Classic HK Holden primed for American Graffiti, Cars and Coffee
MANY blokes are looking to relive their youth, and Leslie O’brien has put plenty of effort into doing just that. But restoring his HK Holden hasn’t been an isolated or selfish hobby.
When he goes for a cruise around the streets these days it’s with the whole family – his wife Julie and daughters Elsie and Eleanor all love the HK.
There’s plenty of other family history involved in this particular car, too.
“It was my dad’s, he gave it to me in about 1991 and I learnt how to drive in it around the paddock, (with its) three on the tree gears, banjo diff, and drum brakes,” Mr O’brien told Dubbo Photo News. “It’s got a 186 in it now.
“It sat out in the paddock halfway to Narromine since the year 2000, then I dragged it into town three years ago and restored it,” he said.
Like many who’ve become part of the city’s burgeoning restoration movement, Mr O’brien doesn’t like missing a Cars and Coffee event and said rolling up in this Australian classic really does take him back in time.
“If I sit in the front I’m 14 again and if I sit in the back I’m eight years old,” he said.
Dubbo’s Cars and Coffee returned for 2019 recently after a summer break. Next, it will be partnering with the Westview Drive-in Dubbo to screen the all-time classic car movie “American Graffiti” on Saturday, March 2.
Tickets for the Drive-in are on sale now from 123tix.com.au.
Cars and Coffee is hoping the venue will be packed with pre-1985 Classic, Custom, Street machine or Hot Rod vehicles, and the regular Cars and Coffee will be staged the following Sunday morning at Victoria Park.