rehctub,

The F100 was a iconic light truck in the country. We were running out of parts/panels though.

Along with the other US makers, things seemed to change when they had to put all of that environmental gear on the new light utes and trucks. The auto electrical and mechanical workshops we have used for years have nothing good to say about the US imports.

One thing for sure with that Maloo, you will always have a police escort and police stoppages to make sure you are quite OK. Always carry a flask of coffee for the wait and cups to offer them a brew as well.

Hi there YUYUTSU...

I suspect you're a bit of a traditionalist my friend, with your love of cars of that era ? And by the sound of it, you like to drive your car too, without all the 'bits 'n bobs' that my recently purchased (2014) VW Golf has ! You know, every time I stop at traffic lights the @&%$# engine stops ! Why, ostensibly to conserve fuel I suppose ? Soon I'll need to replace the starter motor the way things are going, and I never use the reversing camera, and I switch off all the audible warning noises that tell me I'm too close to this or that ? In fact my wife prefers to drive it rather than I, we still have our older Golf (2004 mod) which I much prefer to drive YUYUTSU, thanks mate.

G'day there ONTHEBEACH...

Lucas 'the Prince of darkness' for sure ! Well I'll be buggered, speaking of MGA's and Mini's - it was you, who all the girls used to refer too as, 'passion pants' eh ? No wonder this poor junior constable never had a chance trying to latch on to any decent 'birds' with you and your fancy MGA 'hooning' around all the beaches with your hair, into the breeze !

Seriously though you're right when you remarked about the standard of many of the local mechanics not having very much understanding on correctly servicing or repairing European vehicles though ? Actually I don't think a lot has changed even in these modern times ? They tend to hook your cars engine up to some diagnostic machine that tells them precisely what's wrong and how to fix it ?

We had LandCruisers at work and they were marvellous to drive and could take a real beating too. As you can imagine with everyone and his dog driving them, they sure copped a hammering as I said, but they handled it very well indeed. Thank you my friend.

I hear you onthebeach, I used to be the one pulled over almost every time while driving a 911, it goes with the territory.

My F truck was an American 150 import, a great truck had it for 13 years. That's a record for me, lost in a fire.

Ohh, Didn't think Rechtub would be a dinosaur driver !

Hi there HASBEEN...

I forgot you have a pretty extensive racing background haven't you ? Hence the TR7, though your little '34 Morris 8/40 sidevalve tourer, would get you and your other five aviators from Uranquinty to your downtown pub in Wagga, in the day ? Nevertheless we had great times in those days, when our lives were so carefully regulated, yours by the Navy, and mine by the Army. I don't believe I was ever fitter, nor happier during my time at the Army Recruit Training Bn. Kapooka !

And there's nothing wrong with the old Capri's either, fully mfg'd. in England, weren't they HASBEEN ? Boy I've done a zillion miles in BUTCH'S F100 & F150's, which were used as our coppers Paddy wagons for years and years, and still are I believe ? The donk's were absolutely bullet proof, as was the many Departmental Falcons we used as well.

Interestingly, the floor in the front passenger side of my Wolseley, was completely buggered, similar to your old Morris as well. Worse though, it permitted the fumes from the engine 'breather' outlet to circulate through the entire passenger cabin, which was pretty horrible I can tell you as well as being quite risky into the bargain. Besides whenever you took a bird out, she was nearly gassed by the damn fumes, so something needed to be done and quickly ?

The problem being, the rings and bearings were completely shot, and I was only on Army recruit pay at the time, I simply couldn't afford to have them done, even though I could've removed and refitted the engine afterwards with a bit of help. Thus reducing the labour costs significantly. Ah they were the days I reckon. I should've issued each 'bird' I took out, with an approved respirator and made up some exotic story of training for special forces duty or something. Trouble is, they all knew I was only 17 years of age, and would've thought me a bigger 'wacker and pretender' then I was ! See you later mate!

'evening to you REHCTUB...

Your choice of the Ford F100's and 150's was pretty sound I believe ? They were capable of doing 500,000 clicks without ever doing a thing to them, and dependable with a capital D too I reckon ? Your Ford Ranger Ute would give you pretty good service too, notwithstanding it's pretty much a pedestrian style of vehicle.

Your Porsche 911 is a car I've always had a hankering for, but unfortunately I've not yet driven one ? A Doctor friend I know has had a couple of new 911's in recent times, and has offered me a drive ? No, it's too risky to drive such a M/V particular when it's the property of a friend. Murphy's law and all that ?

I must admit BUTCH, I don't know much about the 'Maloo' other than it has a somewhat robust 6.2 lt power plant aboard ? It'll probably do nought to a Hundred in about 5 seconds or something ? My old Wolseley would do nought to a hundred, in about 45 minutes if the wind was favorable ? Such a contrast eh BUTCH ?

ONTHEBEACH reckons you would need to be very hospitable to the coppers, whenever you chose to drive your Maloo or 911 ? I'd respectfully suggest they never be able to catch you in either vehicle, if you chose to 'floor it' eh BUTCH ? Thanks for your contribution, I certainly appreciate it.