Editors Note: This is part five in a series by Nick Gruzevskis about owning a Modern Mercedes convertible – in this case his R170 SLK230. The previous entries can be found here. After two years of ownership, I now feel I’ve just about sorted my SLK230. Many will know the challenges of sorting a car. Yes, the major issues are sorted quickly, but...
This Sunday in November presents some what of a feast for classic car enthusiast, with many car clubs holding their annual Concours event. The AOMC website notes ten events for Sunday 17th, including Jaguar Concours & Display Day, Day of the Volkswagen, Maserati Days, 32nd Rob Roy Historic & Classic Hillclimb and Aston Martin & Rolls Royce Concours d’Elegance. This year I had a...
Editors Note: This is part four in a series by Nick Gruzevskis about owning a Modern Mercedes convertible – in this case his R170 SLK230. The previous entries can be found here. Two cars of the same chassis/model often drive differently after 20-30 years, depending on mileage, maintenance & number of owners. I got the opportunity this weekend to drive a 2003 SLK230...
Editors Note: This is part two in a series by Nick Gruzevskis about owning a W210 430. The first part can be found here. I’m one of those individuals that can’t handle interior noises, mostly rattles & squeaks, but in this case it’s been a buzzing noise coming from the dome light in my new E430. I had procrastinated long enough, so did some...
The only constant of our garage is new acquisitions, we never seem to be able to slim the fleet down. The latest addition was considered necessary when my daughter (Jessica) came to grief with her 2005 CLK320 on a concrete wall at Eastland Shopping Centre, Ringwood. Given we are insured for market value, we weren’t confident that it would be repaired. Once we got...
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of using my friend Justin Tan’s 1995 Toyota Comfort for a few days. This is the short-wheelbase version of what we know as the Crown Comfort. It is a commercial grade purpose-built fleet vehicle, and is unashamedly so. Justin’s car is an ex-driver-instructor car from Japan and has some subtle clues of its previous career such...
The Jensen Car Club of Australia (JCCA) was formed in 1987 though the amalgamation of two former Clubs, “The Jensen Interceptor Car Club of Victoria” and the Australia Jensen-Healy Owners Club”. Our feature event is the National Rally, the first which was held in Canberra in 1983. The 2024 National Rally has just been held in Perth, Western Australia (May 3-6th). This is the...
by Nick Gruzevskis · Published March 12, 2024 · Last modified September 14, 2024
Editors Note: This is part three in a series by Nick Gruzevskis about owning a Modern Mercedes convertible – in this case his R170 SLK230. The first part can be found here and the second part here. There are times when you feel like you’re making progress on a classic car and other times it just feels like you’re procrastinating. As I have just...
Editors Note: This is part two in a series by Nick Gruzevskis about owning a Modern Mercedes convertible – in this case his R170 SLK230. The first part can be found here. Sometimes the journey on improving a classic car seems to be more fulfilling than using the car. I’ve now owned the Sally the SLK since July 2022. Every time I looked at...
by Nick Gruzevskis · Published October 27, 2023 · Last modified September 15, 2024
Fitting aftermarket head units to most vehicles made from 2000 onwards can often be problematic due to manufacturers integrating audio and HVAC controls into the one assembly. Many of us choose the path of least resistance, with the primary means of connecting a smartphone is via Aux and a $15 FM transmitter purchased from K-Mart. I must admit the ICC unit (Ford speak for...
Editors Note: This is part three in a series by Nick Gruzevskis about living with a Ford BF MK2 Falcon Futura Wagon. Part 1 introduces the car and part 2 is a six month update. One of the things I’ve noticed about using an LPG equipped car as a daily driver, is how rare it is to see other LPG vehicles filling...
by Nick Gruzevskis · Published August 29, 2023 · Last modified September 15, 2024
The German Auto Show has grown into one of the larger Victorian car shows, showcasing the main German marques, but also some of the lesser-known brands that have ceased manufacturing, such as NSU and Borgward. The first show was held in 2016 at the Royal Institute for the Blind and continued at the same venue up to 2019. Initially the event was limited to...
by Nick Gruzevskis · Published August 13, 2023 · Last modified September 15, 2024
Owning more than a few classic cars can often be problematic, as minor maintenance jobs are often deferred. My 450SE (Claudia) had been on top of the hoist for a few months without being driven. I think she was prompting me to use her as a thick layer of dust had formed. When getting her off the hoist, I noticed I fair bit of...
Note: This is part two in a series by Nick Gruzevskis about owning a Ford BF MK2 Falcon Futura Wagon. Part 1 is available here. What could go wrong owning a 16-year-old Australian designed and manufactured vehicle? It’s now been close to six months since we picked up our 2007 Octane Metallic Ford BF MK2 Futura Wagon, affectionately known as ‘Lister of Smeg’, because...
by Nick Gruzevskis · Published February 19, 2023 · Last modified September 20, 2024
I’ve lost count of how many marques I’ve owned, but I’ve never owned a Ford. My father did though, and it was the proud replacement for his 14-year-old Volkswagen 1600 Notchback, a rare car now, but also assembled in Australia. In 1985 my father purchased a brand new XF Fairmont from Cam Dawson Ford in Geelong. He optioned power steering, air conditioning and alloy...
by Nick Gruzevskis · Published August 9, 2022 · Last modified September 15, 2024
It was back in April 2018 when I got a call from Greg at Gullwing Motors, telling me to come in as he had a car that I might be interested in. Oooh, this sounded exciting, what was it?! I couldn’t get up there fast enough to see the red W116 450SE which Greg had just towed out of a customer’s garage, together with...
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