… Except that this FJ Holden driver’s seat is generally empty, simply because it has never been driven on a road. 

Whilst this will come as no surprise to motoring enthusiasts used to the showmanship of streetcars at the elite level, for many it may be a cause for pause, moving from being a utility to a thing of beauty. 

Looking at Failford local Dave Keen’s ‘1BADFJ’ it certainly stands out as no ordinary car with its vibrant tangelo paintwork and immaculate craftsmanship. 

Look under most cars and you will find a mess of dirt, scratches, chips, rust and who knows what else. Look under this car and it is hard to see the chassis for all the sparkle and shine. It hardly matters though because Dave knows exactly what he will find under there.

In fact, Dave knows exactly what he will find anywhere on ‘1BADFJ’ - his source of pride and joy. They have been together since the mid 90s, after he bought it off his friend John Ebers after years of persuasion and many cartons of beer, simply because he liked the look of it and the fact that it had two doors. Nonetheless today, the 1955 FJ Holden has pretty much been rebuilt from scratch.

“We started with the bare bones, then built it up from two cars,” said Dave, who was brought up in a family of car lovers.

The roof, B-pillars, doors and guards have all enjoyed a makeover, leaving the only original feature - the bonnet. The car reflects the craftmanship of car enthusiasts across the Manning and Great Lakes region, from specialised auto businesses to supportive friends. 

 “It was never meant to go this way. Ours was never in a million years going to be a show car.  But it went out of control, and I had to keep going at the level it was heading or else it would have all been wasted. It’s an expensive hobby!”

Just how expensive a hobby it is, Dave will not precisely say. “My wife thinks she knows, but she doesn’t really.” He acknowledges it would be as much as a house, although what kind of house is left to the imagination.

“You’ve got to have the passion, if you’re going to get into the elite side of car showing.”

Dave Keen certainly has that passion. And fortunately, so does his wife. Together, they have towed 1BADFJ in its enclosed trailer across Australia, invited from car show to car show with their travel expenses covered. 

“When you’re a supercar, you’re not in it just to win, but importantly, to be there. There are 15 elite cars across Australia, and we all know each other.”

At this stage, Dave is the only person to have graced the driver’s seat, and that is just to drive it on and off the trailer. With its LSI V8 engine, it was built to be driven, but when that will happen remains anyone’s guess.

“It’ll get driven shortly. By mid-next year,” said Dave vaguely. It is a comment his family have heard before.

“This one will see me out. I’ve put my heart and soul into it”. 

There is no doubt that when it comes to his car, Dave Keen is, well, very keen.

The Valvoline Street Machine of the Year is the industry’s only competition in which the public decide the winners. Voters will go into the running for a Summernats prize package. The Street Machine of the Year will enjoy the ultimate public ‘gong’, along with a $20,000 cheque. To vote for the car of your choice, SMS 1991 1001 or call 1900 911 001 or go online at www.smoty.streetmachine.com.au. Voting closes on October 1. The adventures of 1BADFJ can also be followed on Facebook.