Fastback to front

THIS is how the 1949 Buick Sedanette two-door fastback should have looked.

Taree restorer Justin Hills believes his restoration of the classic American car more closely resembles how an artist would have drawn the concept than the finished production model.

"The production car never ends up looking like the artist's concept drawing," he says.

"Concept cars of this period were always longer, lower and wider.

"So my idea for the car was to build the concept car that they would have wanted to build, but never did."

The 39-year-old English migrant bought the car for $US3000 over the internet in 2004 and estimates he has spent the equivalent of a full-time working year on the car.

"It would owe me over $100,000, but this isn't for sale unless someone has a whole lot of money," he says.

"The biggest expense is the chrome plating, trim and material costs. I spent more than $4000 on the softest leather you have ever felt.

"It's so soft you just want to bite it."

When Hills went looking for a classic car to restore for himself, he wasn't searching for a Buick.

"I was actually looking for a James Dean '49 Mercury at the time, but I saw this and knew I just gotta have it," he says.

"It was the right period and the right look; it just ticked all the boxes that I was looking for.

"I love the fastback shape of it. The way the roof goes all the way down to the ground."

Hills emphasised that effect with air suspension that drops 15cm when it's parked, so the panels almost touch the tarmac.

It's a long way from the condition he bought it in.

"I reckon it had been left out in a paddock for 30 years and not touched," he says.

"It was full of dust. It must have been a California or Arizona car because it was really dry, but not rusted."

The engine was seized solid and was replaced by a 1953 Buick motor, which was also a straight eight with the same block, but a bigger 263 cubic inch (4309cc) capacity.

"The gearbox was fine, but everything was pulled apart and rebuilt anyway," he says.

"It's got a three-speed column shift and it drives just beautifully.

"It does everything it's meant to do because everything is brand new.

"Since I finished it, I love it too much to drive. It's like collecting a piece of artwork.

"It lives in a cartoon bubble in my workshop and I have to work to keep it clean because it's black."

Instead, his daily drive is a 1966 Mk X Jaguar, which he calls the "most underrated Jag in the world".

"I love them. They are a bit like the Buick – a big boat of a car," he says.

"I'm not into modern cars. I just enjoy the feeling of driving an old car.

"I have to go to Sydney a lot and I always take the Jag. It does the job and it looks good, too."

The car builder and restorer started as a smash repairer and has worked on cars for clients from Darwin to Dubai.

Although he considers his Buick the best he has done, his most expensive job was a 1964 Aston Martin DB4 Cabriolet he restored for a Sydney advertising executive.

"He later sold it for £275,000 (about $555,000) to a Swiss museum."

But it's not about the money. His dream is to restore a car for famous Pebble Beach Concourse.

"That's my career aim. It would be nice to be a Bugatti," he says.

Hills will exhibit his Buick at the Speed+Style+Beauty car show at the Brisbane RNA Showgrounds from September 9-13.

The show will feature more than $14 million worth of classic automobiles from private Australian collections, including a 1929 Blower Bentley, 1957 Bentley Continental Coupe, 1936 Rolls Royce Wraith Limousine, 1980 Rolls-Royce Camargue, 1937 Bugatti 57C Fastback, 1938 Jaguar SS 100, 1955 Jaguar D Type, 1960 Alfa Romeo 2600 Coupe, 1956 Porsche Speedster, 2004 Porsche Carerra GT, 1958 Mercedes Gullwing, 1960 Mercedes 300 SL Roadster, 1959 Corvette, 1968 Shelby Mustang Fastback, 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza, Ferrari Daytona, 2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia F1, 1968 Monaro 350 Bathurst spec build No.4, 1935 Alvis Speed 20, Charlesworth Drophead Coupe and a Jack Brabham racecar.

The event is open from noon to 8pm on Thursday and Friday and from 10am to 6pm over the weekend.

Proceeds raised will benefit local charities Backstop House and the SMARTCare Lifestyle Solutions Foundation.

Admission charges are $15 for adults, $12 concession and $5 for children. An exclusive preview will be held on Wednesday night for $75 a person. Tickets are available from Qtix on 136 246 or at www.qtix.com.au

Visit: www.hillsandcocustoms.com.au

 

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