Hot rod enthusiast Steve Heard thrives within his hobby of building hot rods and has an added advantage to produce about one vehicle every year.
“Most hot rodders take a few years to build a car; some guys can take up to 10 years to make one car,” Steve said, as he takes up a spanner to tinker between customers.
“I’m lucky where I can be here working my windscreen business then if it gets quiet, I might get an hour or two to work on a hot rod.”
Steve is currently building a 1958 Chevrolet Apache while outside his blue 1957 Chevrolet pickup awaits its entry into this year’s Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.
Steve prides himself on building the majority of each car.
“I can do 95 per cent of it; I’ll panel beat, weld and paint,” he said.
“I do it all except for wiring which is critical because you’ve got to get it right.
“And, of course, I don’t do the upholstery.
“I leave that to the professionals because I just can’t get it good enough.”
Steve has seen the Alexandra show evolve over time, and accepts the hot rods have become a niche part of the event with trucks becoming more prominent over the years.
“It’s more of a truck show nowadays and the trucks come from all over Australia,” he said.
“The owners spend a lot of money on them, so whenever there’s a show, then naturally, they want to show them off.”
Steve has built more than 30 cars in all sorts of shapes and colours and has done it purely from his passion.
“Hot rods are more of a private individual thing, so we don’t make money off them,” Steve said.
“I’ll sell them after a few years and might make a bit of money, but I just like building them.
“Some people play golf or cricket or go to the pub.
“I’d rather be here playing hot rods.
“That’s what I call it: ‘playing hot rods’.”