Darlinghurst: Hoon Cars: Austin-Healey

It's sunny days in Darlinghurst and car-lovers are bringing out their shiny vintage beasts. I spotted this gorgeous Austin-Healey this week on the cafe strip on Victoria Street. I am sure the owner was nearby, keeping an eye on his baby. 

 I love the way the front of the car kind of lurches forward as if it is rearing to go at any moment. Unfortunately, the owner didn't offer to take me for a spin. But I'll still keep dreaming of the day when I can ditch my cookie-cutter Japanese car for a deluxe vintage vehicle. 

Darlinghurst: Retailers: Flash Auto Repairs

I've written before about how I used to live on lovely little Hardie Street, next door to Flash Auto Repairs. Well, while living there, I couldn't help but befriend the owner, Peter, who I would see practically every day as I went to and from my home. 

Flash, as I liked to secretly call him, has been operating out of this workshop for the past 14 years, but the building has been a motor garage since 1903.

This is a 1926 photograph, which Flash has framed and hung on one of the walls of his workshop, and shows the Savoy Motor Garage with a gleaming convoy of cars out front. The wall on the right is painted with the words Swans Savoy Garage Cars For Hire. I suspect the man in the picture is the mechanic Swan or Savoy.

The man's son was walking down Hardie Street one day and popped in to say hello to Flash and then later sent him the picture of his father's workshop. 

As you can see, the exterior of the building hasn't changed, except for the signage, but the neighbouring apartment block I used to live in, has yet to be built. I imagine the 1920s interior was much the same as it is today:

Only the models of the cars would be quite different. Flash is quite the specialised mechanic and has a large following of Australian and American Chrysler owners who turn to him for repairs, services and other work. But walk by his workshop any day of the week and you are bound to see many rare and valuable vintage cars waiting in line for his close attention. 

Peter is on the right and his French workshop manager, Michel, is on the left.

When I went by on Friday, this sexy aqua Corvette was in the workshop. It was a left-hand drive, so perhaps Flash is going to move the steering wheel across to meet Australian standards. Although apparently, if the car is of a certain vintage, you can apply for a permit to keep the left-hand drive in place.
But Flash isn't a car snob and is always willing to give my little Japanese vehicle its regular service and registration check. And he is so accommodating and happy to squeeze my car in, even when he is obviously busy. Just from living next door, I know that he works long hours and is dedicated to his job.

I spotted an espresso coffee machine in the corner of the workshop, so maybe he has lots of caffeine hits to keep going, but I really suspect it's because he is still passionate about cars.

His workshop is also a photographer's delight with all the kind of curios and adornments you would expect from a mechanic. 

The customary girly calendar is on the right.

But he also has this cute Dunlop tyre ashtray:

And these lovely vintage, pin-up girl auto repair pictures:

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Flash Auto

42 Hardie Street

Darlinghurst NSW 2010

02 9331 3633

www.flashauto.com.au

Across the Border: Potts Point: Hoon-Cars: 1948 MG

This classy red racer was today parked on Macleay Street, Potts Point, just next to the Fitzroy Gardens, where the Saturday markets were being held. I don't often see cars of this vintage around the area, but it was a fine day so the owner had brought it out for a spin. It reminds me of the cars that Toad of Toad Hall (from Wind in the Willows) used to gad about in and I can just imagine him taking the wheel and then crashing the car in to a tree.

The car is a 1948 MG TC and attached to the side was a little note so that passers-by could learn about the four-wheeler's fine pedigree and the kind of work involved in maintaining such a vehicle:

The note reads:

1948 MG TC

Registration Number VPV 240.

Purchased new by a Mr P.R Williams of 268 Oxford Street, Woollahra in 1948 (original metal sales plate still attached to battery box).

The car was then purchased by John and Barbara Dixon, of Mosman, date unknown.

In 1966 Mr Dixon then sold the car to Mr Cooke of North Sydney for approximately 150 Pounds.

1968: The car was taken off the road and all wood was replaced with hand-crafted, lead-primed Tasmanian Coachwood and all mechanicals that needed it replaced or rebuilt.

1972: Again taken off the road and stored on blocks.

1980: Re-sprayed in original colour.

1990: All leather replaced.

1998: Car sent to Albert Johnston to finish rebuilding and restoration. Motor rebuilt/balanced, new suspension, better quality steel crankshaft, new brakes, Datson steering box, new carburettors, both 16- and 19-inch wheels rebuilt, new stainless steel exhaust, new waterproof cloth hood and new side curtains and canvas tonneau-cover.

2000: Car registered and travelled 3000 miles, until . . . 

2005: After owning it for 40 years, Mr Cooke then sold the car to its present custodian (Car lives happily ever after).

I was extremely lucky to be allowed to sit behind the wheel of the car (I think it was because I once gave the owner's dog, Sunny, some of my breakfast bacon):

And then, even better, the owner took me for a drive around the block, and with the wind in my hair and Sunny on my lap, we cruised along Elizabeth Bay Road. Ah, happy days in Darlinghurst.

Darlinghurst: Detritus: Batmobile

There are always plenty of boy-racers cruising the figure-eight circuit of Darlinghurst Road and Victoria Street in their hotted up hoon-cars, but until tonight I hadn't seen Batman's wheels in the neighbourhood.