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Two '60s American Classics: Classic Restos - Series 53

By Shannons - Published on 18 August 2023

On a large rural property West of Sydney, Fletch discovers a motoring enthusiast passionate about American cars with two exceptional models, a 1960 Series 2 Cadillac Coupe and a 1963 Chevrolet El Camino Ute, both of which had been restored and maintained to show car/trophy level by their owner Terry. 

Terry explained that while living on a large rural property had its advantages, it presented some challenges in maintaining these classic cars due to the 80km of dirt roads leading to the property. 

The 1960 Cadillac Coupe with a 390 V8 and 4-speed Hydramatic has been owned by Terry for 20 years and clocked up 50,000 miles. It’s a reliable car with very few mechanical issues, and Terry considers it more elegant and sleeker than earlier Cadillacs. It is a beautiful example of a luxury car from the 60s. Despite handling it like a boat, Terry has found it very comfortable and always puts a smile on his face every time he gets in the car. Fletch even had the opportunity to take it for a spin, and as a fan of large American cars, he was not disappointed.

Terry's other prized possession is a 1963 Chevrolet El Camino Ute, which he purchased on eBay from just six photos and imported back to Australia. Despite its pristine condition on arrival, Terry undertook a complete restoration, saying "There is a lot of me in this car."  The availability of parts for this Chevelle-inspired vehicle made the restoration process easier, and Terry described it as "one of the easiest cars to restore.".

Even with the pristine presentation of the car on a rural property, all the vehicles must share the workload, and the El Camino is more than capable of doing its share, it never lets him down. It's the go-to vehicle, even when more modern vehicles are available. It drives like a modern car, is good on long distances and handles highway speeds effortlessly.

Overall, these two classic American cars have been lovingly restored and maintained, and they continue to bring joy to their owner and enthusiasts like Fletch.