Thanks to all for all the nice comments about the car. It was real find, particularly as the price was soooo low. No-one seems to want the autos but for me it does offer a bit more room plus I don't have to work the clutch (read "can't").
To respond to the observations:
1. It will be brought up to my ADub standard but I might make some small changes to the interior to make it a bit more contemporary.
2. "No" on the turbo idea
- while I might never be too old to rock and roll, I am a bit too old to have a roll over. I have a thing, as most who have seen my ADub know, on keeping cars as original as possible. Mechanically and aesthetically topnotch, but nothing over spec. I also find that this gets the greatest reliability in old cars.
3. This is the first time a sailor has asked me to call him when I am in the neighborhood so I will.
I hope to be down in Sydney again to look after my folks around the second or third week in October - Mum is 87 and Dad 89.
Best regards,
Walter