PAINS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

Will Smith is an apprentice mechanic at 13 in Victoria, moves to the Gold Coast and operates a service station at Miami for a decade until 1970.

Buys plot off the Pacific Motorway at Reedy Creek and, at its peak employs 10 people, becomes the largest on the east coast of Australia.

Mr Smith buys the pink FX Holden from Olivia’s Malt Shop in Surfers Paradise and from the 1980s it is viewed by Pacific Motorway motorists seeing it poking out on the verandah of his wrecking yard home.

Michael Yarwood, through his family’s connections, meets Mr Smith at the running group Hash House Harriers. In 2013 they reconnect when Mr Smith contacts Mr Yarwood’s mother after reading a Bulletin report about her son’s “exploits regarding jail” after he pleaded guilty to a dishonesty charge.

Later that year with Mr Smith paying up to $300,000 in land tax and rates and facing a decade-long battle with the State Government wanting to buy his land to secure a rail corridor, Mr Yarwood offers business advice.

In December 2015, a confidential multimillion-dollar deal is secured to settle four of five blocks on the 5ha site.

Mr Smith keeps the iconic house with the pink FX Holden peeking through the first floor but in the next nine months is required to move 5000 car bodies from the site. The settlement is $9 million.

In May, Mr Yarwood’s contract is terminated. A month later he takes civil action saying the value of his contract was up to $1.9 million.

Mr Smith counter claims he has been swindled almost $4 million since appointing Mr Yarwood power of attorney. The case will be heard in Brisbane on Tuesday.