Firefighters fought the blaze for three hours and saved several homes, but five of Mr Zyla’s classic car collection went up in flames.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the fire was suspicious.
Mr Zyla, of Hudman Road, said the ute, almost rebuilt with his 18-year-old daughter Mikaela, was among those destroyed.
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READ NOW“It’s heartbreaking, particularly losing the ute because it was a father-daughter project,” he said.
“We were about to finish off the exhaust and the car was booked for a rego next week.”
His daughter recently passed her driving test and needed the car for travel to Curtin University where she is studying laboratory medicine.
Mr Zyla said a 1974 Opel Manta family favourite was also lost in the flames. He is self-employed and makes his living restoring classic cars and building custom motorcycles.
When he saw the fire coming up the hill, he ran for a hose and managed to save one of the seven cars on his property.
The fire came dangerously close to homes, damaging the front of Mr Zyla’s insured property.
Mr Zyla said only one of the cars was insured.
“It could have been worse… you just have to keep going,” he said.
“I’m very grateful to the firefighters who arrived in the nick of time to save our property.”
The fire started about 1.50pm between Coulston Road and Hudman Road.
About 30 firefighters were mopping up on Thursday morning.
n Arson squad officers are investigating the cause of seven scrub fires in Gidgegannup started about 5.30am yesterday. The deliberately lit fires began on verges along O’Brien Road on to Lancewood Avenue.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.