AFTER sitting in owner Dennis Boundy’s shed for over 20 years, this 1955 FJ Holden was finally restored to its former dragster glory recently.
Mr Boundy said he only finished the restoration process just before Christmas last year.
“It was built in 1965 as a drag car to race in South Australia,” he said.
“It has a very long history in drag racing but then it died and just sat around.
“It was in a sad state of repair when I first bought it.”
Mr Boundy saw the car advertised in Adelaide and said he envisioned an immediate opportunity to “resurrect” it.
“It sat in a bloke’s shed with no paint on it for many many years,” he said.
“I did not want the drag history of the car to die so I decided to build it back to how it was in 1965.
“I have retained it to the way it was built back in the day. ”
Mr Boundy said when he was a child, he always dreamed of owning a FJ Holden.
“When I was a kid I never had a FJ Holden but now that I am a big kid I have a couple,” he said.
“This car played a major role in the early days on South Australian drag history.
“I have driven it but I would not drag race it again as it is too old and too slow now.”
Mr Boundy said the motor has had many alterations.
“The motor has been played around with a bit,” he said.
It has triple Stromberg carburetors, a camshaft and other additions.
“I would say it has all the old hot-rod and hot-up bits from the 60s.”
Mr Boundy said he tried many types of tire sizes to make sure they were the “perfect fit.”
“The wheel sizes are all different,” he said.
“With these types of vehicles you put bigger wheels on the back and smaller ones on the front.
“If they do not work, you try some other sizes.”
Mr Boundy said many people tell him the car brings back memories.
“I think the style of the car brings back memories for a lot of people,” he said.
“The FJ was Australia’s very own car when it came out and people grew up with it.
“A lot of people comment and wonder why have I spoiled a good car.”
Mr Boundy said he did not “spoil” the car but rather “rescued an old car”.
Mr Boundy recently took the vehicle to the FX & FJ Nationals in Murray Bridge.
“There was around another 185 FJ Holdens there,” he said.
“Although, there was only maybe half a dozen like this one.
“It was a fantastic experience.” cams
