WHEN Mick Keane discovered a 1977 HX anniversary Holden with a drum of roundup in the backseat and cattle ear tags in the glove box, he knew it was his style.
The vehicle was originally manufactured in 1976 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of General Motors operating in Australia.
“I believe there was around 500 of them made” Mr Keane said.
In 2003, Mr Keane put the word out he was looking for a car of the 70s era.
“It did not have to be Holden, it just had to be Australian,” he said.
“A car dealer down in Timboon, Victoria, rang and told me there was a car which had just drove in.
“It had came in off a farm and it still had a drumof roundup sitting on the backseat and cow eartags in the glove box.”
Mr Keane was in Ballarat at the time and drove immediately to look at the vehicle.
“It had not been washed or anything.” he said.
“I took it for a drive up the road and bought it.”
The car runs a standard Holden straight six 202 engine and automatic transmission with electronic ignition.
Mr Keane said he liked older vehicles because he had to actually drive them.
“You feel everything from the vibration of the engine and the smell which comes out of the old upholstery,” he said.
“I love the the smell of the engine and the heat which comes off of it all.
“You still have to work on the steering and it does not pull up as quick as a new car does.”
Mr Keane said it was a comfortable car to drive compared it to modern vehicles.
“There are a lot of memories it brings from the over 15 years I have had it,” he said.
“From those years, it was my daily driver for four of those years.”
Mr Keane said the vehicle, which has not been restored, was talking point.
“People will come and have a look at it and say their father had one just like it,” he said.
“It is very typical of the 70’s, everything is brown.
“It has Mission Brown vinyl interior so it was made to be affordable for the every day modern family at the time.”
Mr Keane said he thought it would have been “flash” when released.
“Compared to today’s standards, there is not a lot to them.
“These were the first ones that came out with rear retractable seat-belts.
“That would have been a big thing of the day.”
Mr Keane said the vehicle rarely came out of his shed, but was featured at the Holdens of Age Car Club 20th anniversary earlier this year in April.
“That was the last it came out and it really only goes to events like club days,” he said.
“Other than that it hides away at home which you can tell by its condition.”
