Chasing a twelve year dream
Donation protected
"It’s what non-car people don’t get. They see all cars as just a ton and a half, two tons of wires, glass, metal, and rubber, and that’s all they see. People like you or I know we have an unshakable belief that cars are living entities… You can develop a relationship with a car and that’s what non-car people don’t get… When something has foibles and won’t handle properly, that gives it a particularly human quality because it makes mistakes, and that’s how you can build a relationship with a car that other people won’t get."
- Jeremy Clarkson
The photo of the little boy in front of the orange station wagon is me in 1989 or 1990, four years old. That was my father's XB Fairmont wagon parked in the backyard at my parent's place.
In 2004, at the age of 18, I bought myself a 1975 XB Fairmont sedan for $1,500 out of the Trading Post and made it my daily driver. As silly as it may sound to some people, I developed a pretty close bond with that car. Almost like an odd sort of friendship.
I was a shy sort of kid, never had much confidence, bit of an introvert. But that car gave me a sense of pride, something to pump my chest about.
When I bought it, I didn't tell my old man about it for almost two months, kept it a complete secret while I worked on getting it roadworthy. The day after I got it registered I drove the two hours to visit him and threw him the keys as I walked inside. By the time I came outside a couple of minutes later he had all four doors open, the boot and bonnet up, engine running, and he had a look of genuine excitement on his face. That moment will live with me forever, I was so proud.
A couple of years later the engine died and I decided to take it as an opportunity to restore her to her former glory. She had a lot of rust, general wear, the paint was a little bit faded. She deserved better.
To this day, that restoration is still incomplete. I wanted to do it all myself. I was young and enthusiastic, but completely clueless. I wasn't sure where to start, didn't have the skills or the knowledge, the old Fairmont gathered dust and that was that.
The last two and a half years have progressed better. The body work/rust repair is probably 80-85% done. I had a lot done at a restoration shop, did a bit myself, the rest is outside of my ability and needs to be done by a professional. Then there's paint, bringing her back to her gorgeous original 'Deep Aqua.'
Engine and gearbox, all the moving bits. The tired old original engine has been pulled apart and I've bought most of the bits to freshen her up, but she needs an engine shop to take care of the precision work and re-assembling so that she should last another 40 years.
All the interior. Seats, carpet, door trims, dash, etc. It all costs money. Money I haven't been able to put towards this love of mine recently as my fiancé and I have two young daughters who obviously take priority.
I'm engaged to marry a beautiful woman whom I love very much. Much to her possible (I'm too scared to ask) displeasure, this car is my 'Save The Date.' Over the twelve years I have owned this car, I've stated I'd have it finished in time to take my little sister to her Debutante Ball, her Year 12 Graduation, I'd have it ready by her 21st, to bring my first-born home from the hospital, the list goes on. I'm running out of major events to have this car ready for, if it's not the car I arrive in at our wedding, it's just another dream unfulfilled, another goal missed.
I want my girls to see me as someone who does what he says he will do, who follows through on things and gets them done. I don't want to keep putting it off because I can't afford or justify spending the money on this car and have it be just some project I never finished. I want to find a way to make it happen. I want my kids to grow up in this old classic ride, just as I grew up in my dad's. I want to get this wedding date back on track. I've never been one to just put his hand out and ask for help, I feel a bit uncomfortable just putting this out there. But in the hopes of finding some way - any way - to make this happen and chase this dream I've had for as long as I can remember (and replicate my childhood photo by getting my daughter to wash her dad's XB in the driveway out the back of mum's place when she turns four), I've got my fingers and toes crossed that this might just work.
Here's hoping, anyway.
If you've read this far, I sincerely thank you for your time.
- Jeremy Clarkson
The photo of the little boy in front of the orange station wagon is me in 1989 or 1990, four years old. That was my father's XB Fairmont wagon parked in the backyard at my parent's place.
In 2004, at the age of 18, I bought myself a 1975 XB Fairmont sedan for $1,500 out of the Trading Post and made it my daily driver. As silly as it may sound to some people, I developed a pretty close bond with that car. Almost like an odd sort of friendship.
I was a shy sort of kid, never had much confidence, bit of an introvert. But that car gave me a sense of pride, something to pump my chest about.
When I bought it, I didn't tell my old man about it for almost two months, kept it a complete secret while I worked on getting it roadworthy. The day after I got it registered I drove the two hours to visit him and threw him the keys as I walked inside. By the time I came outside a couple of minutes later he had all four doors open, the boot and bonnet up, engine running, and he had a look of genuine excitement on his face. That moment will live with me forever, I was so proud.
A couple of years later the engine died and I decided to take it as an opportunity to restore her to her former glory. She had a lot of rust, general wear, the paint was a little bit faded. She deserved better.
To this day, that restoration is still incomplete. I wanted to do it all myself. I was young and enthusiastic, but completely clueless. I wasn't sure where to start, didn't have the skills or the knowledge, the old Fairmont gathered dust and that was that.
The last two and a half years have progressed better. The body work/rust repair is probably 80-85% done. I had a lot done at a restoration shop, did a bit myself, the rest is outside of my ability and needs to be done by a professional. Then there's paint, bringing her back to her gorgeous original 'Deep Aqua.'
Engine and gearbox, all the moving bits. The tired old original engine has been pulled apart and I've bought most of the bits to freshen her up, but she needs an engine shop to take care of the precision work and re-assembling so that she should last another 40 years.
All the interior. Seats, carpet, door trims, dash, etc. It all costs money. Money I haven't been able to put towards this love of mine recently as my fiancé and I have two young daughters who obviously take priority.
I'm engaged to marry a beautiful woman whom I love very much. Much to her possible (I'm too scared to ask) displeasure, this car is my 'Save The Date.' Over the twelve years I have owned this car, I've stated I'd have it finished in time to take my little sister to her Debutante Ball, her Year 12 Graduation, I'd have it ready by her 21st, to bring my first-born home from the hospital, the list goes on. I'm running out of major events to have this car ready for, if it's not the car I arrive in at our wedding, it's just another dream unfulfilled, another goal missed.
I want my girls to see me as someone who does what he says he will do, who follows through on things and gets them done. I don't want to keep putting it off because I can't afford or justify spending the money on this car and have it be just some project I never finished. I want to find a way to make it happen. I want my kids to grow up in this old classic ride, just as I grew up in my dad's. I want to get this wedding date back on track. I've never been one to just put his hand out and ask for help, I feel a bit uncomfortable just putting this out there. But in the hopes of finding some way - any way - to make this happen and chase this dream I've had for as long as I can remember (and replicate my childhood photo by getting my daughter to wash her dad's XB in the driveway out the back of mum's place when she turns four), I've got my fingers and toes crossed that this might just work.
Here's hoping, anyway.
If you've read this far, I sincerely thank you for your time.
Organizer
Warren Rust
Organizer
Rowville, VIC