THE LOUD sound and unmistakable rumble of a muscle car has kept Joe Dicenso holding onto his own since 19.
Mr Dicenso has owned a 1970 HT Holden Kingswood sedan since 1985, slowly building it up from stock-standard to what it is now.
Bought from a Mount Gambier dealership, Mr Dicenso said he almost chose a LH Torana, but ended up buying the affordable, family-friendly vehicle instead.
“I ended up going this way even though a Torana might have been worth more now,” Mr Dicenso said.
“I love driving it and the noise they make, you just do not get that with modern cars.
“It still had about six months registration so I drove it around until it ran out and then it went into the shed for quite a few years.”
Mr Dicenso said the sedan had been transformed with the engine, transmission and differential all upgraded.
“The engine went from a 253 to a fuel injected 308 stroker,” he said.
“The transmission changed from a Trimatic three-speed automatic to a turbo 400 coupled with a gear vendors overdrive unit.
“The differential went from being a standard banjo to a Ford disc brake nine-inch with a TrueTrac centre.”
Mr Dicenso said the differential ratio was 3.55, but with electric shift overdrive set-up it also could run at 2.78 to bring the revs down for the longer trips.
“We mini tubbed the rear end and shortened the differential housing to allow the 265/50R15 rear wheels under the guards with plenty of clearance,” he said.
“The interior is all Brougham trim except for the front Cobra racing seats for a bit more comfort and less movement when driving at fast speed.”
Fitted with GTS additions, including guards, bonnet, dash and gauge, Mr Dicenso said he liked the unique colour of the vehicle, which started as Ford midnight blue.
“In 1993 the original red colour was repainted this blue, but there was black paint added to the mix to make it a lot darker,” he said.
“A lot of people say it is black, but it is not, it is just a very deep and dark blue.
“In the sun from one end it would look purple but from the other it would look black and then blue in the middle.”
Involved with the Aussie Muscle Car Run in 2012, 2013 and 2014, Mr Dicenso said the car had done some track work in Bathurst at the Winton Motor Raceway.
“I do not usually become involved with that sort of thing, but it was part of the run, so we did it,” Mr Dicenso said.
“Together with my co driver Leigh Schultz raised money for the Leukemia Foundation in honour of my nephew who had a form of blood cancer.
“This allowed us to travel thousands of kilometres with other enthusiasts and put it through its paces on quite a few race tracks.
“We had never had any problems, except a blow out from the front tire just from the track work which happened in Tarpeena just before we got home.”
With all modifications occurring over a number of years, Mr Dicenso said after taking the vehicle off the road in 1985 it went back on the road in 1994 in a primitive form.
“We removed the original fuel tank and fitted a 100-litre drop tank that can be filled from either side of the car through the Jaguar fuel filler caps we fitted to the top of each rear quarter guard,” he said.
“I have had it that long now, I do not plan on selling it.
“It actually turns 50 this year meaning it is nearly as old as me and if I sold it, I would have to buy something else and start again.”
Mr Dicenso said over the years he has heard many people they had a muscle car back in the day but they sold it but was thankful he did not.
