By Marc McGowan
TOORADIN plumber John Hull began collecting and doing up cars about 30 years ago when he said he was going through a lifestyle change.
“It was when my wife ran away with my best mate… God, I miss him,” he quipped.
Although he does not do the restoring himself, explaining that he is restricted to the basic work and generally incurs the holding and carrying duties, Mr Hull’s vehicle fetish has reached double figures since the passion initially burned.
He spent $4000 purchasing his 1975 Ford Lincoln Continental Mark IV and he has pumped $50,000 into the vintage model so far, which was a complete mess when he first spotted it in a paddock.
“It’s better than leaving all your money to your kids,” Mr Hull joked. “As a kid, I couldn’t afford anything, so why let it go to waste now?”
He was attracted to the Lincoln by its shape but he has added to its appeal by introducing a casino theme on the paint work, complete with dice on the bonnet, a roulette board on the back and a suitable numberplate: DEALEM.
“I just thought that it looked like a gangster car,” said Mr Hull, who is vicepresident of the Lincoln Car Club of Victoria.
“I’m not really a casino man but I have a bet on a horse every now and then.”
All that is left to do on the refurbishment is the interior.
He is still deciding on the theme but he estimates that he has $10,000 worth of expenditure to come.
“It will probably be a gold interior with cards or dice or something like that,” Mr Hull said.
While his everyday wheels come in the form of the 1984 Ford F100, his Lincoln is viewed as his escape from the world.
“When I drive it up the road, I am free of all of society’s rubbish,” Mr Hull said. “It’s my Aspro.”
Despite viewing himself as having one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel, he is eager to forge ahead with his latest project – a 1946 twodoor Oldsmobile.
“It will cost me $100,000 by the time it’s finished!” Mr Hull said.
“I’ve spent about $40,000 so far.”
>>> Have you got a gem in your garage? It can be a shiny new machine or a muchloved classic.
Get your car into Me and My Car by phoning 5945 0666 or by contacting the Gazette at editorstarnewsgroup.com.au on email.
