Readers Cars

Brett Pitfield's XK Falcon, It's not often you get a chance to buy back your first car after you've sold it, but for some strange reason I have managed to own mine three times !!! The car in question is a 1962 XK Falcon sedan, yellow with a black roof and a really good original car. I managed to scrape up enough money from a part time job at McDonalds to purchase this cruiser from David Gill, and at 15 years of age had my first motor vehicle. Once I got my license the Falcon didn't get a chance to coll down for about three years (except for three years being unlicensed), and was a regular sight cruising around Hobart. This car impressed me so much with it's bad brakes, marshmallow suspension and Ferris Wheel sized tiller that I knew these old things would become an obsession. The old girl was given a few additions with venetian blinds, whitewalls and twin guard arials to add to the classic look. The XK also travelled between Hobart and Launceston for twelve months, as Macca's offered me a good job in Kingsmeadows.

I've got to say that a 170 pursuit motor, 2 speed Fordomatic tranny and 3.5:1 diff ratio isn't the most economical combination, and it seemed as though most of my pay rise was going straight into the petrol tank. With that in mind it was time for a change, and to my dismay, the XK was sold to a guy in Launceston. I ended up buying an XD Fairmont Ghia that would get the trip done in comfort and about half the petrol. I then ended up in Hobart, having left McDonalds with alot of Holiday in my pocket. For some unknown reason I purchased the Trading Post one week, and there it was, The XK up for grabs again. Two days later it was back in my driveway, the XD was soon sold and I was reunited back to a stylish cruiser. The next purchase was a '69 Capri, absolutely stock as a rock. I always liked the shape of the Capri's, but the cash flow was never there to buy a V6. This car soon turned into a Baskerville club day car, and after a few club days I got the taste for going quicker and handling better. Guess what - you need lots of money to do this, so the XK was sold again, this time to Rodney Woolnough. The Capri then turned into a virtual 3J club car, and the car was going a treat. This was fun until I got to the stage of whether stepping up to full race days or leaving it the way it was. My decision was made easier by a female named Jacquie, whom I decided to marry, and subsequently the Capri was sold to finance a house deposit. All this time the XK was being babied (??) by Rod Woolnough, and with the house purchased the opportunity to own the car for the third time arose. So like every husband does, I convinced Jacquie that I needed another toy to play with, and purchased the XK back again. The grey XK was a $200 weapon that I drove home - what a bargain !!!. The XL ute is one that I have just finished - has an original 77850 mile on the clock and is the best chooka I have ever driven.