Duncan and
Marlene Mk3 Zephyr
I
had a good start from a guy we’ll call Gerald, My Dad. As far back as I can
remember he was always fixing a car. It was nothing out of the ordinary to drag
home Populars Prefects Zephyrs Zodiacs or even Morris Oxfords. But the best
were the old Zodiacs with their fancy interiors motors front ends four speed
gearboxes and design all way ahead of their time. Even my Grandfather had every
Zephyr right through to the Granada. Well I started off with an Ford Falcon XP
station wagon which my Dad built with me closely followed by another XP sedan
which I bought of my sister after an altercation with a taxi.
That
sedan was added to with another Falcon XM, which was never completed and given
to someone else. There was another XP sedan that was bought for spares in the
end and also one that I bought from an old guy with the intention to fix up as
it was in mint condition, but later smashed up in a paddock. If only I had of
known what prices they would bring now. I got a job that was a far distance
from home and needed a smaller car.
My
Dad talked me into a Morris 1500 nomad, which I later blew up. They just don’t
last with a big boot.
Now
the start of the V8s. A mate told me about this Chrysler Regal in the Marsh
with a chequered past for $250. I bought it. Gee I had some fun with that but
it was rough and I was slowly starting to come around to the women folk. They
don’t like roughies. So I traded it on a Ford ZG Fairlane with a 4V motor. Man
this thing went till someone ran into the back of it. The insurance money
bought a HQ GM Holden off a mate, which was extremely fast, but a basket case
underneath. I spent a fortune on it but in the end it wasn’t me. I sold it to a
mate and that money ended up paying for another ZG Fairlane. While the HQ
Holden was off the road I bought an HR Holden off a mate to get around in but
the motor packed up so I bought another mates HG Holden for the motor. I ran
that till the rego ran out but never used it. The HQ was bought by a mate and
stripped the HG was bought by another mate and is still there today. The HR
went to Sims metal.
I
then started on Chrysler Valiants. A mate was a bit hard up and had this old
wagon which I bought and then sold to one of my sisters boy friends who never
payed for it. I then bought another Ute and another wagon. Which I never finished.
I had Morris Major an HK Holden wagon Then I met My Wife and I‘m almost settled
down with another ZG Fairlane. I got onto a 1970 ford Escort also cheap but
lost interest very quickly and passed that onto my father in Law. The local
garage told me it was the only car I should have kept. There was then a very
brief stint with a Morris 1100 but my father in Law wanted that so I let him
have that for what I paid for it.
Slowly
the bug was starting to bite even harder. I needed a Mk 3. There wasn’t many about,
until I noticed a Mk 3 in the distance in a local town. I was told that this
guy wouldn’t sell anything. That set me off and I ended up buying it. It was
quite funny as we used a tractor forklift with a big strap, as we lifted the
car in the air the front tyre on the tractor split open and the tube came out.
The guys son started yelling out that the tyre was going to blow and suddenly
BAAAANNNNGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Well my brother in law was half way to the next
town before he looked back. Anyway got the car home, quite an ordeal. I had a
good look at it when I got it home and the rust was too bad. I then started
looking for a replacement. A mate told me about a Mk 3 locally V8 and cheap. I
found one and the price was right but had trouble getting the owner. Finally
tracked him down, he had just got back from the hospital. He’d been showing
off, thinking he’d sold the car only to have another car pull out in front of
him. There were quite a few that I looked at but ended up with the black one.
Had it for 15 years totally rebuilt it. I wrecked probably six other cars for
spares and to fund work on it. During this time my parents gave me their old
Ford XC wagon. I ended up doing a lot of Ks in it and bought my wife’s cousins
XC for the motor and Gas system. Had that about five years, and sold it , gave
my parents some money for it and bought a Datsun 1200 Ute. It was quite a fun
little car but no room for your feet. So I sold that and now have my wife’s old
Ford EL falcon station wagon, Almost forgot when I sold the black zephyr I
bought my wife’s other cousins Holden L31 Torana to tinker with. Yeah I know
its a GM Holden but it was cheap and is now very collectable. It’s going to be
restored with the correct parts as they become available. Oh and of course the
new to be rebuilt Zephyr in the shed. Where do I start?
Here
is a car that members Marlene and Duncan built up.
I
brought the car with the V8 installed but the body of the car was full of rust
and filler. I replaced the sill lower quarters, drivers floor and the complete
front. Finishing with new black paint. I then removed the auto and installed a
4 speed top loader with a Hayes street/strip clutch (11”) and fly wheel,
leading to a thick wall tail shaft and a Ford 9” diff with limited slip diff.
The diff was fitted with large GT Falcon drums with a modified XR Falcon
handbrake system.
Up
front was a hot 302 Windsor with worked heads and Offy Alloy intake with a 750
4 barrel Holley. Spark was electronic, and a mild Cam was installed. A Boss
Ford Motor sport Windage tray was installed (these are ex USA as fitted to the
69 and 70 Boss Mustangs) with a Price Super Pan and a high volume oil pump.
Fuel pressure was by a Boss mechanical pump.
Front
suspension was up rated with Pedders struts and coils.
Duncan
and Marlene had the car for over 15 years and it became one of the family, but
sadly was sold on for someone else to enjoy. One very nice and well thought out
car.
Above. Away to new owner