55 replies to this topic

[Shiney005]

After a couple of years looking for the right car, I have bought one sight unseen. Obviously the seller has taken a squillion photos for me, and some video as well, but it will still be a nervous time waiting for it to be delivered to W.A. from Victoria. After ringing a few trucking companies, I have decided to send it over by boat from Melbourne via NMT Shipping. They pick the car up from the seller with a tilt tray, deliver it to the port, and I should see it here a few days later. It is a lot cheaper than the trucks, and a lot quicker as well because between the flooded railway in S.A. and now the floods up the east coast, all of the trucking companies are saying to ring back in a month. "Too busy".

Anyway, the 1961 EK Special is a two owner car with 80,000 miles on the clock. The bloke who bought it new put the plastic seat covers on when he had his first child in 1963. When his wife died in 1971, he put the car in his shed where it stayed until owner 2 bought it in 1987. Unfortunately, because it had crows feet in the paint on the roof and bonnet, he had it re-sprayed in enamel, but whoever was in charge of the masking tape did a prick of a job around the door rubbers.

The rest of the car is as it left the factory. Even the original radiator hoses are in the boot. They weren't leaking, but the current owner changed them a few years ago to mitigate the risk of failure.

Apparently the original battery leads are in the boot as well. These were changed by owner 1 for an unknown reason.

The radio still works too, but I need to find an original aerial for it.

Much cheaper than Toranas, and a cool looking cruiser to boot.   (It may get lowered springs and widened wheels though)

 

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[LCK186]

Shiney hi shes a rippa well bought, it certainly looks the goods, well done

[V-SLR5000-P]

Looks great but l would be tempted to load it up with period parts like twin carburettors and alloy rocker cover.

Wonder if you could find a Norman supercharger?? That would be awesome!

Enjoy what ever you do.

[RallyRed]

Reminding me of my youth Laurie.

Where we lived as kids, it was Holdens all the way.  

My Dad had a FB sedan, three on the tree, light blue with the white roof and scallop down the side. 

Shortly after, both nieghbours bought EK wagons with the Hydramatic auto.  At least one of them had the plastic seat covers.  After a day parked  in the sun at the beach, that plastic was dangerous!!

Nice score, looks very unmolested.

[Ice]

Great pick up Loz ,my god father (no not than one ) bought one new owned it up until he bought a brand new XD ute 

i still remember it had the plastic on the back seat and im pretty sure he never drive over 25 miles an hour 

his was the dark blue light blue combo and in pristine cond 

I really like the F series  Holdens they just ooze class 

If it was mine i wouldn’t touch it at all 

Nice rig Laurie 

Seat belts WTF ?? 

[LXCHEV]

She looks magic, well done.

[claysummers]

Nice score Laurie. You better get on the FB EK forum.

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[claysummers]

There is an excellent reproduction boot and floor covering available for these from Martin Figo in Melbourne if you are in need. Google Obsolete Rubber Holden.

I've got a lot of mechanical spares if you are in need, or can put you on to Geoff Black in the Perth Hills, bit closer. Blacky refers to his back yard as EKmart.

You need a set of these to go on it now:

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[308 Sunbird]

Love it Laurie-well bought.

[neglectedtorana]

Congratulations Laurie,

That car looks great and with known history it is pretty special. 

 

I would like to buy something similar if I had a bigger garage. Very classy, enjoy it.

 

Cheers, Tom

[claysummers]

My favourite interior, with the iridescent green inserts and I see it is a Hydramatic too. Room for a decent transmission without tunnel mods.


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[Ice]

A traumatic should bolt
straight in

[Bruiser]

That is beautiful
Just got to get used to not hearing it idling at the lights,
I bet it's smooth, 80,000 miles haha only just run in
Plastic on seats, no rust (there at least) she's a time capsule.
Congratulations, hope you enjoy it

Is that rectangular firewall clutch blank off plate factory, Clay?

[claysummers]

A traumatic should bolt
straight in

Yeah, right....

Except that greys have a completely different engine mount set-up, different crank bolt pattern for the flexplate and different shift gate pattern.

That comment belongs on Facebook.

There is a kit by Roger Hancock. Plenty do it because it's hard to get the hydramatics rebuilt now and yes the trimatic is an improvement. Even better with a seven bearing donk in front of it.

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That is beautiful
Just got to get used to not hearing it idling at the lights,
I bet it's smooth, 80,000 miles haha only just run in
Plastic on seats, no rust (there at least) she's a time capsule.
Congratulations, hope you enjoy it

Is that rectangular firewall clutch blank off plate factory, Clay?

Yes Bruce, agricultural ain't it?

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[Bruiser]

Yer, a bit gmh backyard engineering department-ish,
I am also admiring the inverted souptin ignition coil, too.
All no-bullshit practical and still working after
all these years. Magic stuff

[rodomo]

One of the all time best looking cars of its era 

[kiwi-lilj]

Looks great, perhaps turn it into a sleeper with the heart from the L34.

[jd lj]

Yer, a bit gmh backyard engineering department-ish,
I am also admiring the inverted souptin ignition coil, too.
All no-bullshit practical and still working after
all these years. Magic stuff

I was admiring the tin can look ignition coil too.

Enjoy your new toy.

[Shiney005]

Cheers for the comments guys.

Five years ago, my dream was one of these with an injected five litre and T700. But I have driven a couple of modified ones now, and it just isn't a car that lends itself to that sort of thing in my mind. I am thinking more along the lines of slow leisurely cruises up and down the coast. If I want to go fast, I have other machines for that job.

I have been looking for an EK rather than an FB solely for the fact it came with an auto. I know absolutely nothing about the Hydromatic though, so it will be good to learn about them and the rest of the car. (I had no idea that the clutch blank was factory) I will be joining the FB EK forum for sure Clay.

A few days ago, this one came up for sale and it is only 50 kays from me.  

 

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[claysummers]

Look out for a manual. The green one, not the brown one which doesn’t cover the auto.

Here is one:

Holden EK workshop manual on Gumtree http://www.gumtree.c...&utm_source=sms


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[claysummers]

My senior scout master had a Hydramatic ek wagon he took us on an expedition in the flinders ranges in. Leaking dexron from the rear seal, it would lose drive coming up out of the creek crossings. Luckily we could reverse out as the remaining fluid would flow in to the converter, or what served the job in them. Sadly we turned around and went somewhere flat, wine tasting in the Barossa Valley. Later on I had my first big spew all down the side of it after too much to drink at the Murray Bridge drive in. Ah the memories.

You’ll get your EK in time to join the convoy driving over to the Barossa for the FB EK National titles, June long weekend at Nuriootpa (correct bogan pronunciation is Nuri-oop-tah youse).


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[Shiney005]

You’ll get your EK in time to join the convoy driving over to the Barossa for the FB EK National titles, June long weekend at Nuriootpa (correct bogan pronunciation is Nuri-oop-tah youse).
 

Sounds great, but being in the middle of moving house (and sheds) and the fact that Herr McGowan won't let me back in if I leave the state means I will be staying put for the moment. 

[Shiney005]

Oh, and thanks for the heads up on the manual. I almost bought the brown one last week.

[S pack]

Cheers for the comments guys.

Five years ago, my dream was one of these with an injected five litre and T700. But I have driven a couple of modified ones now, and it just isn't a car that lends itself to that sort of thing in my mind. I am thinking more along the lines of slow leisurely cruises up and down the coast. If I want to go fast, I have other machines for that job.

I have been looking for an EK rather than an FB solely for the fact it came with an auto. I know absolutely nothing about the Hydromatic though, so it will be good to learn about them and the rest of the car. (I had no idea that the clutch blank was factory) I will be joining the FB EK forum for sure Clay.

A few days ago, this one came up for sale and it is only 50 kays from me.  

 

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Nice looking FB.
 

Congrats on your purchase Laurie. She looks like she has good bones.

Edited by S pack, 19 March 2022 - 11:38 AM.

[claysummers]

Nice looking FB.

Philistine


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