While not exactly a showroom head-turner with a hefty price tag, a sentimental connections gives value to this 1990 Ford XF ute.
Becoming a truck driver was a dream job for Rick Walke, but one he has been unable to pursue in life.
That void has now been filled by the Ford ute, referred to as a “mini Mack”.
Susan Van Garderen, Mr Walke’s mother, said her son had grown-up around trucks since a young age.
“His step-father was a truck driver and it was all they would ever talk about,” Ms Van Garderen said.
“I remember I would just tell him to just get up and go get his license.
“I think it might now be too late for him to change his career pathway so this vehicle was the closest he could get.”
Mr Walke’s wife Patricia said the vehicle was commonly referred to as his mini Mack truck.
“His favourite truck is the Mack so this is his smaller version,” she said.
“It is known around Nangwarry as the outlaw with its Mack sticker on the back and outlaw sticker on the front.”
Ms Van Garderen said Mr Walke collected the car from a wrecker’s yard in Hamilton when he traded in an old Ford station wagon.
“It was in ordinary, stock-standard condition when he first picked it up over two years ago,” he said.
Ms Walke said over the years he had installed a bull-bar, light-bar, spotlights, re-coated it in new paint, added some stickers and installed a new exhaust system, wheels and rims.
“The motor is still an original six-cylinder but it will get up and boogy,” she said.
“The rims are limited-edition and are unable to be purchased anymore so we had to have somebody make the special lugs for them.
“It is his pride and joy and he sits proud when he drives it.”
Ms Walke said nobody except herself and Mr Walke were allowed to drive the car.
“He washes it too many times a week and it is like his baby,” she said.
“It turns heads everywhere it goes and we even get a couple of waves from the truck-drivers when they drive past.
“I think it was a remarkable find as from my understanding there are not many left without much rust on the body.”
