STAGE FRIGHT

IT TOOK OWEN SCOTT MORE THAN 20 YEARS TO BUILD A TROPHY-WINING, 600HP EH HOLDEN UTE THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME

-  LIAM QUIRK

OWEN Scott has loved EHs since he was a little kid, and after emptying his piggybank as a fresh-faced apprentice back in 1998, he purchased a bone-stock EH ute. But while it would later become his trophy-hauling pride and joy, his new toy seemed keen to sabotage their relationship before it had even really begun.

"I didn't drive it before buying it; I just knew that I loved EHs and this one was pretty neat," Owen recalls. "Turns out the original drum brakes were so bad that we nearly put it into a wall on the drive home!" Fortunately, both ute and new owner made it to the Scott family residence in one piece.

One day, Owen noticed a few meagre specs of rust in the tray, which turned out to be all the impetus he needed to begin transforming the EH from a humble grey stocker into the candypainted, Elite Hall-gracing vision now before you.

"That was the last time I drove the car for 20 years!" he laughs.