Australian hot rod legends Rod and Carol Hadfield injured in horror crash

A couple well-known in the hot rod community crashed their truck on their way home from a meet, writing it off near Echuca.

Australian hot rod legends Rod and Carol Hadfield were seriously injured when they crashed their vintage car on the way home from a meet near Echuca.

It’s understood the couple were driving home from a rod run in their 1935 Cadillac-powered Ford truck when their vehicle hit a pothole and collided with another car about 12pm on Sunday.

Mrs Hadfield was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition, suffering from multiple broken bones, a punctured lung and blood loss.

Mr Hadfield spent a night in Echuca Hospital but was released the next day with minor injuries.

The couple’s daughter, Allison Hadfield, told the Herald Sun she was shocked when she heard about the crash.

Rod and Carol Hadfield with their daughter Allison Hadfield. Picture: Supplied

“We were extremely worried,” she said.

“We don’t know all the details just yet about what happened.”

Ms Hadfield said both her parents were slowly recovering from the traumatic event.

“Mum is doing as well as expected, they are looking after her incredibly in the ICU,” she said.

“Dad is being looked after at home and is overwhelmed with the messages of concern.”

Ms Hadfield said the couple’s beloved 1935 Ford truck was a write-off.

Vintage car enthusiasts took to social media to send their well wishes to the pioneer couple of Australian racing and custom vehicle building.

“It’s just not right that such a horrible thing should happen to two of the nicest and most considerate people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing,” Craig Parker said.

“My heart goes out to them — fight hard Carol and stay strong Rod.”

“Rod and Carol Hadfield are two of Australia’s greatest hot rodders and pioneers of the modified vehicle industry,” Ian Maddicks said.

“Wishing them all the best.”

Mr and Mrs Hadfield founded one of the most successful automotive small businesses in Victoria — The Castlemaine Rod Shop — in 1975.

The couple built hundreds of top cars over the years including a 1934 Ford Coupe, V8 powered FJ Holden, supercharged and fuel-injected Chevrolet-powered Zephyr and a chopped-top Ford Anglia.

Mr Hadfield drove his cars at Calder Park and Heathcote Park and was the first person in Australia to go 200mph on the salt flats of Lake Gairdner in a vehicle powered by a motor fully built by his business.

He won multiple awards throughout the years including one in the US when three cars were shipped overseas to help push the Australian hot rodding scene.