V8 MATES

THIS HOLDEN SL/R 5000 BUILD WAS THE CATALYST FOR A GREAT FRIENDSHIP

- GUY ALLEN

Wander out to the shed and you're greeted by one of the best-presented Torana SL/R 5000s you could ever hope to see. A tribute car with just a hint of restomod about it, it's an immediate attention-grabber.

Which makes owner Peter Mustow's story entirely credible: "We were going to a show on the Peninsula (south of Melbourne) and without realising what was happening, were waved into the competitors' area. The car wasn't very clean and we were kind of stuck away in a corner. It still got an award!"

Builder Jeff Hind is sitting there nodding, and happens to mention that he's particularly pleased the car got the gong for best paint at another show, a recent All-Holden day - he was the bloke who wielded the spray gun.

It's not every day you see the owner and builder of car acting like old mates, but that's what is happening here.

The story goes that the pair met by chance as they lived near each other. So much so that Peter used to go past Jeff's workshop (Jeff Hind Smash Repairs in Bayswater, Vic) most days on his way to the gym. Both had contracted prostrate cancer and provided some mutual support by checking on each other.

Along the way, Peter discovered Jeff was building the Torana, which was intended as a keeper for later and his sons to play with. This prompted some fond memories for Peter, who had owned one decades ago.

"I had a Barbados Green SL/R 5000 back in 1974," he explained. "It was sold a few years later for a four-door Monaro. I asked Jeff if he was going to sell the Torana and he said no." So Peter started hunting for another example, while watching the progress on Jeff's car.

Of course Jeff was consulted on any potential purchase and it seems the hunt wasn't going well.