Restoration a labour of love for family

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Josh Holland, left, with his dad, Ross, and grandfather, Neil, and their shared project, a 1958...
Josh Holland, left, with his dad, Ross, and grandfather, Neil, and their shared project, a 1958 Wolseley 15/50, bought in the 1980s. PHOTO: DELLWYN MOYLAN
The restoration of a 1958 Wolseley 15/50 has been a labour of love for Canterbury man Ross Holland and his 18-year-old son Josh.

The Wolseley, bought in the 1980s, has a top speed of 50km/h and had been sitting dormant for 10 years.

Josh thought it would be a great vehicle to drive to his high school ball last year, so work began in earnest.

The Ashburton teenager spent about 20 hours getting the car ready, including fixing the gears and working on the brakes.

He got to drive it to the ball but said there was still more to do.

‘‘I am enjoying working with dad on the car and learning how the parts connect and work together,’’ he said.

When Josh started working the project, he didn’t know how to fix a car.

The interior of the Wolseley with its busy dashboard. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The interior of the Wolseley with its busy dashboard. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
And he had only had his licence for a year.

‘‘It’s quite a fun car to drive and there are many different things to remember from driving other cars,’’ he said.

‘‘I do have to really concentrate when driving it as there are lots of buttons on the dashboard.’’

Originally painted blue with a white bonnet, Ross selected its new green and white colours.

And while it steered well, it was slow to accelerate and known to ‘‘conk out at traffic lights’’.

‘‘I find it stalls quite a bit but if I’m quick enough there is a knob I can twist to stop it happening,’’ Josh said.

The trio in the Holland family have all been impressed by the Wolseley and it’s Josh’s dream to own it in the future.

Ross, Neil and Josh Holland have all enjoyed being around the 1958 Wolseley 15/50. PHOTO: DELLWYN...
Ross, Neil and Josh Holland have all enjoyed being around the 1958 Wolseley 15/50. PHOTO: DELLWYN MOYLAN
Ross, who works for Bruce McIlroy Ltd, was introduced to it in the 1980s by his father, Neil.

They viewed it together. Liked it so much, they bought it. Ross then used it for work.

Neil, a former business owner, started Holland’s Highway Auto’s on West St before moving it to the corner of Cass and Moore streets.

One of his fondest memories from selling cars was travelling by helicopter to remote locations to purchase vehicles.

By Dellwyn Moylan