Hot Rod Rumbler

WORDS AND IMAGES: IAIN CURRY

Mechanics is mechanics, and a lot of it is common sense,” explained rumble,” he said with a smile. But there was to be no hot weather drive a fitter and turner apprenticeship with Queensland’s Main Roads department in machinery,” he recalled. “Main Roads would then, and we’d be out staying in the camps, buckets.”

Peter said about restoring and maintaining these old cars.

From traversing New Guinea to working on massive mining machinery, Peter’s life has been anything but straightforward.

His next 13 years were spent with Cat® equipment dealer Hastings Deering. He bounced around between Rockhampton, Townsville, Mackay, Brisbane, and others, including a two-year stint in New Guinea. Peter said this was pre-independence, and a fascinating, peaceful place to work. He’d repair heavy machinery and, as many fishing vessels used Cat engines, carry out marine work too.

“We’d be sent to some very, very remote villages using various aircraft,” he said. “In advance, we’d ask the customer as many questions as we could about what was wrong, and hopefully take the right parts with us. If you got there and they didn’t fit, it’s quite a task to get back and forth again. There were lots of challenges, but I’ve got many good stories from those days.”

Peter’s wife Roylene reminded him how much he was away in those years: the couple made 12 moves in six years at one point.

Peter ultimately worked his way up to workshop manager, and with Roylene’s income as well, they were able to buy their first hot rod – a 1932 Ford Roadster.

“We were a bit green, didn’t know much about them or what was involved,” Peter said. “There’s a bit of a process to go through with the Australian Street Rod Federation (ASRF). You have to become a member, and they check the car and do approvals. Instead of using the transport what needed attention and taught us heaps about hot rodding.”

“It’s just a little baby V8, so it may only have 200hp,” Peter said. “It’s not a speed machine.”

Regardless, it sounds glorious.

It ran on LPG when he bought it, but with many service stations abandoning gas, Peter converted it back to petrol power, fitting a new fuel tank and carburettor. He removed “the big, ugly console” inside, had the seats reupholstered in red and black, fitted a new shifter, and helped create a quite stunning, comfy cabin to cruise in.

Peter showed me photos of the classics he and Roylene have bought, fixed up and maintained since. Every one looks immaculate. There’s a 2013 Morgan which was: “a bit tatty so we gave that a good clean up,” followed by a 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback: “You don’t lose money on a car like that.”

Then, for something different, a 1966 Toyota FJ40 SWB, which was tidied mechanically and gifted new upholstery.

“It was very rough to ride in, noisy and hot,” Peter said. “The dog and grandkids liked it. We sold it to a Toyota dealer to go on display in their showroom alongside new cars, it was that good.”

Peter’s current toy is a bright red ’34 Pickup hot rod, utilising Ford’s late 1940s

The ute’s paint, chrome, rims, underside, badges, roof, and lights are all show-car quality. Lifting the tray cover reveals a covered spare wheel mounted to an impossibly shiny polished wood floor.

“We take it out a couple of times each week,” Peter said. “We drive it up to the hills and enjoy it, plus it’s reliable and easy to maintain.”

Peter said he still got joy from owning and running such a classic.

“The only trouble I have nowadays is my body creaks and moans when I’m bending a lot,” he said. “The next day I pay for it!”

It’s still worth it, and he suggested anyone with even a passing interest –and some mechanical skills – should visit a cars and coffee or show and shine event to see hot rods and classics.

“They’re a good investment,” he said. “And if you’ve got the passion, it’s such a rewarding thing to do.”