1966 XP "CUSTOM" PANELVAN

I SAW this neglected car, a guy had it sitting in a shed in Melton, Victoria. I said to a mate of mine if he wants to sell it at some stage let me know. About two years later, he rang me up and said it’s for sale, so I bought it. The 170 six-cylinder in it was seized, complemented by a bird's nest on the battery tray.

It technically started life as an XP (1966 build). When I got it, there was damage to the radiator support which needed to be replaced. That gave me the opportunity to change the front clip completely, so I went with what I liked – the ‘round’ earlier XL ( ’63 build ) front end. It has had a full rotisserie rebuild and coach works completed by Waddington’s. In the end it was about nine months of sheet metal work..

The car is built to be a cruiser, so it has RRS Suspension front and rear, a three-link power rack, disc brakes and coil overs all around. The motor is a mild 302 with a 351 Cam and a 600 Holley.

I liked the fact that it was built on the station wagon lines. It’s not on the platform, but its got that roof line. Because every year after the XP everything went up high on the roof line, and all the Holdens were up high on the roofline right from the very beginning. So I liked the fact that it looked like a station wagon but it was a panel van, actually its called a sedan delivery.

The only future plans are to keep it, continue to drive it and enjoy it. It has been accepted into Motor Ex this year which is great.