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Cowra Man Cave & Holden Enthusiasts: Classic Restos - Series 44

By Shannons - Published on 15 June 2020

Fletch travels to Cowra in the Central NSW, and after a brief chronological history of the town visits some genuine motoring enthusiasts and one of the companies that support the classic car movement in the region. 

Pete from Lachlan Engineering Service has operated in Cowra for 20 years. He says that interest in classic cars has seen a rejuvenation in recent times and his company enjoys helping get the classic cars, trucks, and tractors going. A Holden man, Pete has a HQ One Tonner rebuild on the go. 

Intrigued by a good shed, Fletch always wonders what treasures may lay inside, and in this one, he wasn't disappointed. Rod, a Welder by trade, moved into the Cowra region 17 years ago for a better lifestyle for his young family. From a simple workshop shed, grew a man cave that he claims isn't just his domain but something that the whole family enjoys. Before moving to Cowra, his job involved travelling across New South Wales. Along the way his collection of memorabilia was born, number plates, now numbering over 1,000 adorn the shed along with recycled parts furniture telephones, padlocks, model cars to name just a few. Rod claims his trade skills have enabled him to make, build and repair anything. Two impressive pieces that take pride of place are his Peter Brock doors and a Holden race car guard signed by the 1992 Holden Dealer Team. The man cave is also home to his first real resto a HG Holden Sedan, but that's not the only Holden. Son Max has a VX Commodore project on the go that is being transformed with a turbo V6 3.8 litre with 650 Holley carburetter, Rod's skills come to the fore again. No rural property would be complete without a paddock basher, a HT Holden Ute that was saved eight years ago for a further pounding by rod and his two sons Alex and Max, its quite the family favourite with a beautiful patina. Rod and his family love the isolation and say once out of the city you'd never go back, his family is all he needs and all that matters and his man cave of course. 

Another Cowra enthusiast is Barry with a 1964 EH Panel Van. It's anything but your standard van, Barry started to do a resto, but the configuration didn't suit. So he decided to modify the panel van to suit his needs, with extended doors and glass that provided better access, together with a back seat to increase the seating capacity and an impressive one-piece tailgate. The trim is in period-correct style with some factory-fitted accessories like a steering lock and knuckle guards on the door handles. Quite the show -stopper.