Joan Paterson from Forbes has recently bought this original 1984 Nissan Bluebird.
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She wasn't actually looking for another car but when the opportunity came up on the Nissan her partner Viv convinced her to buy it.
He and Joan are both members of the Parkes based Central West Car Club which over the last few years has seen an increase in its ranks to nearly 300 members from Parkes, Forbes and the surrounding Central West.
Joan has owned the Bluebird for about 14 months now and I recently caught up with both her and Viv to find out a little more about it.
"What drew us to the car was that it's an original one-owner vehicle," Joan said.
"The elderly lady owner had given up driving and moved into a nursing home some time ago and her son who is a motor mechanic had kept it in the garage and maintained it.
"When it was time to move it on and put something else in the shed we heard about it and bought it."
Upon further inspection of the log books, the Bluebird had originally been sold by David Coulston Sales in Clarinda Street in Parkes.
According to Viv and Joan, the Nissan had pretty much just been driven locally around Forbes aside from a couple of trips up the Newell Highway as far as Coonabarabran.
Ironically now it's doing the same thing, getting some regular use with Joan driving it around town in Forbes.
The Nissan Bluebird certainly doesn't look like a fast car and to most people it wouldn't be known for its motor racing pedigree but in 1984 a turbo-charged Bluebird TRX set the lap record at Mt Panorama.
In cold conditions which favoured the turbo it was piloted by George Fury and set the first sub 2 minutes 14 seconds time at Bathurst, a record that it held for the next seven years.
Joan certainly doesn't have any such aspirations just yet for her 4 cylinder automatic.
With no power steering she reckons it's a bit heavy on the arms "but it's comfortable to sit in and drive" she said.
If you'd like to know more about the CWCC you can look us up at www.centralwestcarclub.com or on Facebook or come along as a guest to one of our meetings at 7:30pm on the first Wednesday of each month at the Parkes Leagues Club.
About the club
The Central West Car Club was formed in 1954 following a meeting of people from all walks of life who shared a common interest in racing high powered vehicles.
They included dentists Geoff Brown and Alan Threlfo, car salesmen Ken and Allan Miller, banker Wal Horler, BP representative Alex Venn, auto-electrician Gary Wilson and many others such as Henry Jones from Forbes, Eston White and Alf Head.
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