Peter is a “photographic observer” who is living in Australia. Today’s collection of photographs from Peter are some very interesting Bits and Pieces of photos that he has taken in Australia. I like that we get to see how Peter shares his views and photos of the hobby in Australia.
I thought that this is a good place to add a some more back ground facts about Peter.
Peter wrote that Veterans Day in the US is known as Remembrance Day in Australia. It honors those from WWI 1914 up to modern times.
Peter was aboard the USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) from 1964 – 1967. In 1958 the USS Enterprise was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth United States naval vessel to bear name Enterprise. Peter served two tours in Tonkin Gulf / Rolling Thunder ( a bombing campaign) from 1965- 67.
Peter is in front of his father’s house on N. Maria Ave. Redondo Beach, CA in 1963. The 1959 Chevy Impala was his sisters car. He commented that it was a great car to drive, it had everything including power windows.
The flight deck shows a full row of “gun planes” A4 Skyhawks of which some took quite a beating, but made it home!
Here is Peter sitting in the ships control room taking GYRO readings rating IC 3. The IC 3 stands for three axis of rotation roll, pitch, and yaw. In the past, gyros have been used for space navigation. My 1999 Corvette was the first car that I had that had three axis of rotation of help self correct the cars direction if and when you got into trouble!
This 1969 Javelin visited Peter is one of the rare cars manufactured in the USA by American Motors Corporation (AMC), were imported in CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kit form and assembled Port Melbourne plant, Victoria by Australian Motor Industries (AMI), in right hand drive form. Peter was told by the owner that this is 1 of 50 cars built in 1969. The identification plate suggests that the car was built in 2-69 (February 1969) and the body number J9-036 suggests that this is the 36th of the 50. According to Australianjavelins.com they were sold in Australia under the Rambler brand and were the only American muscle cars of that era to be sold new in Australia. To give you an idea of how rare these cars are these are the generally accepted Javelin production build numbers: 1968 – 90, 1969 – 50, 1970 – 70, 1971 – none, and 1972 – 48. What should have been a competitor in the muscle car market failed due to excessive pricing. At $7495 the Javelin was nearly double the price of the Holden Monaro GTS 327 at $3790 in 1968.
It is finished in Signal Red. with a black interior. It is powered by a 280 hp, 343 cu in. V8 engine, with a Carter AFB 4 barrel carburetor mated to a three speed “Shift Command” automatic transmission and 2.87:1 gear ratio “Twin Grip” limited slip differential. Stopping this muscle car are powered disc in the front and drum in the rear. The front suspension is direct action independent front suspension and the rear suspension 4-link trailing arms. The published top speed of 120 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 8.1 seconds.
Peter took this group of Javelin photos below in Brisbane, QLD (Queensland) in the 1990s. The wreck car had West Australian plates so he knew this Javelin would not be returning to W. A. any time soon..
Peter, thought maybe the Javelin on the cover on the Modern Motor magazine back then was the same car as the car that just recently visited him. As I took a closer look the car on the magazine cover magazine is a 1968 and the car that visited Peter is a 1969.
Peter took these photos of this 1953 Hudson Hornet a few years back and is one of four LHD Hudson Hornets know to have been imported compared to an unknown number of LHD Hudson Jet and Super Jet. The price spread between a Hornet and Jet and Super Jet at the time was what kept the Hornet import numbers down.
Peter was contacted by the owner the Hudson to see if I would take more up-to-date photos as they are preparing the car for sale. As it was Peter had no interior or engine bay shots so he was happy to accommodate them and document the history that became available at the same time. It looks like it spent some time in a Reno, NV museum before going to Australia.
I found the car for sale on Cars Guide Market place for the asking price of $89,950.00. Both Peter and I thought this is a great car but the asking price a bit optimistic, I have to admit that I am not aware of the Australian car market pricing.
As you can see Peter is in the photo with the sellers of the Hudson. Peter is wearing a Frank’s Cars in the Hood T-shirt as thanks for contributing to the Blog with our “Bits and Pieces from Peter in Australia” articles.
Below are a few of the new photos that Peter took for the owners.
Peter and I want to thank you for riding along and hope that you enjoyed this latest grouping of “Bits and Pieces from Peter in Australia”. Frank