"I bought the Monaro because the 1969 HT doesn't come up for sale very often," said Scott. "It's known as a bit of a racer."
As the Monaro coupe hadn't been driven for 25 years it needed to be fixed from the tyres upward.
Usually a 2½-year job for Scott with his own vehicles, he was given the task of restoring the Monaro back to bronze glory in three months.
"For the average person restoring a car and working full-time, it would take four years," he said.
So Scott set about not only finding experts but also the parts needed for the car.
"Everything needed to be done on the car. From the sandblasting to reveal the repairs needed, then every nut and bolt has been out of it, got zinc coated and cleaned up and then painted.
"The Monaro had to be brought down to its bare body shell," said Scott.
"It's basically going to be a brand new car with everything reconstructed."
Panelbeater and painter Ian Bradshaw is a restoration expert favoured by many Old Holden Club members.
While Scott used many local experts, including Christchurch's Rare Spares, owing to the timeframe he had to source many parts from Australia where there is a burgeoning industry for reproduction parts.
The engine spent five weeks being restored by Auckland company Wade Automotive, while the original interior was discarded and replaced including new carpet, plus specially produced door trims that have the Monaro inscription.
When Driven visited the Monaro, it was under the care of panelbeater and painter Ian Bradshaw, an expert favoured by the Old Holden Club members.
Using Ian meant that the car was in perfect condition for painting and could be restored under one roof.
"If a separate panelbeater and painters are used," said Scott, "sometimes the car will go to the painter who may say the body isn't ready to be worked on."
Ian has worked many years as a panelbeater and painter, and was already known to Scott.
"I've always done restorations for the Holden Club and I've been running my own business doing restorations for 20 years now," said Ian. "I've always been interested in old cars. Don't like new cars, and I don't like working on them."
Ian's first job was to find how much rust damage there was, remove it and using parts that he had in his workshop, replace the panels.
"Then I make all the panels fit, and then paint the body - it gets done all at once," said Ian.
The Monaro is being painted its original colour, Daytona Bronze.
"Some of the parts had the original bronze on them. Not many though," laughed Ian.
Paint companies keep the original formulas for colours so once Ian found the code for the bronze on the body, it was simple case of having it made up for him.
After Driven left, Ian spent the next three days finishing the interior and exterior, and then the Monaro headed to Scott's warehouse for assembly, including the restored engine, windscreen and tyres.
And where it goes after that is up to a judging panel, including Driven, as part of Holden New Zealand's 60th anniversary celebrations.
Great tale can be a winner
This Holden Monaro GTS 1969 is being restored for a giveaway.
If you have a great Holden story, such as a family road trip or a life-long obsession, then you can enter online at holden.co.nz to be in to win the restored Monaro.
