Truck & Car Collectors from the Central West NSW: Classic Restos - Series 45

Fletch continues his road trip around NSW. This time he's in the Central West at Molong, visiting truck enthusiast Andy Mckenzie and his collection of fully restored trucks from the 60s and 70s. Andy has a collection that belies his age. His interest started with his father, who had a collection of tractors, but it was always trucks for Andy. He admits that he has never been a truck driver but loves trucks. His first restoration was a 1970 International CD1840 with a factory-fitted V8 Cummings engine, one of the bigger trucks of its day. The complete ground-up restoration took 12 months to complete; Andy gives credit to the painters, chrome platers, motor trimmers and signwriters who all helped finish the job. The truck will always have a special place in his collection. Other impressive trucks in the collection include a 1978 Dodge D5N 700 Detroit with a 10-speed Road Ranger transmission and a 1968 Ford F8000 with a 180 Cummings engine. Both beautifully restored and in Concours condition.

Another collector in the Central West of NSW is Craig, who openly admits to being a collector all his life. In his younger days, he acquired vehicles took them apart but lacked the trade skills to put them back together so had to sell them off, including an FJ Ute and Sedan. Eventually, Craig decided to take up a trade that would compliment his automotive interests. Enabling him to restore his vehicles using the cars and parts inventory he has acquired over the years. The collection had grown massively, when Craig realized the need to put some order in his life, cataloguing and storing every vehicle and part. As he put it "some have to die so that others can live'. Once a Holden man and Brock fan only, his vehicles have diversified now to include Chrysler, Dodge, and Fords and purely based on styling and looks that appealed to him. His collecting isn't just cars and parts, but also an eclectic collection of memorabilia from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The collection continues to grow and now spans over three sheds, Fletch claiming it's the neatest car and parts collection he has ever seen.