Stories from the Hood Family – Auto Wreckers

by Allan Hood

In our last journal, the stories from the Hood Family Auto Wrecking business in the 1960s and 70s were a popular item. Allan shares another story from his memories..

Tap Tap

Back in the early 60-70s, my father was about to close up for the day at the Auto Undertakers Wreckers. He closed the front gate and was about to let out our watch dogs. He heard a tapping sound and walked towards it. He discovered Jim, one of our customers, was still working on getting some parts off one of the vehicles. Jim was very grateful that dad hadn’t let the watch dogs off.

We had a wide variety of vehicles at the wreckers. Jim was building a ’34 Ford Hot Rod. Years later he finished the hot rod, with many of the parts supplied from our wrecking yard. The list of parts included:-

1. 1. 1. V.W. Beetle Collapsible Steering Column.
      2. Twin 12.V. V.W. Wiper motors.
      3. Mark I Ford Zephyr Radiator.
      4. H. D. Holden Headlight Rims
      5. Austin 1800 Rack and Pinion Steering.
      6. H. T. Holden Dash and Speedo.
      7. H. T. Holden Power Brake Booster, plus lots more.

The finished product says it all. A lot of time and patience. I finally got to take a ride in it, unbelievable to say the least!

The Rack’n Pinion Holiday

Back in the late ’80s-90s our family of four embarked on a weeks holiday up to Forbes. We had booked a two bedroom cabin at a the Lachlan View caravan park through the NRMA. On arrival on Friday night, we were told that unfortunately the cabin had already been booked out to big group of travellers. They asked if we would take a six birth caravan instead and we said that would do.

Through the night I heard a lot of strange noises. I rolled over thinking that I must have been dreaming, after all, why would their be a lot of noise in a caravan park through the night?

In the morning I got up and went outside to stretch my legs. To my surprise, the whole caravan park was surrounded by Model T Fords.

I couldn’t help myself, I strolled over to look at one of the cars and looked under the bonnet. To my surprise I noticed that it had modern era Ford Escort rack and pinion steering installed.

The car’s owner walked up and I asked him, “what is that Escort rack and pinion doing in there?” (I thought they had to have original parts.) He replied “the rules are as long as it is a genuine Ford part we are allowed to use it.” “Fair enough” I said. He then asked how I knew so much about cars and I told him that our family had an auto wrecking business and that I had removed many rack and pinions from Ford Escorts over the years.

We enjoyed our holiday in Forbes which is a lovely town, we learnt all about Ben Hall the bushranger, the sort of thing you get to do when you visit places. Friends of ours from Riverstone recently moved to Forbes to live, looking for a country life style.