Pilbara family’s car modification project drives to success at national events

A Pilbara family is set to rub shoulders with rev heads around the country after a car modification project scored them several awards.

Following a sensational win at the Street Machine and Hot Rod spectacular competition in Perth earlier this year, Lloyd Taylor – who runs Precision Collision Panel Beaters in Karratha – is gearing up to take his revamped 1969 HT Monaro to the Motor X car show in Victoria.

One of two WA cars to be invited to Victorian event, 44-year-old Mr Taylor, said the eastern states show is the “pinnacle” of car displays across the country.

Selfless in their contribution to fixing smashed-up cars to the Karratha community as part of for their business, Mr Taylor said his family looks forward to representing the Pilbara at the Motor X event on May 6 and 7.

“This little panel beater shop can mix it up with the best in Australia,” he said

Supported by wife Caroline Taylor, 33, and two sons Jaiden, 13, and Kodie, 11, the family is gearing up to make the adventurous drive to Victoria for the event with the decked out Monaro.

After being awarded the best standard paint, best modified coup, people’s choice award and the prestigious McGuire’s Superstar for MotorX at the Perth event, Caroline said it has been “amazing” to see the wider community recognise the hard work.

“You could really see that everyone was really impressed at the Perth show,” Ms Taylor said.

“It was really cool for the kids as they witnessed a lot of the build.”

“They ended up answering questions to the public alongside us.”

Set to load the Monaro into a car trailer, the Taylors said they are looking forward to putting their hard work on display at the prestigious eastern states show.

Working on the restoration from his garage, Mr Taylor said the work on the vehicle has taken him countless nights, helped by his supportive family.

“It took a lot of time and patience to get it to where it is now,” he said.

“There are times when it gets too hard, and you want to give up.

“I was determined to keep the project rolling the whole way through so we could enjoy it as a family.”

Remaining tight-lipped about the car’s specifications ahead of the show, Lloyd said the current state of the vehicle has taken “every little bit of spare time I had”.

“I bought it off a local in Karratha who recognised how much time it would take to restore the car… so I purchased it off him”.

“A holden Monaro was one of my first cars, so to get one back was a big deal”.

For 13-year-old Jaiden, although his love for cars doesn’t match his fathers, he couldn’t go without recognising his dad’s hard work.

“He’s in here (the home workshop) almost every night whether it’s polishing, painting he’s always looking after it.”

Set to put Karratha on the national map, the family all said they are looking forward to a weekend in Melbourne meeting fellow car enthusiasts.