IRON MAIDEN
STORY CARLY DALE PHOTOS GREG FORSTERL
EEANNE MacDonald must have shares
in a chiropractic clinic with all of the
neck-snapping she does trying to catch
a glimpse of any V8 she hears nearby.
So in a bid to curb her insatiable appetite,
she’s now cruising her own loud and healthy
bent-eight in a big, red and oh-so-curvaceous
’56 F100.Nice truck, Leeanne!
Thanks! Her name is Mae, as in Mae West, as
she’s nice, sexy and buxom. I bought her about
six years ago from California. I wanted a 50s
Ford truck as they’re nice and big; also I like
that era, including the music.
What’s she running?
A 351 Clevo; she’s pretty stock. The nose was
high, so I’ve had it lowered, then shortened the
nine-inch to bring the tyres inside the fenders,
as well as reconditioning the C10 trans and
radiator. I’ve also had hotdog mufflers put on,
so now she’s sounding really good! The interiorI had done not that long ago. I debated about
using leopard-print, but felt more inclined to
keep it on the stock side. I think that the piping
looks like the bra detailing along a bustline –
that was my subtle girly thing!
Have you always been into cars?
Always! I love cars and V8s; I hear one and
almost break my neck to look where it’s
coming from. I love a good-sounding car! I
bought my first V8 when I was 21 years old, a
’75 P5 Ford LTD with a 351ci, followed later
by an LTD FB Town Car with all of the electrics.
That one was just beautiful! I was doing it up
and had it almost finished when it got knocked
off; I couldn’t believe it. So after that I didn’t
buy any nice cars for a while.
When was your next V8?
It’s sad when I realise it took so long between
V8s – Mae was my next one. My partner Martin
and I decided to get a few older cars, and
that’s when we bought the ’52 Morris Minor,
the ’56 FJ sedan, Mae and then a ’71 ChevyChevelle soft-top convertible not long ago.
Now our garage is full.
What do you get up to in Mae?
We do go to car shows and so forth, but on
the weekend I like to get out and about, go for
lunch and drive to the water; she goes really
beautifully. People come up and have a chat,
so it’s nice to bring other people joy as well
as having a bit of fun. One of my daughters,
Rebecca, is like me – she just loves cars. She’s
only too happy to come along to events. She’s
21 years old and is saving for a first-generation
Camaro, and she’s hoping I’ll help to fund it.
What’s next for Mae?
I might get a Jag front end to lower it more;
I see other lowered trucks and they look
hot! We’ve just put money into our ’71 Chev
convertible, so now it’s time to put money into
my car. I’ll wait until the paint is a little more
worn, then I’ll get it redone. I don’t know about
the colour just yet; I like patina, but I also do
love the red. sLEEANNE MACDONALD
GEELONG, VIC