His red 1967 Saab 96V4 can’t easily be mistaken for anything else, especially anything built recently.

“They only brought 10 of them into Australia, and I believe this is one of only two that remain,” he said.

The differences don’t end with its appearance.

“It has a V-four-cylinder engine, four-on-the-tree (manual) gearbox, front wheel drive and a roll bar,” he said.

“It’s quite a novel car.”

It also has a racing heritage, having competed successfully in world rally championships in the 1960s.

The little red machine is far from being a labour of love or a money pit.

“It’s a good hobby and a very good long-term investment,” Mr Gillis said.

However, there’s no romantic story about how he got it.

“I bought it off eBay,” he said.

“I restore cars for a hobby, but this was already fully restored.”

An MGA and MGTD are among the cars Mr Gillis has restored, as he is partial to English cars.

“They are great to maintain and restore, and parts are available,” he said.

His first car, when he was just 18, was a Mini 850, and he liked it so much he restored another, which he still has.

“A 1971 Leyland GT, British racing green; mint condition,” he said.

The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner profiles the hobbies of people in our community each week in the feature, ‘Get on your hobbyhorse’. Do you have an interesting hobby? Email journalist Josh Gidney at josh.gidney@fairfaxmedia.com.au or phone him at 4472 6577.