After around 14 years of shed storage, this 1963 Holden EJ special station wagon has finally made an appearance in public.
Owner Jack Jakutavicius purchased the vehicle in 2001 for “a bit of fun” with plans of a full restoration.
“A friend of a friend was selling it so I had first dibs,” he said.
“It was old, driving and was registered so I thought ‘why not?’
“The registration ran out and I put it in the shed and told myself I was going to fix it.”
For over a decade, Mr Jakutavicius said the vehicle did not move from his shed.
“Two years ago I decided to get it back out and I re-did the brakes and the basic mechanical parts,” he said.
“The tan exterior and white roof is all original along with the tan interior.
“The vehicle is just standard with no modifications.”
Mr Jakutavicius enjoys making the most of trips with friends around the South East.
“I like it how it is now so I am not sure whether I will do a full restoration or if I will drive it how it is,” he said.
“I found some wider wheels so I added them which makes the vehicle sit better on the road.
“I have no real history of the vehicle and have never thought of chasing it up so now I might in the future.”
Mr Jakutavicius recently featured the vehicle in the Holdens of Age 50th birthday celebrations last month.
“I have not had any problems with the car until this morning” he told The Border Watch when interviewed.
“I had a fuel leak which I had to fix straight away.”
Mr Jakutavicius said he has thought about testing wax to prevent the vehicle’s rust from spreading any further.
“I own a panel beating and spray painting business so I do receive some smart comments from people as to why I have not done it up yet,” he said.
“I have taken it to Port MacDonnell and Penola but not any big runs as of yet as I did not want it to blow up on me.
“The extra room the back is also handy, you just have to lift the tailgate up and sit on the back to have a drink.”
