At what point does the humble family car transform from a simple means of transport into a member of the family?
For some people, the relationship and attachment starts early, as the car becomes part of their identity – something they slaved for to find the funds, or has become part of the major events in their lives.
That includes the first time they drove a car, the first time they made love, the time they got married or brought a newborn child home from hospital. Maybe it’s something you built from bits and brought new life to.
Sometimes the bond occurs simply because no one worked up the motivation to sell the thing as it gradually wormed its way into their hearts.
We suspect it can be a combination of all those things and more. So we decided to track down a few stories of cars that had been in the same hands for 40 years or more. In one case we only had to walk as far as the back shed…
Megan Anderson
1966 VALIANT VC
BOUGHT 1980
IF YOU look back at what was available in Australian showrooms back in 1966, you’d understand what a big purchase a car like this would have been for most families. We’re talking of a time when a relatively upmarket Valiant, Holden or Ford could easily add up to a third of the cost of a house, or more.
It was quite literally the second-biggest purchasing decision of their lives for many folk.
This story is from the Issue 478 edition of Unique Cars.
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This story is from the Issue 478 edition of Unique Cars.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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