Fletch travels west of Sydney to visit a neat home that gives no clue as to what is behind the facade. When you meet Steve and Julia, it becomes evident they have a complete garage/workshop that houses several classics, a factory E37 Charger and two Hot Rods, all restored and in running order.
Steve reveals of the 18,000 Chargers built in Australia, only 134 E37 models were made, and this is 1 of only 34 in this colour scheme and one of only 4 with the blacked-out bonnet. Now, those are incredible numbers.
The 1971 VH E37 Charger has a long history, standing in a shed for 28 years, with Steve offering to purchase it several times over the years. Finally, Steve secured the Charger and has since maintained the vehicle in its original condition.
While Steve is not a tradesperson, he does most of the restoration work. His workmanship speaks for itself, and he is very much a perfectionist.
Next is a beautifully presented 1937 Chev Businessman’s Coupe. His Chevy boasts a 350 Chev engine with a VY commodore brake system and 4-wheel disc brakes. Presented in a brilliant Green Tea colour as seen on a 2007 Honda CRV in the US. Steve confesses to being a Hot Rod addict since 13 years of age. Julia admits that this restoration is the result of many long hours in the shed together while Steve does his best work. They see it as a joint venture, something they took on together. It’s not just the car but the whole package that has given them so much enjoyment and still does today with the Hot Rod community they have met along the journey.
Last but not least is their 1936 Sloper Hot Rod, sporting a 360 Chrysler V8. It’s their daily drive they rescued from a $1,500 pile of rust in 1992. The restoration has taken over 14 years, with life‘s stops and starts along the way. The car has 75,000 on the clock and has been driven all over Australia; it drives very smoothly like any modern car today and just looks cool.
