Blimey, Autopians!
We have quite a few of the Autopian Staff out at the moment; Jason and Beau as mentioned yesterday are in the United Kingdom to attend the Goodwood Revival. No doubt by now Jason has a Cockney accent and Beau is getting ready to appear in a Guy Ritchie film while our native Englishman Adrian Clarke looks on with Londonian indifference and flicks a cigarette across a gray alley in East London.
Much like the couple in the above Australian Ford Fairlane, who look like they are waiting for the rest of their crew in order to pull the caper of the century. I’m not sure how this shot of a rain-soaked sedan in a darkened street is meant to appeal to luxury buyers, this looks more like a still from a crime film that would be starring Michael Caine in his prime.
US-Fairlane-derived sheet metal on the ends with an extended-wheelbase Falcon in the middle, this Aussie ZA-model Fairlane of 1967 is another one of Australia’s oddball cars. Kicking off a new segment in the Australian market, Holden responded with a longer-boot Kingswood in the form of the first Premier (later Premiers/Statesman had longer-wheelbase) and Chrysler with the VIP initially and later the apparent tautology Chrysler by Chrysler. Prior to this, the big luxury cars sold by the Big Three in Australia were CKD-imported Chevy Impalas/Pontiac Parisienne, Ford Galaxie and Dodge Polara/Plymouth Fury which all largely went away by the early 70’s.
We also have Mercedes going to 4Fest (David is unfortunately a cancellation due to circumstances which I will let him elaborate on if/when he is comfortable with detailing), Thomas is in Detroit as well and Mark Tucker will be at the Portland All-British Field Meet
This means the Autopian will be rather light on staff for your Friday, so now might be a good time to look back on some of the great articles that this site has given us over the past 17-odd months as we await all the great content that is bound to come from our writers who are currently abroad.
We are always looking for articles from more corners of the automotive landscape, so why not get a pitch ready if you think you have something entertaining and enlightening?
Slight correction – Premiers were always the same body as the lesser trim levels (trim levels were Standard/Special/ Premier before 1968, then Belmont/Kingswood/Premier), it was the Brougham that had the extended boot and was eventually replaced by the long-wheelbase Statesman.
Extra Premier trivia- the HJ and HX Premiers were available in Japan as a Mazda Roadpacer, fitted with a 13B rotary and Jatco auto transmission.
Yes, sorry meant to say Premier-based Brougham!
I made the mistake before of calling them extended-wheelbase in an earlier article and wrote this Cold Start quickly to help Jason who had just landed in the UK.
I thought this was one of those situations where the manufacturer is trying to hide that there is nothing new on their newest car, but the ZA was all-new in 1967. Mysterious.
We’re “drive in theaters” a thing in Australia?
If was the same time period in rural somewheresville U.S.A., I would’ve guess that Bruce and Jane are contemplating leaving their spouses having a meet up at the drive in theater (watching Stephen King horror flick presumably).
Yeah. “Watching” a Stephen King horror flick.
We certainly did have drive ins, Dubbo’s 1970-built drive in was revived for a limited time from 2018 to 2022 before a developer bought the land and demolition is starting soon.
We even had an Aussie movie centred on a drive in: https://youtu.be/HQBFTlPSepc?si=4wH2qd1WwyGBVoai
Looks like a Ford Affairlane add to me.
Good gravy, what hath DT fallen into now?
To quote the late, great Jimmy Buffett,
Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame,
but I know,
It’s his own damn fault.
Shit. She Googled him.
Man, for his sake I hope not.
Well, he did tell her not too
It’s possible he merely blew out a flip flop?
Stepped on a pop top perhaps?
Cut his heel had to cruise on back home?
This prompted me to look up some pics of Aussie Fairlanes and, from what I saw, I’m guessing they photographed it in the dark to hide the panel gaps.
Cue Peter Gunn theme.
Rogers for President!
I’d vote for that. Or anyone else at this point.
I meant for Australia, since technically he’s ineligible for the US Presidency. Any man with such a quality taste in cars would make for a glorious ruler!
I’d vote for Steve Rogers.
Or Governor General, anyway
Aww, thanks SWG! I’ll inform the Prime Minister that we’re to form a Republic immediately.
We’ll need to go and commander Malcolm Fraser’s old stretched Valiant as the ‘official’ Presidential limousine!
Wholeheartedly approve!
Fairly sure it still exists, doesn’t it?
Love the Oz representation on this site! How ya goin, Laurence?
Hi Geoff! Going well mate, been flat chat with work so I haven’t gotten to writing much lately. Looks like we’re in for a hot summer here, which means I’ll likely be writing more as opposed to sweating to death in the shed on the weekends
James: Money Penny, please start the car
Money Penny: I’m trying
James: We’re about to be hit by Mr. Evil’s truck
Money Penny: Stop pressuring me James
Money Penny: But James, it’s right-hand drive!
“You in the car. No sudden moves. Now, slowly, slowly, turn off the ignition. Face forward and keep your hands where I can see them.”
It’s always a little awkward when the cops roll up on you at makeout point. Even more so when you’re 40.
Especially when both of you are sitting there petrified to make the first move …
I didn’t even see the guy in the car! That’s just creepy.
That is the dead-eyed stare of a fun-loving couple sitting in the driveway after a lovely night out, but now they have to go in, pay the sitter, and go back to being parents.
Ask me how I know…
What the hell, man. The babysitter puts the kids to bed. You DO NOT go home before the kids are in bed.
But they’re still there. They’re ALWAYS there…
These days that is more true than ever.
It appears they are mere seconds away from being abducted by aliens.
X-Files reboot. Mulder and Scully have travelled back in time to stop the alien conspiracy.