Yes, it's a convertible Mark 5. It certainly solved the problem of replacing that big back window. At one stage I needed to replace mine after a vandal scratched something rude on it with a compass point and it turned out that Menzel's Plastics were able to do the job (with the blue tint as well). Anyway, I'm off the subject again. This car had a Ford V8 in it and the tilt front had a huge bulge to accommodate it. It is seen here competing in the six-hour in the Vic. BCCA team in the days when there was only one Bolwell Club, based in Melbourne. This is at Winton before the Six-hour moved to Calder. Not long after this event, the car was retired and the body/chassis was strung up in the roof of the owner's shed. I lusted after that car but by the time I had gotten around to tracking it down it had been taken to the tip never to be seen again.
6 comments:
Except for one detail, this sounds like Ross Smith's Mk5. I worked with Ross for a few years - really top bloke - and if I remmber correctly his Mk5 (with a normal roof) had an altercation with a truck (going under the tray?) and so had extensive roof damage. The easy solution was to cut it off completely. The engine was Chev V8, not Ford, and he did say it ended up at the tip. Ross lived near Boolarra (150km south-east of Melbourne).
One of the blokes racing Bolwells at the time was Doug Seath, a good friend of the Smiths. He could confirm or correct what I am saying.
Just to digress: Doug moved to Tassie a few years back and left his yellow Mk7 racecar at Ross's farm. This was later bought by Mark B of Melbourne. I'll email you the photos of Ross driving the tractor with Mark on the drawbar of the trailer carrying "Dolly" (I think that was the car's nickname).
-Rick
More info from Dec'96 Slipstream (vic) "For Sale: Ex Ross Smith Mk5, was road registered with Pontiac 283 and 4-speed gearbox. Was raced and is believed to have had a CAMS logbook in the 60's - 70's. Photos do not do the car justice - it is worse. I have only kept this car because of the history. Price FREE - no offers! Dave Bruce" It must have gone to the tip after this.
You're right Rick. It is Ross's car.
Doug is living in Hobart and is more into sailing now.
I gave this lot to Allen Kent
DIB
Yes, where is Allen these days?
I believe this car is still around or was.It ended up in Seaford mid 90s and then sold late 1990s to two brothers?? i think in Frankston. It was restored, painted black and registered in Vic AHR-452. I believe the owner or one of the brothers? friends died and the Bolwell was parked and left to rot in a shed.
I was told this back in 2012, it could still be in Frankston.
Any more info?
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