Aussie cars rubbish

[Giffo]

Then ignition key on my HQ fitted my mates HK Holden. One night as a joke my mates and I stole his car and parked it outside he local cop shop. He got a parking ticket. This was in the late seventies early eighties.
He still does not know to this day. Maybe I should tell him since I am 3000 kms away!!!

 

[StephenSLR]

Then ignition key on my HQ fitted my mates HK Holden.

I remember going to an NRMA site visit with uni where they did the pendulum crash testing; the guy that invented the rig was a former UTS student.  He went on to show us implements used by thieves, screw drivers, broken club locks, etc., then he holds up a whole bunch of keys on a keyring saying these'll open any Ford; Falcon key opens all Falcons, Laser key opens all Lasers, etc.

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[GLENN 70]

The early falcons were easy to start with a worn key ,you had to jiggle its around it that would start most other falcons ,then the auto tran stick would do the same thing . You could do this up to ED I think it was then ford changed the type of key .  Also in the early models they did not have to many key combos and you had a good chance of getting into and starting another car .  Holden and chev were even worse .

[StephenSLR]

Holden and chev were even worse .

I recall a screwdriver was the tool of choice for Holden thieves, a key for Ford thieves.

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[malscar]

I still have a copy of my Escort keys. Mine would open any other escort doors and boots etc. Would not start them though.

[StephenSLR]

I still have a copy of my Escort keys. Mine would open any other escort doors and boots etc. Would not start them though.

That was common, they must've built the ignition barrels with better quality pins.

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[shaunp]

I remember all those cars . The commodore 2 door had ford front blinkers still with ford stamped on the plastic .  And I saw the 1st Giocattolo being build back in the day . Then I nearly bought a Bolwell Nagari convertible with a 351c  GT engine and top loader box , it was red and flew . It was in the beginning of the show Torque I think it was called ,and Peter Wherrett  Drove it down a hill in the start of every show . I was $1500 short to buy it . Bugger

An old guy in Wynnum has all the body molds for the Giocattolos and a Giocattolo he has had since new. He was Mates of Des Porter from Des Porter automotive, he died a couple of years back when he crashed the De havilland plane he restored killed himself, wife and 2 other couples.

[peter9231]

An old guy in Wynnum has all the body molds for the Giocattolos and a Giocattolo he has had since new. He was Mates of Des Porter from Des Porter automotive, he died a couple of years back when he crashed the De havilland plane he restored killed himself, wife and 2 other couples.

Wonder if the Giocattolo still has the bottle of Bundy and shot glasses in the factory tool kit?

[GLENN 70]

Do you guys remember the twin turbo giocottolo  running straight into the barrier at eastern creek race way    they were doing speed runs the wrong way down the track and if your brake failed you died .was about 10 years ago . Todd Wilkes was his name .

[walbjj]

Do you guys remember the twin turbo giocottolo  running straight into the barrier at eastern creek race way    they were doing speed runs the wrong way down the track and if your brake failed you died .was about 10 years ago . Todd Wilkes was his name .

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/19/1082357114220.html?from=storyrhs

i remember this. didnt they call the event "terminal velocity"

[peter9231]

Do you guys remember the twin turbo giocottolo  running straight into the barrier at eastern creek race way    they were doing speed runs the wrong way down the track and if your brake failed you died .was about 10 years ago . Todd Wilkes was his name .

He died didn't he and only in his early 20s
Yellow car from memory and burnt to nothing.

[GLENN 70]

Yep he died and think he was late 20s maybe 29 I think . A mate of mine built the engine and then got the wreck ,think it still sites in his back yard . What a mess .

[StephenSLR]

Yellow car from memory and burnt to nothing.

Gee time flies; I was thinking there's no way it was 10 years ago; looked it up; it was 14 years ago.

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[GLENN 70]

I will never forget watching the crash on the news ,it was total bullshit the way they were racing . When I saw the car at my mates place my heart stopped I reckon .

[George]

I dont agree that holdens a better made car. I got friends that had them, all they get is oil leaks and break down. They last for 250,000km then you can get rid of them pretty much. Falcons go to a million km's reliably. There is a reason all taxis use them.

But meh, either way both are caput.

[peter9231]

Here is a link to the news footage.
Be warned it shows the crash...not good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K4ZGVvNtag

[GLENN 70]

Wow I haven't seen that for many many years .

[mustang_talk]

That was really sad. Sent a shiver down my spine...

[MACH_ONE]

I could not disagree anymore with this our cars are great yes some have there faults but no more than any other country and no more than any other car manufacture.

[StephenSLR]

I could not disagree anymore with this our cars are great yes some have there faults but no more than any other country and no more than any other car manufacture.

We've had both good and bad cars but technology wise we were always behind the 8-ball; copying more so than innovating. US & Euro cars all has power steering, air conditioning, power features long before we did.  I guess you get what you pay for too.  We were starting to make some inroads with regards to technology and then .... KerPlunk!

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