Once upon a time...is how our pride and joy started. As a $200 restoration project that has now captured the love of the whole family. Les tells all!

According to Les, "In 2002 we knew a fellow that had an old XA Superbird that was in desperate need of attention. But even then the money was never there to buy one. One day, out of the blue he said do you want the car, or it will go to the wreckers. I was sure he would say some amount I didn’t have, but when he said $200 I couldn’t get the wallet out fast enough. She was worth every cent, but there was a lot of work involved, 4 head sized holes in the roof, 2 caved in front guards to the pillars, and rust from the boot to the bonnet. It must have been hit with every shopping trolley as well. Not having a lot of money, all the work had to be in-house. We borrowed a shed to spray her in and every spare second was spent there. The wife and kids didn’t complain, they were helping. It was quite funny because when I brought her home at first the wife didn’t like her, she thought she was ugly. If I tried to sell her now she would disown me. It is ‘her’ car.

I had to use her as a work car for about 18 months after she was painted and I work in quarries so she pulled conveyor belts on and trailers and drove through mud , dust and rocks. After that I parked her and didn’t have the time to spare until I was invited to the ‘Hard-tops Revenge’ at Bathurst 2005. We were so excited and that’s when the real work began. Inside and out we all scrubbed and polished til the early hours just about every day. We only had 3 months to get her from a work car to what we have now. Bathurst was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Then came Eastern Creek. We got to do 3 laps at the Muscle Car Masters, with a great commentary, no-one could believe she was once used in quarries, not to mention cost only $200.

The most unbelievable part of this story is the history. I am second owner and when she was ordered the fellow decided that he liked the vents in the brochure for the XB and he wanted a vinyl roof and instead of walnut he wanted black. I guess back then you could get what you wanted. I have the owners manuals and service history as well. A couple of years ago the speedo stopped working at 400,000 and I estimate about 500,000. Not bad for a car that I have never had to touch the engine. I think that is the best part , when I got her I drove home and she is our pride and joy. Always will be."

Les Martin

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