THE OLD CAR
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 4:09 pm
THE OLD CAR
It was a special moment, like I’d wished upon a star,
after years of Shank’s Pony I was owner of a car,
emptied out the bank book was precisely what I did,
now I had a set of wheels, but down five fifty quid.
A fifty-seven Holden was this cherished acquisition
that really looked the goods by any definition,
two tone green and white with chrome wheel trims and spats
Cinderella at the ball, no parlour maid in flats.
The girlfriend learned to drive in this car, years lost off my life
however, no hard feelings, she went on to be my wife,
bench seat good for snogging, prime canoodling catwalk,
not only did the engine demonstrate some torque.
My first speeding ticket was earned in the Holden
‘tween Bundaberg and Gin Gin, the place that cops patrolled in
sixty-seven miles per hour, I was left aghast,
didn’t have an inkling the old girl could go that fast.
Alas, the Holden’s gloss didn’t last for very long,
a knocking in the motor was the start of its swansong,
plus, jumping out of gear at speed was surely not endearing,
repair bills saw the pay packet swiftly disappearing.
So, in 1967, again I took the plunge and bought a new Cortina,
near two thousand dollars to be taken to the cleaner,
this car would be an accurate description of a lemon,
the motoring industry’s account of Armageddon.
A holiday to Coffs Harbour, a trip I’ll not forget,
saw the white flag hoisted, much to my regret,
Cortina’s engine packed it in, needing to be traded
with one from a wreckers, bank once again was raided.
The camel’s back was broken, no more Holden or Ford
many other makes of cars came on the drawing board
I’ve since owned Renault, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru,
compared to Ford and Holden, these are cordon bleu.
But, I’ve digressed, this tale’s about the Holden, my first car,
admittedly, it took me further than a Malvern Star
and truth be told it holds a special place in my heart,
like a first kiss, the remembrance stands apart.
Jeff Thorpe © 02 April 2016.
It was a special moment, like I’d wished upon a star,
after years of Shank’s Pony I was owner of a car,
emptied out the bank book was precisely what I did,
now I had a set of wheels, but down five fifty quid.
A fifty-seven Holden was this cherished acquisition
that really looked the goods by any definition,
two tone green and white with chrome wheel trims and spats
Cinderella at the ball, no parlour maid in flats.
The girlfriend learned to drive in this car, years lost off my life
however, no hard feelings, she went on to be my wife,
bench seat good for snogging, prime canoodling catwalk,
not only did the engine demonstrate some torque.
My first speeding ticket was earned in the Holden
‘tween Bundaberg and Gin Gin, the place that cops patrolled in
sixty-seven miles per hour, I was left aghast,
didn’t have an inkling the old girl could go that fast.
Alas, the Holden’s gloss didn’t last for very long,
a knocking in the motor was the start of its swansong,
plus, jumping out of gear at speed was surely not endearing,
repair bills saw the pay packet swiftly disappearing.
So, in 1967, again I took the plunge and bought a new Cortina,
near two thousand dollars to be taken to the cleaner,
this car would be an accurate description of a lemon,
the motoring industry’s account of Armageddon.
A holiday to Coffs Harbour, a trip I’ll not forget,
saw the white flag hoisted, much to my regret,
Cortina’s engine packed it in, needing to be traded
with one from a wreckers, bank once again was raided.
The camel’s back was broken, no more Holden or Ford
many other makes of cars came on the drawing board
I’ve since owned Renault, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru,
compared to Ford and Holden, these are cordon bleu.
But, I’ve digressed, this tale’s about the Holden, my first car,
admittedly, it took me further than a Malvern Star
and truth be told it holds a special place in my heart,
like a first kiss, the remembrance stands apart.
Jeff Thorpe © 02 April 2016.