How does a migrant of some 50 years standing become an expert in the restoration and maintenance of ’48 and FJ Holdens, Australia’s Motoring Icon? This is John Azzopardi’s journey.

John migrated from Malta in 1955 as a bright eyed and bushy tailed young man looking for adventure and a better way of life. He quickly settled into Inner Sydney suburban life and found work in his trade as a fitter & machinist.

Like all young lads at the time, John had to be part of the crowd, and, being part of the crowd, had to have a sports car. And so John acquired his first car, an Austin A90 Atlantic Convertible. It wasn’t the sort of car that would blow your hat off, but none the less it was a sports car. At about the same time John caught the eye of a comely lass whom he pursued with gusto! Judith eventually became his wife.

John and Judith, now living in Sydney’s West, used the Austin A90 Atlantic Convertible as a daily driver until 1968 when they decided that, because of a growing family, they needed something better able to accommodate that family.

The Austin A90 Atlantic Convertible was duly traded on a new HB Holden Torana.

In the same year Judith’s father passed away and John inherited his father in law’s FJ Holden.

The sudden acquisition of two cars came in handy as John was working a permanent afternoon shift at Borg-Warner, and the FJ was useful for Judith to get the family around and besides she was still working herself.

Eventually Judith stopped working, and because of the expense of running two vehicles they made the decision to sell the FJ Holden. That decision has been regretted to this day.

Work and the raising of a family occupied John’s time until he retired in 1992 after 30 years of service with Borg-Warner. By this time they had acquired a Ford Laser as a family run about, and the HB Holden Torana bought new in 1968 was placed into storage.

By 1997 John began looking for something to occupy his time, as you do in retirement, and his thoughts turned back to the FJ Holden he inherited from his father in law all those years ago. He had always maintained an interest in the early Holdens and so it was a natural progression that he thought he would like to try his hand at restoring an FJ Holden, just like the one he used to own.

Vincent, his son, a young mechanic and a car nut himself, had seen two FJ Holdens advertised in the newspaper for a total cost of $1,000.00. This was the challenge John was looking for; but it was a bigger challenge than he ever imagined. One car located in Mittagong, NSW; was someone’s restoration project that had got no further than being completely stripped of every part, nut and bolt. The second car was complete, but located in Goulburn NSW. It was suitable for parts only.

Both cars were brought home and the task of restoration was started. The Mittagong car was in parts with the small bits in tins and boxes. As anyone who has restored a car knows, this is no way to commence such a project. The body and all parts were taken back to bare metal and the rebuilding process began. Surprisingly, every bit of the car was located in those tins and boxes with the exception of some small pieces of chrome work. These were eventually located at various swap meets around country NSW. The entire restoration from bare metal to on the road and registered took eighteen months.

The results can be seen in the accompanying photo.

John and Judith wanted to be able to enjoy their car with other people interested in the early Holdens. Naturally they gravitated to the 48 & FJ Holden Owners Club NSW and in 1998 they joined the club. This club is unique in that it caters only to unmodified 48 and FJ Holdens. In the years since, both John and Judith have held committee positions with the club and have become influential and loyal members.

But this is not the end of John’s story.

He turned his attention to other members cars, assisting in minor maintenance and major repairs on a regular basis. His knowledge and expertise of the early Holdens continued to grow.

In 1999 John and Judith had the opportunity to acquire another member’s 48 model sedan, and so began the second bare metal restoration. On completion, this car became Judith’s pride and joy. Judith’s story is recorded here

More maintenance and repairs to member’s cars occurred pretty much on a continuous basis until yet another restoration took place. This time it was a 1962 EK Holden Special Sedan. That vehicle was completed and almost immediately put into storage.

The next major project was the virtual rebuilding of a rare PMG Lines Man’s Van recreated to resemble a PMG Postal Van of the era.

Member’s cars and club business took John’s attention for some time. The maintenance of member’s cars provided a regular interest with work even performed on a Vintage Dodge and a Vintage Chev through this period of time. Eventually John’s mind again began returning to his youth and he wondered what it would be like to own an Austin A90 Atlantic Convertible once more.

By chance, one such car was advertised for sale in Victoria about two years ago.

John couldn’t resist and he purchased that car, you guessed it, in parts and in tins and boxes. A meticulous restoration of that car is in progress and it should be on the road by the end of 2008.

As it happens, Austin A90 Atlantic Convertibles are now extremely rare with worldwide numbers approximately 150.

Will this car be the end of John’s restoration days? Who knows when the bug will bite again and how soon; after all there is a genuine one owner 1968 HB Holden Torana still sitting in storage!