Coronavirus puts breaks on truckers, but they promise big rig will shine again

A four-year labour of love restoring an old Mack truck has paid dividends with the “Emerald Jewel” wowing crowds and judges alike at shows across the state.

MICK and Glenda Emmerton couldn’t be prouder of their Emerald Jewel and can’t wait to show her off once restrictions ease.

The Sorell couple have poured their heart and soul into restoring a customised 1984 Mack Econodyne.

Mr Emmerton, a general freight driver, said he had longed to restore a truck and jumped at the chance when a mate in Tarcutta, NSW, gave him the opportunity.

“He was going to sell his old Mack, so I went around and had a look at it,” he said.

The Emmertons then spent more than four years working with local suppliers and trades to transform the 350hp classic.

“It looked nothing like it does now,” Ms Emmerton said.

“We brought it over, sat it in the shed and slowly did it up.”

REVVED UP TO SOLVE MOTOR MYSTERY

The enthusiasts requested gleaming stainless steel tanks over aluminium to avoid having to polish them, also sourcing a $6500 bull bar from Toowoomba and a luscious quilted leather interio­r from local uphols­terer Simon Hadolt.

“(He) doesn’t usually do trucks, but he brought his sewing machine out here and set up in the shed for a week,” Mr Emmerton said of Mr Hadolt.

Michael and Glenda Emmerton with their 1984 Mack truck, the Emerald Jewel. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Ms Emmerton said she chose the truck’s distinctive emerald colour and name — both of which have helped it stand out on show days.

She said the vehicle’s ornate­ trim, lettering and rear art mural fashioned by Kevin Brown from Spectrum Signs gave the Mack an edge.

The couple invested more than $100,000, with every nut, bolt and decorative Mack bulldog badge adding up. “We’ve never really kept a tally because it would be scary,” she said.

The Emerald Jewel wowed locals at its first show, taking out Best Classic at Brighton in November 2018.

The mighty truck has since steamrolled competition, nabbing the Tasmanian Truck Show People’s Choice award for two years running, first place in the judges’ choice at Sorell and Ulverstone and the Aiden Barker Shield Memorial Award last year.

The pair were supposed to show off their gem on the mainland but were halted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mr Emmerton said he could only take the prized truck out for about 30 days of the year, with each drive ­listed in his logbook due to off-road registration.

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