Power of love - Back to the future

Howdy folks

all this recent chatter about the upcoming Van Nats has stirred me into a bit of nostalgic posting.

My first Van Nats was 1985 the year Marty and the Doc hit 88mph and ...... well you know

I was 21 and had already owned two vans but now had a 78 TE Cortina wagon...beige no less. The 2 litre powerhouse propelled me up the Hume in no time which was hardly amazing considering it had been lowered at the front with Pedders springs (factory springs sat high cos they were made for the heavier manly sixes)  6" Bathurst globes with Bridgestone 60 series tyres with RAISED white lettering and a T top sunroof with centre light.................it was that close to a Delorean it wasn't funny. I guess the Australian flag doona sitting on the 5" Clark Rubber foam mattress distinguished it enough so the true aficinados could make the distinction.

Had a mate who was with Bedford Vans United so we camped with them......when I say camped we retired to the wagon that put our faces close enough to the interior light that we had to apply sunscreen.

Arrived Saturday arvo, stayed for the Country and Western night which seemed a little slow, retired to the campsite drinking with the boys and then 2 hours later it was egg and bacon rolls and stick your veehickle up on car ramps and clean the sh*t out of it

Anyway you probably know all the cars shown here but check out all the sunroofs........sorry to anyone under 35, they were cool in their day and they let out all the smoke from Winnie reds, the girlfriends Alpine Lights and her gay friends John Player Specials. St Moritz were just for fancy occasions. They also kept your windscreen from fogging up when you had special cuddles in the back.

I remember being star struck by seeing in the flesh all the non Vic vans that Id only seen in mags like CV&T...............I guess the modern day equivalent would be like seeing Kim Kardashian .........   also front heavy and too much stuffed in the rear

Pre Delorean makeover.....................check out how high those front springs sit

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After ............hard to believe same car



the tyre marks are not mine.................mine are in a straight line with flames ...or I wish ...stupid rooftop car park was too short could only get to 30kmhs!!

Some memories there for sure. "Trouble Maker" wonder what happened to that Van?
Thanks for the memory trip!

Regards, Smooth

Love your Write Up. A great Read!

Thank you for all the Great Pics!

Some Vans I hadn't seen much of or in colour before.

GREAT old pic's, & WE are still going hey......

Sam

AWESOME!!! good to see more wizard pics, and also to see midnight mistress in her glory, thanks....

Great photos & story, a crack up. Mate of mine used to smoke JPS in the 80's and we stirred the crap out of him about it. Had forgotten about it till I read your post.
And on the subject of nostalgia, there were 3 different songs all titled "The Power of Love" in the charts in 1985. Huey Lewis as mentioned, also Jennifer Rush, and good old Frankie Goes to Hollywood.....

-Rohan.