THE Gordonvale owner of one of the most famous Fords of all time has given some tender loving care to 'Tin Lizzie' just four years short of her centenary.

The 1914 Model T Ford has been restored after third generation owner Russell Whittaker, of Gordonvale, decided his grandfather’s car deserved an extensive spit and polish before she turns 100.

Yesterday, the wheels were put back on at Maddrell’s Panel Beating and Spray Painting before it was trucked down to Bundaberg to have its rebuilt engine fitted.

The old car has been a work in progress for Mr Whittaker over the past 18 months.

His grandfather, Bill Turner, bought the car new in Bundaberg in 1914 and handed it over to Mr Whittaker’s father, Gordon, in Gladstone in the early 1970s.

"He drove it around, stuck it in a shed and when he realised that money needed to be spent on it, gave it to me about two years ago," Mr Whittaker said.

The car has been at Mr Maddrell’s workshop at Portsmith since about July, 2008 where it has been stripped, sand and
soda-blasted and repainted.

The 21 horsepower, four cylinder engine was shipped to Bundaberg to be rebuilt by hand by one of only six specialists in Australia.

"Hundreds of hours have been spent on the engine at a cost of $30,000," Mr Whittaker said.

"It’s the first time the engine and transmission have been rebuilt since 1914.

"Initially, I thought it would cost $10,000 but all up it’s been about $65,000, although Andy has done three quarters of the labour for nothing."

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