Octane Fix Online Issue 21

We have got a heap of photos and video footage to get to you now, so it will be full noise editing while tripping around these South Island shows this month.

It’s been full-on in the drag racing scene as well.

The Wild Bunch series is ROCKIN-OFF! First up with the competition at the Masterton Motorplex then heading North for a battle between the Wellington and Auckland teams.

These unbelievably cool machines taking you straight back in the heyday of fullon unrestricted drag racing. Just build something outrageously tuff and rip down that quarter mile.

They are pretty controlled safety wise these days, but the excitement level certainly doesn’t have any boundaries. The crowd showing up for the Masterton Motorplex breaking their own record of attendance for the two day event.

It’s so awesome to see a couple of our sponsors also involved in supporting these events as well.

CHEMZ and Mount Shop get right behind this scene with sponsorship and that’s what keeps the wheels turning. Make sure to return the favour when you need anything that these companies can provide by giving them a buzz first.

The first stop on the South Island show scene was the Cromwell

Car and Hot Rod Festival with Muscle Car Madness straight after. What a massive turnout and show the Cromwell Show was. It’s fantastic to see everyone getting amongst again! The Southland Ford Falcon Club put a heap of work in to hold the event and it is fantastic to see so many different clubs rolling in to support this awesome day out. Thank you so much to the ones who rocked up to give their support for this book we do too. It was so cool to hear that clubs are sharing this amongst the members and that they are into it just like we are! That is exactly what we want, it’s way too cool of a scene not to get amongst and share!

It is super cool to see the different cars that come out of the caves in the different areas around the country too.

The South Island is definitely the capital of the Aussie car collectors for sure. The Aussie Muscle out numbering the American Muscle and Hot Rods at the Cromwell Show for sure. That’s not me just being bias as well being an Aussie Coupe lover! Haha, although, I must say it was so cool to see all the Aussie hardtop models there ranging from the Chryslers and Holdens to Ford.

Two doors ROCK!

So this issue here covers the

weekend at Beach Hop 22 featuring the Top 5 cars and the massive shows spread throughout the town before we rock into Deuce Days and party up with a bunch of supercool Lil Deuce Coupes in the next issue. That was such a cool weekend hanging out with a bunch of cool people cruising in one of my favourite styles of car. So GET AMONGST, share the link around your mates and don’t forget to hit that “subscribe” button on our YouTube channel, it’s totally free, so why not GET AMONGST!!!

Cheers, Giggles (aka Bogan)

Well we have certainly kicked this year off with a full-on roar and talk about spoilt for choice as to which way to drive to get to a show or drag meet!

Photo credit goes to the awesome Rod Dunn from Creative Auto Photography

69 FASTBACK MUSTANG MARK WELCH’S Wild Horse!

If there is ever an iconic Mustang that screams Muscle, the 69 is the model that does it for me!

The original Mach 1 Mustang with that staunch wide body, sloping roof that drops right into the boot, the raised wing sitting proud to hold the rear end down with the air flowing over that aerodynamic shape from the huge bonnet boosting the ram air kit to have the staunch Cleveland engine screaming horsepower through them huge 4V heads, back through the punchy 4 speed Toploader manual gear box to the tough as houses 9” Truetrac diff! YEAH BABY! It’s Muscle all over!

Ford developed the 68 & 69 models in response to GM’s Camaro and Firebird releases after mainly building Pony

cars to attract the younger generation. Deciding to go big and not go home, the engine bay was redesigned to carry these physically bigger Cleveland engines as well slotting a big block 428ci (7.0L) engine to really take on the horsepower war with GM.

Already having the GT brand known, Ford figured these new builds were much tougher than the current GT’s and the MACH 1 name was introduced to make that statement out loud!

The sales were so great that the GT name was dropped and didn’t return until 1982 with the MACH 1 fully taking over the scene.

The Mach 1 is still very much a luxury Grand Tourer though with the fully kitted out interior for hitting the open road and touring in comfort.

With the sales of this shape so high,

seven different engine variations were offered ranging from the 351ci Windsor engines to the Big Block 390ci, 428ci engines and Cleveland’s boasting the massive 4v heads for screaming and 2v heads for torquey cruising.

The big block versions were beefed up in the front with stronger strut supports and sway bars for throwing these staunch looking Muscle Cars into corners with a heap of these ending up on the race tracks. The drag pack was introduced to get the horsepower to track on the drag strip as well with factory tramp rods fitted to make these 1620kg big block versions leap off the line.

Mark’s Wild Horse here in the glistening white paint with red detailing is certainly a standout model. The Hurst detailing taking it right back to the era of the Muscle Car war of the sixties with the Hurst performance options.

The only upgrade being the 4 pot Wilwood brake calipers and vented discs bringing it almost into the retro-mod scene but still matching with the red highlights as if factory and definitely required with that manual V8 Cleveland to pull up!

This fastback shape with the ready to race detailing of the bonnet pins and scoop, push open chrome fuel filler, chin spoiler and matt paint infills fully brought the race livery into the Muscle Car scene. It still remains as one of the most desirable shapes out there with the new late model Mustangs returning to the shape to bring the Muscle Car era back to life in a modern way. This 69 doesn’t need a puffer jacket to be cool, it simply sits there with its staunch open grill protruding like the jaws of a shark ready to attack whatever gets in the way and the thump of that Cleveland to warn you so.

Give me the dirt…

MAKE/MODEL: 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback MACH 1

COLOUR: Wimbledon White – painted around three years back

ENGINE: 351 Cleveland, 4V heads, flat top pistons, Alloy intake, Holley 4 barrel carb and a mild cam. Twin 2 ½” exhausts

TRANSMISSION: Factory 4 speed Toploader gear box

DIFF: Factory 9” TrueTrac LSD diff

SUSPENSION: All stock design with rebound and compression adjustable front shocks. Lowered 2 inches

BRAKES: Wilwood 4 pot callipers front and rear with slotted vented discs

WHEELS/TYRES: 18 x 8” running 265’s rear and 235’s up front

INTERIOR: Factory as

So how long have you owned the car?

Around a year now

Where did you find it, import or around NZ?

Found it in Hamilton

What made you pick this car?

I always liked the shape

Did you buy the car as is or build it?

I bought it as is but have tinkered & improved it a bit

What would be your favourite car to have?

Not sure yet

What car would you like to test drive?

Big Block 68 Camaro

Any other cool cars in the shed?

Yep, have a SLR Torana Replica

What other cool cars have you owned? Too many to list now, over 20 so far!

Any you wish you still owned?

Most of them!

What cars are on the wish list? Nope, none … at the moment!

Favourite style of car ie. Coupe or Wagon etc? Coupes

What do you love about the car scene the most? Meeting people with the same interests

Favourite car movie?

Shaker Run

Are you involved in any car clubs?

Yep, Roaming Chrome in Hawks Bay here

Anyone you would you like to thank for helping with the car? Yeah, my wife Julie for putting up with my hobby

Anything to add Mark? Yep, just get in and drive! Enjoy that beast in the shed!

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

PART II

SATURDAY IS

Show t i me!

Saturday is the big day for Beach Hop. Today the town centre becomes a full‑on hub of entertainment, along with most parts of Whangamata actually! The show spreads right through this normally sleepy beach town and it becomes a buzz of excitement everywhere!

The parade of Bikes, Hot Rods, Muscle Cars and Classics roll through the main street from both sides of the town. The Ultimate Pass entrants get to park up in the main street of Whangamata with the remaining heading off down to the local beach reserve to get amongst the action there.

Live bands are jamming out old classics as soon as the cars arrive to entertain the crowd and the food venders are in full swing to feed the masses.

The population of Whangamata increases like you wouldn’t believe for this show day. The normally sleepy four and a half thousand people area swells to around a hundred thousand with what would seem

like a sea of people roaming the streets checking out the cool cars and caravans on display.

It’s an awesome sight to behold. A sea of smiling faces in awe of what is going on around them.

The first Beach Hop event started way back in 2001 as a small weekend Rock ‘n Roll event but has turned into this massive event re-living the Rock ‘n Roll culture of the sixties with everything going on.

The entrant and car show side of it is open to pre-1972 cars with the numbers restricted in size due to areas available to park them all for the shows. Around

a thousand to fourteen hundred cars actually enter, but with every one of those entered, you can almost guarantee there are another three or four that have tagged along to get amongst the weekend.

The town itself turns into a scene straight from the American Graffiti movie with awesome cool cars cruising the streets day and night. Streets are lined with people soaking up the atmosphere and just getting amongst.

With the massive number of cars on show, the show areas are spaced around the town for people to wander about catching them all. This works really well, splitting the huge crowd of people

into groups making for an easy wander and the ability to actually get amongst the cars.

South of the main street show is Beach Hop central at the Whangamata Club with the Vintage Market in full swing, everything from old signs, clothing and heaps of goodies for the cave are on sale here.

Next to this is the Tot Rods show. Hot rods for the next generation of rodders, but in the meantime being pushed around by their parents. Along the street is the Pre 49 show for the really oldschool Hot Rods, then the Pick-up Show ‘n Shine area before heading down the road again to the Retro Caravans which are in full show mode again after the Friday Night Light Party.

While all this is going on, the Ford Reserve at the local Surf Saving club is in full swing with more live bands, retro goodie venders and even a small swap meet in action like the old days.

The Beach Hop Retro Pageant kicks in towards the end of the afternoon to see

who will be crowned Miss Beach Hop again before the talent quest starts and the major prize draws are on.

This is the Biggy! Every entrant gets a chance to win ten thousand dollars along with anyone who buys a program, fills in the easy questions, goes in the lucky dip to win a brand-new Harley Davidson bike along with two vehicles up for grabs this year. This year’s vehicles being a long and short bed Ford 1968 F100 Pick-up painted in matching Red.

The list of prize draws is massive at this event with the Top five cars nominated to come back on the Sunday to see who will be voted Beach Hop’s Top car. Of course, the show doesn’t just stop when the prizes are given away here. As the night rolls in, the cruising starts up again in town and the bands crack up on the main street to take us right back to American Graffiti again!

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

Winners of the BurgerFuel Vintage Competition went to the pairing of Hollie Watts & Jessica Siemelink as Sandy from the famous movie Grease.

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

THE BEACH HOP Pick-ups

This year had a new addition to the show walk‑about route with a parking lot set aside just for Pick‑ups.

With the craze for new Pick-ups appearing in the scene, the organizers here wanted to give that a boost. So right next door to the Pre 49’s on display was a parking lot set aside just for them. With models ranging from pre-war right through to late model custom rides on display, it is clear that this craze isn’t going away. With the same standard of quality in the builds as the Pre 49’s, this is a great addition to have added into the walking route from the Main Street Show to the Retro Caravan area to check out.

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

BEACH HOP 2022 THE PRE 49 SHOW Pure Hot Rods

Welcome to the pure Hot Rod section of the massive Beach Hop Show!

The Pre 49 area is set aside for rides built before 1949 along with replica builds in the style of the good ole Hot Rods.

Either built in NZ, USA or anywhere else, the variety of the builds is awesome. No two rods are the same in here, fender or fender less, the same year car can look totally different with the owners personal character forming the style of the car.

From Pick-ups to Tudors and Cabriolets, these pieces of auto art are simply that, works of art created to be driven not hidden, throwing back the era to end of the war days and American Graffiti.

With a heap of bling from billet machined components, supercharged engines and show quality paint finishes to Salt Lake racer style builds, the creativity in this parking lot was impressive to say the least.

Live bands jammed away throughout the day entertaining the crowd wandering through the rows of Hot Rods on their way from show to show. To have the chance to chill out and step back in time in a parking lot full of Pre 49 rides, watching the smiles on our forefathers faces with the memories flooding back was pretty awesome I must say.

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

CARAVANS CLASSICS

Straight after the Friday night “Light Party” amongst the Retro Caravans is the Saturday “Show Day”.

Along with all the other shows spread throughout the town, the Retro Caravan area comes to life again with awesome old-school memorabilia, flags and themes creating another display to wander through in awe.

It’s not just the caravans that get all the attention in here though, a fair few of these cool old pieces of nostalgia are dragged around the country by an old-school ride as well, as if a full life version of a Hot Wheels model from your childhood.

With the area set up and being used just like a campground of times gone by, wandering around the rows of old Oxford, Anglo and Liteweight caravans along with some American models and PopTops, feelings and memories of childhood holidays at the beach would definitely

come flowing back to the ones who got amongst those times as a kid. From old retro push bikes to camping sets, you wouldn’t think you were in the year 2022 in here.

Although these caravans may look old, under that nostalgic facade a lot have the modern technology of solar power etc to make them a home away from home. Fridges instead of ice boxes and a good comfy bed go a long way these days to making it a comfy weekend away.

The Flaming Mudcats were on stage to entertain the crowd again, jamming out more rhythm and blues tunes as the wave of onlookers rolled in from the displays just up the road.

The whole area was a buzz with onlookers being blown away with just how cool an old caravan can look and become with a bit of imagination and the dareness to step outside the box.

Some are honestly works of art with the custom work that has gone in to personalize them to their owners and the workmanship is truly outstanding to say the least.

It certainly is an awesome party atmosphere in the Retro Caravan area, the feeling of being on holiday starts as soon as you roll on in with the nostalgic feel of the bygone era taking over to crank them smiles up.

F100 Chassis

USA Imports & vehicle sales

Aeroflow products

Brake components

Heidts Hotrod & Muscle car parts

Sweet Patina

Body & Chasis packages

Books, magazines & DVD’s

Clothing Apparel

Electrics

Engine components

Exhaust & Mufflers

Gauges & Panels

Hotrod hardware

IFS Front ends

Lights & Mooneyes

Oils & car care

Pedals & Shifters

Ridetech air suspension

Pete & Jakes Parts

Wheels & Steering

Radiator & cooling equipment

Porterbuilt Fabrication

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> We get amongst 116 lil Deuce Coupes and fully check out these iconic 1932 Fords at Deuce Days in Napier

+ More feature cars!

BEACH HOP’S SUNDAY SESSION I t’s a wrap

Wicked, what an amazing four days of car shows, cruising and partying!

Sunday is the finale of this awesome event, with everyone heading back to the Ford Reserve to check out the magic Top 10.

Five cars as voted the best over the past four days, plus two caravans, bikes and tot rods on display for the public to vote as to who will take away the coveted trophy of Beach Hops Best car and so on. Voting is done by gold coin donation into buckets placed in front the respective vehicle with all the money raised going to the fund for local charities.

With ten thousand dollars up for grabs along with some awesome pieces of original art up for auction, the crowd certainly turned up at the reserve for this Sunday session.

Trophies were presented to the winners of a huge variety of vehicle classes including best Hot Rod, Pick-up and Young Gun along with NZHRA pick for Top Vehicle.

The Top Five Cars to choose the best of was certainly a hard task. The finish standard of the builds is incredible now with the custom work not stopping at just the body but right throughout the entire builds.

It can really only come down to personal preference now with the standard of the workmanship in these vehicles. The engineering, paint work and designs are all flawless when you get to this level.

Live music and retro stalls kept the crowd entertained while the voting was done and after the trophies were handed out, the random draw was done for the lucky ten-thousand-dollar winner.

The catch with this draw is that you must be there to win it. Unfortunately for three people who weren’t there, the

fourth name out of the draw was and very quickly made sure everyone knew as well.

Well, that wraps up a massive five days of Beach Hoping!

With crazy weather, heaps of cruising, partying and just getting amongst it all, this is a massive event to be part of.

The normally sleepy town explodes with action for this week with a fair few people either getting there early or staying on after the event to enjoy the serenity of Whangamata and its stunning beach.

If you haven’t made it to a Beach Hop yet, then get the next event into your diary and sort it out. It honestly blows you away with all the cation going on. You can either get amongst it or just kick back and watch it all roll past. Either option is just as cool.

Check out our YouTube channel for our cool selection of videos! Drag Racing / Burnouts / Car Shows / Retro Pageants

Dean Grace’s Harley Davidson “Tequila” was definitely a crowd favorite with the amount of awesome detailing with style and comfort in mind getting his build into the Top Bikes of the event.

TODD COLLINS Dropped Mac Daddy

How’s this for another stunning build out of the Kruzin Kustoms shed. I’ve checked this out a few times in the build process, so to catch it finished at Beach Hop being cruised around with Todd behind the wheel was awesome to see.

The design and workmanship gone into this build is simply stunning! There really isn’t much on this Pick-up that hasn’t been tweaked or fully custom built. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find anything standard in this C-10.

The lift-up timber veneer deck conceals a heap of awesome engineering and design. Hidden under there is a beautifully finished 9” diff on air bags mounted on a full four link system with a watts linkage tying it in nicely to chassis rails. The air tank and lines are mounted as if a piece of art formed to run parallel with the chassis rails to the Ride-tech suspension control system.

Tucked away next to all this awesome engineering is owner management control system, also custom built to

cater for any occasion with an ice box complete with beers and bourbon. Tucked away up front under that square bonnet is a late model Chevrolet LSA engine complete with more custom work to cover the induction system along with inner panels to dress the engine bay to a more simpler, less busy, clean look.

Of course, the interior couldn’t be left standard with the rest of the Pickup looking so fantastic. A full refit from Elite Motor Trimmers finishes this build with a matching standard of quality work and design. The full leather refit with new stainless trim and instrument gauges ties this whole build together stunningly and the vision of it being an old farm truck no longer anywhere near a thought now.

Give me the dirt…

YEAR: 1971

MAKE: Chevrolet

MODEL: C-10 Pick-up

COLOUR: Chalk Grey

ENGINE SIZE: Chevrolet LSA

SUSPENSION: Heidts Super ride II, IFS, Porter Built 9” diff on four link with watts linkage to Ride-Tech Shock waves, Firestone Airbags, Ride-tech E5 Control system

WHEELS AND TYRES: US mags 20 x 8” up front with 24 x 14” on the rear

INTERIOR

MODS: Full custom interior from Elite Trimmers Hamilton

Aaron Grieve’s stunningly detailed 1937 Hudson Terraplane Coupe captured onlookers over the entire event. The incredible detailing in the paintwork with multiple layers of pin-stripping and graphics mixed with the metal flake paint finish was an absolute stand out on every show day.

The dumped, chopped and slopped body slammed to the ground on air bags accentuating the long sleek curves of the body and the slender long bonnet splitting the air as if an actual aero plane. With the full leather interior, nothing in this build was left as standard and the word “custom” being the name of the game here.

Sporting a late model L77 engine and auto transmission, this Hudson needed a few upgrades to match that. An XJ6 s2 front end was fitted to them chassis rails along with a ford 9” diff and disc brakes all around to pull this piece of auto-art up just nicely.

The incredible amount of hours gone into creating this piece of art is truly believable when you check out the standard of the finish.

When the sun hits this paint finish, every sunset you can imagine comes to life right in front of your eyes.

NIKOLAS DELEGAT’S

Nikolas Delegat’s stunning 1956 F100 Pick up here grabbed my attention as I soon as wandered past in Waihi on the Wednesday.

The attention to detail with the finishing is simply awesome and the chrome finish underneath that gloss red top side is impressive to say the least!

The engine bay packing that big block 427 with 8 stack fuel injection looks a real honey sitting in there waiting to have the jandal shoved into it!

Everywhere you look at this pick-up, you can see an awesome amount of work that has gone into the design and finish of this build. It’s a true credit to all involved.

Give me the dirt…

ENGINE: 427ci Smeding Performance V8, Borla 8-stack electronic fuel injection, Vintage Air Front runner pulley kit. Custom radiator, fan and shroud combo

MODIFIES: Hedman headers with Flowmaster Mufflers and custom pipes all HPC coated.

TRANSMISSION: Tremac 6 speed manual with Lakewood bell housing

REAR END: Currie 9” Head in Kugel Housing

CHASSIS: TCI modified at Magoo’s.

STEERING: Flaming River column and universals

FRONT SUSPENSION: Kugel Independent

BRAKES: Wilwood drilled and slotted disc with polished four pot callipers

WHEELS AND TYRES: Billet specialties Rat-Tail 20 x 10.5 on the rear with 19 x 9 up front

PAINT: PPG Red and flow-coat

INTERIOR: Glide seat full retrimmed

GAUGES: Dakota Digital

STEREO: Retro Sound Bluetooth radio with Moral speakers

MIRRORS: Vintage reproduction originals

LIGHT: h4 Halogen sealed beam with Lokar tail lights

The Tot’s Rods are always cool to check out, bringing on the future Rodders with the limited horsepower of mum or dad pushing.

How’s this for a massive home away from home. Happily named “Pricilla” this massive twin axle Liteweight caravan of the Spence’s wow’d the crowd enough to get her into the top drawer for the Retro Caravans.

If you have ever wondered how far skill, imagination, determination, ambition and just the love for a certain model of car could go in creating an amazing ride, then you seriously need to take a good long look at this incredible build!

Trev’s creation here is an absolute piece of amazing auto art. You would be very hard pressed to find anything on this ride that hasn’t been designed and built by Trev himself.

His eye for detailing these Studebakers is incredible to say the least. With six other Studebakers in the shed, most to an incredible show finish as well! This build here shows the accumulation of learning over the past builds, developing ideas and skills to step each build up into yet another level of “WOW”

Take a look at the interior door panel for a start. Every piece of that panel is built by Trev. The handles, buttons, and trims are all hand made and polished by Trev. So when you see something in this ride that seems custom or not quite factory, it will be another piece of Trev’s creativity built into this work of art based on the “because I can” rule.

With an estimated three and a half thousand hours of Trev’s time gone into this build over the past three and half years, you can bet there is a heap of custom work in there for sure.

Greg Mather from Midnight Upholstery had the honour of joining in to complete the interior trim with the matching colour upholstery to showcase Trev’s work.

Trev’s nicknamed this build “BOM8ER”. The chopped, slopped, bagged and smoothed body definitely taking on the styling of an old bomber aeroplane and with the rumble of the 299ci Studebaker V8 engine, it certainly grabs your attention as if dropping in on you!

The detailing throughout this entire build from the engine bay with the colour coded engine with polished components to the custom-made dash, centre consule and interior trim through to the finishing in the boot, this entire build will “WOW” you wherever you look.

The Studebakers are such a different automobile from the mainstream builds that they seem almost custom to start with. Accentuating the differences, swapping nose cones, deleting bumpers fully steps this build out on its own and into a world of custom auto-art that deserves to be appreciated, whether it’s your style or not.

This amazingly well detailed BOM8ER fully shows the skills that Trev has for turning his vision into a reality you can cruise in.

Full credit here Trev!

Give me the dirt…

NAME OF CAR: BOM8ER

YEAR: 1951

MAKE: Studebaker

MODEL: Starlite

COLOUR: Starlite teal

ENGINE SIZE: 299ci Studebaker V8 with forged crank, stainless valves, heavy duty valve springs, R1 Ground cam shaft, Solid lifters, Edmund 2x2 manifold carrying Stromberg WW Carbs, Avanti headers, 2” stainless exhaust to 3” lake pipes and triple 2” outlets

TRANSMISSION: T86 3 speed with overdrive to 2nd and 3rd gear

DIFF DETAILS: Dana 44 diff with 3.31:1 ratio

SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS: 6” air bags, AVS suspension controller, relocated shocks, custom 4 link rear

BRAKES: HQ Holden front callipers, Falcon Front rotors with VH44 booster. Stock drums on the rear

WHEELS AND TYRES: 15x6” Studebaker Hawk Wheels. 215 /75 R15 wide tyres with custom hubcaps

INTERIOR MODS: Modified HQ Holden steering wheel, custom consule to modified Studebaker dash. Modified Honda Front seats, Smiths XJ jag speedo with VDO gauges

STEREO MODS: Sony head unit

OTHER MODIFICATIONS: Chassis has been smoothed with 31/2” Z-notched boxed rails

EXTERIOR MODS: Roof chop, peaked roof, split front screen, shaved gutters, enlarged windows, channelled body, moulded rear fenders, custom spats, shaved fuel filler, shaved boot with custom lower panels and custom number plate surround built in.

Studebaker Champion front nose cone, shaved bumpers, custom billet centre, widened front guards with custom inners guards. Radiused doors with shaved handles and custom glass.

So how long have you owned the car Trev?

7 years now

Where did you find it, import or around NZ?

Imported it

What made you pick this car?

It’s a Studebaker!!!

Did you buy the car as is or build it?

It’s a complete owner built car

How long was the build time?

Around 3 ½ years – approx. 3,500 hours

What condition was it in when you got it?

It was in a reasonable condition for its age really

What would be your favourite car to have?

This one at the moment

What car would you like to test drive?

63 R2 Studebaker turbo

Any other cool cars in the shed?

Yeah one or two… all Studebakers!

47 Radical Custom Coupe

50 Sedan Delivery Custom

50 Tudor Sedan – Chopped

52 Commander – Stock

53 Starlite Custom Coupe - running a 489 Big block Chev

56 Sky Hawk – nearly resto

(now that’s not a bad collection to have in the shed I reckon)

Any you wish you still owned?

Yeah, my 55 Conestoga Wagon, 53 Studebaker Land Cruiser and my Gold BOM8ER

What do you love about the car scene the most?

Cruising to shows

Favourite band / singer to go cruising with on the stereo? Stray cats, Links and the Beetles

Are you involved in any car clubs?

Te Awamutu Hot Rod Club, Stude Drivers Club of NZ

When I first spotted Neil Ward riding this gorgeous machine down by the waterfront, I knew straight away that this was going to be in the Top Bikes on Sunday.

The wide body stance of Neil’s Harley Davidson here takes it right back to the olds-cool American Graffiti days. The stance of this American cruiser set for the concrete highways of the States with a heap of style, grace and simple coolness!

Beach Hop 2022 VOTED BEST CAR

Rob McVicker’s stunningly custom FJ Holden here shows just how far you can go to take an old car from 1948 and transform it into a modern 2021 luxury Hot Rod packing some serious horsepower.

Shipped over from Australia to get amongst the Beach Hop scene here, Rob took away Best Car of the event with a well deserved trophy and bragging rights.

Give me the dirt…

NAME OF CAR: FJ ROD

YEAR: 1948/2021

MAKE: Holden

MODEL: Spin off from Holden’s 2005 concept car EFIJY

COLOUR : Purple Rain

ENGINE SIZE: LS 6.2litre V8 with Harrop 1900 Supercharger. Water to air intercooler and a highperformance cam punching out 720hp. 2 1/2 “ Stainless steel exhaust with titanium tailpipes

TRANSMISSION: gm 4L60E 4 Speed automatic transmission to a Commodore diff

BRAKES: VS Commodore master cylinder, booster and discs

WHEELS: 18x8” & 20x10” Foose design with 225/40/ R18’s up front and 275/30/R20’s on the rear

Q&A

Owners interests Cars have always been a big part of my life and it is my main interest outside my work.

So how long have you owned the car? I have owned the car about 4.5 years

Where did you find it, import or around NZ? It was being built in Brisbane by a small two man team but their vision for the end result was dramatically different to mine, it was about 40% complete when I took ownership and control of the build.

What made you pick this car? I always loved EFIJY but not the rear end styling , nor did I like the rear end that the original builder had in mind for this car, so I changed that in my farm workshop along with multiple other changes that turned it into the car that it is today.

As I said above it was about 40% complete, with a very basic low budget completion cost in mind by the original builder. I took over the build styling and shared some of the construction work with the original builder, the final cost was over three times the original estimated build cost, but in the end I always felt it was more what was right for the car than my back pocket.

What would be your favorite car to have? That’s a hard question to answer because I already own my favorite cars, I have been fortunate in my life to of been able to afford to buy them as they became available, that’s not to say there won’t be more!

What car would you like to test drive? None that I can think of!

Any other cool cars in the shed? A few Ferraris, couple of Shelby Mustangs, 55 TBird, Holden HT Monaro Bathurst, a few Renault 4CV’s, 2 door Morris Minor Coupe, a 1981 De Lorean I, 6x FJ Holdens, I have about 29 different cars in total not all are expensive cars as I collect just what I like, I don’t follow a particular make or model

What other cool cars have you owned? I still own them! Lol

Any you wish you still owned? Nope

What cars are on the wish list? None right now

Favourite style of car i.e. Coupe or wagon etc? No favorites, I just like what I like!

What do you love about the car scene the most? I love the appreciation that people have for their cars and the stories that go behind them, everyone has a story to tell and share!

Favourite band / singer to go cruising with on the stereo? Love Paul Simon

Are you involved in any car clubs? Holden club, Mustang club, Renault club and the Australian Hot Rod Association

Anyone you would you like to thank for helping with the car? To my family and friends that shared my vision and who put up with my constant ideas about what I could do to the car to make it cooler!

Beach Hop 2022 BEST BIKE

Beach Hop’s Top Bike award went to Graham Allen with his stunning Harley Davidson Fatboy. Complete with awesome custom detailing and airbrush work, this Fatboy also takes on a lowrider stance being dumped to the ground.

Beach Hop 2022

TOP CARAVAN

This 1965 Zephyr Caravan of the Fox’s took out the honors this year with an amazing display set up as the Pineapple van capturing the imagination of a wonderland with both it’s night and day displays.

PRINTED BOOKS

POSTERS & BOOKS

PRINTED BOOKS

POSTERS: Glossy photo paper. Size 450mm x 320mm. Sold in sets $35 + postage.

BOOKS: A4 size glossy - your choice of hard or soft cover. Each issue varies in price depending on page numbers & cover choice. Please request a quote.

LEAVING WORK ON A FRIDAY BE LIKE...

Alchemy Architectural Design Limited