In my garage
Posted 5 November, 2020
Ellen Morgan
Cracking open the dusty cobweb-covered doors of the family garage to discover what lies inside is a memory many of us treasure from our childhoods. There’s something mesmerising about watching the flickering fluros reveal historic relics inside.
The precious metals tucked away in sheds and backyards always have stories to tell, whether they’re passed down for generations, covered and kept for decades, or passion projects being brought back to their former glory over years of tinkering.
So how many South Aussie garages have 4-wheeled secrets kept within their corrugated walls?
We lift the roller doors and step inside to meet some of the state’s car enthusiasts and their treasures.
Tony Parkinson
1963 Austin Healey 57 FAC Sebring 3000
As far as Tony Parkinson is concerned, his love affair with cars came long before the wine.
Owner of the popular McLaren Vale winery Penny’s Hill, Tony is a member of multiple car groups and an advocate for a number of vintage rallies. He’s a previous track racer and passionate collector.
“Apparently I first showed enthusiasm for cars when I was 3 years of age,” he says.
“My parents said I would stand on the front bench seat of the car, back when they were like couches, and identify every make of car that drove past.
“My first memory of an old sports car was this Austin Healey that I saw in Willunga when I was 10, that I actually ended up buying. It only took me 43 years.”
It’s one of 6 Austin Healeys he’s owned, among an impressive collection of other restored vintage rarities.
“I have probably had about 85 cars I think.”
“In the old days, you could buy old cars for very little money – even $20. I used to have a few 1920s cars with my brother that we tinkered with and sold.”
Over the years, he’s grown into filling his garage with finished vintage treasures.
“Everybody is different with vintage cars. Some people want old Italian cars, some people want red cars, some people are more inclined to fix the mechanics, and others collect completed cars and don’t have much to do under the bonnet.”
Tony likes Austin Healeys. “Blue, white and silver ones,” to be precise.
His pride and joy? The 1963 57 FAC Sebring 3000, which he snapped up in 2015. With only 5 in the world, they’re some of the rarest Austin Healeys on the market.
3 (Tony’s included) were built specifically for the famous 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race in 1963.
“I like the look and feel mainly, and the noise – that’s something you only get from an old car. They have more character – you can feel and hear what’s going on.”
His first Austin Healey – a 100S built in 1955 – was another favourite. While Tony sold it in 2018, he still collects information about the car, which he records on his
dedicated website.
“That car had more stories than any of my cars.”
Tony’s passion for his vintage treasures spans far wider than his garage doors, too.
One of his proudest achievements was staging the Lobethal Grand Carnival in 2008 and 2009 on the original 1939 Australian Grand Prix circuit. Since 2006, he’s also chaired a group which organises historic racing car demonstrations at the Australian Grand Prix.
“My 100S participated in Grand Prix events in the 50s, so I rattled a few cages to keep the historic demonstrations on track in Melbourne so we could race it again.”
He’s spent 20 years racing cars, taking part in an international Healey race at Bathurst in 1998 and a once-in-a-lifetime whiz around the iconic Mille Miglia track in Italy with the 100S.
“If you don’t go out and do it, you’ll just never know what it’s like… it’s just all been part of the zest for historic vehicles for me.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be far away from old vehicles that ‘go’.”
