LACHLAN MORLEY 1965 AP6 VALIANT

“MY NAME is Dave Lock and I am a volunteer with the Make-a-wish Foundation in Adelaide. This AP6 belongs to a tough young guy called Lachlan Morley. He got the car in May 2014, and he and his dad worked hard to get it restored and back on the road in a year. A big thank you to Speedy Brakes, Carline Findon and Bruno from Woodville Park Autos.

But in July 2015 Lachlan was diagnosed with cancer (Ewing’s sarcoma), which was in the left side of his pelvis and had also gone around his spine and into his lungs. He started treatment at the Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Adelaide and for the next three months had intense chemotherapy – three weeks on, one week off.

In November that year he underwent a marathon 15-hour operation that involved putting a titanium bracket on the left side of his hip as well as taking some of his fibula bone to help strengthen the hip. The following month he started another gruelling round of chemo.

Lachlan was eligible to receive a wish from Make-a-wish. We visited Lachlan and found out his car had everything restored except the interior. The front seat was so bad you were virtually sitting on the floor and the rest needed some TLC. Brian from Cool Trimming at Blair Athol was given the task of the re-trim. Thanks also to Michael Cummins from MC Windscreens & Window Tinting for the removal and replacement of the windscreens to make re-trimming easier.

A few weeks later the car was ready. When Lachlan jumped into the driver’s seat you could not wipe the smile off his face. When it was time to leave, his dad had a hard time getting him to move over into the passenger seat so they could drive it home!

After a lengthy rehabilitation program, things are now looking better for Lachlan. Doctors say the signs are positive, but he will still require X-rays, MRIS and blood tests to monitor his health for the next four years. But hopefully by the time this goes to print he will be out cruising in his cool car!”