuel efficient (with less power for me to be naughty with). So now I have a VT Commodore, now in fairly nice condition. It has a period aftermarket head unit that plays regular CDs. Last night I was tidying up and I found my old CD wallet full of the copied CDs I used when I was going to and from Newcastle>Orange in my blue Corolla on uni breaks. I took my VT to work today, and played the CDs. It was like I was 20 all over again. But this time I was thin(ish), had money, greater confidence and sense of self. Not only that, I was in the car that I actually wanted, not the pissweak Corolla. This is what having a classic car is all about. Its about evoking that nostalgia - sure the VT isn't technically a classic nowadays but if history repeats it will be. Its why all the older members of my car club view mine as too 'new', whereas theirs are all 60s-70s cars from when they were 20ish. Just a thought I had today. Thanks for reading
Yeah I hear you. I got my licence in 2007. I remember a mate taking me for a spin in his 2006 vz SS. I had a clapped out VN. I was blown away when he put the foot down and for the next five years all I could think about was the day I finally buy my own manual V8 and I did! So yeah my 06 SS is not a classic in any way either. It's just a 10 year old ss. But when I think back to being an 18 year old taking a ride in that new SS it brings back that nostalgic feeling except now I'm behind the wheel and it feels great.
I get it , I've been toying with getting another VR or VS to fix up , a VR Calais V6 was our first car when we moved to NZ from South Africa good car and went really well .
Good for you the nostalgia is whatever you want and feel it to be. My first car was a LX 253 4 speed Torana and over the last three years or so I have had a look to purchase another one though with a small family they are out of my budget right now. When I got my licence the VR/VS was the new Commodore on the scene and I had a couple of older friends that owned them. I've always been a fan of the SS and the old 5 litre in those models. Having a look in general they are about the 5K mark for a good one which would fit my price range and enable me to purchase a car I find desirable. So if I can't afford my first choice there is other options, nostalgia means different things to different people. Even the window shopping online for me is enjoyable.
Yes, time of birth can certainly colour our view on nostalgia. Being a pre-teen in the 70's I have fond memories and a burning passion for the usual suspects, torries, monaros, and the blue oval brigade of that time. Then as a teenager in the 80's obviously the HDT cars stood out. Whereas by wife's pop, who is in his late 80's has had a life long love affair with vintage cars. Many years ago he rebuilt a whippet. I can't recall the model year. It was later sold for financial reasons. Last year the guy he sold it to decided to move it on so pop just had to buy it back. He doesn't drive it. Just showers it with love and admiration.
Geez ….. a VT a classic ? ……. not rubbishing your choice, but thinking I must be really, really old. Doesn’t seem to me that long ago they were new and everywhere, but, they are 20 years ago. How many VNs do you see now, and VTs probably also on the way out. Maybe Holden nostalgia will help many to survive, if they haven’t had the bogans trash them beyond survival. My classic old car ? A red HK Kingswood, 186S, Opel 4 speed, reclining bucket seats, GTS suspension, 6x14 wheels, radial tyres …… or, it would have been if I had not traded it in 1974, full of rust and with an absolutely stuffed engine. I may live long enough to see my Monaro become a classic. 8 year grandson asked me if he could have it when I die ……... I couldn’t think of a ‘classic’ answer at the time.
VTs are still about, albeit not in the numbers they were. Those that are about.....some are nice, but most are quite shabby. It would be interesting to look at the number of VTs still registered, as compared to the number sold. I would say more than half are gone, and within another 5 years half of what is left will be lost again, looking at survival graphs on 'howmanyareleft.co.uk'.
Well a good HJ prem is pretty desirable now days. I've just scored one off my dad when you think about it back in 75 it was just a Calais of the time. I think vn's and vp's are getting there. Especially something a bit more rare like a nice manual ss. You don't see so many now and I always have a good look when one goes past. To me they are cool cars and I think it's only a matter of time before they become a bit more collectable. Ive noticed over the last 10 or so years I've had my VP Calais the parts are getting more expensive and hard to come by which has to count for something. So yeah even if you're looking for a newer car if you think about a combination that will one day be more disiarable it's a smart idea. That's why I chose my SS. It's a rarer colour (Turismo), a manual and an 06 6ltr. So I think down the track it will stand out more than the average vz. Things like factory sunroofs are a good idea too. I really wish mine had one haha. That's the only thing that I was disappointed it didn't have.
My VS has been in our family since 2004 or so, and before that was a company car for a place the old lady still works for. We ended up with it after the VS became old news to them. Used to go on road trips to Queensland in it and was driven to school in it every day. Eventually it as put aside for 5+ years out in th weather, parked under pine trees with the paint deteriorating from the sap. My parents gave the car to me a few months before I turned 18, but needed a fair bit of work to get it up to scratch for rwc and rego. It's undergone plenty of changes in the past 5 years of my ownership and is finally a V8 (now that I'm allowed to drive one). I've actually had a couple of comments about it from random people at servo's which surprised me. I'm the only one of all my mates who still has their first car. I plan to keep this one though, I've driven new cars and they just feel so cheap and nasty in comparison.
Already, even VE SS are listed in the Survivor Car value guide, indicating quasi-classic status. But, never underestimate a nice clean base model. I had the VB, it was the absolute common as muck 3.3 Auto, in boring as batshit red/tan colour combo - but I kept it pristine and loaded it with period accessories. Got lots of interest at shows. Setting up a little display doesn't hurt neither.
My very first car was a Nissan 120Y 2 door , lime green with vinyl roof , a classic by today's standards , but in 1988 it was not the case at all , if I could find one of those in decent nick now , I snatch it up it a heart beat .
At one time I had a HK Kingswood, a HK Premier and a HK Brougham. Would love to have any one of them now especially the Brougham.
I joined the classic car crowd last year, and that was driven by nostalgia. My first three cars in turn were all Triumphs, starting with a 1965 Triumph 12/50 manual sedan in 1971, a 1969 Triumph 2000 manual sedan in 1972, and finally a 1972 Triumph 2.5PI manual sedan in 1974. In those times, I was driving around 30,000 + miles a year, so the odometer ran up quickly. The last passed on in 1977 when I bought the first Honda Accord in Australia. The Triumphs had what we would in this day and age call character - mainly to justify any problems that we may have encountered. That was especially the case with the 2.5PI. In early retirement, I started to look for meaningful (my word, not my wife's) things to occupy my time. I now have two historic cars, and am a member of a historic car club. My vehicles are a 1970 Triumph 2000 auto that has been upgraded to the 2500 manual with electronic overdrive, and a 1977 2500S manual. I have been surprised at how easy it is to source parts for them, and how my hobby does not cost a whole lot. Since there were only 288 12/50's like mine made in the world, I sort of wish that I had kept mine. I notice a couple of coupes (of which only 144 were made) on Ebay, but the asking price in five figures is more than I am willing to pay. Maybe one day. If you have an interest in old machinery, I would recommend that you look into classic cars, particularly if you live in one of those states that allow private use through a logbook system. My club, the Standard and Triumph Car Club of NSW, has proven to be a most enjoyable membership.
My idea of a classic car is a car which required to be driven with full concentration.....ie no ABS, traction control, air bags and alikes.....The idea of being able to trouble shoot and fix it on the side of the road is another attraction for me. Currently owing 7 cars, with the youngest being made in 1984, the thrill of finding parts also plays a part in the owner ship of such old cars..... I enjoy comments made by people saying things like "you don't see many of these anymore", or "I used to have one of these" and sometimes the surprise they get when you are interstate with an older car, with them saying "where are you from" and "did you drive this all that way with this car". Maybe one day VN's and alikes will get the same attention, but for the thought of computers in cars controlling various things will never appeal
When I see what classic Holden's fetch these days, I weep. How's this for a list? FB Special Sedan HD Premier EH Special HR Premier HG 253 GTS Monaro with Saginaw 4 speed. HT Premier. Originally 307 Powerglide uprated to 327 and Saginaw four speed HZ 253 Premier HT 350 GTS with Turbo 350 auto (4 year restoration during late 80's.) If only I had a couple of those still parked in my garage.......
The way I see it is at least you had the chance to own/drive them at one point in your life. For someone younger like me, as much as I love my HQ and my VC I'll probably never get the chance to own/justify the cost to own an a HK/T/G/Q Monaro and such.....Lucky I have a few mates with em so can get a ride every now and again.
I was just thinking even though a car from the year 2000 is still 'plastic bumpered' - so much is different. Then - Audio CD player if you were lucky, but probably a cassette deck. Now - Android/Apple Car Play. In my Mazda3 I can search through ipod playlists on the entertainment unit itself. The VT has console storage for CDs and cassettes. The original tape deck had an auxiliary input, but only presumably so you could play your Discman, as the ipod hadn't been invented yet. Then - 147kw from 3.8L (38.6kw/L). How (VF Commodore) 185kw from 3L. Fuel economy down from 11.3>8.3 L/100km. Then - 4spd transmission Now 6spd transmission with tip-shift. Then- Single airbag. Now - 6 airbags, stability control, ABS I was just thinking that like we might see true 'classics' has having chrome bumpers, the next generation might see true classics as manuals with cassette decks, wind up windows and steel wheels......
My favourite classic cars dont have steel bumpers so depends on how you look at it. And unfortunately i dread the day but yes one day a vt will be a classic lol.
