TradeUniqueCars.com.au 25couldn’tkeepupwiththe
rust but mechanically it was
running beautifully. Best car
we ever had! Neither of them
suffered timing gear failure
but the HK went through two
harmonic balancers thanks
to leaking timing cover seals
dribbling on them and of
course rear main seals were
par for the course in both
cars. Replaced ’em with fibre
Bedford truck seals, I will
never understand why The
General didn’t make them an
original factory installation.
I reckon the economical,
relatively powerful
indestructible Holden 186 has
to be one of the best engines
ever made.
Here’s to ya
Aussie Sadler
EmailBEARING UP
Huge Unique Cars fan here -
never miss an issue. I thought
you’d like to see a pic of your
mags in our 67 year-old
bearings and parts shop – A A
Blatch, in Parkes. I’m the third
generation owner and I’m in
the process of renovating it.
Best wishes to your
amazing team,Allan Blatch
AA Blatch - Est. 1952
aablatch.com.auED: We were in Parkes
just recently, Allan. Sorry
we missed you, but we’ll
know to have a look for
the shop next time we’re
there. Good luck with the
renovations.MORE WELLY FOR JB
I have enjoyed Unique Cars for
many a year, but particularly
under your editorship. I have
enjoyed your writings going
back to your Australian
Motorcycle News days.I have a couple of points of
order with the current issue
(429), though. You say the
SL/E model Commodore was
introduced with the VH, but it
was there from the start with
the VB. It was a revelation at
the time, with the ultimate
version running bigger
diameter, classy alloy wheels
with low profile tyres (on an
Aussie car!), and headlight
wipers – amazing.
Re the John Bowe articles,
they seem to have turned to
water. Recent pieces have
been little more than a brief
description and history of the
car (Lancia Delta Integrale
and Austin-Healey etc). Any
of your writers could provide
that info.
The joy of JB’s stuff is anactual description of what
the car was like to drive
from someone with plenty
of experience developing
both road and race cars, as
well as being an undoubted
enthusiast. I can understand
some dealers or owners not
being keen for their car to
be driven to any extent, but
why not keep John’s articles
for cars that are allowed that
freedom?
Thanks again. Great mag.Pete Minahan
EmailED: Jeez, we go back a
long way if you’re talking
Aus Motorcycle News!
Yep, what I said about
the VH SL/E was at best
ambiguous – don’t know
what I was thinking. You’re
absolutely right that it
came in with the VB.
Point taken re the JB
stories. Sometimes all we
get is a quick spin and
that’s always an issue with
privately-owned cars.
We’d obviously prefer
not to make up stuff, so
we’ll see what we can do
about getting JB into more
unrestricted drives.