Photos: The Sprague Family Collection

[Grant Sprague]

I came across this one - Bathurst 1973..Half a Valiant!

lol ... Hey Bry thanks for finding at least half a car , I do know Gary had one of this car [photo] going through the Dipper & the boot lid sprung open ... but hey this is cool thanks again looks like big brother driving here ....... Grant

[bry3500]

lol ... Hey Bry thanks for finding at least half a car , I do know Gary had one of this car [photo] going through the Dipper & the boot lid sprung open ... but hey this is cool thanks again looks like big brother driving here ....... Grant

there seem to be a lot of photos on the autopics web site. Is the photo of the dipper/boot this one? http://autopics.com.au/73749-l-leona...ance-j-ruting/

[Grant Sprague]

Well Bry amazing you found this ....... I had seen a similar photo...this car was prepared in darlinghurst Sydney by ernie & Leo and local Crysler people .... ....not sure what the deal was but the car I think is the south island or was recently sold & back in Aussi will catch up with Leo in a few months will find out more .... or just ask Gary .....this car is the one Gary did the winter series in . late 70,s ..and then belonged to Bob Stewart.. a family friend .....a good southern man

[Terry S]

Well Bry amazing you found this ....... I had seen a similar photo...this car was prepared in darlinghurst Sydney by ernie & Leo and local Crysler people .... ....not sure what the deal was but the car I think is the south island or was recently sold & back in Aussi will catch up with Leo in a few months will find out more .... or just ask Gary .....this car is the one Gary did the winter series in . late 70,s ..and then belonged to Bob Stewart.. a family friend .....a good southern man

Grant, your mention of car being prepared by Chrysler people in Darlinghurst makes me think it may have been at HARDEN & JOHNSTON. They advertised as biggest Chrysler distributor in Australia. There Service Dept was in Darlinghurst Rd near Kings Cross. My father had his Chryslers and Dodges serviced there and to a young fella it seemed enormous.
Their new car showroom was very big and on the corner of Anzac Pde and South Dowling St. I remember my father buying a new 1957 Chrysler Royal from there, the first car sold in Australia with automatic transmission.
Sydneysiders may remember these Anzac Pde premises.

See the attached for interest:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...,6901726&hl=en

For interest if you move across to the left beyond the bottom of the ad there is an article on the start of some Sydney dealers, which may be on interest.

[Grant Sprague]

Thank you Terry , I remember the place was called CITY CRYSLER in Darlinghurst.... I arrived there [ Sydney ] as a teen 100% bullet proof & ended up working there with an other kiwi mate then [bondi here we come ] , this was when the 340 chargers were outlawed ...for Bathurst ...by this time Dad, Leo & Gary had been there done that in the E49 plus I think Leo in the 3 speed E38 a year or two before that , oddly enough I was close to Darlinghurst last week on a family holiday ....... interesting stuff ...... we got the job there mainly because of the connection , so many jobs were available in those days for boys that wanted to work . then for Mr Matich over in the shore . hey Terry a bit off the beaten track but thanks for being involved ....I wonder if this was the same place ??????