Dude, here’s my car | Life in the left lane

While its speed may or may not have hastened since the colour transformation, Mrs Hunt says her 1965 Triumph Herald still only does 90km/h.

“It took us three hours to drive it home (from Melbourne),” she said.

“But it’s a definite head-turner.”

The trip back to Shepparton from Melbourne was the second leg of a return journey that had departed from Tasmania, where Mrs Hunt purchased the vehicle from its previous owner in November last year.

She had only seen pictures of the little red rocket before making her way to the Apple Isle for a test drive.

After a 15-minute try-before-you-buy, she sealed the deal and made arrangements to bring ‘Harold’ to the mainland on the boat across Bass Strait.

November was a big month for the Triumph owner and not just for the Tassie trip and convertible purchase.

It was also the month she was married (to her also keen car connoisseur husband, who owns a neat 1987 Ford Fairmont).

Mrs Hunt had planned on using Harold as her wedding car, but the heavens opened on her wedding day and when the venue changed to her own home there was no longer a need for transport.

She is making Harold available for others’ special occasions now though, hiring it out for formals, debutante balls and weddings.

Since owning the vintage vehicle, Mrs Hunt, who has motor neurone disease, has had a push-button ignition installed to make starting it with her condition easier.

She said she got Harold out at least once a week to drive to appointments.

“It’s often seen around town and that’s my favourite place to drive it,” Mrs Hunt said.

“I’ve loved picking up friends and taking them for a drive in Harold.

“You can’t help but smile when you’re in the car.”

Classic cars create classic memories.

Classic red convertibles create faster ones, even if they do have to stick to the left lane on the freeway.