Back in 2005 I moved from Wellington-New Zealand to the small west coast town of Whanganui.I moved into a 5000sq ft studio..a 100 yr old wool shed which was simply ginormous.My landlord owned a couple of these huge buildings..hes a successful NZ ceramic artist..and it was here i first laid my eyes on this small Fiat oddity. I knew nothing about it..but just always thought it was kinda cute and funny.There was never any intention of buying it..i was messing around with Vauxhall Viva HCs and had enough oil on my hands.I lived in the studio until 2010..and then moved on..
Jump forward to just a few weeks ago...ive been back in NZ for the summer..assisting my friend James in Wellington who operates a one man-one dog classic car garage..and was back frequenting Whanganui again. Very sadly..my old landlord was in a terrible accident..and is badly brain damaged..partially blind..unable to create..severe personality change..and unable to drive.His car collection..a Vanguard Vignale 6..two Jowett Javelins and The Whambino were all in one of his monster warehouses..so i offered the family a deal and i bought all four cars for a very nominal price.::in retrospect..an absolute bargain.Ive given the good Javelin to James in lieu of work..the Vanguard i gave to my other best mate..and the more sorrowful Javelin is yet to be disposed of..it came with a whole set of extra panels-doors etc.
What is it..well..a New Zealand assembled 500D which has had the whole middle body sectioned and lowered...the front has been grafted entirely from steel utilising Mini wings and a hand made Rolls style grill just for posh aspiration fun.It was built in the early 90s by Ed Boyd..a significant character and collector who owned the local car museum..Eds Autobarn.He specialised in small and micro cars..his collection is phenomenal..i rated it world class..and i got to know him as the Vintage Car Club had their storage warehouse right beside where i used to live..and he often let me in so i could photograph what i called the surplus collection for autoshite..there were 80 cars in there. Sadly..Ed died very prematurely last year..so I'm proud to own part of his formidable legacy.It was last on the road in 1996.
Its missing a fuel tank..which has to be custom made cos the original would not fit due to the front bodywork being lowered..the engine was seized..but the weekend we removed the Vanguard and Javelin..we sprayed a tonne of CRC down the engine..and with a slight amount of rocking..it finally ejaculated..and was free.
Eventually its going to wellington and James will fettle..and once all this ensuing international chaos is over..its what i call my art car..ill explain that later..I'm just sad ive literally been border exempted from returning to it..i was supposed to go back imminently.Merde happens!
Jump forward to just a few weeks ago...ive been back in NZ for the summer..assisting my friend James in Wellington who operates a one man-one dog classic car garage..and was back frequenting Whanganui again. Very sadly..my old landlord was in a terrible accident..and is badly brain damaged..partially blind..unable to create..severe personality change..and unable to drive.His car collection..a Vanguard Vignale 6..two Jowett Javelins and The Whambino were all in one of his monster warehouses..so i offered the family a deal and i bought all four cars for a very nominal price.::in retrospect..an absolute bargain.Ive given the good Javelin to James in lieu of work..the Vanguard i gave to my other best mate..and the more sorrowful Javelin is yet to be disposed of..it came with a whole set of extra panels-doors etc.
What is it..well..a New Zealand assembled 500D which has had the whole middle body sectioned and lowered...the front has been grafted entirely from steel utilising Mini wings and a hand made Rolls style grill just for posh aspiration fun.It was built in the early 90s by Ed Boyd..a significant character and collector who owned the local car museum..Eds Autobarn.He specialised in small and micro cars..his collection is phenomenal..i rated it world class..and i got to know him as the Vintage Car Club had their storage warehouse right beside where i used to live..and he often let me in so i could photograph what i called the surplus collection for autoshite..there were 80 cars in there. Sadly..Ed died very prematurely last year..so I'm proud to own part of his formidable legacy.It was last on the road in 1996.
Its missing a fuel tank..which has to be custom made cos the original would not fit due to the front bodywork being lowered..the engine was seized..but the weekend we removed the Vanguard and Javelin..we sprayed a tonne of CRC down the engine..and with a slight amount of rocking..it finally ejaculated..and was free.
Eventually its going to wellington and James will fettle..and once all this ensuing international chaos is over..its what i call my art car..ill explain that later..I'm just sad ive literally been border exempted from returning to it..i was supposed to go back imminently.Merde happens!
