FEATURE: Lisa Sawyer - A Girls Dream 30

LISA SAWYER A Girls DREAM 30

It’s hard to believe we photographed this car a year ago, and what a whirlwind of a year Lisa has had with A Girl’s dream 30!

I’d be very surprised if you haven’t seen Lisa driving her coupe around the countryside clocking up heaps of miles. If you asked Lisa if this was her daily driver, she would almost have to say “yes”! Despite all the cruising, the 30 still looks as sharp as the day she got fired up, which is no mean feat considering it’s a non fendered car open to everything being thrown at it! The shelf in the cave which began displaying the trophies from various shows has since been added to a few times already and I’m pretty sure there’s going to be a few more shelves added to that wall this year too. Beach Hop was a pretty big claim to fame for Lisa, winning top car outright on her first showing there. Lisa’s dream to build a girl’s car, without going pink to say so, has certainly come together here! The clean lines of the 30 highlighted by the Debeer Xiralic White Crystal paint really does give it a classy look. The old school whitewall tyres take it right back to the era and the four and half inch roof chop gives it that beautiful hot rod stance that makes it sit at home amongst any show car gathering. Lisa’s originality in the interior and quiet detailing on the exterior with the clear crystal diamonds is what really gives this 30 its difference. through to the very classy white faux leather. Diamond buttoned seats and trims along with crystals on the switchgear and door openers giving a really classy look and a girl’s touch. The boot hasn’t missed out on any treats either, with the side panels lined and buttoned to match the interior and a stunning Marilyn Monroe portrait airbrushed onto the retro chillybin by Dave McEwan completing the theme of the Model A Girls. Up front the 350ci Chevy detailed in matching white and chrome sits proud and open in true old school hot rod fashion. Getting the wheels to spin is via an automatic trans and a good ole Ford nine inch diff.

It’s easy to see why this simple clean build wins so many trophies. The smiles it puts on people’s faces as soon as they see it is awesome! It is quietly showy but definitely

not in your face, giving its classiness space to shine amongst the others. The 30 is a compact build and rides as you would expect in the old school days giving you the feeling of actually driving in an automobile that needs you to be in charge, which is all part of the fun of owning one of these cool machines! CARS NAME: A Girls

YEAR: 1930

Lisa’s dream of building a girl’s hot rod has certainly been fulfilled here. From a black steel body in a barn in the United States to a full rebuild in lil ole NZ here, Lisa would have certainly done Marilyn proud. MAKE: Ford

MODEL: Model A, 5 window coupe with a 4 ½ inch roof chop

COLOUR: Debeer Xiralic White Crystal painted by Whittaker’s Car Painters in Whakatane

ENGINE SIZE: 350 Chev, Mild Cam and Roller Rockers

TRANSMISSION: Turbo 350 Auto

DIFF DETAILS: Currie 9 inch diff with 3.5 gears

SUSPENSION: So-Cal X-spring front shocks and adjustable rear coil overs

BRAKES : Factory drum brakes rear and GM disks and callipers front

WHEELS: 16 x 4.5 front & 16 x 6 rear with white wall tyres

CHASSIS: Kiwi Konnection 1932 boxed, custom tubular centre section

GRILL: 1932 Ford grill & shroud

So how long have you owned the car ? Aside from the time for the car to be built, we only just got her on the road early June (after lockdown), perfect timing for her 90th Birthday!

Where did you find it, import or around NZ? The car was an original steel body barn find from the States, which Tony House imported back to NZ in 2017.

What made you pick this car ? I’ve always loved the early 30’s cars, and had to go for a Ford as unfortunately they didn’t make Chevys that early!

What would be your favourite car to have? This is my ultimate and I was lucky enough to be able to get everything how I wanted throughout the build process.

What car would you like to test drive? Oww that’s a hard one.. it would probably be something brand new... so either a Dodge Challenger or R35 GTR.

Any other cool cars in the shed? My husband Keith currently has an electric blue 1947 Chevy Fleetmaster, which he rebuilt himself a few years ago, plus a Camaro.

What other cool cars have you owned? We also used to have a 1937 Pontiac Silverstreak, which we stripped back to bare metal and pretty much rebuilt. And not many Hot Rodders would be interested in this, but we also had an R34 GTR Skyline and an R33 GTR.

Any you wish you still owned? The Nissan Skyline R34 GTR, I really wish we never got rid of. It was electric blue and one of my all-time favourite cars to own and drive. And by now is worth well over twice the price we got for it... between $150,000-$180,000k.

What cars are on the wish list? I am very happy with my new car and have no intention of getting rid of her for many years to come. If I was to choose another car, I would love a Dodge Challenger, but still keep my Hot Rod. My husband however, is currently looking at upgrading to a 1934 Tudor, which is his dream car.

Favourite style of car -. Coupe or wagon or? I definitely prefer coupes over the larger cars.

What do you love about the car scene the most? I love everything about it, it’s great for the whole family, the socializing as everyone is so friendly and we all love dressing up in the Rock n’ Roll & Rockabilly theme for events.

Favourite car movie? Disney ‘Cars’, lol... there’s so much detail and adult humour that relate to the Hot Rodding and Rock n’ Roll scene.

Whats on the stereo right now? I’m into all sorts of music, pretty much anything goes.

Are you involved in any car clubs? Yes, we’ve been in Bay Rodders – Tauranga for about 10 years now.

Did you buy the car as is or build it? It’s been built a by an old childhood neighbour from Palmy, Tony House who now lives in Hamilton. His Dad Colin House (Chocolate) did all of the Panel beating. Was around a 2 ½ year build.

Anyone you would you like to thank for helping with the car? Asides for everyone I’ve mentioned above who contributed to the build, I would also like to thank my husband Keith Sawyer for making this possible and allowing me to follow my dreams. As well as the following friends who either contributed their time, products or services; Shane Andrews, John Ellis, Rhonda McNickle, Craig (Turtle) Jefferson, Ryan Flay and Shawn (Shirley) Fletcher.

I definitely wanted to create a girl’s car, without being pink! My favourite colour is red and it was very tempting to go Candy Apple Red, but there are so many cars out there like that. I wanted to be different and loved the look of Paul Teutul Senior’s Model A that Jesse James built, white with white wall tyres.

When I was playing around trying to choose a personalized plate ‘A GIRLS’ was available and everything just seemed to fall in place from there! My inspiration came from “Diamonds Are ‘A Girls’ Best Friend” sung by Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and the plate could also be used as ‘Model A Girls’.

I think the diamonds are well complimented with the white paintwork and upholstery and everything has just come together exactly as I envisaged it.