Auto Art in the MediaMedia Article No.2
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Long road to the top
IT’S been a long road from apprentice panel beater to owning Batemans Bay’s newest state of the art showroom for prestige cars.
That’s the path taken by car enthusiast and dealer principal of Auto Art Showroom, Bob Hughes - and he’s still passionate about all things automobile.
“Panel beating was my background before I got into the motor vehicle dealerships,” he said. “Obviously you develop an eye for a car.
“The body is very important, the body is premium for me - that’s what I focus on.
“The body has got to be spot on or otherwise I won’t be interested.
“No one will ever see a car in there where the body is not right.”
Mr Hughes completed his apprenticeship and moved to Batemans Bay in 1979, where he set up his first dealership. Over the years it grew - and he began bringing in unique cars from Australia and overseas.
He brought the first Dodge Vipers and Saleen Mustangs into the country. Mr Hughes then secured a contractual arrangement with HSV to convert and comply these vehicles to Australian Design Rules Standards.
He has also proven himself on the race track - driving production cars at a national level. He has competed in the gruelling Bathurst 24 hour in 2001 and 2002. He achieved a podium third outright in 2007 with his Mitsubishi Evolution V111 RS with co-driver, Rick Bates. The Auto Art showroom owner has plans to incorporate his racing background into the new business.
Future displays at the Kylie Crescent showroom will include Australian muscle cars from the 60s and early 70s, particularly vehicles with Bathurst racing pedigree.
Bay Post 14/8/2009