$10,000 to replace LPG run Valiant Charger following phase-out

The owner of a painstakingly rebuilt, beautiful vintage car that runs on LPG said he would have to spent tens of thousands to convert his car to regular fuel, as local supply dries up.

The Townsville owner of a vintage car that runs on liquefied petroleum gas is facing costs in the tens of thousands of dollars if he ever wants to drive it again.

Mining truck operator Troy Wilson owns a 1971 Chrysler Valiant Charger. which he was proud to acknowledge was fully Australian made and he has owned for 34 years, but he might never be able to get it on the roads again as local supplies of LPG dry up.

He restored the car from a shell after discovering it in a hay barn hidden in a mountain range.

In New Zealand he fitted it out with LPG considering the rising cost of fuel and because of how “thirsty” the six cylinder vehicle was.

Last month motorists including 21-year-old Magnetic Island mother India Sparks were shocked to learn that the last fuel station in Townsville that offers LPG would be phasing it out.

Townsville man Troy Wilson with his 1971 Valiant Charger. He explains how the shortage of LPG fuel supply in Townsville would affect him by tens of thousands of dollars. Picture: Chris Burns

This is despite LPG not being expected to be completely phased out as part of zero emissions targets until 2045.

Staff at the fuel station in West End confirmed this at the time, while staff at another Townsville fuel station that did not carry it said there was “definitely a cost factor involved” because of how expensive it was to restock supply.

“Well, I went to fuel up and was informed by the owners it was the last tank of gas they’ll be getting there,” Mr Wilson said.

Townsville man Troy Wilson's restored 1971 Valiant Charger, which runs on LPG.

“So therefore all LPG cars in Townsville are now obsolete, so to me that’s about a $10,000 to refit this car back to petrol and possibly more as the engine was built for LPG.”

Further details were sought from the fuel station’s parent company but it did not respond to comment.

Mr Wilson believed he would have to go to Cairns to refuel, but a staff member at the Mobil in Innisfail confirmed that it had LPG as well.

Townsville man Troy Wilson showcases what's under the hood of his 1971 Valiant Charger.

The supply of LPG will be phased out in an effort to meet emissions targets, and conventional supply is expected by stop by 2045.

Governments and businesses are increasingly pushing for renewable energy sources to act as a replacement.

Originally published as $10,000 to replace LPG run Valiant Charger following phase-out