XP Ford Falcon sedan
When Trevor sold his much-cherished 1965 Ford Falcon in 2003, little did he know that 12 years later it would be back in his tender care
FAMILY HEIRLOOM
In late 1994, my wife Lorraine and I were running the Annual All Ford Day, which we had started back in 1986. The venue for that event was at
Queen Elizabeth II Park, commonly known as QEII Park, site of the 1974 Commonwealth Games.
About a week before the event in
November, Lorraine received a phone call from a lady saying she wished to sell a 1965 Falcon that she had purchased new. When I came home, Lorraine enthusiastically told me about the phone call. I wasn’t all that keen as we already had too many vehicles. But with Lorraine’s encouragement, I went along to see it anyway.
Well, as soon as the lady opened the garage doors, I knew I was going to buy it. Dark metallic blue with two-tone blue vinyl trim, with a cream Americanstyle steering wheel — I just could not believe my eyes! The Falcon was in as new a condition as you could expect
from a 30-year-old car. The owner was Mrs Iama Dzenis, aged in her late 60s, at a guess. Mrs Dzenis had bought the car new in September of 1965 from the Ford agents of North Canterbury, Palmer and Doak. The company’s headquarters were in Rangiora, with branches in Kaiapoi and Amberley.
PART OF THE FAMILY
Iama lived only about a quarter of a mile from the Kaiapoi branch, and she had had the Falcon serviced there for every one of those 30 years. She said the car had always been garaged, in this very garage. She and her husband both worked at the Kaiapoi woollen mill and as they both walked to work, the Falcon was seldom driven during the week, which explained to a degree its almost immaculate condition and the low mileage. Iama had all the original documentation from Palmer and Doak, which, of course, would go with the purchase. We paid her a deposit there and then and carried out the final documentation on 26 January 1995.
We had to make a garage reshuffle at home, so Iama kindly agreed to house the Falcon for several months. In December of that year, I brought my second granddaughter, Sophie, home from the maternity hospital in the car.
We used the car on several classic and Vintage Car Club (VCC) outings over the following few years, and during a lunch break on one such occasion, I gave my first granddaughter, Niki, her first driving lesson. The car is fitted with the Borgwarner 35 Fordomatic transmission, so it was easy for her to learn to drive in it. Niki was only aged 12 or 13 at the time and was navigating for me on the day.
I think the first non-vcc rally we entered the Falcon in was the first National Classic Rally in February of 1995, sponsored by the Automobile Association (AA). This event was based in Christchurch and arranged by Colin Hey, also organizer of the Canterbury All British Day, which he established in 1988.
RALLY CAR
We had terrific fun at that rally, in both the motoring and social aspects, and it inspired us to enter the
Alpine Classic, which was sponsored by Mobil Oil and held over three days in October ’95. In October 1996, we entered the Mobil Classic Marathon, travelling around the south of the South Island over about 10 days. This was one of the most enjoyable outings we experienced over the nine years of our first ownership. On the final day, all participants drove a few laps of Ruapuna Park (now Mike Pero International Raceway, Ruapuna) at our own chosen pace. I was astonished at how quick the Falcon lapped when pushed hard — and so were the other drivers! Just don’t tell Mrs Dzenis.
We participated in many other classic rallies during our first years of ownership, including the National South Island Easter Rally, the Lord Nelson Classic, and the Waimate 50 weekend, organized by the Classic Motoring Society. I remember that one well because we got the opportunity to drive around the Waimate 50 street racing circuit. Oh, what fun! Unfortunately, we didn’t keep
She and her husband … both walked to work, [so] the Falcon was seldom driven
a close and detailed diary on these and the memories have faded, I’m afraid.
RESTORING THE SHINE
The only disappointment with the car was the paintwork. I found that the 30-year-old paint would not hold its shine for more than about two days after being polished. In about the year 2001, I reluctantly took the bull by its horns and completely stripped the body down to almost a bare shell, leaving only the hoodlining and rear window in place. I paintstripped the entire body back to bare steel and had it repainted professionally, keeping to the original colour, of course.
While this was being done, I machine-polished all of the stainless steel. I also had the bumpers rechromed, not that they were at all rusty, just a bit scratchy, probably from being dusted dry.
As I was preparing the body for the repaint, I removed the front-guardmounted chrome rear-vision mirrors, as I do not like them and they are pretty well useless. I also removed the aftermarket back-up lights and the splash guards, all three extras fitted by Palmer and Doak before delivery. We presumed Mrs Dzenis requested these. To us, they looked out of place and we wanted the Falcon to look as it would have in a Ford showroom in Australia or New Zealand in 1965. But we have fitted other extras as offered by the Ford dealers when new — the rear window venetians, a Ford AM push-button radio, and the chrome mesh headlight protectors, and more recently, the personalized plates. We have an original sales brochure showing all the optional extras that could be purchased and fitted by the Ford retailer. The sales brochures always show the ’65–’66 XP Deluxe, Futura, and Fairmont models with whitewall tyres as a standard fitting, so we presume our car had them when sold new by Palmer and Doak in Rangiora.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days, but I do recall taking Mrs Dzenis for a nostalgic ride in the Falcon after I had refurbished it in late 2001 or 2002. She rode in the front seat, and I drove her out to the picturesque villages of Ohoka and Fernside. I recall her saying that her late husband Sten would be very pleased to know that their car has gone to a very caring owner. That’s one little trip I will remember forever … I hope!
CLOSE CONNECTION
I do have a clear memory of a day in 2003 when the Ford Motor Company celebrated worldwide 100 years of Ford. Close to 400 Fords were arranged and on show at Dudley Park in Rangiora, about a quarter of a mile from Palmer and Doak’s former showroom.
Retired Palmer and Doak staff arranged a big blue canopy to be erected over many of the Fords that they had sold new. And it’s amazing just how many are still in North Canterbury.
Lorraine and I had photocopied the original sales invoice and other documentation, and were taping them to the inside of the passengerside rear-door glass, when I noticed a gentleman watching what I was doing. He said, “I sold this car new. There’s my signature there,” pointing to the ‘salesman’ signature. ‘Harold Heasley’, it read. I turned around to look at him in astonishment, and sure enough, there he was, the Harold Heasley. Harold was the 1959/’60 New Zealand saloon car champion. Not driving a Ford, though. He had raced a MKI, and later MKII Ford Consuls, but won the championship in a Humber 80! I’m sorry to report Harold passed away in August 2011. I would now have liked to have chatted to him about his career
We wanted the Falcon to look as it would have in a Ford showroom in Australia or New Zealand in 1965
with Palmer and Doak and his memories of these X-series Falcons — the lesson here is not to put planned things off! SHARING THE LOVE
I don’t know why really, but I sold the Falcon in October of 2003. At that stage the mileage was 44,852. It was purchased by Alan and Glenda Mcneil, who were living in Invercargill at the time. I asked Alan if he ever sold it to please give me first option. The Mcneils later moved up to Palmerston (South). I had also moved to Amberley in North Canterbury, owing to our house in Avondale, Christchurch being wrecked by the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Our land was declared part of the Red Zone, which meant we were not permitted to rebuild there. Because of these factors, Alan and I lost contact.
The Falcon was offered for sale on Trade Me, in November 2015. I had not noticed the ad, but, fortunately for me, a few weeks earlier while a friend was showing me his 1965 Valiant Regal V8, I had mentioned that of all the cars I had owned — and that’s probably over 100, including 42 Fords — the one I would like back the most was my XP Falcon. The day after it came up on Trade Me, Steve phoned to tell me the news. To cut a long story short, I phoned Alan and we came to an agreement. I purchased the Falcon back on 4 December 2015. Alan even delivered it to me in Amberley. I paid $12K more for it than the sale price we agreed on 12 years earlier — that’s $1K per year appreciation, but, as Alan said before he departed, “Look at it this way, Trevor. I’ve housed it for you for $20 a week.” Fair enough.
While it was in Alan’s care, he maintained the car very well. During the latter part of 2011, he removed and disassembled the entire front suspension and, after giving it a thorough cleaning, resprayed all parts in a semi-gloss black. He replaced the bottom ball joints and sway-arm bushes. He fitted all new wheel cylinders, brake shoes, and flexible brake pipes. He removed the differential and gave it similar treatment, including replacing the oil seal. Latterly, Alan also replaced the tappet-cover gasket, fitted a new carburettor kit, and the bonnetto-firewall rubber seal. The radiator was reconditioned, which included the removal of the top and bottom tanks,
and he replaced all the engine water pipe nipples and thermostat.
BETTER AND BETTER
Mileage at time of writing is 48,343. Since it has been back in our ownership, I have just pottered around detailing here and there. The boot area on any vehicle manufactured prior to, say, the past two decades, is never very flash or detailed. The spare wheel, for instance, is mounted vertically on the left-hand side of the XP Falcon. It looks very untidy, as such, so I had Andrew Stewart, a retired motor trimmer in Rangiora, make up a mid-blue vinyl cover for it. Yes, I know that takes away the car’s originality, but I don’t mind improving little areas like this. The boot mat is still in remarkably good condition. Not perfect, but that’s the way it will stay. Not black, as one would expect, but in a nice tan colour. Another wee improvement I have made in the boot area is to the inside of the rear guards, which is not a tidy sight. I made-up hardwood patterns to cover this area, and the same applied to the back of the back seat. I then had these covered in thin sponge, followed by a layer of the same mid-blue vinyl.
In October 2016, I fitted a new set of tyres. They have a narrow whitewall. I would have preferred a wider whitewall, but that was all I could find in 13 inches.
The ’65 XP Futura was fitted with 14inch wheels and disc front brakes. I find the drum brakes to be the weakest part of the car, and I would dearly like to fit disc brakes up front, but that would mean giving up the original 13-inch wheels, chrome bands, and hub caps.
The car was a small but great part of my life the first time around, playing a part in some significant life events, so it has family history and ties in many ways. All going well, she will stay in the family. Maybe other generations will drive her in classic rallies too, such as the North Canterbury Classic Tour in March and the Christmas Picnic Outing in November that we are pleased to organize. First Niki, and then Sophie, have helped us plan our rallies since they were aged 10, and Niki now has a son of her own, Alfie, aged three.
EXTRA TEMPTATION
When I was in my teens, I loved fitting extras to my vehicles. The first was a 1928 Essex. This vintage car did not really suit extras, but I was not to be denied, I was only 15 at the time. Then came a 1935 Ford V8 five-window coupé. This totally original car, black with apple-green wire wheels and factory pinstriping, was just too good and original to ‘bodgie-up’.
My third car was not. It was a 1939 Ford V8 coupé, black also, but far from original. During my ownership of about a year, I painted the sides in a handmixed shade of light pink. Fitted with twin straight pipes, man, she sounded grouse. Then I went berserk with extras. Far too many to list here, but she looked the cat’s pyjamas. Lorraine, at the age of 15, wore a pink-and-black skirt–and– blouse combination whenever we went for a Sunday drive, matching the ’39 coupé perfectly.
I still have a box of those 1950s and ’60s extras, but I have resisted fitting any of them to the ’65 Falcon — so far. I was sensible enough at 16 not to plaster the ’35 coupé, so surely I can hold off in my late 70s? I’m doing my best.