As Rick worked at Paul's, he purchased the car, and all the spares - promising the car would "Go to a good home." Having the car outside, the paintwork oxidised, and required a regular cut & polish. I had a radio fitted, bought seat covers, and felt like every new car owner.

Mid-year '75, we moved to Wollongong, with me terrified driving down steep Mt. Keira, to that beautiful strip of beaches below the escapement.
While managing his own car yard, Rick had my car sent off to a panel beaters for a re-spray and rust-proofing, the job was a disaster, and the yard returned to the previous tradesman.
The water pump had been repaired, the starter motor reconditioned, and it ran well on standard fuel - running about 43 miles to the gallon.

Driving 'down' to Melbourne in September '76, I knew the car needed work - brakes, knocking in the engine, and I had already learnt to choose a heavy-duty battery. The 900 mile trip was ok - no problems except for the cat ! It was re-registered in Victoria as IUO439 April '77.
My first accident was then, brakes failing after having them checked, and running into the back corner of another car - far more damage to them, even at a crawl. Around this time, almost everything needed repair, replacement or reconditioning - yet it was still cheaper and far more reliable to run than buying a new car, and I had become to enjoy the high, floating ride, and enjoyed the recognition it gave me.
In March '78, I was introduced to the Austin A40 Car Club, though fellow work-mate Max at Foxboro, who also gave me an extra grille "In case" and a few other bits and pieces. The first time I actually went on a Club run to Ballarat - Easter '78, KNEW there was something wrong, on my first drive along the Eastern freeway, and through the city - losing power, generator light coming on - yet kept going. On the return trip, further problems, and I knew if it stopped, it was dead. I nursed that little car all the way home, made it up the drive and it DID die - three valves burnt out, and only one cylinder firing.

Over the years it has always been reliable, economic, easily recognised, slow and cumbersome. Yet there is something about gliding along, with the engine purring, that is enormously enjoyable. I won a car rally in that little car - NOT because it was the oldest, either. So in September '91 when my own business, with myself as director, signed as personal guarantor for a brand new Lexus, I felt it was time I could afford to have work done on it, too !

Ian Schubert, the mechanic at the Croydon Garage who, like his dad, had worked on my car for all those years - recommemded Colin Bates of Custom Auto Chassis Engineering to do the work, and early '92 was booked for the rebuild.

Meanwhile.....
A number of years earlier, I had seen another Somerset - a black one - near our factory. The body work was good - the upholstery in better condition, registration had expired, and work had been done on the motor. I purchased it for around A$700.00 and Ian had it at his place, and worked on it as well.

This car was collected by Colin, and he swapped over many parts to keep Effie in the road, while he worked. Eventually, Effie also joined him - Easter '94, and I then purchased a brand new car. Now I had power steering, disc brakes, a sun roof, and every imaginable electrical gadget - even flashing lights ! Would I ever want to drive Effie after this ? Yet I 'visited' regularly - and watched (and paid for) the transformation.

Travelling across to England I had a list Colin had provided, with the plan of sourcing parts not know to be available here - rubbers for the door seals, steering wheel, temperature gauge, odds and ends, and gear-shift lever. The Counties Car Club was contacted, and as I was never going to attend any of their meetings, I resented having to become a paying member before purchasing parts. So - across to Ireland, one phone call from the Dublin phone book, and wheels were in motion ! A fella knew a fella, who knew of someone else who had stripped an Austin A40 Somerset - and may have some spares ! Drove around the island, and up in County Donegal, Eddy Ferry in Ramelton gave me the temperature gauge, and the gear lever, and I declined the chance of carrying a full steering wheel back home via the States. Eddy had a fully restored black Austin in his garage, and drove his Austin 6 around Ramelton !

There were a few delays - the main one being the unavailability of rubber seals, the door linings. I was already on the net by this time, so posted an enquiry in one of the newsgroups. Suprise - the mail I received, from Canada, mentioned a club member in Brisbane, who then referred me to a company in Sydney who specialised in Austin rubbers - one phone call and the seals were delivered !

So....
Last September. '96, my car was complete ! Newly registered as NZB111. Original, wonderful, and a thing of beauty. Re-built piece by piece, new tyres added, all chrome re-done, new carpet fitted, even a heater and a radio. My first drive down Croydon main street, gliding along, was such a buzz ! I had such a feeling of satisfaction, and pride that I actually owned such a nice car.
Many people have approached me, they recognise the car - and nothing but compliments on the bodywork, the finish, how it runs. I have yet to show it off to the other club members, yet I will !

My daughter Charlene will eventually own this car - it has been a constant in her life, as in mine.

PS.....
I did chase up Effie O'Dea, many years ago when I returned to Dubbo, to tell her about her little car. Spoke instead to her niece, who had inherited the Marina when her aunt had passed away a few years earlier. The little car was remembered fondly as "Aunt Effie's monster."

PPS.....
On a later return to Ireland, I looked up the 'fella who knew a fella' who not only remembered me, remembered the list of things I was after ! Ciaran Cavanagh had his own little black Austin A40, and was kind enough to take me for a drive around Dublin. Nice.

PPPS.....
Another member of my Lions Club nagged me to enter my car in the annual Auto Festival, held by the Croydon Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As this also included a fund-raiser to benefit Lions, I did - and WON !! What a buzz !