Car Enthusiast - Sydney Davenport: Classic Restos - Series 56

If there were ever a case for car hobbies keeping you active in both body and mind, then Sydney Davenport would be living proof. At 95, Sydney has already had an active working life, leaving school at the age of 14 to start work at Singer Sewing Machines. He later owned and operated a printing company that produced tags for a Sri Lankan company, Dilmah Tea. After selling this company, Dilmah Tea asked him to coordinate the purchasing and commissioning of their purpose-built printing machines in Colombo. He later took on the same task on a much larger scale for Bushells, another tea company. His extensive working life allowed him to develop mechanical and engineering skills which he put to good use as a self-trained automotive mechanic, his true passion.

Here at his home workshop, he admits he spends most of his time applying those skills to restore and rebuild his collection of exotic cars. He describes working on cars as his therapy and takes pride in being self-sufficient in his fully equipped workshop, which allows him to tackle any task required. Sydney appreciates older cars for their simplicity, making them much easier to work on than modern vehicles with their complex electronics.

One of his current projects is the restoration of a 1968 Maserati Mexico, a rare car with only 240 ever built, and even fewer in right-hand drive. When he purchased it in 1979, it was an incomplete rebuild, with the body in good condition but the quad-cam 4.2-liter V8 engine needing extensive work. European car parts can be challenging to obtain; body parts are the most difficult, but mechanicals can always be replaced. 
Fortunately, the manual and engineering details for this model are available online and Sydney has managed to source what he needs. In addition to the Maserati Mexico, he also has a 1993 Maserati Shamal, which he uses as a backup car at the Bathurst races.

Adding variety to his collection, Sydney has a 1970 Bolwell MK7. These kit cars required skill to assemble, and Sydney has significantly improved the build quality of his model, including rebuilding the steering geometry. Powered by a 186 Holden engine with a Toyota Supra 5-speed gearbox and XU-I cylinder head with a cam. These lightweight cars, weighing around 800 kilograms, provide an exhilarating driving experience. Sydney remarks that if he ever feels bored, he simply takes the Bolwell for a drive.

With so many ongoing projects, Sydney won't be running out of activities anytime soon. He looks happy, healthy and content with life, showing no signs of slowing down.