OUR PICKS

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE ASYLUM, WE’VE ASKED THE UNIQUE CARS CREW WHAT THEY WOULD SPEND THEIR HARD-EARNED ON

MY PICK

here is a car that I’ve been guilty of overlooking for decades; the ZG Fairlane. To be honest, I haven’t had much to do with them and reckon the last one I actually sat in was the property of the deadshit father of my girlfriend at the time. So, we’re talking the 1980s, a period in time when the ZG was yesterday’s Fairlane, cheap to buy and, therefore, prime deadshit-bait.

Around the same time, my little bruvver had a HQ Statesman (similar buyer profile, obviously) which couldn’t get near the ZG for interior plushness. I could also never truly get my head around that l-o-n-g tail of the Holden, while the Ford was, to my eyes, a much better balanced piece of work. That said, I seem to remember the Ford copping its share of flak back in the day for looking too much like an XA Falcon with a thyroid problem. But since I reckon the XA was one of the better looking Falcons anyway, I don’t have a problem with that.

And there’s one other good reason to choose the Henry: Holden never offered a 351 Clevo backed up by an FMX tranny. I guess if I had my choice, I’d wind up with the LTD version with those shuttered headlights and centre-console switchgear that looked like a cluster of little gearsticks. Make it black with a black vinyl roof and white trim. Yeah, I’d drive that.

HOW MANY

nonnos/zios/ pappous/theios would be looking at this feature and thinking in amazement that we finally are appreciating the Aussie luxury cars they owned with pride.

As much as I love Fords I have never been attracted to the bulging styling that was on offer during the era, but when it comes to the GM offerings you have me converted.

The HX Statesman is getting better with age in my eyes, the Cadillac styled crests and a well proportioned body that is manageble to own and park make this one stylish vehicle. Once a common sight, when was the last time you saw one?

My ultimate pick though is the HDT enhanced Magnum, these cars are stuck in between two decades where simulated woodgrain meets plastic. Subtle body colour coding, unique alloys (if ordered) and the additional HDT cosmetic touches and under bonnet enhancements make me really consider potential ownership.

With every other local Holden associated with HDT soaring in value I think the Magnum would be a solid investment you can enjoy.

TOO MANY

choices – that’s the real problem. In an ideal world I’d have a warehouse devoted to a fleet of Australianmade land yachts, maybe headlined by the P5 LTD you see here, complete with the powered headlight covers. How many of those are out there?

I reckon you have to drive these things to full appreciate them, and there’s no better example of this than the Magnum feature car I drove for the first time just the other day. It was truly impressive.

To get a big brute like a WB Statesman to handle halfway decently, without riding like a dray, is quite an achievment. And to have what was then the premium engine tuning for the 5.0lt V8 in the snout was a real bonus. If I owned one now, it wouldn’t be gathering dust in the shed – it would be used.

The other toy that gets the proverbial juices flowing is the Ford Landau. Would have one in a heartbeat. Yes I know they’re a clumsy thing that’s allegedly all power and bad manners, which is half of its charm.

Its massive brutish looks and the fact it’s hiding a 351 and a nine-inch under that luxo exterior just has huge appeal.

As for the interior, Higgins has likened it to a bordello, which is a little harsh. However I reckon the bordello look is making a comeback...