Overland Hauler

Kevin Kendall’s country cruiser hot rod...

- KEVIN KENDALL

I was bitten by the hot rodding bug back in 1976 at the age of 14, when on a weekend holiday in Castlemaine, Victoria, that just happened to coincide with the Victorian State Rod Run. At the campsite beside us was Graeme Williams’ red T Bucket, cover car from the first ASR magazine, and that really blew me away. Not long after that, my father and I purchased a 1925 Willys Overland ute in pieces with the intention of restoring it to its original condition. We didn’t have any mechanical knowledge, but we were willing to give it a go.

I went to panel beating school at night, while doing a fitter and turner apprenticeship by day. With a bit of help, we managed to restore the vehicle to the best of our ability, and it was roadworthy and registered by the time I was 17. I would have preferred to have built it as a hot rod, but with limited knowledge and skills, it was not possible at the time. I drove it for a few years and during that time, I bought my first hot rod at the age of 21, a 1934 Chev Coupe, that I still own today.

After that the Overland took a back seat in the garage for quite a few years, while I enjoyed driving and building hot rods. I knew I would never sell it, as it was a constant reminder of the excitement and challenges of building my first car.