Jim Wolstencroft with his 1928 Ford A-Type pick-up which will be on display at this year’s Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show with its pristine un-started engine and bolt heads all perfectly aligned.
Despite having a backlog of orders for cars, Deluxe Rod Shop – nestled almost unnoticed among the gum trees outside of Yea – does not mind the well-paced style of valued staff member Jim Wolstencroft whenever a visitor arrives.
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Jim seems to always be the man to update the state of play for Victoria’s most productive hot rod producer and this year we caught him polishing underneath a 1960s Ford Fairmont XR to make sure every surface of the vehicle was pristine.
Is it the ’66 or ‘67?
“That’s the steel dash,” Jim said and loses me on the first turn.
But he knows that, explaining: “After 1967, Ford went all plastic dashboards for less injury during accidents; the ’66 was the last steel dash’.”
“It’s the ’66.”
Jim then dropped everything and modestly showed off the workshop’s variety of divine cars in various stages of construction, from the state-of-the-art paint shop at the back to his own 1928 Ford A-Type pick-up that stands atop shining wheel-risers on the workshop’s eat-your-dinner-off-it clean floor.
Naïve eyes can’t see a difference in the A-Type from last year, but it is definitely now completed after more than a decade. I think.
The pick-up featured in a Maguires unveiling and then went straight into the Superstars’ Hall.
“There’s another 30 cars from all over Australia in the Hall,” Jim explained.
“And we fight it out for the super six.”
The company regularly finishes in the top six cars at Melbourne’s MotorEx Show, far surpassing any other hot rod builders, and is hoping to make it four in a row this year.
“We also had one in the Hall of Fame last year.
“It is such an honour to get into the hall.”
I am keeping up with the halls.
Get closer to the orange pick-up and one sees that every conceivable surface of the engine shines like Stirling silver, seeming to illuminate the room.
Joe is patient with the uninitiated but can also pre-empt them.
“I haven’t started it yet,” he said
Good, that’s one stupid question out of the way.
“Because it needs to be pristine.”
There’s another one.
‘Plymouth Dale’ McKeon busy bringing together a 1935 Roadster pick-up which the crew built as a ‘phantom’ Ford.
I ask how the one-piece hand-beaten aluminium fan cover is shaped and I am told it is hand beaten from one piece of aluminium; Jim is generous with his patience.
Of interest is the nitty-gritty specifications of judging a hot rod and Jim takes pride in every stainless steel bolt and screw with their slots facing the same direction, as is required in competitions.
“Even the ones that are out of sight.”
Western Australian detailer and newcomer to the team Johnny Lelati took a break from polishing to explain the network and friendships that he builds up during the show.
“I do come annually and last year brought over a ’55 Chevy from Perth,” Johnny said.
“But this year I am working here — a bit different.”
Despite being a detailer with expertise in hot rods, Johnny says he’ll never stop learning.
“There is always something new to see and something to learn.
“I always learn something at shows.”
Johnny Lelati comes from Perth every year to the Alex Show and last year brought over a ’55 Chevy. Johnny said he’ll never stop learning, despite his expertise in detailing. “There is always something new to see and something to learn," he said.
Deluxe Rod Shop’s owner Steven Alldrick and renowned photographer ‘Plymouth Dale’ McKeon were busy bringing together a 1935 Roadster pick-up which the crew built as a ‘phantom’ Ford.
I resist asking, but Jim knows what I’m after.
The car who walks?
“It’s a Roadster pick-up that we have invented — so it’s called a phantom — Ford never made it.”
Which gives even more kudos to the fact that the creativity on display will be unveiled at the Sydney show in May.
Both ‘phantom’ vehicles will be on display among about 30 other expected hot rods at this year’s Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.
Not everyone likes taking their work home but those who deal in finely restored cars often have no choice, although technically ‘Plymouth Dale’ McKeon's 1958 Plymouth Fury is well-finished.
