The Hamilton businessman turned his hobby into the popular Classics Museum in 2012 and it is now a popular attraction with tourists, locals, and retirement groups.

For Andrews, it all started with a model of a red-and-white 1957 Corvette that sat next to his bed. Years later, he was able to fulfill his childhood dream of owning the car, now one of his favourites in the collection.

The museum, managed by daughter Emily L’Huillier displays about 60 of Tom’s growing collection of more than 100 classic cars, each one of which has its own story. 

His passion for collecting and restoring classic cars driving forward the desired to continue collecting not only cars but the many signs that are dotted around the museum. 

With no intention of stopping he began to run out of space for his collection. 

Originally intended as a private storage shed the museum has evolved into much more. Tom moved his office into the building, added a conference room providing car clubs with somewhere to hold their meetings, and then a 1950s-themed diner.

With so many cars in the collection, there are many stories waiting to be told. 

For example, in the collection is a 1934 Ford 40B V8 Coupe originally owned by Myrtle Davidson, and now owned by her grand-daughter Diane Andrews. The Ford has been restored to a near-new condition and put on display.

The 1958 Pontiac Bonneville, a 50th anniversary model for the Pontiac company, also sits amongst the collection. Andrews bought it to take his grandchildren out for drives.

“It’s got the big bench seats so he can fit the kids in it, they love to go out in it,” L’Huillier said. 

A favourite amongst kids is the red-and-white BMW Isseta, a microcar that has, at a previous exhibition, been filled with lollies to show just how small the vehicle is.  

Another favourite is the pink-and-white 1958 Nash Metropolitan, the first American car to be marketed specifically to women. 

There are many favourites amongst visitors but once completed. It is thought the crowds will flock to two Bugattis  Andrews recently bought in Europe. 

With just over 700 originally produced, the Type 57 Bugatti is an exceedingly rare car. So when a 1937 model was discovered in a barn in France, car enthusiasts around the world jumped at the chance to buy it. 

After coming off the production line chassis 57579 was paired with engine 417 and driven to Colmar, France where the original Gangloff body was fitted. It was sold on March 24, 1938, then resold a number of times until 1955. 

The car was last registered to Pierre Proust, owner of a Bugatti specialist garage in Montrouge (41 rue Racine). 

At some point, Henri Novo, who had worked at Pierre Proust’s garage for a number of years, rented a nearby yard from the father of French rally driver René Metge, with the intention of storing Bugattis for himself and his boss. Over time the yard became a graveyard for cars, including the Gangloff 57579. 

As well, sometime during the 60s, Novo also acquired Ventoux coach cassis 57659, adding it to the yard of Bugattis.

With the engine and wheels set aside, it provided the perfect body for chassis 57579. Having few previous owners, the car was in good condition despite having competed in the 1955 Rallye des Routes du Nordin which it was one of 60 cars unable to finish.

On  August 28, 1964, Jacques Ballion purchased the car, storing it in a barn on his property for 50 years until his death, when the family discovered the barn and the 60 cars within, all in various stages of disrepair. 

Many of the cars (including the Bugatti) then went to auction with the Artcurial auction house in France. On February 6. 2015 the cars went to auction and Andrews bought the Type 57 for $460,000. 

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After being abandoned in a shed for 50 years no one expected to be able to salvage many parts, so they began scouring the world for bits and pieces, over time collecting many of the parts they would need. 

Upon closer inspection of the car, they realised most of the parts would salvageable and could be restored, leaving a collection of components and parts that would go unused. This led to the decision to build a 1937 Bugatti Atlantic alongside the Type 57 Ventoux, rather than sell the extra parts. 

Andrews saw an opportunity after he was approached by the Cancer Society, who wanted Greg Murphy to host a small fundraising event in the conference room for about 100 people.

Andrews offered to move the event to the museum would hold three times as many people, meaning more tickets could be sold. The event also provided an opportunity to showcase the two Bugattis and the progress in their build. 

Already four years into the project they hope to have the Bugatti duo finished ready for display in 2020.