A LOCKDOWN BEAUTY!
With some enforced downtime on his hands following the government’s Covid-19-driven decision to lock-down the nation, Ford enthusiast Chris Petherick took the opportunity presented by his deserted workshop, and devoted some quality time to his neglected, part-restored, 1992 Ford 5030. The result, as you can see here, is something very special, indeed.
“I grew up near North Molton, Devon, and Ford tractors have been in my blood for as long as I can remember,” Chris explained. “I used to help out on a local farm to earn some extra pocket money and one year the farmer bought a brand new Ford 5030. It was a low-profile model fitted with a front loader and, best of all, I was allowed to drive it. This was fantastically exciting as I was only about 12 at the time, and the thrill of driving around in that ‘enormous’, shiny machine, made a massive impression on me.”
Motor trade beckons
However, when Chris left school, it wasn’t farming he went into, but the motor trade. “I started with a college apprenticeship in vehicle mechanics, then got a job at an independent garage where I was trained in vehicle bodywork repair techniques and spraying. After this I moved to BMW, where I took all the training opportunities I could, and reached Master Technician level.
“While I was doing this, though, I kept one eye on the agricultural
