Profiles

Howard Smith

 

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This story is not about a club car, but it helps to explain my love of our cars. I obtained my driver’s license in 1961 at age 17 after 6 lessons in a Vauxhall Victor. My first drive as a li- censed driver was in a 1938 Chev 2 door of a friend of mum’s. Three on the floor and in control, I was in heaven. In 1962 mum (a widow) forked out a hard earned £200 on a 1952 48-215 Holden. It had had a rough life in its first 10 years on the road but we (me especial- ly) were over the moon. We had to have some rust repairs in the floor (you could see the road) and had it tar sprayed underneath by a business in Parramatta to stop any further rust rot. Next we had seat belts fitted, which was a bit ahead of the times in 1962. A firm at Bankstown airport did the fitting, they had a background in the aircraft industry and were the seat belt experts at that time.

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Ken Rodger – 1956 FJ-225

Ken is a country boy born and bred and proud of it. This is obvious whenever you get to have a chat with him. Ken, now a retired gentleman of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, has a story about his interest in Humpies which is intimately entwined around his life. His story reflects a little of country life in the 40’s and 50’s and is a slice of living history about the introduction of Holden’s to the country. Maybe it’s best to let Ken tell the tale in his own words…

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Dennis Gardner – 1955 FJ-215

Dennis is a retired gentleman who hails from Sydney’s western suburbs.

He was born in the North West of NSW and spent most of his life traveling and working in the North West and Central West of NSW before moving to Sydney. If you give him a minute, he will regale you with tales of his misspent youth and of the many jobs at which he was employed. Those tales, Tall and True, are themselves a history lesson.

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Stan Bennett – 1952 48-215

 

In Holden circles the name “Stan Bennett” is instantly recognisable and is inexorably linked to the 48 & FJ Holden Owners Club NSW.

So, who is Stan Bennett? Hopefully this expose will give an insight into Stan and what he means to the 48 & FJ Holden movement.

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Ian Mason – 1956 FJ STANDARD FJ/215

 

If you asked Ian what was the genesis of his interest in Holdens, he could truthfully say that it was predestined even before he was a glint in his father’s eye!

The Mason Family has owned Holdens from the early ‘50s. Ian’s grandfather owned a 1952, ’48 (FX) sedan, registered AFM-701.

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Robert & Stirling Shaw – 1950 48-215

 Holdens are in your blood.

In 1958 my father bought a three-year old FJ Special from a farmer at Narrogin in WA. Coming from his A40, A30s and Vauxhall Wyverns, the Holden was Dad’s first “proper car”. Compared with the others, the Holden was a huge advance in interior space, comfort, power and reliability. It became the family workhorse for the next 13 years. Its blooding was as field transport for a thesis in geology around Geraldton.

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Warren Ross – 1952 50-2106 HOLDEN UTILITY

“I guess I’ve liked Holdens including Humpies as long as I could remember,” said Warren, a Plumber from Sydney’s Lower North Shore.

“The earliest recollection I had of 48s & FJs goes back to when I was about 10 years old. Dad was a Hire Car Driver and often when he was returning the Dodge, he would take me to the Depot where I would admire the 48s & FJs the Company used in its Taxi Fleet.”

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