Kody’s journey with his 1976 Holden HX One Tonner began when he was 15 years old. The car had seen better days, and Kody decided it was time to bring it back to its former glory. “What started as a plan to fix a bit of rust and give it a fresh coat of paint quickly turned into a full-blown passion project,” he said.
Kody stripped down the whole car. “The cab came off the chassis, and the whole car was sandblasted. I then applied epoxy and performed all the necessary filler work, leaving it as a clean slate ready for its transformation.”
Growing up, Kody’s dad’s love for classic cars served as a source of inspiration for him. “Dad had similar cars when he was my age. Ever since I can remember, he’s been working on them in the shed and I’ve been helping him.”
Kody’s 1976 Holden HX One Tonner boasts impressive specs, including 15×6 front Street Pro wheels and 15×8.5 rear wheels with 265 tires. “I love the custom colour and I put on the custom-built tray myself. When I have my full license, I plan to take my car to the next level by installing a V8 engine.”
“As a second-year apprentice in automotive refinishing technology, I’ve really just been honing my skills through my apprenticeship and applying what I learn to my own car. I started my apprenticeship through my job at THR Developments and they put all their apprentices through the MTA.”
Looking ahead, Kody sees an exciting future in the world of automotive restoration. Completing his painting apprenticeship is a goal, but he also wants to continue restoring classic cars like his Holden, turning his passion into a lifelong career. “I enjoy working on new cars every day, and there’s always something I can learn to get better at what I do. It’s satisfying to use what I’ve picked up on my own car.”
