Street Sighting ~ Toyota Cressida

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Noosa surf sled. This one's the '79 MX36 model. I loved the patinated but lustrous cherry red, mismatched wheels and tires, beach-bum interior, and particularly the chrome wind deflectors - probably some rare dealer option.

http://www.cornerstories.au
http://www.cornerstories.au
http://www.cornerstories.auhttp://www.cornerstories.au

But what I liked most about this car is it is keeping the surf bum trope going. I've been road-tripping lately, from Southern NSW to Noosa so far. It seems that in the 2020's, with old cars being ever rarer and more valuable, the surf bum's traditional ride has been replaced with 2020's options. Best case is a free candy spec white van, and worst case is an E-bike with a surfboard carrier.

I'm not much of a surfer, but still reckon it's a pretty integral part of Aussie culture. To see just what the Aussie surf bum car culture of the 80's onwards was like, I reached out to my dad, who grew up in Torquay. I sent him a pretty specific message asking for pics of his (and mate's) old rides with surfboards strapped to them. I figured he might have one or two photos for me but he sent me seven, and a note that 'most were lost when your crazy uncle threw out all my old pics'. So for a taste of what we've lost here are the best ones.
 
http://www.cornerstories.au
 
Dad (in the yellow) and my (now crazy) uncle (in the white) and their 1970 Holden HT Wagon. The HT is now buried alongside a Cortina and HQ Ute at the property I grew up on - and we wonder why classics are so thin on the ground now.

http://www.cornerstories.au
 
My great aunt (who we're currently staying with in Noosa) alongside a friend's Lotus Elan 1500.
 
XR Falcon
http://www.cornerstories.au

 
80's Renault Espace Van. This might have been shot in Europe, I don't think we got these over here. Note what looks like the spiritual predecessor to the modern E-bike on the left.

Anyway I think it's a shame how a vibrant and diverse car sub-culture has fallen victim to the same homogenisation as everything else. Thanks to dad for the pics, and the Cressida driver for keeping it real.

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