LLOYD WILSON is a petrolhead from way back, and bought his first V8 from the late Graeme Barrett, of Featherston. Lloyd, then 15, was on his first-ever visit to Wairarapa. Workwise, he started in law, then moved on to youth work, published a hot rod magazine for a couple of yearsbefore shifting to Wairarapa and taking on a marketing position with Trust House 19 years ago. Magoos grew out of Lloyd's hot-rod hobby, and today it has a big reputation for top quality workmanship and professionalism. "I have been fulltime with Magoos since retiring from the trust in July last year," he said. "The idea for the business started as a retail venture to supply the New Zealand hot rod market, but I saw the opportunity to develop a niche market actually building cars, so we now have two panelbeater/fabricators, an engineer, a spray painter plus a part-time mechanic. We contract a trimmer and electrician as required," he said. "We've also been involved in helping import cars from the United States ? for example, we are currently building a 1966 Pontiac Catalina that we imported from Chicago for a lawyer from Auckland," he said. There is potential for spec work, but so far Magoos has been busy enough with customer projects, pre-1949 hot rods and later street machines. "We currently have 15 cars on the go and more booked in for next year," he said. And there's a waiting list. One thing Lloyd is adamant about is the suitability of Wairarapa for a business like this. "It's a great place," he says. "We love the town and the lifestyle. We have mail-order customers from all parts of New Zealand and even overseas for our parts, and the location hasn't stopped customers from all round the country." And what does Lloyd drive when he's having fun? "I have a radically-customised 1951 Chevrolet, and am currently rebuilding my wife Anne's 1934 Ford Tudor sedan." Unfortunately the complexities of managing the business and handling the retail side of things keep him from much of the hands-on work these days. But "when it comes to the technical side like engineering, panelbeating and painting, my staff are for more qualified than me!"