An emerald green VW, 1959 model, bought second-hand in 1964 in Melbourne, when I was a student at Monash (after I'd learnt to drive practising on boyfriend's Citroen Goddess). I can't remember how much it cost.

The VW made it overland to the head of the Murray River (actually the Indi) near the remains of a crashed DC3. I also remember driving from Adelaide to Canberra in 40 plus heat - we had to tie the rear engine cover open to cool the engine!

I kept it till 1971, then handed it on to my mother-in-law in Canberra, and she passed it on to a student. At a conference in Canberra in the early 1990s, a young man introduced himself - he was the current owner of the green VW. Alas I don't know what its final fate was, but I like to think it's still ferrying students around somewhere.

Dear o sung wu,

Sorry, I gave the wrong Pontiac name earlier.

My husband has just corrected me as to what it
was. It was a Pontiac Le Mans. And I drove it
all over the place in Los Angeles.

Thank You for your kind words. I'm not sure if I fit
into the "bohemian" description. I am a bit of a dreamer.
Except that I dream of rather strange things like a
month in Italy, season tickets to the opera,
a book I've been dying to read, and the time
to read it. Even as a child I loved playing "fantasy"
games. One day I hope to drive all over this great
country of ours in my two-door sports - until then ... (sigh).

Hi Lexi,

I had you pinged for a Nissan Micra, gorgeous cars to drive. I drove my dad's around for years until i had to pass it over to one of my kids (sigh)

Love,

Joe

Good evening BELLY; LEXI & COSSOMBY...

COSSOMBY, your little green VW would last an eternity I reckon, regardless of how many owners have had it. Keep the good oil in her, give her the basic services, and she'll go forever. I've owned a beetle in my life time, 2nd hand of course, and they're a marvellous reliable little car, that'll last and last and last ! To my knowledge, there's never been a movie made, that outnumbers the many appearances of that, of the humble VW beetle ! An absolute legendary classic, in my opinion !

BELLY, you're rather quiet on this particular topic ol' man ? I sincerely hope your OK ? I reckon in your lifetime and job experience, you would've had many interesting cars or M/V, incl. light trucks, (Utes) and Motor Cycles in your time ? Back in the late fifties and early sixties, times were much better, and more predictable I believe ? And that applied to our cars ? There was a certain inevitability about everything then ? What do you think BELLY old man ? They say we should NOT continually reflect back upon our previous life experiences. Because it's not good for our mental health apparently ?

And Dear LEXI, I think I can almost evoke a vision of you and your dear husband, roaming around Australia in some classic and, ever so elegant, two seater 'Morgan' or similar ? With a powerful alloy V8 set up in her ? Wind flowing through your hair as you cruise along the by-ways and highways of Aussie. A beautiful hand built British marque with no two 'Morgans' built exactly the same. Not quite the same as a Pontiac Le Mans, but a terrific little two seater, without doubt !

Please excuse me. My eyes are very tired, thus this becomes quite blurred.

My first was a 1949 #000013 off the line Holden sedan, black in color and quicker on the getaway than the Parramatta police in their bike and sidecar. Cost me fifty pound and I finished up using it for rolls at the WQestmead stock car track.
Someone told me that today it would be worth aroung $50,000.

1966 EH Holden, light blue ,column shift cost me $700 cash in 1972,I'd been in Australia for 2 yrs and just moved to Adelaide from W.A. and the folks I was sharing a house with recommended a Holden so I went with it even tho' I didn't have a license at the time, I learned to drive in that car and as I worked in a service station ( a proper one, where I'd wash the customers cars windscreen, check oil, water, tyres etc) the mechanics taught me how to look after my car and troubleshoot problems before they got bad etc and as a 22yr old female became quite popular with the guys 'cos I could do 'car talk', lol!, don't make 'em like that anymore, I drive a '96 VS Commodore nowadays and she's immaculate with driver and passenger side windshields,sheepskin seat covers, mags and only got 165,000 on the clock ,reckon she'll see me out,hubby calls it his car but it's MINE!!