Family Pets - the cars that stayed

By: Guy Allen

Date: 02.06.2023

How is it that a car becomes a long-term member of the family? We take a look at a few examples, plus one that got away...

At what point does the humble family car transform from a simple means of transport into a member of the family?

For some people, the relationship and attachment starts early, as the car becomes part of their identity – something they slaved for to find the funds, or has become part of the major events in their lives.

That includes the first time they drove a car, the first time they made love, the time they got married or brought a newborn child home from hospital. Maybe it’s something you built from bits and brought new life to.

Sometimes the bond occurs simply because no one worked up the motivation to sell the thing as it gradually wormed its way into their hearts.

We suspect it can be a combination of all those things and more. So we decided to track down a few stories of cars that had been in the same hands for 40 years or more. In one case we only had to walk as far as the back shed…

Megan Anderson

1966 Valiant VC
Bought 1980

If you look back at what was available in Australian showrooms back in 1966, you’d understand what a big purchase a car like this would have been for most families. We’re talking of a time when a relatively upmarket Valiant, Holden or Ford could easily add up to a third of the cost of a house, or more.

It was quite literally the second-biggest purchasing decision of their lives for many folk...

For long-term owner Megan Anderson, buying the big VC back in 1980 was as much about practicality as it was indulgence. At the time she needed something affordable that could pull a horse float.

Even so, the then second-hand car had presence. She recalls her first reaction: "Wow, look at all that chrome. It looks so big and flashy!"

- Read Megan's full story here 

Nasser Elskaf

1973 Ford Cortina
Bought new

Nasser’s relationship with his Cortina goes a step further than for most owners: he was actually on the production line when it was built! "I worked for Ford nearly nine years from 1968 to 1977," he explained.

At the time he was in the paint shop and recalls doing a huge amount of overtime putting stripes on GT Falcons.

"I put the order in for the car (a 2.0lt auto with a bench seat up front) and started to watch it as it went down the line. I had a friend in the welding section and he stopped the line and went over every weld. The foreman was very upset, ‘Who bloody well stopped the line?!’

- Read Nassar's full story here

Margaret Stewart

1979 Holden HZ Kingswood
Bought 1983

This car is a classic example of the lifecycle some old vehicles have been through. It’s owned by Margaret Stewart, who is Editor Guido’s partner.

Back in 1983 we were in need of transport. Margaret’s Renault 12 was having last rites read and there was a strong desire to buy something more robust that didn’t require a specialist to fix.

A mate in the used car game steered us toward the Kingswood, a then three-year-old SL 4.2lt V8 auto with 60,000km on the odo. Fine – that will do.

As a young couple with bugger-all cash to spare, we signed a hire-purchase agreement, a copy of which is still in the glove box.

- Read Margaret's full story here

The One That Got Away

1975 Holden HJ Kingswood

Jason reunited the car with grand-daughters of the first owners

The 1975 HJ Kingswood you see here has a back story that will resonate with many people. It was a much-loved family car that somehow got away.

Current owner Jason Todd is a long-term car (and Holden) tragic and takes up the story. "I was looking for another old Holden, either HQ or HJ – Dad preferred an HQ and I prefer the HJ – and this one (a 202 auto) turned up in Port Macquarie.

"The owner wasn’t a car person but he had bought it from the daughter of the original owners. It came with all the ‘pedigree’ stuff, including books and warranty information.

"I thought I’d try to find out more about it – the original warranty said it came from Cowra in NSW." On a longer trip, they took it by the house where it originally lived, to get some photos.

The people who first owned it had an unusual surname and a little further investigative work turned up a member of the family – one of the grand-daughters.

Todd kept in touch and the history gradually came out. It was bought by a couple who were both World War II veterans and it was their first new car. "As children of the Great Depression, they were grateful for what they had and adored the car," said Jason.

"Grandmother would bake it a birthday cake every year, on the date of delivery, and the family came around… it was one of the family."

Jason gets the impression the car was finally let go as it was impossible to decide who in the family should keep it.

The car was bought sight-unseen, in incredibly original shape. "We were very lucky to get it."

Jason arranged to take the Kingswood to Canberra for an All-Holden event in 2020 so the family could be reunited with it. However Covid got in the way.

A new plan was hatched for this year, and we met up for a quick photo with Jason and family members of the original owners, Anneke and Rowena. They were part of a bigger entourage who had met that morning.

Meanwhile Jason has his own long-termer stories to tell. Among other toys in his collection, there is his grandmother’s TE Gemini, which is being restored, and his grandfather’s VN Commodore. We hope to feature both in future editions.

From Unique Cars #478, May 2023

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