A Life In Cars

This is the life story of Richard “Dickie” Sutherland, a Baby Boomer growing up in Adelaide, South Australia during the golden era of the motor car.

His memoirs are told using the small stories of the many cars that accompanied him throughout the decades.

And as the years roll on, his story starts to include the car stories of his son Nicholas.

Explore the stories

Getting back to life in South Australia

Setteling back into Adelaide, need a Job, need a Car and cars were the focas.

Austin, Holden, Mercedes Benz, Pontiac
Dickie

Trip to Puckapunyal

National Service scheme, 1964–1972 A fourth period of National Service was introduced in 1964, and in May 1965 the Coalition Government introduced new powers that enabled it to send national servicemen overseas. At that time Australian soldiers were involved in the war in Vietnam and

Mini
Dickie

Selling the HR

After the wedding in 2016, Jenna and I were seriously considering a move overseas and after much debate, the HR Holden was for sale.

Holden
Nic

EH Holden Sedan 1965

EH holdens ruled, HQ served, L300 8 seater almost ideal, VW Golf economical rocket, finding the car to suit a changing need.

Holden, L300, VW
Dickie

Surfing in the 60’s – a moment of reflection

Surfing Refections

Holden
Dickie

Camira JB sedan

Holden
Dickie

See all of the stories

About A Life In Cars

Cars have been a strong and influential theme running throughout my life. They have not been my whole life as such, but they have been a central focus.

They have also been a centre point for my working life and hundreds of adventures along the way. Cars have influenced my thinking, my interests, my career and my family life.

So yes!

You could definitely say that “I’m a car guy.”

And thus, cars are the common thread that binds my life’s story together. A Life In Cars is my life story recounted using all my car stories as the central theme of the story.

I describe the experiences, the people and the places along the way. The cars I owned, the cars I experienced, the cars that ‘should have been,’ and the notable car-related moments in my life.

I hope you enjoy the stories and I hope that my story might help you rediscover old memories and emotional ties, just like I have during the process of writing them all down.

You are also welcome to leave a comment below each story, as a way to extend my story or as a place to share your tales.