James Kent's '63 EJ Special
We always had Holdens when I was a kid. Dad passed away and us kids were left with $22,000. I decided – don’t know why – I had to have an EJ. It had to be automatic, had to be green, and it had to be the basic model in unmolested condition. It took me five years to find it.
We were on holidays in NSW and, on the second of January, I went online and found it. After talking to the owner, I said to the wife, “Sorry, I’ve got to go home!” So I packed up, flew back to Melbourne, drove out to Frankston and bought the car.
The wife wasn’t too happy. She finished the holiday and I stayed at home and polished the car. That was five years ago.
It’s unrestored. There are a few marks on it, and there are a few rust spots in the chrome, but that’s okay.
What do I like about driving it? Not much. You’ve just got to keep both hands on the steering wheel – it’s like a boat and tends to float. No, they’re enjoyable to drive and they all float around like that. They’re not so good on hot days, with the vinyl seats. But the rest of the time they’re a lot of fun.
Valuation guide: These are bringing $25k and beyond.