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First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz
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matte
Posted 2018-04-03 6:35 PM (#561083)
Subject: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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Basically thought I'd get the Aus and NZ folks to say when they first saw a FL car in Australia. Whether it being the CKD Aus dealership delivered or personal import..

I remember in the late 70's seeing a white 1959 Dodge Custom Royal at my neighbours place. I absolutely loved it but it's angry look scared me (6 years old). I didn't walk in front or behind it for fear of it LOL running me over. I was the same with our old tractors out on the farm.. Old vehicles have expressional frontends.

The owners became regular visiter to my neighbours and I used to just sit and stare at it's gorgeous lines but still wouldn't go in front or behind.. Still my favourite FL car even though I bought a Plymouth.

I didn't know what FL cars were until joining this forum in 2015 and a whole new world was opened up to me. Have always loved Australian Valiants though.

Chev's and Cadillac's are pretty much the dominant American vehicles over here.

Join in. Get the Australian forum a little bit of spice instead of remaining stagnant.









Edited by matte 2018-04-03 9:20 PM
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OzFury
Posted 2018-04-03 9:16 PM (#561097 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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Interesting topic Matt great idea.

Ok I would have been 5 or 6 just moved house over the Christmas period an old guy around the corner at the new place had an EH as a daily but
on Sunday's he drove his pride & joy a 1962 Dodge Phoenix strangely enough both cars were the same mid pastel blue grey colour
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lozrox58
Posted 2018-04-04 2:43 AM (#561118 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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When I was 5 years old, my father purchased his first veteran car, a 1916 Overland. The tow vehicle belonged to a friend and was a 1959 Dodge Custom Royal.
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DejaVu
Posted 2018-04-04 5:30 AM (#561122 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz


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I agree, good topic matte. I can recall being at high school in about 1980-81 and these kids got dropped off occasionally by a DeSoto which was kind of jaw dropping at the time. It was beat up and I cannot state the year but it was definitely post 57, those rear fins were the memory that stuck with me. I wasn't in to them either until very recently but was always into Oz Chryslers.
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matte
Posted 2018-04-04 6:55 PM (#561163 - in reply to #561122)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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Looks like we were all around 5 years old but they left an impact.... Around 89 or 90 I bought an Aussie 1960 Chev but it never gave off the same awesomeness to look at as the 59 Dodge did so I sold it within a year.

Christine was the next FL car that I was introduced to and I loved it. I know some guys don't like the whole Christine thing or some even rip people for loving the car but before the internet, exposure to FL cars for overseas car lovers was very limited, especially in farming areas.

Yes Australian dealerships sold some FL cars in the late 50's and early 60's but still very limited in numbers around the country. So what you saw on TV was pretty much it and regional areas only had 2 channels back then so yeah Christine to me was and still is a nice looking car. But now I also know about the whole range of FL cars.

59 Dodge will always be my favourite.






Edited by matte 2018-04-04 7:06 PM
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matte
Posted 2018-04-05 4:27 PM (#561198 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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That died quickly..


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OzFury
Posted 2018-04-05 4:38 PM (#561199 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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Probably due to lost memoroes
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matte
Posted 2018-04-18 4:35 PM (#561854 - in reply to #561199)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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OzFury - 2018-04-05 4:38 PM

Probably due to lost memoroes


I'd like to think that mate but unfortunately I don't think that's what it is.. Thought I'd try and stimulate the Aust Region especially after a thread 2 down asking "What happened to this forum" but................

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heldam
Posted 2018-04-24 9:25 PM (#562233 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz


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Setting aside R/S Series which always stood out on the road, the first "Forward Look Car" I ever saw was a 1958 Dodge Custom Royal. In the late 70's, at primary school, one of the students was regularly dropped off in what I thought was a two tone grey Custom Royal. It impressed me the first time I saw it and every time I saw it. I would stand and study it as it landed and the passengers disembarked from that spaceship. In the 1990's, as I looked for a FL to buy, I tracked down the boy that used to be dropped off in that rocketship. I telephoned and asked him what happened to his Mum's grey dodge. Turns out it was two tone blue/green(teal) as my "Red/Green colour blindness" didn't interpret the colours well. He wished he had the family car still and lamented it had been sold long ago. I have never seen that car since primary school. I have seen pictures on the web of a RHD 58 Custom Royal in the same colour scheme ( over east) and wondered if it is the same car.

I think if I found the "the right" 58 Custom Royal today I could sell at least two of the cars I have now, purchased trying to fill the longing for Forward Look cars the memory of that 58 Dodge created.

Edited by heldam 2018-04-24 9:28 PM
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OzFury
Posted 2018-04-24 10:26 PM (#562236 - in reply to #562233)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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heldam - 2018-04-25 1:25 PM

Setting aside R/S Series which always stood out on the road, the first "Forward Look Car" I ever saw was a 1958 Dodge Custom Royal. In the late 70's, at primary school, one of the students was regularly dropped off in what I thought was a two tone grey Custom Royal. It impressed me the first time I saw it and every time I saw it. I would stand and study it as it landed and the passengers disembarked from that spaceship. In the 1990's, as I looked for a FL to buy, I tracked down the boy that used to be dropped off in that rocketship. I telephoned and asked him what happened to his Mum's grey dodge. Turns out it was two tone blue/green(teal) as my "Red/Green colour blindness" didn't interpret the colours well. He wished he had the family car still and lamented it had been sold long ago. I have never seen that car since primary school. I have seen pictures on the web of a RHD 58 Custom Royal in the same colour scheme ( over east) and wondered if it is the same car.

I think if I found the "the right" 58 Custom Royal today I could sell at least two of the cars I have now, purchased trying to fill the longing for Forward Look cars the memory of that 58 Dodge created.


Great story thanks for sharing
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matte
Posted 2018-04-25 5:43 PM (#562280 - in reply to #562236)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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I've always had a soft spot for the R/S Vals.

I love your description of the first sighting... Thank you for joining in and sharing.




Edited by matte 2018-04-25 5:44 PM
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57plybel
Posted 2018-04-26 12:41 AM (#562294 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: RE: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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I grew up about 20km South East of Melbourne; What was great farmland 100 years ago is now primo real estate. As such, the land was subsequently subdivided over the decades but the large houses belonging to the "land owner" usually remained intact.  It was usually on the crest of the street in a position to oversee the land.

One such old house with a three car garage dating back to the 30's was at the end of our street.   The old guy there had a faded mid 50's Desoto sedan that he used to commute with.  I recall asking my folks when he was born and it was in the 1890's.  He would have been a wealthy man when he purchased that car.

I used to see it every day on my way to school and one day it was there with a fresh enamel respray in its original black livelry...to a young kid who admired oddball cars, it was stunning !

This was early 1970's and I had no idea what car companies were or who Desoto belonged to but I admired this car and it stuck with me that an old car could be revived....

He lasted untill the late 70's and he and the car dissapeared; hope it survived and is out threre somewhere.  The house remains and is still a focal point of the suburb.

 

Fast forward 5 years and I was lining up old Dodge /Desoto bonnets as ramps to launch my pushbike over but those were trashed cars anyhow! 

 

 

Colin

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matte
Posted 2018-04-26 4:45 AM (#562296 - in reply to #562294)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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Great story! LOL love the make shift ramps using the bonnets for jumps.

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57plybel
Posted 2018-04-26 6:11 AM (#562298 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: RE: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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Yes Matt, cars were left in paddocks, service stations and on the side of the road back then and kids could do as they pleased within reason.... my favourite trick was hooking up a car speedo to my pushbike... big round FB Holden ones especially !

 

Colin

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60 Imp
Posted 2018-04-26 6:29 AM (#562299 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: RE: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz


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Location: North Australia
The old 'R' series might be a contender for me, a mate owned one when I was 17 (His grandpa gave it to him).
That car was black with a red interior and it was a bit rough but fully serviceable. Definitely a stand-out car amongst the young blokes in my home town.
The first American FL car I saw was a red and white 58 Belvedere convertible. This would have been around 1998. This car was in Adelaide and I was pulled up to a stop light in town and it sped through the intersection. I was gobsmacked! The car also had a conti kit, and I got a good look at in the car park of the Horsepower car show were were driving to.
Inside the show there was an Aussie delivered 58 and 59 4drht Belvederes on display, both painted in Bronze. They were owned by a local who hired them out for weddings etc. I think I was hooked from that day onwards.

I have seen the hardtops in pics that have been shared by others, but the red convertible seems to have disappeared.
I do have pics of all three cars stashed somewhere.

Neat thread Matt. Good onya.

Steve.

Edited by 60 Imp 2018-04-26 6:31 AM
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heldam
Posted 2018-04-26 9:16 AM (#562305 - in reply to #562299)
Subject: RE: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz


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60 Imp - 2018-04-26 7:29 PM


Inside the show there was an Aussie delivered 58 and 59 4drht Belvederes on display, both painted in Bronze. They were owned by a local who hired them out for weddings etc. I think I was hooked from that day onwards.

I have seen the hardtops in pics that have been shared by others, but the red convertible seems to have disappeared.
I do have pics of all three cars stashed somewhere.

Neat thread Matt. Good onya.

Steve.


I have had the 58 4drht in my stable since around 2010. I knew it had a 59 sister and they were wedding cars, but I was unsure if they originated out of Vic or SA. This sighting answers my question.


.
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OzFury
Posted 2018-04-26 4:46 PM (#562334 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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This is great now the ball is rolling.

I remember as a kid finding dumped cars we used to remove the gauge cluster then wire it up using the 12 volt transformer from my electric car set.
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matte
Posted 2018-04-26 6:10 PM (#562338 - in reply to #562299)
Subject: RE: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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60 Imp - 2018-04-26 6:29 AM

The old 'R' series might be a contender for me, a mate owned one when I was 17 (His grandpa gave it to him).
That car was black with a red interior and it was a bit rough but fully serviceable. Definitely a stand-out car amongst the young blokes in my home town.
The first American FL car I saw was a red and white 58 Belvedere convertible. This would have been around 1998. This car was in Adelaide and I was pulled up to a stop light in town and it sped through the intersection. I was gobsmacked! The car also had a conti kit, and I got a good look at in the car park of the Horsepower car show were were driving to.
Inside the show there was an Aussie delivered 58 and 59 4drht Belvederes on display, both painted in Bronze. They were owned by a local who hired them out for weddings etc. I think I was hooked from that day onwards.

I have seen the hardtops in pics that have been shared by others, but the red convertible seems to have disappeared.
I do have pics of all three cars stashed somewhere.

Neat thread Matt. Good onya.

Steve.


The black R series with the red interior does stand out. Kind of reminds me of the tough old Painters and Dockers Union guys or just a guy who took no crap.

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matte
Posted 2018-04-26 6:11 PM (#562339 - in reply to #562334)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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OzFury - 2018-04-26 4:46 PM


This is great now the ball is rolling.

I remember as a kid finding dumped cars we used to remove the gauge cluster then wire it up using the 12 volt transformer from my electric car set.



Kids and old wreck cars... Nothing was better than that at that age and now we are older it still continues. Except now it's a tad more expensive.

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OzFury
Posted 2018-04-26 7:37 PM (#562344 - in reply to #562339)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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matte - 2018-04-27 10:11 AM

OzFury - 2018-04-26 4:46 PM


This is great now the ball is rolling.

I remember as a kid finding dumped cars we used to remove the gauge cluster then wire it up using the 12 volt transformer from my electric car set.



Kids and old wreck cars... Nothing was better than that at that age and now we are older it still continues. Except now it's a tad more expensive.



It started at a young age for me I don't remember maybe 2 or 3 my dad said I used to go with him to the wreakers when he had an EH Holden
he said I used to get the keys out of the cars & take them home I had a hell collection of keys
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matte
Posted 2018-04-26 11:27 PM (#562351 - in reply to #562344)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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Location: Sydney, Australia
OzFury - 2018-04-26 7:37 PM

matte - 2018-04-27 10:11 AM

OzFury - 2018-04-26 4:46 PM


This is great now the ball is rolling.

I remember as a kid finding dumped cars we used to remove the gauge cluster then wire it up using the 12 volt transformer from my electric car set.



Kids and old wreck cars... Nothing was better than that at that age and now we are older it still continues. Except now it's a tad more expensive.



It started at a young age for me I don't remember maybe 2 or 3 my dad said I used to go with him to the wreakers when he had an EH Holden
he said I used to get the keys out of the cars & take them home I had a hell collection of keys


Bloody hell I think we are from the same blood!!! I loved the wreckers when I was a kid and going out with Dad. Back when wreckers were full of iron cars. Walking around wreckers today doesn't give off the same feeling. Wow the Honda Accord is awesome. Nah not quite the same.

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OzFury
Posted 2018-04-26 11:54 PM (#562352 - in reply to #562351)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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matte - 2018-04-27 3:27 PM

OzFury - 2018-04-26 7:37 PM

matte - 2018-04-27 10:11 AM

OzFury - 2018-04-26 4:46 PM


This is great now the ball is rolling.

I remember as a kid finding dumped cars we used to remove the gauge cluster then wire it up using the 12 volt transformer from my electric car set.



Kids and old wreck cars... Nothing was better than that at that age and now we are older it still continues. Except now it's a tad more expensive.



It started at a young age for me I don't remember maybe 2 or 3 my dad said I used to go with him to the wreakers when he had an EH Holden
he said I used to get the keys out of the cars & take them home I had a hell collection of keys


Bloody hell I think we are from the same blood!!! I loved the wreckers when I was a kid and going out with Dad. Back when wreckers were full of iron cars. Walking around wreckers today doesn't give off the same feeling. Wow the Honda Accord is awesome. Nah not quite the same.



I'm waiting on a new t shirt to arrive it says Mopar it's in my DNA
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Ray Bell
Posted 2018-05-16 11:07 PM (#563548 - in reply to #561083)
Subject: Re: First Vision Of A FL Car In Oz



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Whenever a Forward Look car was released for general sale in Australia I saw one pretty soon thereafter...

The first one was the AP1 Chrysler Royal (and Wayfarer), I think it might have been before the AP2 came out that the first of the Custom Royals and Belvederes were locally assembled. By that time I was at high School and my school was on a busy corner between a major shopping centre and the main highway. They all came past there all the time.

I don't believe the R & S series Valiants are accepted as Forward Look, and I'm sure the '62 Phoenix isn't...

But I do like their styling.
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