GREY LYNN: A 1974 Ford Falcon XB was yesterday reunited with its wheels after a spending more than half its life resting on blocks.
 
"She's been up on blocks for about twenty years," said teary-eyed owner Shane “Shane-o” Padgett. "I've had to have her rego on hold over that time and have had a shitload of fines from those Nazis at the council for having her up on blocks out on the road, but today - seeing her like this - well, it's all worth it."

1974 Ford Falcon XB

Padgett's XB was first mounted on blocks outside his Grey Lynn home in 1987. "I lost my apprenticeship at the Railways and had to sell the Trident mags that I had on her for a bit of cash," he revealed.
 
Subsequent attempts at refitting the car with wheels were thwarted by a tragic conspiracy of events. "I was flush around 1989, but decided instead to buy a Torana and take the missus to see Acka-Dacka [rock band AC/DC]. That frigging Holden turned out to be a dog and I spent a mint on the thing. Then the missus gave birth to our little girls all in a row, like. Mercury popped out in 1990, May in '91, and the twins Taylor and Deacon in '92. By that time I decided I'd make the old girl original so I worked on the body for a bit and got her insides all spruced up. This and that happened with work. Finally, the kids all reached 15 and left home and I had some time to get the old girl up to scratch again. Me mate Bruce from Smash Palace got me these rims for only fifty bucks!"
 
The XB will be advertised for sale on TradeMe. Though the reserve is unknown, bidding will start from one dollar and there's a buy now price of $4,000. "I wouldn't have gotten that in '87," said Padgett. All proceeds from the sale will go towards the $38,000 worth of accumulated fines for no registration and warrant of fitness.
 
"She's mint though, isn't she?" remarked Padgett.