Just to clarify the number 1 statis of this car, here is the history of the number 1 cars as I know it.
As stated earlier the first HT 81837 was built in Adelaide during the HK programme. This car was built, along with a series of other HTs, for production process and for some initial testing. there was no need to crash test these cars as they were structurally the same as an HK.
This particular car turned up at Wangarata in 1998 and the owners girl friend appraoched me re the number plate on the car being from the "Mean enough to stay out front advertisement. I then examine the plate to find the details, as the car was not entered in the event I had not seen it yet.
Later discussion found that a fellow at the event knew of the car from previous owners who stated that when they purchased it it had a 327 engine.
When we found the assembly date it had some logic to it, as it was built so early that there were probably no 350s in the country yet, so apparently GM-H fitted a 327 second type engine, as it is visaully the same and accessory the same, so all the "new 350 parts" would fit. After soem more research it was also found to be the car in the "scorching success" ad, which interestingly does not have side stripes, which are standard and not deletable on GTS350s. This is the problem with very early built cars, specs change and they are sometimes not right.
The first 81837 from Sydney was not built until after the HT was released, but from what we have found the first batch went through the Sydney plant. This batch was destined for the press cars etc as high plain said. This car was the first car fitted with a 350 engine by GM-H.
This car has an interesting history, which I helped the owners research. What they knew when the car was purchased was the car was at Bathurst when the 1969 race was on. There was a despute about the 4 bolt mains on the GTS 350 and Ford insited that the main be checked, and they used this car in the Bthurst dealership.
The car also did not have its engine but a check through the registry (you could do it back then) found the engine did not ahve an M or A in the engine number.
From that we "assumed" that the engine must have been pulled out and rather than refit, Harry Firth must have kept the engine and a replacement "NASCO" engine fitted.
Then in the 90s Shifty 350 contacted Ben about a car he was buying and Ben told him to ensure it had an M in the engine number not an A. He came back and said it had neither. Ben and I had discussed the number 1 car befre so he went and checked the car. This car was the number 4 car and it also had no M or A.
I then asked Harry about the car at the dealership and he confirmed it was a green and gold GTS 350, but all they did was remove the oil and gas axe a hole in the sump. He was pissed as they then never even came down to look.
So now we had to find why the first 4 cars had no M or A, but the 7th, I think does, it was quite simple no one picked it up until the first 350 auto was made. They did not realise they had to differentiate between engines, as there was only one engine at a time per cubic capacity for Chevrolet engines used in Holdens up until then.
The number 4 car was to be used as a press car, like High plains pointed out.
The number 2 cars from both Adelaide and Sydney are also significant cars and both still exist. They shed some light onto the above theories.
The number 2 Sydney car had one owner from 1971 to a few years ago. he car had already had an engine change before this owner purchased it, but was still fitted with a Sydney assigned engine, but from mid 71. It was beleived that this car was press car APX415, but some research shows this is not the case. The second engine has since vanished when the owner had it reconditioned 10 years ago. The car is being restored today
The number 2 Adelaide car came down the production line not far behind the number 1 car, however it was not fitted with an engine at this time. It was pushed to one side. In February 1970 it was fitted with an engine. We know this as it has a compliance plate. Compliance plates only have to be fitted to cars that are built after 1/70, and built means when the engine and chassis come together. This car has an Chassis number and VIn that place it in early 1969, but the engine number matches the 2/70 date. This adds further speculation that the first 81837 was fitted with a second type 327 engine for production line purposes, but then the second car pushed to one side to await the arrival of the 350 engines.
Anyway let you guys make up your own minds on what was the first GTS 350 built, this is just the info I have found over the last 20 years.
Warren
Edited by user Tuesday, 5 May 2009 5:16:09 PM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
