That’s because the other love of his life – his cars – takes up a lot of his time.

Mr Garthon’s collection includes a 1905 Rover, a 1912 Delahaye and a 1918 Crossley, and each of them has required some tender loving care.

“They all had to be done up,” he said.

“That’s the beauty of it, you get all the pieces and have to put it together.”

Each car also has a story behind it.

Mr Garthon said he bought the Crossley from north of Newcastle, but it seems not all of the car came with him.

“Each car has got an identification plate on it, a brass one,” he said. “I got a phone call a couple of years ago from a man and he asked if I had a Crossley car.”

The man turned out to be living close to where Mr Garthon bought the car, but his son had found its original identification plate while playing with a metal detector.

Mr Garthon’s collection of cars is also quite unique.

“The Crossley is the only one south of the equator,”?he said.

There are just three Delahayes like Mr Garthon’s remaining in the world – one in Slough, one in Aberdeen, and Mr Garthon’s in Wagga. There are about four or five Rovers remaining in Australia.

Mr Garthon’s Rover will be among a collection of cars on display at the Wagga Marketplace tomorrow, ahead of the Wagga Vintage and Veteran Motor Club Inc’s rally this weekend.

Cars, motorbikes and light commercial vehicles dating back to the early 1900s will take part in the rally.

Drivers will take their vehicles from Wagga to surrounding towns, including a display at the Downside Hall from 12.30pm to 3.30pm on Sunday.

Entry is by gold coin donation, with funds to be contributed to local charities. Last year’s event raised $3500.