All I know today is that I know these cars. I cannot explain when I first saw a specific car, but I know
all these oldies.
Except for one, the Fairmont GT
At the time we lived in Colesberg. Those years most new cars were driven from PE in convoys to
the (then)Transvaal. Volkswagens, Chevrolets, Fords. And these vehicles always paused at Colesberg
for petrol.
I cannot remember the year, I was in standerd 9 (1970) and matric (1971). Walking after school
to our home and in the mainstreet I saw this brand new white Fairmont parked alongside the road opposite
a café. I knew Fairmonts at the time but this white one looked different. I started to walk around
the car and then saw it is a Fairmont GT.Never before I knew a Fairmont will also be made a GT !!
Whilst looking and admiring this GT the driver came from the café with his lunch in hand and
eagerly showed me the inside and the engine bay. I was astonished,to say the least.
Then it was time for the GT to take the long road north in the convoy.
I knew the driver was deeply under the impression of my interest in this car. And he then decided
to also show me the mechanical capabilities of the GT.
He started the car, and revved it softly. The sound was glorious. And then he took off. I will never
ever forget that demonstration. The moment the Fairmont began to move, it left two black rubber
footprints for many many meters on the sement main street. I could not belief what I saw.
That was the day I met a Fairmont GT. The impression is imprinted to this day. In my
view it will allways be worthy to be called Big Daddy. The performance it was capable of
back in 1970/1971 was utterly impressive. The road test by CAR magazine (which I only
saw many years later) is testimony of the brutal power of this car. Nothing in the same price
bracket could touch it. It blowed everthing away.
With that the only regret. Many years later I was quite capable of buying a spotless
example for no more than R30,000. But,I did not.Unfotunatly not.
Johan
