Hi all. I have not ventured onto this site for a while, infact i think i have only ever posted a handful of times but recently i acquired a car that i'd appreciate some information about. It's not a Sandman, nor even a van, (but i do own a WB 5 litre van ) so i hope you guys don't mind too much.
Last week i literally stumbled upon a 74 HQ Statesman. I was doing a job out the back of Mackay and could see it's rather unique rear end from a distance, through the open doors of a large farm shed. I approached the old farmer and to my suprise, after talking for a few minutes and looking all around it he said YES when i asked him if it was for sale.

It had been shedded for 16 years. He pulled the motor out of it and completely pulled it apart 16 odd years ago, had all the rust cut out of it, repaired, painted and half put back together, rolled it back into the shed and left it there. It has no motor nor box but complete barring that. This thing is THE straightest thing i have ever seen, not a dent in it, a couple of tiny paint chips here and there is all. It is near perfect. And 99.9% rust free......just some tiny surface rust forming around the tops of the rear guards. On top of that, it gets better, it is fitted with what the one owner farmer tells me were all factory add ons by him......GTS dash, wheels and thick spoke steerer with GTS horn cap. Also has full power windows and aerial, with white interior with dark wood grain inserts. The black dashpad is perfect and in the boot in a box i found the original unmarked airchief tumble radio. It really is a beautiful car. I bought it basically as it was too good not to buy and want to use all the gear out of it in my van, but the guy i subby for wont let me do that and wants to rebuild it, which i think is probably the correct thing to do. Oh, it is a really bright, in your face aqua blue color, if anybody could tell me the factory name i'd be grateful.

Interestingly, on the id plate it only has the axle stamped (GU7). The space where the engine and trans id should be stamped is blank. The guy whom towed it for me, Vern, whom really seemed to know his stuff (and didn't want to take it off his truck) seemed to think this was normal. I'd love to know why. I was hoping it was a 350 but the wiring is wrong says Vern and it's a 308 trimatic.

I just wanted to share this with you guys, and i hope some of you get a kick out of this story. I have always loved the HQ the most of the series, there is just something about them. Oh, and how much did i pay? I can only get a grand out of my bank a day.........the day i payed the old farmer i could still afford a carton of delightful VB cans for the trip home.

Cheers guys. Rockape