Superflea has been found

[Hunter]

In 1969 I bought an Austin panel from Gerry Parker in PG---built it and had lots of fun with it--sold it in 1980 due to increasing family and then tried to find it some 12 years later---had lots of people looking but no luck--a couple years ago a name was mentioned but was tucked away as life goes on only to surface a week ago--maybe cause I am getting older or whatever it became important to chase the name---sure enough there it was---not really a barn find but a backyard find--doesn't matter--it still exists---not for sale at this time but is pretty complete still---maybe someday it will come home--

this is what it looked like when I sold it
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/BobsAustin02.jpg

this is how I found it

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/100_6450.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/100_0808.jpg

was like meeting an old friend ---one of the best weekends in a long time

[Hunter]

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/100_0804.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/100_6443.jpg
:D

[stil38]

wow, great find. not for sale, i'm gonna fix it up ??? so sad that he let it sit like that, perhaps one day you can restore it to its former glory.

[Bgbkwndo]

The shot of you kneeling beside your old car is priceless, Bob. Bet you've had a lump in your throat ever since. Great find!

Bgbkwndo.

[UGLEE 33]

yep bob, that old girl needs to follow you home. maybe that fella will come to his senses after a while

[Davey_Joe]

bobby,... i'm happy for ya pal!!!. that is so neat,... an' as the guys say.... mayhaps it'll come home one day...... too cool seein' the engine still in 'er!!.... is it far from home??.......

[stovbolt]

well Bob it brings back a lot of memories doesn't it and all fond ones, you lucky dog you!! so happy for you maby the guy will part with it soon enough for you.

[amarthfea]

oh my goodness that thing looked sweat back in the day. that engine looks like a giant, what was it?

~adam

[shaune]

Good detective work.
Gosh how could somebody let it get to be that bad of shape.....shame.
Good find, good luck....it needs to go back to ya.

[hotroddchick22]

that engine looks like a giant, what was it?

~adam



I'm going out on a limb here and could be completely wrong (sorry if my typing is horrible, I've got a hurt finger), but would that possibly be a wide-block of some sort? I know of a 318 wide-block and it looks big like that.

The car's cool though, sad that someone would let is sit there like that after it looked so good before.

[Olrodder]

Neat shot of you and the car.... I can only imagine what was going through your mind. I sincerely hope you can find a way to bring that car back.... for you and the car.
Clarke

[CDNflatlander]

That is very cool Bob! Bgbkwndo Wrote exactly what I'd say.
Wow.....now that the intro's are done, there is a better chance that you may see that ride again!!
Thanks for the post,
Greg.

[Jeff Norwell]

Thats a freaking shame.....I hope you get it back.

[ss34coupe]

what a great story. What can we do to help you get that old Austin back? Its clearly been sitting in its current spot for a long time, and it does not look like the "owner" is looking after the car well, or even caring if it is looked after. Any idea why it is not for sale? Maybe he just needs some encouragement to sell, or perhaps a cash offer. You gotta get it back!!

[bgbdlinc]

...STEAL IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I promise I won't tell on you.....)

[stovbolt]

geezz I can't emagine that two-4 setup just sitting there like that gonna have to chase the ratz outa there;)

[dale48mrc]

Is that a poncho motor in that puppy?Hopefully this guy will come to his senses and make a deal with you Bob!!!

[mopar_yak]

Well I think the guy needs to see a cash incentive to and you may get it. I definately would leave him your number. Some of those people who say they will never sell all of a sudden dump vehicles when the offer is right or need cash.

Good luck, and that is a super fly find..... :)

[tiquer]

Glad the guy let you have look at it Bob That must have been fricken awsome to see it after all those years of wondering where it might be and what shape it would be in. If the rod gods are looking down at you it might be brought back to it`s rightful home:cool:

[Davey_Joe]

chick,... fellas,... the engine was a 371 olds,.... i believe (at least when we last saw it)............ man i'm still stunned,... an' thrilled fer bobby!!!!!.........

[wrascal]

Bob looks like Santa left him a hemi under the christmas tree!! It would be cool to get it back and bring it back to its former glory.

Russ:D

[Hunter]

wow guys---thanks for the interest---it was amazing to walk around the back of the house and see it there---been in the same spot for some 22 years--Davey was close on the engine--started out as a 1960 olds--394 cu in--bored out to 406---balanced and lots of other goodies---hydromatic trans like a B&M for those days--engine was built by Jack Williams of Syndicate speed shop fame in Burnaby---engine was in a 27 T coupe I was building but pulled it when I found the Panel --the only thing missing is the glass and upholstery--he has all the headers--rad--even regi--just needs a lot of tlc--didn't want anyone to know where it is to keep people from bothering or stealing --so I told him I wouldn't say either--he said if it goes it will come home here----will wait--at least I know where it is after 28 years of wonder and he knows I want it----hope that happens before I get too old to handle all the power--:D:D

[Davey_Joe]

gawd bobby,... i really pray it'll happen fer ya bud!! that would be so cool!!....

[John in Oz]

That's neat Hunter, maybe someone needs to either go and visit his missus if he has one and work on her about getting the old car out of the back yard or have one of your mates duck in and tell him it's not worth much and tell him how much of a Richard cranium he is for letting it get to that stage of disrepair. Make sure it's a good mate who would let you have it back if the guy did sell to him and then just give him a phone call and hope the wife answers and if you haven't already made an offer hit them with say a grand and see if they will take that, the problem is you don't want to insult him or you could never get your hands on it again.

I hope you do get it home for some TLC because it would be good to see that back on the street again.

Good luck with it,

Cheers, John

[GER5719]

Just to show you another Gerry Austin that got away. I bought this pick-up in Kelowna somewhere a long time ago. It was built by a guy that owned a Shell station out in Rutland. I was never able to get it together enough to do anything with it so I sold it to a tow truck driver here in PG and he shortly thereafter moved to Vancouver, taking the truck along with him. I wonder what happened to it from there?


http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z36/gerry03/gerry2.jpg

[GER5719]

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z36/gerry03/gerry3.jpg

[Hunter]

Gerry--that is one cool pickup---tell me more about it--I know a fellow at the coast that builds Austin 2-doors and custom frames etc for them---he pretty much knows what is around or has been--not too late to find out what happened:D

[GER5719]

Hey Bob; That's just about all I remember. The workmanship on the truck was superb and that guy in Rutland had built several other street rods, according to flawed schapses in my memory. The guy I sold it to was building another pick-up and when he saw that one he knew it was a whole bunch better than what he was doing. It had a fully chromed 8" ford rear end, a chromed front axle and I never did have a box for it. Someone owned it in between the builder and me and whoever that was lost the box and some of the interior pieces; I still have the chromed driveshaft that some nimrod decided to lengthen by welding a piece in the middle??? of the shaft but that's it. The Kid (sic) that I sold it to was heavily into Austins,so I would be surprised if he wasn't still around as an old boy now.
I know a guy in Quesnel that has a pick-up and a 2 door sedan (stocker) that has never done much with them. No delivery however. I wonder if someone could do anything with the lic.plate no. from the picture. I think I took them in 1978-79. I wonder, is there any Kelowna guys on the site...some old boys might remember the builder. And the Austin clique in the lower mainland should know about this truck unless the guy headed east....
Gerry

[CDNflatlander]

Ger, Was the Rutland guy also into Gremlins? The paint reminded me of this guy that raced a 401 Gremlin; he also owned a gas station in Rutland. Can't remeber his name thou......
Greg

[GER5719]

I am almost certain that would be the guy. It seemed like a drag racing type of shop. Unfortunately I don't have his name either. I'm betting someone knows something about him, thou Gerry

[GER5719]

I just thoought you might miss this thread if we didn't drag you to it! Welcome to the site and any gasser pics you can find will surely be appreciated. This weekend I will try to get out to Harm's place so we can post some pictures of his Austins.

[HoHum]

GER5719, Hope you get to see Kevin this weekend.Ask him about the ol millsite where the Austin was being stored.Should have some cool photos!I've got his "littleenglishwhore" email but not sure if it is still valid. I'm not savy around computers so not sure how to get pictures out to you.I read some of the sugestions but it was all "Greek" to me.Had a photo of Kevins Austin with wider rear fenders (sharp!).Sure happy for HUNTER.The lump would'nt have been in my throat however.I hope he gets the panel (EKTUALLY...Countryman.)Any idea how it pisses off English Car folks when you hot rod one of "their" cars.( I do....)?

[HoHum]

Hunter, The fellow you mentioned on the coast,is his name Tom? I wonder if he ever picked up a 2door from Victoria.The old Pacers Car Club Austin. I heard it went to the mainland.Did you get my private reply?

[Hunter]

HoHum----got your message---amazing how many people on here have owned Austins ---the fellow at the coast was Tom Anwyll from Aldergrove--was building a 2door with a blown 392 for the street--e-mailed him the other nite and am waiting for new pictures of it--here are a couple from his build---not sure if he got the one from the island--if you e-mail me pictures I will post for you till you figure it out --I want to see your car anyway and I'm sure lots of others would too

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/TomsAustin005.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/TomsAustin007.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/tn_Hemifrt.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/Superflea_2006/tn_F1010016.jpg

[bullet]

I had a '51 back in High School ( late 60's ), painted her up like a Union Jack ( my hippie days ), only had a 4 banger in her though.

[GER5719]

Sorry guys, I didn't make it out to Kevins. I will try again this weekend . Wow Hunter, that 2 door is killer Gerry