When Muscle Car Club members Travis Richardson, Paul and Craig Crouch drive down the street in their newly restored vehicles, they certainly turn heads. Caitlyn Morgan caught up with the trio to discuss their latest projects. Picture: Carmel Zaccone
A team effort
TRAVIS Richardson recalls the trio’s passion for restoration was discovered at a young age.
“We had been mates for years, having went to school together,” he says.
“My old man had an old Holden ute out the back and one weekend when he wasn’t there, we just started stripping it down.
“After that we all started working on our own drives.
“We did a lot in our early years but then we all went and had families, so now it is time to get back into it.”
Travis was the man behind the paintwork on the 1977 Holden HX GTS ute and recently restored his own Ford XE Fairmont Ghia.
“It is really satisfying when you finish them,” he says.
1977 Holden HX GTS ute
WHILE the registration of the 1977 Holden HX GTS ute may be in Craig Crouch’s name, it wouldn’t be on the road without the help of his brother Paul and Travis Richardson. The trio worked tirelessly over three years to completely rebuild the ute from the “ground up”.
If the sound of the engine didn’t catch your attention, the bright orange paint scheme created by Travis sure should.
“We were rapt, as soon as we saw it we thought the colour was unreal, particularly in the sun,” Craig says.
“Showing it off for the first time was full on, being so bright it just kept drawing the crowds in.”
Craig isn’t the only one who loves the colour, with the ute taking home the Judges Choice – Top Car award at the Sunassist Motor Show and Swap Meet in September and runner up HX at the HQ to WB Nationals earlier this month.
“It is different to anything else as we have customised it with seamless panel work and ghost stripes,” Craig says.
“A lot of people were interested in seeing it up close when we pulled up at both events.”
Paul added: “We are pretty proud of the ute, it means a lot to us and we love seeing so many heads turn when we drive it down the street.”
1986 VK Commodore
PAUL Crouch has loved many of his previously restored cars, but not like he adores his 1986 VK Commodore.
The prized possession was purchased in December 2017 and was fully restored in time for the Easter Show and Shine this year.
As a self-confessed Peter Brock “mega-fan”, Paul says as soon as he saw the VK Commodore he knew he had to restore it as a Peter Brock tribute car.
“From the word go, it was my goal to make it exactly how I did,” Paul says.
“I just love Peter Brock, through and through, even had the chance to meet him once.
“I loved the way he could drive.”
Paul admits he wouldn’t be able to calculate just how many hours it took to restore the vehicle.
“It all came together in 14 months, I was doing something on it every day and was involved in almost every single aspect,” he says.
“It is 95 per cent as close to the race car as I could make it.
“I spent endless hours online researching every component, even importing the wheels from America.”
With the end goal to have it ready and on display at the Easter Friday Show and Shine, Paul says he was “stoked” to have it polished and ready to go on the Thursday.
“It was the dream and I was rapt to have it done,” he says.
“I am thankful for all those who helped make it happen.
“While I wouldn’t mind doing some others, this will always be the one closest to my heart.”
