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STARS, STRIPES AND BLOWERS! US Street Machine Nats
You always know just how well an event held at this venue is going when you pull into the carpark. And when we pulled into the almost full parking area each day not long after the show had opened to the public, we knew the show was well populated with spectators by the sheer amount of cars filling every available spot. I reckon if we’d arrived half an hour later, we’d be in for a sizable walk. Walking into the venue on Saturday morning proved that those parking close by, were there for the show. There were lots of people wondering each hall taking in everything on offer this year.
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With MotorEx happening in Melbourne just weeks before, and many new cars being unveiled for the first time, it come as no surprise to see some many high-end cars making the trip to Sydney. In amongst the NSW-based cars, were some incredible machinery from Victoria, Queensland and even South Australia – the latter being the amazing candy-gold ’35 Ford Coupe owned by Brenton Dalwood that scooped the pool at both the Extreme Auto Expo in Adelaide as well as MotorEx. History now shows, he recreated that feat in Sydney winning everything he possibly could, including Top Vehicle of Show.
And whilst it may have taken a few years to make its mark on the Sydney scene, there’s no denying the “Hot Rod Show” as its affectionately known, has planted its feet firmly at Rosehill Racecourse.
Like many indoor events, there were plenty of new cars uncovered for the first time and damn there was some crackers. Ray Elia’s take on the VN Group A Commodore stunned the crowds when the covers came off, showing a familiar HSV-style but with a trick interior, blown injected LS and tubs. Rod Hadfield made the trip up the Hume with his new ride too, a blown Hemi-powered ’32 Ford coupe looking amazing in Orange. Stuart Brancourt made a huge impact with his custom coupe dubbed Champagne Lady. Basically a blend between a 41 Willys and a Lincoln Zephyr, the coupe was revealed to lots of oohs and aahs! Torana fans were amazed when the covers were removed from Adrian Hayes’ slick Hatchback. With a detailed LS3 surrounded by silky smooth Exclusive Customs panel and paint and sporting a custom retrim, this Hatch was a definite show highlight. But by far, the most talked about car was Peter Ludy Strojen’s crazy ’60 Caddy. The black and white custom coupe had been subjected to plenty of modifications making sure that everyone that stopped to check it out, were there for a while!
As has become the norm in recent years, the Nostalgia Lane section has grown each year, bringing with it a batch of new cars and bikes from all over Australia – many of which decided to make a road trip out of it, regardless of the weather conditions. It’s all part of what this section is all about. There were plenty of highlights, but for most, seeing both of the late Mario Colalillo’s Cadillac’s side by side for the first and last time, was well worth the price of admission alone. With WILDCAD now on track to be auctioned, its anyone’s guess how much it will go for and where it will end up. Mario’s son Andy, the main organiser of this section, had his new custom Lincoln at the show alongside of some of the coolest rides ever gathered together. And to make it that much better, one of America’s finest custom builders, John D’Agostino was at the show, spending plenty of time in this area chatting to anyone and everyone! There was plenty of bikes on show here too – an area that will be expanding next year for sure. I can’t wait to see what goes on display in Nostalgia Lane next year!
Leaving the indoor sections, you couldn’t help but get lost in everything that was gathered in the betting ring area. Lots of cars, lots of traders and as you’d expect, lots of people. It really did add to the overall atmosphere. When we returned on the Sunday, it was more of the same with huge crowds converging on the venue for the second day. Everyone I spoke to thought the same thing, the 2022 Sydney Hot Rod and Custom Auto Expo was nothing short of amazing. The variety of vehicles of display was mind blowing and ensured that everyone that visited will be coming back again and again. Well done to Andy, Donna and the entire organising team. www.hotrodandcustom.com.au
On ShowKILLERRides Rides Pics - Chad Silvey & Paul Beck BRENTON & ANNETTE DALWOOD MotorEx 2022 Grand Master - 1935 Ford Coupe
We all know, or eventually learn, that the word ‘quick’ should never be used when doing any type of work on a custom car build – including what was intended to be ‘just’ a repaint. Somewhere after deciding to strip the ’35 down, Brenton decided that he wanted to go a little further than just the paint. And is usually the case, a little, turned into a lot – quite a lot! In fact, the 5-window coupe wouldn’t be complete again for some 14-years! During that time, whether it was intended or not, Brenton, with help from his son Brad, was creating what was going to be not just one of the best Hot Rods, but one of the best cars built in Australia – as proven by its Grand Master win at the recent MotorEx. To get there though, Brenton and his entourage had their work cut out for them creating the ultimate custom car…
Originally built in just four-months for their son’s Primary School graduation, this ’35 Ford Coupe was then driven for two-years before being stripped down for a “quick repaint!” Yep, heard that one before…
The chopped, 5-window body has had countless hours spent on it, changing, chopping and smoothing out everything in preparation for colour. The 3-inch roof chop is obvious, but did you notice that the guards, running boards and inner guards are now one-piece with all fasteners hidden from sight? On top of that, there’s flushmounted front glass, custom LED ’37 Ford tailights, a remotely operated custom fuel filler cap, electrically operated bootlid, custom bonnet sides, recessed rear number plate and an Alumicraft grille insert inside the one-off grille shell. With Colin Grimmond and Steve Papageorgiou at Marz and Carz having sorted the body out, Steve was then able to lay on the PPG Vibrance colour – a combination of custom mixed Amber Illusion for the body and driveline, with the underside coloured in Fusion. Stunning doesn’t even come close to describing the final outcome…
Builds like this don’t happen by mistake. Every part has been well thought out...
With the exterior looking so damn good, the interior had to make the same grade, and thanks to Adrian Morgan at Kool Trim, that wasn’t going to be an issue. The front and rear seats are custom made and engineered with integral lap sash seat belts, and form the basis for the fullcustom trim and have been covered in mid beige leather and vinyl with a painted, full metal backing. The headlining was formed in fibreglass before being trimmed in Mid Beige Wool. The floor panels are also fibreglass and covered in German Square weave carpet and are removable. The original style dash (now smoothed and trimmed in leather) has been enhanced with a Dakota Digital gauge cluster inside a custom-made surround. Directly under the custom dash set-up sits a Bluetooth stereo system using an iPad that is mounted on a remotely operated gear drive under the dash. The iPad sends the tunes through an Alpine amp and Polk speakers that were installed by Brenton’s son Brad. The amazing interior also features a centre console with a muchmodified B&M shifter and a billet tilt steering column and wheel.
Brenton knew that he was never going to need an engine package that made north of 1000hp, so instead, he opted for a dual fourbarrel, 350-cube small block built by Eugene “Worm” Basile. With reliability in mind, the engine internals are fairly basic with the four-bolt block housing a steel crank, SRP flat-top pistons, Scat H-beam rods and a hydraulic Comp Cam roller cam and lifter kit. Up top, the Edelbrock alloy heads have Manley valves and springs which are covered by some custom billet rocker covers. The Edelbrock intake play host to a pair of detailed Weber 500cfm carbs, partially hidden by the custom oval air cleaner. Backing the engine is a Turbo 400 auto fronted with a 3000rpm converter that sends the power to a Currie 9-inch diff with 3.89-centre and RodTech floaters. The diff is located by a four-link with custom machined stainless bars and Panhard rod. Coilovers handle the ride in the rear end. Up front the modified chassis uses a full stainless independent front suspension, again with coil-overs to handle the ride. The braking system comprises of 14-inch Wilwood discs with custom machined concave rotor hats, with VE Commodore calipers providing the clamping power. As you’d expect, everything on the underside of the ’35 has been detailed to the highest level whether it’s chromed, polished or painted. The wheels of choice are 18x7 and 20x10 Billet Specialties Stileltto’s.
Builds like this don’t happen by mistake. Every part has been well thought out and those custom one-off parts have been made possible by CNC machining and also 3D printing – and that’s what it takes to make a great car, sensational. Whilst the ’35 is currently enjoying scooping just about every award possible since its debut at the Extreme Auto Expo in Brenton’s home town of Adelaide. It was evident at its debut then, that this is a very special car winning first place in every category. That was backed up with another impressive haul at MotorEx and again at the Sydney Hot Rod & Custom Auto Expo. So, is it just a show car? Well it is fully engineered and is currently has full South Australian registration. Does that mean that after its show days are done, Brenton and Annette will hit the road and cruise the ’35? Damn, we hope so…
THANKS TO: Co-builder and my son Brad, Annette Dalwood, Brooke Dalwood, Poppa, Mario Romeo, Steve Papageorgiou, Colin Grimmond, Adrian Morgan, Sebastian and Wolf Carius at Sigma Tools, A Class Metal Finishers, Joe Esposito, Joe Muscat, Mark ‘Hendo’ Henderson, Daniel Whatling, Steve Simmons, Andrew Gratton, Nathan Roberts, the boys from Sensortemp.
