By Deanne Jeffers
LLOYD Healey became involved in the Goulburn Valley’s collector car scene in 1985, after the ‘Rally in The Valley’ was held in Mooroopna. Then known as the Collectors Club, Mr Healey has been involved with the GV Motor Vehicle Drivers Club for 37 years. He has been the main driver organising the Shepparton Swap Meet.
Mr Healey and his wife Kristine (Kris) bought their 1970 Ford XW Falcon from new for $2,300. There were only 105,785 XW Falcon 500 sedans produced from the model released in July 1969. Manufactured in Broadmeadows, the vehicle was finished in November 1970. Much of the vehicle is original including the motor (221ci (3.6L) 140bhp 6-cylinder).
“XW and XY Falcons had a bad habit of rusting in the bottom of the doors. Mine had rust in it, so we had to fix that up.”
This minor work to improve the paintwork and replacing the front seats for comforts are the only changes the vehicle has seen in more than 50 years.
“It’s done 138,000 miles, not kilometres, and I’d drive it to Perth tomorrow if I wanted to,” Lloyd said. “It towed our caravan to every capital city in Australia when the kids were little. We used to go away every year.”
The Falcon was a family car for the growing Healey family, being driven regularly until the 2000s. Lloyd is planning to bring the Falcon back to Perth with a group of car enthusiasts as soon as he is able.
Lloyd Healey received the Citizen of the Year award on Australia Day, for his long-running service volunteering in the community. He is a proud father and grandfather, and he loves his cars as much as he loves his community.
