I grew up with a father who drove timber trucks for a living, so it was probably of no surprise that my choice of career revolved around heavy vehicles.

I went out on my own as a diesel mechanic in the New South Wales area of Maitland, servicing the many fleet and owner/driver rigs in the region, but it still took 26 years, and my son Sam, taking on a larger role in the workshop, before I found myself with a little bit of spare time in order to be able to consider looking around for an older vehicle to restore.