Paul Atkins’s Prem67 HR Holden

First published in the May 2013 issue of Street Machine

Older visitors to the 2012 Extreme Auto Spectacular in Adelaide were surprised to come face to face with PREM67. Period body mods such as HQ wagon tail-lamps, HQ era flip-up front door handles, HZ flutes and shaved rear doors gave the game away even if the paint and Dragway five-spokes seemed a little different.

Built by a young Paul Atkins in the early 80s, PREM67 was a regular sight on SA roads and the local show scene until it was sold in 1989.

“The usual reasons — family and business commitments, and I couldn’t bear to fit a baby seat, so I moved it on. I honestly didn’t think about it much after that; life goes on and you get busy elsewhere.”

*PREM67* with Midnight Express HT panel van

But a chance discussion in 2003 set Paul and the HR on a fresh path. “Someone told me they knew its whereabouts and that it still wore the same plates, so curiosity got the better of me. I had an address and over the next six months I’d regularly drop by but there was never anyone home. On my final visit I left my business card and a note as a last resort.”

His tenacity paid off — he got a call from a subsequent owner who was keen to sell. “He’d found my business card and note in the glovebox, so I think it was meant to be.”

The original Holden six, M21 and 10-bolt diff were still fitted when Paul and Jarryd Atkins recovered the car in 2003. A complete freshen of the retro driveline stretched the donk to 192ci and resulted in a detailed and more modern finish

The HR was intact but sad. Rust, dents, no brakes and years of abuse had all but run PREM67 into the ground, so finding the original 190-cube engine, M21 ’box and 10-bolt Salisbury intact was a bonus.

“It even had the same carby I fitted 25 years ago! It was quite surreal to see all the custom pieces I’d made still fitted. I knew it was now or never — any more neglect and it was going to be gone for good.”

Paul’s son Jarryd, then just 14, actually coughed up the coin for the HR and the project sat for a few years while they finished Paul’s ’64½ Mustang.

“Jarryd was a toddler when we sold it. He never knew the car so it was a great feeling to have him as a proud co-owner.”

Beautifully rebuilt, PREM67 was a four-year labour of love for Paul and his son Jarryd. HQ tail-lights, HZ guard flutes, HQ front handles and shaved rears hark back to the original build, whilst darker blue paint, deleted vinyl roof, minor colour-coding and bigger Dragways enhance a period-correct 80s street machine

The rebuild began in 2007, with the HR stripped to the bare bones. Paul and Jarryd resisted all temptations to alter the car, retaining the previous driveline and main styling cues — though HR tail-lights nearly went in — to truly cement the PREM67 identity.

In keeping with the father-son theme, the slightly darker Midnight Blue was laid down by original painter Dave Crispin’s son, Ben, who’s a gun with the gun too.

The wheels pay homage to the original five-spokes, though the old 13 and 14in Dragways have made way for 15s, in 6in and 10in widths.

Finished for the 2012 Melbourne Hot Rod Show, the HR is now considered an heirloom. “We share driving duties and it gets plenty of street use. It’ll never be sold — even if that means fitting a babyseat for future grandkids!”