9 minute read
FEATURE: Warren & Lorraine Hopkins’ LOZROD Nailhead 34
LOZRODWARREN AND LORRAINE HOPKINS’ Nailhead 34
This is another one of those photo opportunities that simply happens ‘out of the blue’ but was honestly too cool not to!
This cool little rod here used to roll around my own town and I’d see it heaps of times. I’d grab a few shots of it every now and then, but never really climbed over it and fully checked it out. Which is dumb but fully typical right! So, after tripping off down country on a six-hour drive, I pull up to a mates shed and to my surprise, here it is parked up as if it fully owned the place and been there forever! Originally built in Whakatane, Warren and Lorraine from New Plymouth spotted this little 34 on TradeMe and thought, “that’s a bit of us”, so they rocked on up the country to check it out and the rest is history really. Warren being a rather tall dude, I was kind of wandering how the fit would go when I first meet them, but when you see Warren and Lorraine cruising around in this cool little rod, you can see they are pretty at home in it by the smiles on the dials! On first appearance, you could think this has been built along the Rat Rod styling, but it’s actually a really tidy, well-built and thought-out machine. The fender less styling with the cross-ply tyres and matte paint take it back to its era of dry lake racing with the bootleggers and returned servicemen tricking up the old cheap cars to go faster by unbolting the fenders and anything else that wasn’t required for speed. The next step being dropping the biggest engine you could get your hands on between them chassis rails. Nothing else really mattered, just make it go fast and hang on was the deal! The 401 sign written the old school way onto the doors refers to the Buick Nailhead V8 engine slotted in there. They are a relatively big unit, not known for being a high horsepower screaming engine but definitely known for the amount of torque they produce! With the triple progressive carb set-up like this has, you can be sure this little rod is going to jump off any start line and leap out of corners as if being chased by the Prohibition agents! The awesome amount of pin stripping hand painted on pretty much every panel is truly outstanding. The hours and patience to produce this sort of work is an absolute credit to
whoever can. Charles Chaz Allen was the man behind the brush in this instance and the detailing is truly awesome to check out. Warren and Lorraine are no strangers to the hot rod and muscle car scene. This 34 sits proudly next to another 32 Coupe and pretty cool flamed out XM Falcon Coupe, but I think the giggles they get cruising LOZROD here is a whole different level by the smiles. NAME: We call it the LOZROD
MAKE/MODEL: 1934 Ford Pickup
COLOUR: GMH Black Pin striping by Charles Chaz Allen
ENGINE: 401 Buick Nailhead V8. Triple Rochester 2GC Carbs with progressive linkage. Stainless headers by Squeak Bell
TRANSMISSION: Four speed Saginaw manual
DIFF:
Currie nine-inch with 3.25:1 gears
SUSPENSION: Front end from kiwi connection, chassis engineering forged deep I-beam (1” holes drilled by previous owner), stubs, batwings, hairpins, Pete and Jake shorty shocks, posies super slide leaf spring. Nine-inch rear is located by triangulated ladder bars and posies transverse spring, tube shocks
BRAKES: Repro Lincoln style hydraulic drums up front. Drums on the Currie nine-inch, non-boosted Falcon 1” bore Master cylinder under the floor, Ford bonus pedal box
WHEELS/TYRES: Early Ford steel, 5 on 5-1/2” stud pattern. 16x4-1/2” front, 16x5 rear, reversed rims. Firestone cross plies, 5.00/5.25-16 front, 7.50-16 rear
INTERIOR: Cut down Mazda bench seat, Model A hand brake, long gear shifter with a cool wolf on top. Auto meter old tyme gauges, custom made steering column, Grant steering wheel
GET YOUR OCTANE FIX 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODE - click here: https://triplexnz.com/discount/OCTANE
Aluminium anodised fittings & hoses / Surge tanks / Fuel regulators / Oil coolers / Catch cans / Fuel filters and pumps / Accessories and other fittings Contact Rhys on: 027 256 3105 sales@triplex.nz www.triplexnz.com
Aluminium anodised fittings & hoses / Surge tanks / Fuel regulators / Oil coolers / Catch cans / Fuel filters and pumps / Accessories and other fittings Contact Rhys on: 027 256 3105 sales@triplex.nz www.triplexnz.com
So how long have you owned the car? 18 months
Where did you find it, import or around NZ? Found it on TradeMe in Whakatane
What made you pick this car ? Fucken cool!!
Did you buy the car as is or build it? As is
What would be your favourite car to have? 32 Coupe
What car would you like to test drive? Any Hot Rod
Any other cool cars in the shed? 32 Coupe, 64 XM Falcon Coupe
What other cool cars have you owned? XW GS 1970 Fairmont, Mk1 Escort
Any you wish you still owned? XW
What cars are on the wish list? XW, another Hot Rod, Ford of course!
Favourite style of car? Coupe, Sedan, Pick-up or anything Hot Rod
What do you love about the car scene the most? Meeting people like yourself - Get Amongst!
Favourite car movie? Cars, Gone in sixty seconds, American graffiti
Favourite band / singer to go cruising with on the stereo? 50’s Rock ‘n Roll
Aluminium anodised fittings & hoses / Surge tanks / Fuel regulators / Oil coolers / Catch cans / Fuel filters and pumps / Accessories and other fittings Contact Rhys on: 027 256 3105 sales@triplex.nz www.triplexnz.com
Are you involved in any car clubs? Scenic City Rod and Custom Club New Plymouth
Anyone you would you like to thank for helping with the car? Na just me and the mrs
Anything else you would like to add ….. We purchased the car from previous owners and builder Tony and Jenni Laing from Whakatane. After a test drive with Tony, who I have to say didn’t hold back, I had a smile from ear to ear, which we still get when we take it out! It’s a bit of a squeeze to get in but once we’re in it’s an awesome ride and a lot of fun. It’s a head turner and a great conversation piece and affectionately known to us as the “LOZROD”
Check out our video coverage on our YouTube channel
GET YOUR OCTANE FIX 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODE - click here: https://triplexnz.com/discount/OCTANE
Aluminium anodised fittings & hoses / Surge tanks / Fuel regulators / Oil coolers / Catch cans / Fuel filters and pumps / Accessories and other fittings Contact Rhys on: 027 256 3105 sales@triplex.nz www.triplexnz.com
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APPAREL
DESIGN A DESIGN B
HOODIES $80
T’SHIRTS $35
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO SHINE...
We corral this staunch fast-back steed to fully check it out!
If you think your ride deserves to be in here, drop us a photo and let us know about it. Every issue we will be picking a random car to show off. Plus, we may just stop in and do a full photo shoot for you and for us to feature.
Email us: info@octanefixonline.com
