Custom Car Winter 2025

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WINTER 2025

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An Anglia for everything From trophies to groceries, Christine Thurley’s Anglia brings it all back home

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Contents

J is an s 19 u ua N e o ry ov n ’2 em sa 5 be le r

Find us on Facebook at mCarMagazine www.facebook.com/Custo

34

44

Regulars

8

2

News & reviews Farewell to a racing pioneer

20 SoCal Diaries Up Highway 101 and back to the 1940s

32 Centre Spread Is that an Onion or Turnip?

60 Events

Christmas is coming. Ask for a diary

64 Next Month That show-stopping Standard 9

Features

20

8

Anglomania Christine Thurley’s much-awarded Anglia

22 Grande Design Valley Gas builds a unique Mustang

34 Green Onions Ray Turner celebrates 40 years of racin’

52 22

44 Mercury Red Glenn Blake goes all out for his final build

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52 Van Io Checking in on Terry Howes’ Econoline

58 NSVA Truck-In Annual van gathering goes international

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News & reviews

Gerald Cookson

B

ritish drag racing pioneer Gerald Cookson passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday 14 October aged 94. Having visited the International Drag Festivals at Blackbushe in 1964, Gerald entered the third meeting of the newly opened Santa Pod Raceway, driving a self-built and designed, BMC-powered slingshot dragster called Minor Leaguer. He designed his next dragster, Trouble Shooter, with a more traditional American slingshot look about it, but still using the dependable BMC engine from a 998cc Mini Cooper. Gerald never wanted bigger engines, instead preferring dependable British ingenuity that he could pull off the shelf, modify and develop from race to race. Race wins started to come until an untimely incident in the Santa Pod fire-up lane ended Trouble Shooter’s days when

By Jerry Cookson

the push bar broke. A year later, his most successful dragster appeared. Called The Joker, it was again BMC-powered but this time with a blower attached. The Joker clocked up numerous wins at Santa Pod, as well as at National Drag Racing Club meets at Blackbushe and Long Marston, his home quarter-mile. After the success of the dragster, Gerald turned his attention to the Modified class and, after acquiring a 1958 Berkeley sports car, he began constructing his self-designed chassis to take the Berkeley’s framework and a blown Lotus Twin-Cam engine. By the 1990s, he had purchased a part-built circuit racing MG Midget, initially powered by his trusty blown BMC motor then by an Imp OHC, and finally by a factory experimental K-Series engine, all blown and nitrous-injected. Subsequently, with the Midget in storage, the Berkeley came into its own with a

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new setup, a turbocharged 850cc BMC armed with enough nitrous to launch the car before the turbo kicked in midway down the track. The theory was great but whether it would have worked or not, he’ll never know. Alongside his racing endeavours, Gerald was a devoted husband for 68 years to his wife Joan and father to his son Jeremy (Jerry). His greatest accolade was to have the family name etched into the sport’s annals as an inducted member of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2018. He was also presented with two Lifetime Achievement awards, one by the Wild Bunch and the other received from Jeremy himself at the 2017 APIRA Championship Awards. He was also presented with the Don Garlits Spirit of Drag Racing Shield in 2000. RIP Gerald

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Monthly art

The Drag Racing Paintings Calendar 2025 by Paul Whitehouse Art features the artist’s portrayals of the Rat Trap and Havoc Altereds, the Ain’t no Saint Gasser and the Color o’ Money Nostalgia Funny Car, along with many other cars and bikes from the artist’s work over the last 15 years. The limited edition A3 portrait calendars will be signed and numbered and are priced at £25 plus £7.95 post and packing. Social Media: Paul Whitehouse Art

Celebr ating 74 years

All right jack

Power-TEC’s Hy-Jacks address vehicle positioning challenges in confined workshop environments and are now available with a neat, practical, and mobile 4-jack storage stand. The stand features four sturdy nylon castors and with the jacks slotted into place, the assembly can easily be rolled to the vehicle or the storage area. The jacks themselves can handle a maximum tyre width of 305mm and have a weight capacity of 1369kg per pair. www.power-tec.co.uk

RAISED WHITE LETTER TYRES 13”-15” MOST SIZES IN STOCK NARROW BAND, WHITEWALLS 13’-15”

Shifting sands

In the quest to benefit from the most favourable tides, the VHRA has moved the Pendine Sands Hot Rod Races to 20-21 September next year. The format will remain the same, with racing and pit passes reserved for VHRA members and spectating outside of the pits free for all to attend. www.vhra.co.uk

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News & reviews

Something for the weekend? Staged in aid of Make-A-Wish, show admission is priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children, with under 10s admitted free. Family tickets admitting 2 adults and 2 children are priced at £25. www.customandclassicshow. co.uk

More Norfolk turkeys Updated info for the Cold Turkey Run on Saturday 28 December is that the cruise from Peterborough to Cromer will depart at 9am from McDonald’s, PE30 4LR. The route will take the A47 to Kings Lynn and then the A148 to Cromer. The destination is the car park on Runton Road, NR27 9AU, where drinks and food will be available. Cromer town centre is roughly a 10-minute walk away. Facebook: Bod Here

Gunpowder plot The organisers of the nowdefunct Herts Auto Show have added an entirely new event to the 2025 calendar. Sunday 22 June is the date for the Custom and Classic Show, which takes place at the Royal Gunpowder Mills in Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Rumble on

The Hot Rod Rumble takes place on 18-20 July at The Camp, Ramsey, Huntingdon PE26 2XB. Full details are still to be finalised, but the weekend will feature rockabilly bands and DJs performing on indoor and outdoor stages, burlesque acts, dance lessons and competitions, trade stalls, a food court and licensed bar, tattooing, pinstriping and hair stylists. There will, of course, be cars too, with the pre-’68 show field open to hot rods, customs, trucks and bikes. www.hotrodrumble.co.uk

For those who fancy a trip across the Channel the V8 Brothers Village in Gits, Belgium may be just for you. The dates are 4-6 July and the weekend offers camping, DJs, live music, a kustom art show and a pre-’80 car show. www.v8brothers.be

Nostalgic times

Sprinting ahead The 3rd staging of the MPH Vintage Sprint will take place on 4-6 July at Deenthorpe Airfield, Corby, Northants. Having listened to feedback from this year’s event, the organisers have tweaked the format to include racing on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for the weekend are limited due to onsite camping restrictions. These will be priced at £65 per person, plus an additional £20 if you want to race, which covers both days. Day tickets will be available for spectators, priced at £15 each, on the Sunday, but not on the Saturday. www.mphvintagesprint.co.uk

Belgian brothers

Back at the Fort The American, Rod and Custom Show hosted by Yorkshire American Car Club (YANCS) returns to Fort Paull, near Hull, on the weekend of 26-28 September 2025. Sunday is the main show day, with camping available from noon on Friday for anyone wanting to make a weekend of it. The bar will be open on Friday night, with a lazy day to follow on the Saturday before party time that evening. yancs1@yahoo.co.uk / 01709 542555

Santa Pod’s nostalgia dates for 2025 are: Nostalgia Nationals, 2-4 May; Dragstalgia, 27-29 June; Mopar Euro Nationals, 18-20 July; and Hot Rod Drags, 12-14 September. www.santapod.co.uk

Tripping

Details are very sketchy, but it has been confirmed that The Trip Out is on for 2025. The dates are 5-7 September and the venue is Euston Park in Suffolk. Make a note in your diaries now. www.thetripout.co.uk

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News & reviews Barry Cornes

Staunch hot rodder Barry Cornes passed away at home on 9 October following a lengthy illness. Barry was an active member of the National Association of Street Clubs and served on the committee from 1990 through to 2016. In his first role, he oversaw all of the PR activity, developed two websites and successfully raised the profile of the NASC. He subsequently served in the dual capacity of Vice Chairman and PR Officer, and finally as Legislation Officer and contact for the Association of Car Enthusiasts. A quiet and well-mannered person, Barry was liked by everyone he came into contact with and will be missed by so many. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP Barry

the 8s at 170mph in Ratcatcher, a car that is still campaigned today by Terry Clifford minus the Topolino body and upgraded to meet current regs. In partnership with Bob Ashley, Pat then constructed a rearengined, blown Hemi-powered car with painted ali body panels. Sporting an enclosed cockpit for 1978, the Bel-Ray-sponsored Streamliner ranked amongst the best-looking British-built cars of all time. Pat quit racing at the end of that year but continued producing Altered and Funny Car bodies as well as constructing cars for others. The drag racing fraternity has lost a true stalwart. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP Pat

Pat Cuss

Former drag racer and fi breglass maestro Pat Cuss passed away in Bath Hospital on 10 October. Pat started racing and ‘glassing in the early 1970s and made the fi rst of many ‘glass Topolino bodies after having taken a mould from the Hillbillies’ steelbodied car. Trading under the name of Fibreglass Applications, Pat crewed on race cars initially as well as painting others. Pat’s fi rst dragster was Ratcatcher, a 354ci nitro-injected slingshot fi tted with a shortened Topolino body. Pat broke into

Spaced out

The ever-increasing ethanol content in modern fuels may cause higher engine bay temperatures resulting in heat soak, especially for down draft carburettors such as the Weber IDA and IDF. Traditionally, 5mm insulators have been enough to prevent significant heat transfer, however in a number of installations this is no longer sufficient. Webcon has now developed a range of 10mm insulators to overcome the problem. Available in 40, 44 and 48mm diameters, the insulators are supplied complete with gaskets bonded top and bottom at a price of £19.19 including VAT. www.webcon.co.uk

Pic: Keith Lee

Dolly do good

This fully adjustable vehicle shell and major assembly transport dolly from Laser Tools is ideal for supporting and moving vehicle chassis, bare shells and subframe assemblies. It features substantial braked wheels and is adjustable from 680-1280 mm wide and 1150-1750 mm long, with a height adjustment from 400-520 mm. It offers easy manoeuvrability forwards, backwards and sideways and is simple to assemble, adjust and store. www.lasertools.co.uk

Museum pieces

Sunday 5 January is the date for the New Year autojumble at Whitewebbs Museum of Transport in Enfield. Vending pitches are strictly for car and bike-related items only and access for set up is from 6.30am, with public entry from 9am. Pre-booked outside pitches measuring 18ft wide x 15ft deep are priced at £18 and indoor pitches measuring 6ft wide x 2½ft deep are £20. On the day pitches are subject to availability at an additional cost of £3 each. To reserve a pitch, email office@whitewebbsmuseum.org or call 020 8367 1898. Public admission from 9am costs £5 per person, with early bird entry before 9am being priced at £10 per person. Children under 15 are admitted free. Hot and cold food and drinks will be available, but the museum will not be open on the day. Please note the museum is located inside the London ULEZ area. Another date of note at the museum is the Gathering of Geezers hot rod meet on Sunday 27 April. Along with the cars, the day will offer a rockabilly DJ and the museum will be open from 10am until 4pm. www.whitewebbsmuseum.co.uk

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The Oxford Dictionary defines Anglomania as “Excessive admiration of English customs.” That definition equally applies to Christine Thurley and her ’53 Ford Anglia Words: Dave Biggadyke Pics: Vic Peel

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B

eing married to a hot rodder gives rise to a couple of life choices. You can grin and bear it – or grasp it with both hands and get a hot rod of your own. Fortunately for us, Christine Thurley chose the latter option. Actually, she pipped husband Andrew to the post, as he was still building his ’34 Ford Sports Sedan when her Anglia was bought as an already built and on-the-road hot rod. That was back in 2007, and the spec sheet read Ford 1600cc Crossflow, 4-speed manual ‘box, Cortina rear axle and Viva independent front. “It was an older build and to be honest it was pretty diabolical underneath,” Andrew readily admitted. “I gave it a thorough check-over to ensure it was safe and we ran it like that for around four years without any real problems. It was always going to be Christine’s doer-upper, destined to be completely rebuilt sometime in the future.” That time almost came after Andrew debuted his ’34 at the Supernats in 2008, where it garnered a place in the Top Ten. “Although I’d finished my car, I decided to give myself some breathing space before starting the rebuild of Christine’s Anglia. Besides, I had a few other jobs on my plate, not least of all building a new house. “In 2011, the time was ripe to pull the Anglia off the road, and I recall telling Christine it would take me about a year. Twelve years later the job was done!”

In a twist

Andrew planned to strip down the car’s original chassis and modify and strengthen it to better suit the new running gear that would be grafted on. He’d bought a set of boxing plates in readiness, but it all went by the wayside when he found the chassis was twisted. Salvation came in the form of a boxsection chassis bought from Charlie Emerick. It wasn’t quite as straightforward as that may sound though, as to achieve the desired stance of the finished car some major surgery was called for. “I cut off the front and rear rails and remade Z’d replacements to get the car to sit nice and low.” Wanting to stick with independent front suspension but feeling the Viva unit was past its sell-by date, an alternative was sourced from Ian Mockett at the now-defunct Autopower and Custom in Northampton. There was no way the Cortina rear axle was going to be man enough for the proposed increase in horsepower, so it was ditched

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The rebuild

1. The Crossflow-powered Anglia that served Christine well for around four years

3.

2. Andrew added a hefty Z to the rear of the box section chassis Left: Autopower and Custom IFS features tubular top and bottom arms, adjustable coilovers and Ford Cortina hubs and disc brakes

4. The completed rolling chassis. Note the Z in the front rails to help with the stance

5.

Right top: The steel roof insert panel was cut from the top of the Anglia’s successor, a Ford 100E…

Robinson Race Cars narrowed the Volvo axle and fitted Moser half shafts and Ford Scorpio disc brakes

6. Right: …with Andrew telling us it fitted with very little reshaping

7.

10.

8. Additional steel was added as needed to obtain those much-desired panel gaps

11.

9. A painstaking process, but one well worth the effort Andrew fabricated the stainless steel fuel tank, which does rather limit boot space for those supermarket shopping bags

A rare find indeed, a pair of new old stock front wings. Look past the surface rust and they are solid

13.

The front grille and wings can be removed as a single assembly to aid access

12.

Andrew gapped the boot lid just as he did the doors

in favour of one from a Volvo 240. The axle was shipped off to Robinson Race Cars for narrowing and beefing up before being mounted with 4-bar location, a Panhard rod and adjustable coilovers. A small block Chevy V8 was slotted in between the front chassis rails to supply

those extra horses, with power transfer being handled by a TH30 auto’ rebuilt by BK Transmissions in Basingstoke. Being unable to source suitable off-the-shelf items, Andrew fabricated the stainless steel headers himself, along with the stainless exhaust system.

While the body looked pretty good, stripping the paint in readiness for fitting a steel roof insert revealed otherwise. The rain gutters were full of filler, so Andrew removed them and fitted home-made replacements. With the roof filled, and having taught himself the art of lead loading, Andrew got

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14. After being baked in the oven at SuperSpray the body was masked up…

15. …and then coated in epoxy primer

16. With Andrew having completed the final body prep, it was back to SuperSpray for the basecoat black

18. That work included giving the front seats a haircut to remove the headrests…

19.

17. With the body and panels fully painted, Andrew began the final assembly and finish work

20.

21.

…after which they were trimmed by Eric at Trimmania

22.

Andrew and his son Sam tackled the wiring using a kit from Pop’ Browns

The headlining was stitched by Eric Giddings…

…while Christine trimmed the door and side panels herself

down to reshaping the doors for a better fit and improved panel gaps, subtly rounding the top corners while he was at it. One of the doors also required the lower metal work to be replaced. He then fabricated a new bulkhead for increased clearance and a smoother look, along with new floor

panels, rear wheel tubs and a removable transmission tunnel. There was also an issue with the wings, mainly because they were fibreglass and the rears still are. “The front wings were horrible things, we couldn’t live with them,” Andrew elucidated. “I then had a touch at one of

the Essex swap meets though, and scored a bargain pair of new old stock wings. I’ve mounted them to the original front grille in such a way that the assembly can slide off the car for easier access to the engine and front suspension. It’s a 2-man job and it may sound complex but it’s not really. With

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The Anglia is finished in House of Kolor Candy Apple Red, which really pops (pun intended) in the sunshine. New glass has been fitted all round, rear lights are ’39 Ford tear drops with indicators mounted underneath, and mounted on the boot lid is a reproduction Lucas ST51 D lamp unit light that Andrew has converted to serve duty as a third brake and number plate light

the bonnet and radiator stay taken off, the two-part inner wings are removed. Then, with the three bolts on each side securing the rear wings to the body via a slide-in frame removed, along with the radiator support nuts, the assembly slides forward. It’s not designed for minor maintenance work but will be ideal for anything more involved.”

Roller coaster

Right: The radiator and electric fan combination is purpose-built to suit a small block-powered Ford Pop and was supplied by Pop Browns Below: With the 305ci small block Chevy rebored +30 thou, Andrew rebuilt it fitting Keith Black pistons and a little bit of a cam. In Andrew’s own words, “there’s some nice bits in there.” Sparks are provided by electronic ignition, while the fuel and air mixture is taken care of by an Edelbrock 500cfm carb. Note the spark plug air filter nut and the smooth and recessed bulkhead

Andrew had chosen who would ultimately be painting the car, Jose at SuperSpray BodyShop in Sherfield on Loddon, who has his own way of going about things. As Andrew was to do the final prep himself, he had to make several trips to the Hampshire village to follow Jose’s guidelines. With the body and panels bare-metalled, the car was delivered to SuperSpray. Jose then baked the body and panels in the oven to ensure they were thoroughly dry before coating everything in epoxy primer. It was then back to the Thurley household, with Andrew under strict instruction to thoroughly Scotch-Brite the primer before going anywhere near it with filler to smooth out any minor imperfections. “I was sceptical,” he admitted, “but the filler stuck to the scotched primer amazingly. Once I’d sorted

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Mounted under the dash is an Art Deco heater, another Essex swap meet buy. It’s now refurbished and re-cored, and has had its front grille re-chromed

The polished column came from Pop Browns, as did the steering wheel, the rim of which was painted by local legend Kustom Ken to match the gear shifter knob the couple had bought at the Supernats some years previously. The Bakelite dash is yet another swap meet bargain and was originally fitted to an early model Ford Prefect. Andrew repaired and repolished it before drilling it to accept a complement of magnolia-faced Smiths Classic gauges sourced from Merlin Motorsport. As he had problems getting the speedo drive to work, Andrew fitted an Intellitronix GPS Speedo Sending Unit from Digital.Speedos.co.uk which sorted out the issue

any blemishes and sanded down the filler, I coated it all with more epoxy primer applied with a roller.” It was then back to SuperSpray for final flatting followed by the base coat, then the colour coats and lacquer.

Inside job

Having fabricated custom bases to mount them on, Andrew modified the front seats before having them trimmed by Eric Giddings at Trimmania in Finchampstead,

Berks. Christine then took a hand with the Andrew-fabricated door cards, kick and rear side panel backs and front and rear parcel shelves. Eric kindly gave Christine the run of the Trimmania workshop, where she stitched up the leather and trimmed the panels herself. Eric then fitted the headlining and carpet to complete the interior. The husband and wife pairing switched to a father and son bonding session when it came to wiring the Anglia. Offspring Sam

Andrew removed the headrests and reprofiled the Mazda MX5 seats to better suit the confines of the Anglia’s interior, before they and the rear seat were trimmed in St James Red leather by Eric at Trimmania. The custom hinged bases enable access to the underfloor mounted battery on one side and the brake master cylinder on the other. The door cards, kick and side panels and parcel shelves were trimmed in the same red leather and contrasting black by Christine

“It was pretty diabolical underneath”

The first things bought for the rebuild were the polished Rocket Racing Fuel 5-spokes and Falken tyres, sourced from North Hants Tyres. The 15-inch front tyres are 185/55 profile, and the 17-inch rears 255/45

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We always say the devil is in the detail, and the countless hours spent ensuring perfect panel gaps are more than justified

“Taught himself the art of lead loading”

is the man behind a company offering all manner of services for classics, hot rods and American vehicles. Sam helped with the car’s electrics and countless other jobs throughout the build. Check out Thurley’s Classic Restorations on Facebook. After a few shakedown runs, Christine debuted the Anglia at the Hot Rod Supernationals in 2023, 15 years after Andrew debuted his ’34 at the same event. History repeated itself as the Thurley name was once again called out at prize giving with Christine not only receiving a Top Ten award but also the silverware for Popstalgia Pick and the Tony Robinson Award. True accolades for the great job Andrew had done with the rebuild. It’s not just about the looks though as Andrew told us it’s a lovely car to drive. “After first getting the Anglia on the road, I tweaked

Christine and Andrew express their appreciation to Eric at Trimmania (with special thanks from Christine for letting her use the workshop), Jose at SuperSpray, Kustom Ken, Nick the Tinman for his metalworking skills, the late Kris Brown for parts and massive amounts of advice “and our son Sam for the wiring and years of help.” Christine would like to personally thank Andrew for the many years of hard work transforming the Anglia into her amazing car.

The Thurley collection; Christine with her ’53 Anglia and Andrew with his ’34 Ford

Thanks to a little reshaping and Andrew’s new found skill of lead loading, the 100E roof panel perfectly fills the previous void in the Anglia’s top

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the settings on the front and rear coilovers and it now corners like a go-kart. I may fit a taller set of gears in the rear axle to drop the revs a bit at cruising speed. And the ‘glass rear wings need to go as they have puckered in the sun. “I already have steel replacements. I can’t devote that much time to it though as I already have another project on the go, a ’54 Chevy.” It’s not just Andrew behind the wheel of course, and he has his ’34 to drive after all. Christine loves driving the Anglia, even using it for occasional shopping trips to the local supermarket. Andrew accompanies her on those journeys, not because he has any interest in going shopping but to stay with the Anglia keeping it protected from possible car park dings. We guess that means Christine has her own personal bodyguard. CC

“Christine stitched up the leather and trimmed the panels herself”

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Drag racing 101

SoCal T Diaries

Former Custom Car editor Tony Thacker lives in California these days, and this month he was in a particular hurry to get home

he RPM Nationals is always one of my favourite events. So I rushed home after the excellent NSRA Hot Rod Drags at Santa Pod and immediately headed north out of Los Angeles and up Highway 101, past Santa Barbara to the Santa Margarita Ranch. It’s a few hours’ drive from LA but the traffic falls away the further north you go and the scenery changes dramatically from urban to rolling wine country hills. It’s a road trip back in time to 1960’s California. Entering the slightly derelict ranch takes off another 10 years. And rolling down the hill to the strip takes you into the 1940s and the early days of hot rodding. Produced by the dynamic duo of Justin Bass and Russ Hare, aided by a crowd of helpers including the flaggers, the RPM Nationals is billed as a drag race for pre-1936 flathead V-8 and 4-cylinder hot rods and race cars – and it doesn’t disappoint. This year, with the pandemic far behind us, the entries were up 30% – along with the spectators. If you’re planning an autumn trip to California, this is one for the list. To learn more about this and its sister event, the RPM Barona Drags, visit RPMNationals.com.

Below: The plate says 23 so my guess it’s a ’23 T turtle deck mounted on a Model A frame. And of course, windshield posts without a windshield make a good n’ handy helmet hanger

Below: Aces and eights was supposedly the last card hand of Wild Bill Hickok but bangers and eights will do just fi ne. Of course, the V-8 had it away on the banger, but maybe not for long

Smokin’ those old crossplies is Mike Scaplo, all the way from Colorado. Mike’s a seasoned RPM racer and here about to put down Rich Roberts, who was well off song this time

Below: ’26-’27 T Roadsters are back in favour with a vengeance and I’m partial to John’s track-style T with its set-back fl attie fi tted with Evans heads and triple Strombergs

Tow vehicles come in all shapes and sizes and I particularly liked “Whiskey Liver” Ricky’s shoebox that was powered by a 4-71 blown fl athead towing “Riverside” Johnny’s rail job.” The bullet hole is real

If there’s no room up front, move it all back until there is. The room in a cut-down ’30’31 sedan is for a rack of Strombergs on an 8BA between Model A rails – you know it makes sense

Left: I’m also in love with Model T-based speedsters and the Paco bodied “Superior Special” was unusual in that it was fi tted with a rare Frontenac SOHC conversion The original Cotton Chopper dragster out of Merced, California had simple, drilled Model T rails powered by a fl athead Ford V-8. Cotton Chopper II is a much more sophisticated piece with ’34 rails and a track nose

The post-WWII fl athead-powered BaldwinMercury special is unique. Owner Rob Manson also owns the Payne Special that was likewise built by Willis Baldwin and resided in the UK with the Payne family for many years

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Below: They may not breathe real well but I dig fi lled grilles like this one fi tted to the “Savage Coupe” out of northern California. Interesting paint on the sun visor?

“Where were you, in ’42?” is a bit of an odd question because most men and women were engaged in World War II. This Deuce Roadster would have been a mere 10 years old

Left: He’s been through some tough times of late but 97-year-old Gene Winfi eld still gets out to events and still has a smile on his face as he talks to RPM Nationals founder, organiser and announcer Russ Hare Right: Created, more-or-less, by Zora Arkus-Duntov, the “Father of the Corvette,” the Ardun is arguably the crown jewel of the fl athead conversion kits. Those simple welded tube log intakes were made by companies such as Weiand I’ve always been a fan of the simple beauty of a Deuce Roadster and they don’t come much better than Alec Harrell’s Harrell-equipped example smokin’ the hides off the line

Love ’em or leave ’em, track-nosed roadsters are gaining popularity in the racing ranks – as are those Veda Orr knock-off style, cast aluminium hub caps that look great with wheel discs

Scrambling since 2004, the Deviled Eggs Car Club is based in the San Fernando area of Los Angeles. They describe themselves as “the realest fake car club you’ve ever seen”

Basic rail jobs, like this one out of San Diego, are getting very popular at hot rod drags as they are relatively quick, easy and cheap-ish to build

Like all nostalgia events, the dress code and the support vehicles are just as important as the race cars. The dragster came from Canada but I don’t think they towed all the way

This is not a wind-up – lots of dragsters in the late-50’s and early-60’s had a key-shaped push bar just for fun. The fl attie had a polished 4-71

For me, this shot sums up the fi re and brimstone spirit of the RPM Nationals as a Nor Cal member of the Road Devils Car Club burns rubber. The Devils were formed originally in 1946

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Modernising such a well-known classic is difficult, but Mark Robinson and Valley Gas Speed Shop came together to produce this one-of-a-kind Mustang Words: Mike Pye Pics: Alan Kidd

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here’s always a story behind how a modified car came about. It’s what makes our lives interesting. But when Mark Robinson, the owner of this radical 1970 Mustang Grande coupe, told me it was toss up between a VW Camper, a TVR Cerbera or a 1960’s / ’70’s muscle car, you know it’s not the usual story. “I’ve always been into cars,” says Mark cheerfully, “and I’m eclectic in my taste for them. But back when I bought the Mustang,

in 2009, I just really wanted a project. My girlfriend at the time, now my wife, was working a lot in the evenings and at weekends and I was bored, so I sat down and made a list of the cars I’d like to own. After some deliberation – and knocking quite a few off because they were out of my budget – I got it down to the VW, TVR or a muscle car of some sort. “I’ve never owned an American car before, and I’ll admit I didn’t know anything about

them, so just started looking for something that fit my budget.”

Model behaviour

Mark laughs now about the fact what he ended up buying, in a pretty tired state from a seller in Birmingham, is not the most desirable of models. “It kind of meant I could do what I wanted with it. I wasn’t going to upset any purists because none of them are very interested in this model of Mustang.”

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Renderings of how Mark envisaged the car were done early on in the process by Paul Kuras of Kuras Custom Renderings (www.yourautoart.com). The concept evolved over time but there are enough elements in the finished car to see Mark has largely stuck to his vision, and Valley Gas Speed Shop brought that vision to life for him

Having driven the car for a short while after that baptism-of-fire journey from Birmingham to his then home in south-west London, it became apparent it needed quite a lot of work. “The previous owner had put a stainless exhaust on it, but there were a lot more pressing things that needed doing,” he recalls. Not least a rebuild of the original 351 Cleveland under the bonnet. While Mark decided what to do, and who to get to do it, he spent time planning how he

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The build 1. The car as Mark bought it from Birmingham. Largely original, save for the wheels and that hood scoop bonnet, and still with its matching numbers engine and ’box, but definitely in need of some love

Wide ’arches were on the cards from the start. This was the first iteration, rejected as too much like a British Ford rally car!

“I just started looking for something that fit my budget”

4. From there, the rest of the car just flowed organically. The ’arches on a new pair of front wings were pulled out a mere six inches

6. Shelby tail light panel swap is a bit of a Marmite mod’ in Mustang circles, but Mark’s not worried about that. It certainly changes the look of the rear of a ’70

3.

2.

7. There are so many one-off bits on this car, but the Valley Gas-made glass fibre gauge panel is a particularly neat one

By the third iteration, Mark and Jimmy were on the same page. That’s a whopping 10-inch stretch in the rear ’arches

5. The doors were replaced too, and new sills and front and rear spoilers made, all in steel, to bring the extensive modifications together as one

“It looked like it had just been given a slap on the wrist. So I made another scoop, twice the size”

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The original 351 (5.7-litre) Cleveland is still in the hole but it’s a far cry from its original spec now, with a Scat 408 stroker kit and a 30-over re-bore taking it up to 415ci (6.8-litre). Further upgrades include Trick Flow ali heads, roller rockers, Edelbrock Performer intake and carb and headers. When Mark’s ready to party, there’s a 150 shot of nitrous to push the power, albeit temporarily, up to around 600bhp. Gearbox is a B&M C4 auto’, which transfers the torque to a standard Ford 8-inch rear axle

Talking to Jimmy Hibberd about this build, he likened it to a modern Dodge Challenger and, from this angle, we can see what he means. 10-inch rear ’arch stretch, 20-inch wheels and race car-inspired aero body mods transform one of Mustang’s ugly ducklings into a brute of a black swan

would ideally like the car to look. Taking that eclectic taste, his influences came from perhaps a wider pool than we’re used to dealing with. These days, he’d probably cite the vehicles coming out of Ruffian Cars in southern California as an influence – though Chris Ashton’s original ’70 Mustang didn’t in fact break cover until 2019, long after this project had got off the ground. To cement his vision, he commissioned a couple of illustrations of what he had in his head from artist Paul Kuras, in the US, and took these with him when he paid a visit to Valley Gas Speed Shop.

Day one

Jimmy Hibberd at Valley Gas remembers well the day Mark first came in with the car. “It was pretty shit really. I don’t think he’ll mind me saying that. It wasn’t running and the engine needed a rebuild, so we said we’d pull the motor and rebuild that. Then he said he wouldn’t mind modernising it a bit, and showed me some pictures of the kind of things he liked.” On the upside, the car was at least complete, and numbers matching too. Not that that means a great deal on a base model car, but it meant the only real changes that had ever been made were cosmetic ones, so it was a fairly blank canvas.

One element of the car’s transformation that was there from the start was wider ’arches, though it took three iterations before everyone was happy with them. It was also always going to be deep gloss black. Before any bodywork was done, Mark put in an order with American Racing for a set of 20-inch Cross Up wheels. That gave Jimmy something to work around. Literally. “The first ones we did looked like them forest ’arches on rally cars,” laughs Jimmy. “I really didn’t like them at all, so I suggested Mark look at the more flowing ’arches on the Cologne Capris. He was really unsure to begin with, so I said I’d do one and, if he didn’t like it, I’d put it back to how it was and he wouldn’t have to pay for the work.” That’s when the project really started to gather momentum. “Once we’d agreed on the ’arches, I knew I could trust Jimmy and so pretty much let him get on with it,” remembers Mark.

Wide load

And so, from the 10-inch widened rear ’arches, Jimmy and his main metal man at the time, Darren Edwards, worked around the car, pulling the fronts out by six inches, re-working the sills to better match the widened ’arches, designing and fabricating a front spoiler and a rear spoiler and splitter.

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If you saw this pic on its own, you’d do well to recognise it as a ’70 Mustang interior, but then the whole idea with the car was to modernise it. Mark wanted the big Alpine screen, Vintage Air a/c and Momo Jet wheel, and Valley Gas made the one-off gauge insert and centre console with cup holder. Gauges are Auto Meter American Muscle line

To go with the red and black theme, Mark chose TMI Universal Sport-VXR low backs

Two rear splitters, in fact, because Jimmy didn’t like the first version at all. The one point of contention was the bonnet scoop. Though the car had one when bought, Mark really wanted a flat bonnet, though he also wanted the car to look aggressive. So, when he wasn’t looking, Jimmy fabbed up a small scoop and sat it on the bonnet.

“One element of the car’s transformation that was there from the start was wider arches”

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with red stitching and suede inserts. Jimmy then had Eric Giddings at Trimmania bring the rest of the interior in line to work with them

Putting the boom in the boot is an Alpine 12-inch sub in its own dedicated enclosure, while over to the right is the nitrous bottle for the single stage, 150-shot system that’s plumbed but yet to fire

“It wasn’t aggressive at all,” he says, “it looked like it had just been given a slap on the wrist. So I made another one, twice the size, and Mark liked that one.” By that point, the new nature of the car was really starting to show, and Jimmy remembers Mark becoming more involved at that point. “I think he could see the more modern car he had in his head at that point,

and he started finding and ordering more parts. The screen in the dash was his idea, and he sourced the seats, steering wheel, all stuff like that.” “Yeah, I’d sit at home doing the research, ordering bits and paying for them, but then they’d be delivered straight to Jimmy so he got to play with all the cool toys,” says Mark with a smile.

Power play

In for a penny, in for a pound now, if they were going to rebuild the engine, a bit more power wouldn’t go amiss, right? So, a stroker kit from Scat was ordered, which would take the 351 out to 408ci (415 actually with a +30 re-bore). To make the most of the additional capacity, a pair of aluminium Trick Flow Power Port heads

While the car’s been much improved already, the next stage of its evolution is to add a full Street or Track suspension system – which Mark hopes will turn the black stallion into a proper canyon carver

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Move round the back and the effect is even more dramatic. Shelby GT500-style tail light treatment, chunky spoiler and hand-formed diffuser give a definite racy feel. Murdered Out Motors is an in-progress concept of Mark’s that you can get behind via social media

If you’re wondering about how the car got its name, Phoenix would have been way too obvious. But Lazarus is another one who rose from the dead, or at least that’s how the story goes, so Mark thought it would be pretty apt for his re-born Mustang

We don’t often quote tyre sizes that start with a 20, but then this car falls outside the more traditional CC remit so it’s only right that the tyres should too. For reference, they’re 255/35-20 and 275/35-20 Toyo Proxes on 7.5 and 8 x 20-inch American Racing Cross Ups

went on, a more aggressive – there’s that word again – cam and an Edelbrock Performer inlet and carb package. Oh, and just in case that proves not to be enough, Mark had a Nitrous Outlet X-Series single nozzle system sent to Valley Gas to be plumbed in beneath the carb, though he’s yet to experience the kick in the proverbial pants that promises. For now, the suspension has had what you might call a stage one upgrade. That is to say it’s the original Mustang set up but with

Eibach coilovers and progressive springs up front and performance leaf springs, adjustable shocks and an anti-tramp bar in the rear, similar to those found on old Lotus Cortinas. There’s also a quick steer kit and the brakes have been upgraded to Wilwood discs and Ultralite calipers all round.

a full kit from Street or Track in the States, as well as an Ididit steering column. I might also upgrade the brakes, but not just yet.

Street or Track

“Just about everything on the car is new, or it will be. The suspension is the next area I’m going to improve and I’ve just ordered

“Thanks to Eric at Trimmania for the interior, Beaulieu Garage for the paint, Darren Edwards (who was working at Valley Gas at the time) for turning Jimmy’s designs for the body into metal, and all the unhinged crew at VGSS.”

The black paint on Mark’s Mustang is absolutely superb, and was done at the delightful Beaulieu Garage in Hampshire by a gentleman who is apparently now painting boats. Shame, as he’s clearly bloody good at painting cars!

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“I think when that’s done it will give me the confidence to make proper use of the power of the engine. Then I can turn the nitrous on…” Asked what the car feels like to drive, both Jimmy and Mark’s responses were similar: enthusiastic, but not exactly what you’d call gushing. Jimmy: “It’s pretty good to drive but, having driven my own car now (the Scarelane, which we featured in our October ’24 issue), I know it could be much better. When the new suspension goes on, it’ll be a proper package.”

Mark: “It’s not as refined as a modern car, obviously. It’s quite responsive, and you get pretty good power out of it, but it’s nothing like the 3.0-litre, twin-turbo V6 I had in my old BMW. It’s not worse, they’re just worlds apart. “I’m really happy with it, I think it looks cool and, with the new suspension, it will maybe drive a bit more like a modern car. That’s what Street or Track promise anyway. If they can get my 54-year-old Mustang to drive like an M3, that would be incredible. Then I can have some real fun with it.”

In the meantime, Mark has set up a website at murderedoutmotors.com. It’s very much still a work in progress, and at the moment remains just a place to document the car – but, if there’s any interest in it, he might try and develop it into a community, a place where others who like dark, low, sinister-looking cars can meet. If that sounds like a bit of you, you can get in touch via the website or give Mark a follow on Instagram @ murderedoutmotors. Like this car, it’s the modern way. CC

What’s in the name?

The Mustang Grande was offered between 1969 and ’73 as a more luxurious alternative to the sporty Mach 1. It was only available as a hardtop coupe and was basically an interior / exterior trim package with faux wood trim, different upholstery, optional vinyl roof and an additional 55lbs (!) of sound deadening and softer springs / dampers bringing the luxury. The closest it came to a performance model was a pair of sporty wing mirrors though, curiously, you could order a Grande with any contemporary engine option, right up to the monster 428 Cobra Jet. Apparently, a couple of people did just that, though the vast majority were equipped with the workhorse 302. The accompanying marketing literature tells you who Ford were aiming the car at. It wasn’t the Friday night street racer crowd.

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Pic: Julian Hunt

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Forty years is a long time to own any car. But to race it all that time, and then for your son to race it too… well, that’s a story too good to pass up Words: Mike Pye Pics: Julian Hunt, Alice Fairhead and Mike Pye

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s this isn’t a cookery magazine, we’re going to assume the words Green Onions mean just two things to you. The brilliant ‘accidental’ instrumental by Booker T and the MGs, and Racin’ Ray Turner’s ’55 Chevy. Likewise, as this isn’t a music magazine, we’re going to focus on the latter here. Doing the research for this article has been a joyful experience. If you know Ray, or have ever spoken to him, you’ll know he’s one of the nicest, most modest racers around. He’s literally seen it, done it and bought the T-shirt, but his genuine deference is a delight to behold. If you’re wondering why we’re only getting round to featuring Ray’s ride now, after all these years, it’s because 2024 has marked the 40th anniversary of his time with the car.

There’s more to the story, though, but we’ll come on to that shortly. “I owned a rodded Ford Pop for a short while in the early ’80s,” recalls Ray, “though I didn’t own it for very long. So, when I started hanging around with a bunch of hot rodders from Witney, they suggested I look out for a Tri-Chevy.”

Expand and fart

“Back then, Exchange & Mart was a good source to buy an American car and on the 3rd of May 1984, I bought a copy. Lo and behold, there was a ’55 Chevy advertised for sale. The following day, I set off for Bournemouth with two local rodders and ended up buying the ’55 from Ron France. “We decided Andy [Remnant] should drive the car and we stopped off at a pub in

Newbury for a drink on the way home, only to find it full of policeman returning from picket duty up north. As the car had no tax and I had no insurance, we thought we should leave pretty quick. I’d never driven a left-hand drive car on the road before, and the lights were only just adequate, but somehow we made it home. I joined the Tri-Chevy Club that week, and later that same month I visited Santa Pod and obtained my first timing ticket.” The black car was a bit rough round the edges, so Ray decided to remove the paint in readiness for a respray. The plan was to repaint it orange, as that was the colour the car was when it came into the country in 1979, but when two other orange Tri-Chevys turned up to a RWYB event Ray attended at the Pod, he decided it needed to be a different colour.

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g iting in the stagin y, circa 1984, wa s ’55 ion On Here’s a young Ra n ee Gr ed wly christen lanes with the ne

How good does the ’55 look here in ’85? Cragar s on the front, steels ’n’ slicks on the back, lett erbox scoop, radiused rear ’arc hes and dash-mounted tach. Tough AF

Below: These fantastic shots were taken at one of Ray’s early outings to the Pod. That’s his first ever timing ticket, too: 17.72 at 87.41mph. He’s come a long way since y very young Harve dad Ray, giving a l ee And here’s proud wh the d hin his first taste be

But what? Black? Yellow? White? Red? Nah, it should be green. British Leyland Java Green to be precise. When the letter box hood scoop went on in June that year, the now infamous Green Onions name appeared on the sides of it. That was in 1984.

Slapper ’n’ slicks

“I mostly did RWYB events with the car back then,” Ray remembers. “I fitted some slapper bars and I’d put a pair of slicks in the back, drive to Long Marston or the Pod, bolt on the slicks, remove the exhaust and go racing. I remember winning the street class at one of the Goodguys events at Long Marston in 1992, but mostly I just did Continued on page 39

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Ray’s ’55 210 made an early appearance in print in the September / October ’86 edition of the Classic Chevy Club Journal, edited by none other than Nick Brooke Langham

Pics: Julian Hunt

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This is just about the best bit of background we’ve ever been given on a car for a feature: Harvey’s junior school project on dad’s old car. It documents how the car looked when imported in 1979 (orange); how it looked when Ray bought it in May 1984 (black); partially stripped for a repaint in July ’84; first green paint job and Cragars in August ’84 (note no hood scoop at that point); at Long Marston in late ’84 (now with hood scoop and Green Onions name); then repainted and hood scoop removed in 1992. Wonderful stuff, huh?

he 40-year anniversary of Green Onions is one thing, but what really makes this story for us is the way Ray and Marianne’s son, Harvey, was brought up in the drag racing way of life and has gone on to be a successful racer in his own right. Harvey’s 30 now, but his first experiences of drag racing were behind the wheel of Green Onions at the age of 17 and, ever since then, he and Ray have tag teamed the ’55 in the Gasser circus. Winning the championship the following year, at the age of 18, confirmed drag racing was in his blood, so it was only natural that he’d eventually want to race his own car. The opportunity he’d been waiting for came when the ex-Craig Hopkins / Lee Painter Gas Chamber ’55 (CC Feb 2010) came up for sale. “I was all set to build a clone of dad’s car,” says Harvey, “but it was all taking a long time and I was looking at other cars for sale at the same time…” He didn’t think too much at first of a Facebook Marketplace ad for a ’64 Chevy Nova in the States that had been a drag car all its life. “It was such a dodgy looking ad,

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Just a few of the trophies Marilyn and Donald won with the car over the years. Unfortunately, many of the earlier ones were thrown away

I just assumed it was a scam. But I called Dale [Snoke] in California to see what he thought [with two cars he’s built running in the Circus, all-round good guy Dale has become something of a patron of the series]. He agreed that surely it was too good to be true, but he’d follow it up and go and have a look for me anyway.” Well, to say Dale was excited when he called back would be an understatement. “His exact words were, ‘I’m not leaving without this car,’” laughs Harvey. Fortunately, Dale had taken a trailer with him – you know, just in case – and, once Harvey had learnt the full story and given the nod, Nurse Stoner was loaded up and was soon on its way to England. The story is a wonderful one, and it would be remiss of us not to print here at least some of the letter Harvey received from the car’s previous owner, Donald Stoner. Strap yourselves in, this is good… “Hi Harvey. I bought the car in 1966 with a 283 and 4-speed transmission. Initially, I drove it to high school, and my brother and I modified the car in the driveway of our home. In 1967, we put the Olds rear end

Harvey wanted to say huge thanks to Dale Snoke (right) for putting the deal together for him. On the left is Donald Stoner, who owned the car from 1966 until Harvey bought it

Red vinyl interior is in beautiful condition, with the only alterations for racing being a rear half ’cage, harnesses, B&M shifter and some additional gauges, with the Mallory tach positioned front and centre

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The car was converted to straight axle in the late 1960s, and then to a dropped tube when Marilyn started racing it 20 or so years later. That set up is still under the car today. Likewise, the big Olds rear end and homemade ladder bars have been in the car since 1967, and Harvey has no plans to change any of it

Where once there was a mild 283, Donald Stoner fitted a hot, 365 horsepower 327 with a cross ram intake. He then changed that to a lumpy 350 with ali heads, fenderwell headers and a single four barrel in the early ’80s. That’s the engine Harvey goes into battle with today

underneath it and radiused the rear fenders to accommodate the big slicks. I unbolted the front end, made a new chassis to accommodate the straight axle and installed the 327 / 365 horsepower Corvette motor with a cross ram and two four-barrels. With 4.88 gears and a 4-speed, I raced it in D/Gas from 1967 to ’69. The fastest it ran with this configuration was 12.29 at 110mph. I raced at many tracks that have been lost to history, such as Lions, Orange County and Fontana. When the weekend came around, we’d put the low gears in at home and flat tow the car to the track. Then, before returning to work on Monday, I would replace the high gears and drive it during the week to work. I parked the car in 1969 because I was so frequently stopped coming home from work by local law enforcement officers. I got married in 1974 and focused on building my tool and die business. We moved the car between several houses until we decided to start racing again, this time

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in the NDRA Comp division 2 and 4 classes with the set up that’s in there now – a 350ci motor with single four barrel, automatic transmission and 5.38s in the rear. When we put it back together, I replaced the straight axle with a dropped front axle and put disc brakes on it. The fastest the car went with this configuration is 11.72 at 113mph. We raced the car like that for 10 years, doing very well in our division and winning several championships. We competed throughout California, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and at Los Angeles County Raceway. My role was the mechanic and my wife, Marilyn, drove the car [hence the name on the door]. During the 1980s, Marilyn was studying for her master’s degree in nursing. She would bring her books with her into the staging lanes and study while she waited to race. She would do a run, return to the pits and carry on studying while I prepared the car for the next round. We had a lot of fun competing with others who shared our passion for drag racing, and those weekends spent together at the track were very special to both of us. We hope Nurse Stoner’s new life is as exciting as our time with her was. Sincerely, Donald Stoner”

The stickers in the rear window aren’t just for show. The ’64-vintage Nova has been a race car since 1967, and it’s still going strong

We thought it was impressive when Ray celebrated 25 years with Green Onions in 2009, but the sticker he had made then pales alongside the 40-year anniversary one he added this year. Yep, Racin’ Ray’s a racer alright. His son, Harvey, started racing aged 17 and is definitely following in dad’s footsteps

RWYB events. Until one day – I think around 2010 – when I was approached by Ken Brookes, who asked if I would like to run away with the Circus.” The Circus in question was, of course, the newly formed Gasser Circus. And that’s where Ray has been ever since, with the appropriate number 55 in his windows. Prior to that, around 1992 – perhaps in celebration of winning that event at Long Marston – Ray treated the car to new stock suspension and steering, albeit with the addition of roller bearing front hubs and a roller bearing kit on the idler arm. “Poor man’s power steering,” says Ray with a grin. With the car and chassis repainted, and some lightweighting by means of a set of

Weld Prostars and glass fibre front end panels and boot lid bought from old Pro Mod campaigner and erstwhile Custom Car contributor Tim Cook, then at Covin Performance, Ray was ready to go again. As the hood scoop was now gone, the Green Onions name moved down to the front wings, this time as a sticker in the style of the original Chevrolet script.

Chip off the old block

Along the way, with 20 years’ racing already under his belt, Ray and his ever-supportive wife Marianne found time to build a son, Harvey – who has grown up with the car and quickly became an integral part of the Green Onions crew. So much so that by 2016, at

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“Harvey, who has grown up with the car, quickly became an integral part of the Green Onions crew”

As you can see from the valve covers, Jeff Bull Race Engines put together the gnarly 383ci small block Chevy that finally gained Ray the 10-second ticket he’d been after for so long (current PB is 10.67 at 123mph). It has a Scat bottom end, the same ali Dart heads, Victor Jr intake and Hooker headers as before, but this time a Howards cam and some of Jeff Bull’s secret sauce

Stepping up

Brian ‘good guy’ Gibson got Ray out of the hole for 2019, lending him his spare 383ci small block Chevy. But Ray needed to step up, so he found a replacement block, bought a 383 bottom end and took the lot to Jeff at Jeff Bull Race Engines, who assembled the stout stroker that’s in the car now. Likewise, the Turbo 350 slush ’box and 12-bolt back axle that had provided similar

Ancillaries include a CSR electric water pump, MSD Pro Billet distributor and ignition and a built-to-Jeff’s-spec billet double pumper from BLP Racing Products. Transmission is still the Turbo 350 three-speed auto’, but rebuilt for track use by Zane at ZaNNetec Motorsport, and an A1 Performance high-stall torque converter combines the two

Stylish ali rad’ is the work of Andrew Sharpe at Allyfab, while fellow Gasser Circus racer Ted Booth is responsible for the upgraded Magnaflow fuelling system that supplies the high revving small-block

the age of 17, he was ready to have a go behind the wheel himself. Now that could be a recipe for disaster – you know, beating dad at his own game. But not the Turners (or Turnips, as Ray’s best mate, the sadly departed Dale Edmonds of DRE, preferred to call them). With Ray’s support and tutelage, Harvey’s first pass was a cautious 18. The following year, he won the Gasser Circus championship. Ray couldn’t have been more proud. What blew my mind most, though, when digging into the history of this car, was that Ray, and Harvey, raced it with the same 327ci engine it was bought it with, right through to 2019 when the old block finally it threw its hands up and said enough’s enough. “I’d done odd bits to it over the years, and by then it had Dart heads, a Torquer cam, forged pistons, an Edelbrock Victor Junior intake manifold and a 750 Holley double pumper. But it was still the same block and bottom end.” It was enough to push the ’55 to low 12s, though Ray thinks he might once have just dipped into the 11s with it. “It was a good engine that,” he laughs. Quick enough to have some fun. But no one that’s spent four decades drag racing doesn’t want to go quicker, right?

Well, what did you expect of a 40-year-old drag car, a plush interior? The rollcage was home built with the help of Andy Remnant, while Ray made the bead-rolled ali panels himself and then had them black powder coated

After years of RWYB, Ray and the ’55 found their forever home with the Gasser Circus – and a friendlier bunch of racers you couldn’t hope to meet. Ray asked us to say a special thanks to Nick and Patsy Brooke Langham for all the time and effort they and the other ring masters put into running the class. And all other racers, too

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Ray’s Classics

San Carlos CA since 1980

California Collector Car Export Sales Specialist 1973 Ford Pinto, 2 door wagon, rebuilt 4 cylinder Engine/4spd Manual, very nice original interior, rustfree California car $10,250.

1952 Ford Zephyr Mk1 LHD Rust Free Car. Rustfree sunbleached body and underside, all new brakes/clutch hydraulics, on the button driver sold new in the USA and not to be confused with the usual UK welding nightmares, not the cheapest but the most solid example you will find outside of Australia $8250.

1950 Austin A40 devon LHD USA car, small fortune spent on extensive restoration, only a handful of miles since completion $11,250.

1977 Jeep Cherokee Quadatrac Levi Edition, V8/auto 4wd locking front hubs, lift kit, mag wheels, roof carrier, california sunburned original paint, on the button great driver ready for 2025 winter off-roading $12,250

1964 1/2 F Code Mustang 260CI/Auto, P/S, matching numbers california black plate car, rustfree stripped to bare metal 100% complete $11,750.

1976 Checker 4 door saloon, 6cyl/automatic, very good body & paint, very nice red interior, same owner last 38yrs, serviced very recently, on the button ready to go $12,250.

1957 Chevy Stepside, 6Cyl, 4spd, California truck since new, just removed from long term hibernation, zero rot, no patch panels required, engine turns freely, currently a non runner, stay tuned $10,250

1967 Chevy G-10 Rust free, Black plate California Van, V8/Auto, Vintage Mags, Originally a factory Martin Walters type Camper conversion, on the button, runs great $9,875

25 VEHICLES UK REGISTERED READY FOR PURCHASE IN THE SW OF ENGLAND POA Prices include shipping from Oakland CA to UK mainland. Check the website for complete inventory list.

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06/11/2024 10:50


sterling service were treated to a rebuild and upgrade, this time by Zane at ZaNNetec Motorsport. In went a Strange spool and halfshafts, before the car was loaded up and taken to John Sleath Race Cars in Doncaster for a rolling road session. “The new engine really woke the car up” recalls Ray. “Compared to the old engine, it was like black and white. It put a big smile on my face, I can tell you that much.”

The Chevy had a big ole’ letterbox scoop when it first hit the strip in the mid-’80s, but makes do with this more subtle intake now. All the front end panels are separate glass fibre items, made by Tim Cook when he was a partner at Covin Performance. The single skin boot lid came from the same source

Which neatly brings us back to the comment we made earlier about wanting to go faster. “Those who remember the old Doorslammers event, if you had a 10-second car you were king – at least in my eyes,” says Ray. “Not so much these days but, if I’m honest, all I ever wanted to do was run a 10.” So, with the new combo dialled in, Ray loaded Green Onions up and headed straight for the Pod.

Though it’s worn steels, Cragars and Welds over the years, these days the ’55 rolls on American Racing Torq Thrusts, 4.5 x 15 up front with 29 x 15 Mickey Thompson ET Fronts, while 8.5 x 15s with 28 x 10 x 15 Hoosier slicks put the power down

“I’ll never forget Harvey walking back to the pits after I’d done my first run waving the timing ticket above his head. I knew then that I’d run a 10, and I felt ecstatic. I’ll admit I actually shed a tear as my great friend Dale would have liked to see that. He’d have said, ‘Well done Turnip.’” CC

Thanks: “The Witney hot rodders: Andy Remnant, Andy Hobday, Ian Hendry and Dale Edmonds (RIP); Beavis Allen and all the Yeovil boys; Jeff and Belinda at JBRE for the engine; BLP Racing Products for the carb; Chris at Goodale American Speedshop; Andrew Sharpe at Allyfab for the radiator; Zane at ZaNNetec; Ken Brookes for inviting me to run with the Circus, a great bunch to race with (FTC); Nick, Keith and Dan at Williams Bros Racing; Ted Booth for my fuel system; Neil Melliard for the fantastic bowling pins given to the round winners and the prize money; Ben Craft at Brushcra�. And last but not least, Harvey, and the wife, Marianne, for putting up with me” WINTER 2025 CUSTOM CAR 43

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Glenn Blake says this ’51 Merc is going to be his last car. It’s a fitting climax to a career that’s yielded a long line of imaginative customs Words: Olly Sack Pics: Alan Kidd

I

f you’ve ever been to one of the meets put on by Hayling Hotrods at the Beach, you’ll know Glenn Blake. It’s him who puts on the Tuesday evening gettogethers which bring rods, customs, Yanks and classics flocking to Hayling Island once a month from April to October. Among the cars that showed up to join the regular crowd down there during the course of 2024 is Ritchie Gee, whose fabulously rock’n’roll Lincoln Premiere appeared in these pages a couple of months back. It was Glenn who alerted us to it via Hayling Hotrods’ Facebook page – and

while we were chatting to him about it, he mentioned that he happened to have a kustom of his own that we might be interested in. A couple of photos later and we were on our way. Now, some people like to keep certain things under their hats. Some people would be ashamed to admit that they got someone else in to do some job or other that they were finding tricky. Glenn’s not like that: he’s refreshingly honest. ‘I have no knowledge of metalwork, electrics, paint and so on,’ he admits. ‘So I have had to employ people to do the work

for me. But I do have an eye for style and design… which all starts with the vision and progresses as the build evolves. ‘I like the full-on shiny and chromed look, and nice paint. But less is more as in detrimming and debadging.’ That vision has been honed over many years, with Glenn having been brought up on cars and bikes by his dad. Together, over the course of three years, they built his first ride – a 1961 F Type Victor. He was lured over to the two-wheeled route after that, selling the Vauxhall and buying his first Harley. ‘That was my life for

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the next 20 years,’ he says, ‘designing showwinning custom Harleys which were built by Nij Jones and N+T in Reading and which I rode all over Europe. ‘I had a major accident in 2004, but I still rode for seven years after that. Then, following operation number six on my ankle and foot, I lost the confidence to get back on. So I bought my first American vehicle – and the rest is history!’ That was a ’59 Ford F100 pick-up, which Glenn finished in white with black bumpers, wheels and other details. After that came a ’63 Ranchero, which he put through the

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‘She is well received everywhere she goes. The paintwork really pops and surprises people’

full customising process, then a milder ’53 Meteor. And that’s the trail that brought him to the ’51 Mercury he’s driving today.

Dated agency

The story of the project goes back to November 2020, just as that winter’s minilockdown was ramping up. That’s when Glenn sourced the Merc in Tennessee and brought it over the Atlantic to start a new life in the old country. ‘She was white with flames,’ he says. ‘Very dated. But I drove her for the summer of 2021 before deciding to have her customised.’ His vision was for the Merc to become ‘unique and stunning.’ And as we’ve already established, he handed it over to someone else to do the work on getting it there. We’ll spare you the gory details, but they got it part of the way before Glenn decided a change of supplier would be necessary. ‘The project progressed as planned for the first year,’ he says. ‘But then we had some

major hiccups and I had to rethink and find someone else to finish her.’ The someone else was Neil White and Steve Walker, a pair of old-school hotrodders right there on his doorstep on Hayling Island itself. After he had shifted his business to them, Glenn says, the main problem that cropped up was the ridiculous periods of time it was taking for parts to arrive from America. To be fair, shipping anything from anywhere to anywhere else was a complete nightmare at that point. Anyway, what came back was a ’51 Mercury sitting nicely in the weeds on 3” lowering blocks and rocking white-wall radials from North Hants Tyres wrapped around Lordz of Kustomz front wheel trims. No need for that at the back as the guys added skirts to the fenders, pulling the body lower to the ground than ever. It’s not all about show, though. Glenn wanted to drive the Merc, not just look at it, so he specced power brakes and power

Front wheel trims from Lordz of Kustomz in LA are beautifully set off by a set of white-wall radials from North Hants Tyres. At the back, a pair of fender skirts highlights the slammed look created by a set of 3” lowering blocks

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The Appletons were already there when Glenn imported the Merc, but the visor was his own addition. The close-up picture here shows the metal flake that was liberally added to both paint colours before Jim Hatter got to work in the spray booth

Above: Glenn’s first outing was to last year’s V8 Brothers Village in Belgium. He came home with the Best in Show trophy sat on the passenger’s seat

Much of the decorative trim was removed as Glenn strove to make the Merc look cleaner and meaner. Gotta keep that hood ornament, though…

Cherry-bombed tailpipes exit from below a rear bumper sporting fresh chrome from S&T Electroplate. The pinstriping was done to perfection by Miss Atomic

This shot lights up the metal flake pretty well – and shows the effect of the frenched headlamps, the custom grille and the chromed and de-bolted bumper. That grille used to wrap around the corners of the vehicle like a second bumper. Glenn loves chrome, but he’s also a firm believer that less is more when it comes to trim

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Replacing the original analogue dash, Glenn installed a display from Dakota Digital . The custom pull switches, along with door locks, window winder knobs and so on, came from Metal Flake City in Florida

A red flaked steering wheel from Mooneyes, which it won’t have escaped your attention goes perfectly with the main paint colour, turns the wheels via a chromed column and, on the other side of the bulkhead, a PAS system installed early in the project. Carpets were the work of AB Trimming

‘I like the full-on chromed look, and nice paint. But less is more in detrimming and debadging’ steering as well as having the electrics upgraded to 12v. Talking of the steering, this is done by a Mooneyes flaked wheel and chrome column. The Merc was in good overall condition before the project started, however Glenn had both sills renewed for the obvious reason. A new exhaust went on, too,

complete with cherry bombs, which helps the 255ci Flathead under the hood sound the way a car this nice looking deserves.

Chrome comforts

Elsewhere, Frenched headlights from a one-off custom grille flank a seriously decluttered front bumper. Both ends

F100

have been tidied up, with the bolts and adornments removed and the finished items among the bits sent off to S&T Electroplate in Bristol to be taken back to their former glory. The rear lights are one-offs made using clock bezels from a ’40 Lincoln and the door and boot handles have all been shaved, with poppers fitted to do the dirty work. The chrome side trim has been removed, as have the upper door garnishes, the wrap-around upper front bumper and the art deco badge at the front of the bonnet. The hood mascot remains, though, and the ‘screen has gained a period sun visor.

METEOR

Glenn’s first four-wheeled build since giving up on the Harleys was a ’59 Ford F100 pick-up which he finished in white with black bumpers, wheels and other details.

The forerunner to the Merc was this ’53 Meteor (left). Glenn did mod it, but this one was just a mild kustom

RANCHERO

The Mercury (above) before and after Glenn got stuck into it. The more you look, the more you see – the paintwork is obvious, but there are detailed improvements everywhere

The F100 was followed by a ’63 Ranchero (above) which Glenn went to town on, treating it to a full custom build

MERCURY MM

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USED V8 ENGINES/AUTO TRANS’ see our Website for more items! All prices include vat. Prices subject to change without notice. Correct at 04-10-24. E&OE. Freight extra.

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Chevy 350- ‘86 on, one piece rear seal version ............... £826.06 ....... £743.45 Chevy 350- Vortec, [uses 8 bolt inlet manifold] ................ £917.83 ....... £826.05 Mopar 383- .......................................................................... £734.27 ....... £660.84 SHORT ENGINES: Block, Crankshaft, conrods, pistons, camshaft, timing gears. ..................................................................................................................................................... RETAIL: ........................ GOLD CARD:

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That leaves the main event, which was a vibrant new coat of paint applied by Jim Hatter, with pinstriping by Miss Atomic. Glenn’s master plan called for a white roof, ‘screen surround and C-posts over a red body – and, most importantly, for a load of metal flake to go in both. What was dated, tired and faded is now looking nothing short of sensational – very much a fitting flourish to finish the job on a project that’s left well alone in a lot of major areas but has nonetheless transformed the Merc from a slightly sad old kustom into a show-winner.

The proof? Glenn got the finished car back in his hands last year and promptly drove it to an event in Belgium – where it won Best in Show. ‘Which,’ he says, ‘made it all worthwhile.’ Too right. ‘I’ve had four others since,’ he continues. ‘She is well received everywhere she goes. The paintwork really pops and surprises people when the sun is out.’ So Dita (Glenn’s name for the Mercury, after his fave pinup) is done and is winning pots, and praise, wherever she goes. Except like every project it’s not actually finished

quite yet. As you read this, the Flathead will be coming out, to be replaced by a 302ci engine and AOD tranny, ‘to make her have a bit more pull and better fuel economy.’ The front drums will be getting converted to discs, too. ‘Then I am going to drive her and enjoy her,’ says Glenn. ‘I’ve got at least two European shows I’m planning on for 2025. ‘It’s all about the smiles per miles. I don’t have any plans to do any other vehicles after this one – she is my last car.’ Way to finish on a high. CC

Thanks to Marshall and John at Funland Hayling Island for the use of their car park as a location for our photos. Funland is at funland.info – and it’s also home to Hayling Hotrods at the Beach, a monthly summer meet-up organised by Glenn himself

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The inspiration

Words: Dave Biggadyke Pics: Trevor Gardiner and Terry Howes Opening pic: Dave Biggadyke

PART 3: WAGON PAINTED

W

e last took a look at progress on Terry Howes’ ’64 Econoline van way back in the June ’22 issue. Back then, the van body was sitting on a custom fabricated box section chassis with a Jaguar XJ40 IRS and a scratch-built IFS. Air bags and shocks are fitted on each corner, with all the work being carried out by Trevor ‘Digger’ Gardiner at Ipswich-based Gardiner Fabrications. Terry’s inspiration for the build came from Coby Gewertz’s Van Go Econoline and when we last paid it a visit the van was pretty much ready to be moved to the paint shop next door. As with any project, though, there are always odds and ends to finish, so Trevor hasn’t been idle while waiting for the painter’s time slot. Since that time, the van has been painted and has now clocked up some shakedown miles on the road. That has thrown up a few

Below: Recessed electrical connectors fitted into the pillars and edges of the side and rear doors feed power to the locks and actuators…

The scratch-built centre console, skilfully crafted in wood by Terry, is a thing of beauty

teething problems, but nothing that can’t be sorted this side of Christmas. If it all goes to plan, Terry is looking at getting the interior completed in the spring – after which we’ll be bringing you the full lowdown on this cool hauler.

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The shiny cylinder discreetly mounted behind the dash is a Mini windscreen wiper motor

…while braided stainless hoses conceal the wiring that runs through to the locks and power window motors in the front doors

Steel blanking plates were formed and fitted to conceal the hidden door hinges

Trevor is certainly a better car builder than a photographer, but this shot just about shows the steel glove box inner liner he formed to fit around the wiper motor

The ‘screen wiper spindles are also from a Mini, with Trevor turning up the nylon bosses and ali shrouds needed to fit them

The finished wiper motor assembly installation is both neat and functional

An aftermarket brake fluid reservoir with a low-level warning light is mounted on a custom-formed bracket

The Econoline was painstakingly bare metalled once it was relocated inside the paint shop

WINTER 2025 CUSTOM CAR 53

3pp Howes workshop READY.indd 53

08/11/2024 00:34


Left: After priming it was time to start laying on the colour coats…

With the paintwork finished and the van reassembled it was time for a few shakedown runs

…as can be seen here on the inside of the doors

“As with any project, there are always odds and ends to finish”

If you’re on the lookout for someone in the Suffolk area to help with your project, search Gardiner Fabrications on Facebook or drop Trevor an email at: digger61uk@gmail.com

First, though, the cruising lights had to be checked to make sure they were in full working order

54 CUSTOM CAR WINTER 2025

3pp Howes workshop READY.indd 54

08/11/2024 00:34


35056

PAY Monthly

FRIENDLY STORES

• Spread the cost over 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months • Any mix of products over £300 • 19.9% APR 5 MINUTE APPLICATION

NEW 500 PAGE NATIONWIDE CATALOGUE GET YOUR FREE COPY!

Britain’s Tools & Machinery specialist!

• IN-STORE • ONLINE • PHONE

www.machinemart.co.uk

MODULAR GARAGE STORAGE SYSTEMS

0844 880 1265

MECHANICS/PROFESSIONAL TOOL CHESTS/CABINETS .98 139exc.VAT

3 £

NEW

84.99 exc.VAT

£

1

6

£167.98 inc.VAT

£101.99 inc.VAT

5

DIY & PROFESSIONAL

4

PRICE CUT

10 PACKAGES IN THE RANGE

NOW FROM

COMBGSM01

1099 exc.VAT

£

CREATE THE PERFECT FITTED GARAGE/WORKSHOP HEAVY DUTY, PROFESSIONAL PACKAGES ALL UNITS ALSO AVAILABLE SINGLY FOR CUSTOM BUILD

£1318.80 inc.VAT

WAS £1378.80 inc.VAT

SAVE UP TO

CORNER UNITS IN STOCK

CUSTOMER PICTURES

.00

£479 compared to individual prices

£

154.99 exc.VAT

.00 249exc.VAT

£298.80 inc.VAT

Model Desc. LxWxH (mm) MECHANICS RANGE 1 CTC600C 6 Dr Chest 620x257x335 6 CTC900C 9 Dr Chest 620x257x380 CTC500C 5 Dr Cabinet 680x330x765 CTC800C* 8 Dr Chest/Cab Set 616x295x1027 2 CTC700C# 7 Dr Cabinet 680x330x875 PROFESSIONAL RANGE 5 CTC103C 3 Dr Step Up Chest 691x310x256 3 CTC109 9 Dr Chest 685x305x419 4 CTC107C 7 Dr Cabinet 739x461x953

Order Code

FROM

39.98 exc.VAT

£

£47.98 inc.VAT

LOADING OPTIONS

THE ULTIMATE IN TOOL STORAGE!

PER SHELF PER SHELF EVENLY DISTRIBUTED

Extra heavy gauge double wall steel construction

CHOICE OF 5 COLOURS

RED, BLUE, SILVER, GREY & GALVANISED STEEL

LxWxH (mm) 716x316x256 710x315x420 710x315x420 710x315x475 758x468x815 758x468x975

NB Overall length includes handles Order Code 070118012 070118016 070118032 070118037 070118052 070118057

exc.VAT £86.99 £149.98 £154.99 £169.98 £249.00 £279.00

inc.VAT £104.39 £179.98 £185.99 £203.98 £298.80 £334.80

.99 56exc.VAT

£

Simple fast assembly in minutes using only a hammer

£68.39 inc.VAT

32 PIECE SET

PRO378 PROFESSIONAL 1/2” DRIVE SOCKET SET

Dims Model Weight WxDxH(mm) Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT CSM5150BP 150kg 800x300x1500 070710816 £39.98 £47.98 CSM5350BP 350kg 900x400x1800 070710808 £57.99 £69.59

5 DRAWER WORKBENCH

TOOL SETS 1

159.98 exc.VAT

30

KG

MAX DRAWER LOAD

SEE WEBSITE FOR PACKAGE DEALS WITH TOOLS

2

EXTRA LARGE BOTTOM DRAWERS

£

259.00 exc.VAT

£310.80 inc.VAT

Desc.

WORKBENCHES WITH PEGBOARD Easy to assemble, providing valuable working space and plenty of additional storage capacity.

Dimensions (LxWxH) - 1150x560x1440m Pegboard back wall with 30 hooks supplied

FROM

.00 629exc.VAT

£

109

EXTRA LONG 1700MM WORK TOP

2

CWB1700P

.00 329exc.VAT

£

£394.80 inc.VAT

189exc.VAT 3 .98

£227.98 inc.VAT

PRO396 222 PIECE TOOL SET WITH 7 DRAWER TOOL CABINET

£

£191.98 inc.VAT

Combines premium quality with fiercely competitive pricing & super smooth ball bearing roller drawers

£

£754.80 inc.VAT

CHT859 .00 300 PIECE £ exc.VAT AF/ £130.80 inc.VAT METRIC PRO394 HOME PROFESSIONAL 91 PIECE GARAGE TOOL KIT WITH REPAIR KIT CANTILEVER TOOLBOX £

FULL EXTENSION ROLLER RUNNERS FOR SMOOTH OPENING ACTION

1

Model

RUBBER GRIP SIDE HANDLES

Desc. 3 Dr Step Up 5 Dr Chest 9 Dr Chest 10 Dr Chest 5 Dr Cabinet 7 Dr Cabinet

NB Overall length includes handles

LxWxH (mm) Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT 685x305 1 CLB900C 9 Dr Chest 070114821 £159.98 £191.98 x474 740x465 070118042 £259.00 £310.80 2 CLB1007C 7 Dr Cabinet x955

HUGE CHOICE OF HAND TOOLS

279.00 exc.VAT

inc.VAT

CHESTS/CABINETS

150 350 KG KG

£

WAS £215.98 inc.VAT

070113016 £74.99 £89.99 070113211 £139.98 £167.98 070113126 £249.00 £298.80

FULL DETAILS SEE IN STORE OR VISIT WEBSITE

Model CBB203C CBB205C 1 CBB209C CBB210C CBB215C 2 CBB217C

exc.VAT

BOLTLESS SHELVING/ BENCHES

£185.99 inc.VAT

£334.80 inc.VAT

175.00 exc.VAT 2

£

£210.00 inc.VAT

070116037 £84.99 £101.99 070110903 £89.98 £107.98 070116002 £149.98 £179.98 070113032 £144.99 £173.99 070116009 £175.00 £210.00

HEAVY DUTY & PROFESSIONAL

2

PRICE CUT

* WAS £179.98 inc.VAT # WAS £215.98 inc.VAT

A CHOICE OF STAINLESS STEEL OR WOODEN WORKTOPS

1 £

• Superb quality & value for DIY & professional workshops

.00 4 279exc.VAT

£

£334.80 inc.VAT

CHT634 MECHANICS TOOL CHEST AND TOOLS PACKAGE

MM1 Custom Car 275x200 pg1.indd 1 Mart_3PS.indd 1 Custom Car_2024_12_Winter_Machine

ENGINEERS HEAVY DUTY STEEL WORKBENCHES

FROM

289 exc.VAT

£

.98

££347.98 inc.VAT

69.98 exc.VAT

£83.98 inc.VAT

BEST

SELLER

CWB-R1B

AVAILABLE IN RED OR GALVANISED FINISH Shown fitted with optional 3drawer unit Only £155.98 Inc VAT

• Durable powder coated finish • Sturdy lower shelf * WAS £358.80 inc.VAT Model CWB1500D INCLUDES SINGLE CWB2001P* LOCKABLE DRAWER CWB2000D

Dims. LxWxH (mm) 1500x650x985 2000x650x978 2000x650x978

Order Code 040317718 040317809 040317807

exc.VAT inc.VAT £289.98 £347.98 £279.00 £334.80 £319.00 £382.80

08/11/2024 11/11/2024 11:35 11:05


36082

CAR RAMPS

FRIENDLY STORES

Lift cars safely and quickly Tough angled steel construction

NATIONWIDE CR2

FROM

39

£

.98

Britain’s Tools & Machinery specialist!

WAS £71.98 inc.VAT

Superb range ideal for DIY, hobby & semiprofessional use

Order Code 140613584 140613570 140613574 140613572 140613576 140613578 140613594 140613596

EXTRA LONG 1M LEADS JS4000

FROM

86 exc.VAT

£

JS1224

.99

£104.39 inc.VAT

Starts Engines Peak up to Amps Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT 3L 1100 010310017 £86.99 £104.39 6L 1200 010318905 £144.99 £173.99 6L 2200 010311030 £164.99 £197.99 6L 2000 010311224 £179.98 £215.98

TURBO FAN GAS HEATERS

WAS £131.98 inc.VAT CIG81220

FROM

KEEPS THE £ .00 exc.VAT WEATHER £298.80 inc.VAT OUT!

249

230& DUAL VOLTAGE 110 VOLT

IN STOCK FROM £203.98 inc.VAT

Offering low cost, efficient heating

FROM

‡ WAS £131.98 inc.VAT

TIGER 8/260 Model Motor CFM Tank Order Code exc.VAT 7 24ltr 000119490 £107.99 8/260‡ 2HP 11/550 2.5HP 9.3 50ltr 000119505 £169.98 16/550 3HP 14.5 50L 000119510 £239.00 16/1050 3HP 14.5 100ltr 000119515 £299.00

inc.VAT £129.59 £203.98 £286.80 £358.80

ELECTRIC HEATERS

89.98 exc.VAT

£

LITTLE DEVIL II Max. Output Model kW Order Code Little Devil II 10.3 010416020 Devil 700 15 010410182 Devil 900 24.9 010410186 Devil 1600 36.6 010410190 Devil 2100 49.8 010410194 Devil 4000 131 010414000

exc.VAT £89.98 £114.99 £159.98 £189.98 £249.00 £479.00

inc.VAT £107.98 £137.99 £191.98 £227.98 £298.80 £574.80

64.99 exc.VAT

.98

2.8KW

NEW

£77.99 inc.VAT

£262.80 inc.VAT

DEVIL 6003 DEVIL 7003 Heat Model Voltage Output Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT Devil 6003 230V 1.5-3kW 010416003 £64.99 £77.99 Devil 7003 230V 3kW 010415450 £64.99 £77.99 Devil 7005 400V 5kW 010415452 £89.98 £107.98 Devil 6009 400V 4.5-9kW 010416009 £119.98 £143.98 Devil 7009 400V 9kW 010415454 £147.99 £177.59 Devil 6015 400V 5-10-15kW 010416015 £179.98 £215.98 Devil 7015 400V 15kW 010415456 £219.98 £263.98

Extra-long run fuel tanks – up to 53 litres Variable heat output with thermostat control

FROM

Top quality belt driven air compressors for industrial & commercial users inc; garages, factories, workshops and farms. 10 bar/150psi max working pressure

£262.80 inc.VAT Max. Output Order Code 2kW 010415591 2.8kW 010415801 2.8kW 010415602

Models DEVIL 2000PTC-B DEVIL 2850 DEVIL 2800PTC-B

exc.VAT inc.VAT £29.98 £35.98 £42.99 £51.59 £49.98 £59.98

DEHUMIDIFIERS REMOVE IDH50L

FROM

.99

£113.99 inc.VAT

†V-Twin *230V

DH30L

XEV16/100 Air RCVR Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT 100ltr 000112270 £589.00 £706.80 150ltr 000112272 £659.00 £790.80 200ltr 000112274 £719.00 £862.80 150ltr 000112276 £699.00 £838.80 270ltr 000112370 £1459.00 £1750.80

219 exc.VAT

£

.98

£263.98 inc.VAT

Folding and fixed frames available Robust, rugged construction Overload safety valve

CFC100 020110142

Models DH10L DH20L DH30L IDH50L

Extraction Rate 10L/day 20L/day 30L/day 50L/day

Order Code 010410687 010410683 010410685 010410611

exc.VAT £94.99 £149.99 £169.99 £469.00

inc.VAT £113.99 £179.99 £203.99 £562.80

18V ½" IMPACT WRENCH BRUSHLESS

450NM

99.98 exc.VAT

X

exc.VAT £219.00 £319.00 £389.00 £449.00

inc.VAT £262.80 £382.80 £466.80 £538.80

2100 PSI

Desc

CCIW160

Cordless

£107.98 inc.VAT

FROM

42.99 exc.VAT

£

£51.59 inc.VAT JACKS ALSO IN STOCK UP TO 5 TONNE

CTJ2250LP BC210C exc.VAT £89.98 £104.99 £149.98 £159.98 £184.99 £219.00 £259.00

inc.VAT £107.98 £125.99 £179.98 £191.98 £221.99 £262.80 £310.80

Model Type Tonne Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT CTJ2L Long 2 020110275 £42.99 £51.59 CTJ2250LP* Low Profile 2.25 020113070 £49.98 £59.98 CTJ3000GB Pro Garage 3 020113032 £109.98 £131.98 CTJ3000QLC Pro Garage 3 020113210 £114.99 £137.99 Quick Lift CTJ2QLP# Low Quick Lift 2 020111820 £152.99 £183.59

* CTJ2250LP has a 2.25 tonne capacity, has a low entry of only 80mm and includes 2 sockets ‡ WAS £191.98 inc.VAT

ENGINE STANDS

Ideal for effective cleaning with a hot jet of up to 80°C

FROM

PRICE CUT

579.00 exc.VAT

£694.80 inc.VAT

CES680F

Fully tested to proof load

69.98 exc.VAT

£

£83.98 inc.VAT

WAS £706.80 inc.VAT

£119.98 inc.VAT

Batteries Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT 2X 2AH 060210658 £99.98 £119.98 LI-ION 2X 4AH CIR 184LIP‡ Cordless LI-ION 060210619 £144.99 £173.99

MM1 Custom Car 275x200 pg1.indd 1 Mart_3PS.indd 2 Custom Car_2024_12_Winter_Machine

exc.VAT inc.VAT £209.00 £250.80 £249.00 £298.80 £229.00 £274.80 £359.00 £430.80 £349.00 £418.80 £899.00 £1078.80

2 & 3 TONNE TROLLEY JACKS

89.98 exc.VAT

Rotates through 360˚

*Folds for storage

‡ Auto Express Best Buy 2024 Model

IG2200A

Max Weight Model Output KG Order Code IG950D‡ 800W 9.3 010617107 IG1700F 1700W 22 010617095 IG1200D# 1100W 12.4 010617112 IG3500AF 3400W 35 010617125 IG2200A* 2200W 26.6 010617121 010617130 IG4000● 3800W ‡ WAS £262.80 inc.VAT ● WAS £1162.80 inc.VAT

FROM

£

145 Bar

FROM

£

Max Amps Charge/ Boost Order Code 20/120 010310125 38/180 010310190 25/200 010311130 35/180 010311500 45/240 010311505 60/350 010311515 50/510 010311082

HARRY 2 050412181

£

2 2AH

Model BC125 BC190 BC210C WBC180 WBC240 WBC400 BC520P

HOT WASHER

3 forward and reverse gears

Order Code 010411103 010411006 010411008 010410210

Ammeter Multi-position charge regulator Overload protection on charging cycle

94 exc.VAT

£

MAX output 14.7kW 29.3kW 46.9kW 61.5kW

BATTERY CHARGERS /ENGINE STARTERS

DAMP

£706.80 inc.VAT

Model XR60B XR110 XR160 XR210

INVERTER 2.2 KVA GENERATORS

£250.80 inc.VAT

XR60B

WAS £274.80 inc.VAT

2800PTC-B

PG3800ADV

Model Volts KVA HP Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT PG2500A 230 2.2 5.6 010617850 £219.00 £262.80 PG3800A 230 3 5.6 010617852 £239.00 £286.80 PG3800ADV 230/110 3 5.6 010617854 £279.00 £334.80 PG6500ADVES 230/110 5.5 9.7 010617856 £529.00 £634.80 PG9000ADVES‡ 230/110 5.5 16 010617860 £949.00 £1138.80 ‡ WAS £1174.80 inc.VAT Honda engine models available

SPECIAL OFFER #WAS £334.80 inc.VAT *WAS £502.80 inc.VAT - ends 31/12/2024

219.00 exc.VAT

2.8KW

DIESEL GENERATORS UP TO 125KVA

209.00 exc.VAT

£

2850

ALSO

£

PRICE CUT

589.00 exc.VAT

FROM

£

Ideal for fast efficient heating

29 exc.VAT

£

inc.VAT £125.99 £155.98 £203.98 £233.99

219.00 exc.VAT

£

DIESEL FIRED SPACE HEATERS

FROM

£35.98 inc.VAT

INDUSTRIAL AIR COMPRESSORS

WAS exc.VAT exc.VAT £104.99 £131.98 £129.98 £167.98 £169.98 £194.99 £239.98

GENERATORS

FROM

SELLER

PROPANE GAS FIRED

£107.98 inc.VAT

£

Motor (W) Order WAS Model Speeds Code exc.VAT inc.VAT inc.VAT CDP5EB 350 / 5 060712030 £94.99 £119.94 £113.99 CDP5RB 350 / 5 060710035 £94.99 £119.94 £113.99 CDP102B 350 / 5 060715512 £109.98 £139.14 £131.98 CDP152B 450 / 12 060715522 £179.00 £250.80 £214.80 CDP452B 550 / 16 060715575 £299.00 - £358.80 CDP352F 550 / 16 060715562 £319.00 £394.80 £382.80 CDP502F 1100 / 12 060715592 £689.00 £838.80 £826.80

CTJ1250AB

Lifting Model Cap. Order Code CTJ1500QL 1.5T 020112633 CTJ1250AC 1.25T 020111818 CTJ2500QLGB 2.5T 020112803 CTJ1800AB 1.8T 020113202

BEST

94

Fully tested to proof load

Quick lift Nonmarking nylon wheels

£129.59 inc.VAT

Range of PRICE CUT precision bench NOW FROM & floor presses £ .99 for enthusiast, exc.VAT engineering £113.99 inc.VAT & industrial WAS £119.94 inc.VAT applications B = Bench mounted F = Floor standing

1 TONNE FOLDING WORKSHOP CRANE

WAS £131.98 inc.VAT

107.99 exc.VAT

FAN HEATERS

CDP102B

Air. Model disp XEV16/100 (OL)‡* 14cfm XEV16/150 (OL)‡* 14cfm XEV16/200(OL)‡* 14cfm XEV16/150(400V)‡ 14cfm XE37/270 (OL)* 36cfm

104.99 exc.VAT

£

£125.99 inc.VAT

£

WAS exc.VAT inc.VAT inc.VAT £249.00 £298.80 £279.00 £334.80 £319.00 £394.80 £382.80 £349.00 £418.80 £389.00 £478.80 £466.80 LENGTH £489.00 £598.80 £586.80 UP TO £1099.00 £1318.80 40’ £2599.00 £3118.80

JUMP STARTS

DRILL PRESSES

PRICE CUT

NOW FROM

NOW FROM

ZIP CLOSE DOOR

BEST SELLER

PGF14 000510090

ALUMINIUM RACING JACKS

PRICE CUT

BRIGHT WHITE INTERIOR Dims 3.6 x 3.6 x 2.5m 4.5 x 3 x 2.4m 4.9 x 3.7 x 2.5m 6.1 x 3 x 2.4m 6.1 x 3.7 x 2.5m 7.3 x 3.7 x 2.5m 9.7x4.3x3.65m 12x4.9x4.3m

56.99 exc.VAT

£

£68.39 inc.VAT

TURBO AIR COMPRESSORS

Extra tough triple layer cover Heavy duty steel tubing Ratchet tight tensioning

Model JS1100 JS1224LiN JS4000 JS12/24

26.99 exc.VAT

£

PRICE CUT

www.machinemart.co.uk

GARAGES/WORKSHOPS

BEST SELLER

CAT131 000310131

£32.39 inc.VAT

exc.VAT Model Capacity Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT CR2 2000kg 051710149 £39.98 £47.98 £47.98 inc.VAT CRW25 2500kg 051710153 £47.99 £57.59 PER PAIR

Model CIG81212 CIG81015 CIG81216 CIG81020 CIG81220 CIG81224 CIG1432 CIG1640

WORKSHOP AIR TOOLS

INC. CONTAINER FOR DETERGENT

Model CES340 CES450 CES560 CES680F*

Capacity 340kg 450kg 560kg 680kg

Order Code 020110124 020110121 020110123 020110122

exc.VAT inc.VAT £69.98 £83.98 £79.98 £95.98 £104.99 £125.99 £135.99 £163.19

08/11/2024 11/11/2024 11:35 11:05


36115

EASY TO USE WEBSITE

machinemart.co.uk

21,000

NOW OVER

PRODUCTS ONLINE!

64.99 exc.VAT

ELECTRIC MMA & ARC/TIG PRESSURE WASHERS INVERTER WELDERS Makes easy work for washing vehicles, patios, stonework, etc.

Dual action combines rotary & orbital motions to produce an excellent CP150 060312101 polished finish

£77.99 inc.VAT 150MM PAD DIA.

ANGLE GRINDERS ‡ WAS £44.39 inc.VAT ◆ WAS £83.98 inc.VAT

180 Bar

.98

£35.98 inc.VAT

Motor Max. Model W Press. Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT JS1850 1400 1523psi 050416005 £59.98 £382.80 JS1950 1600 2030psi 050416011 £94.99 £113.99 Jet7500 1600 2030psi 050413510 £149.98 £179.98

FROM

169.98 exc.VAT

£

£203.98 inc.VAT CTJ2GLS Tonnes 2 3 5 10

Order Code 020111026 020113085 020113090 020113095

exc.VAT inc.VAT £269.00 £322.80 £349.00 £418.80 £459.00 £550.80 £639.00 £766.80

‡ WAS £430.80 inc.VAT ◆ WAS £574.80 inc.VAT

See online for included accessories

IMIG100NG

MMA200A

Model CSA4B-4 tonne bench# CSA10BB 10 tonne bench CSA12F 12 tonne floor*# CSA20FBT 20 tonne floor

Order Code 020413025 020414020 020413020 020414058

£16.19 inc.VAT

010130460

010130140

Professional Engine Diagnostic & EOBD/OBD ll Fault Code Reader

79.98 exc.VAT

£

BEST SELLER

£95.98 inc.VAT

39.98 exc.VAT

£

IBC20 Tank Flow Rate Volume Req. Order Code 12/24V 7A 010317008 12V 15A 010317010 12/24V 20A 010317012 12/24V 25A 010317013 12/24V 40A 010317014

SOCKET SETS & WRENCHES

exc.VAT inc.VAT £39.98 £47.98 £49.98 £59.98 £62.99 £75.59 £79.98 £95.98 £99.98 £119.98

18 Sockets 8-32mm £ .98 Reversible exc.VAT ratchet £35.98 inc.VAT Comfort grip handle

29

HUGE RANGE OF RATCHETS, SPANNERS AND SOCKET SETS

BEST

SELLER

£

89

.98

£29.99 inc.VAT

exc.VAT 040218237 £107.98 inc.VAT

CBJ5B 020112012

FROM UP TO 7938KG £ .98 exc.VAT CAPACITY IN STOCK £107.98 inc.VAT

AT STORES TODAY 01226 732297 0121 358 7977 0121 771 3433 01204 365799 01274 390962 0117 935 1060 01283 564708 01223 322675 02920 465424 01228 591666 01242 514402 01244 311258 01206 762831 02476 224227 0208 763 0640 01325 380841

DEAL KENT, CT14 6BQ DERBY, DE1 2ED DONCASTER, DN2 4NY DUNDEE, DD1 3ET EDINBURGH, EH8 7BR EXETER, EX2 8QG GATESHEAD, NE8 4XA GLASGOW, G4 9EJ GLOUCESTER, GL1 4HY GRIMSBY, DN32 9BD HULL, HU9 1EG ILFORD, IG2 7HU IPSWICH, IP1 1UZ LEEDS, LS4 2AS LEICESTER, LE4 6PN LINCOLN, LN5 8HG

STARTER 2024

Order Code 010319020 010319025 010319030

exc.VAT £49.98 £59.98 £69.98

inc.VAT £59.98 £71.98 £83.98

20SPS12

Tank Flow Rate Model Volume Req. Order Code CPSB100B 32 litre 6-25 cfm 000510133 CPSB200B 63 litre 6-25 cfm 000510134

CLICK & COLLECT

£76.79 inc.VAT

189.98 exc.VAT

SWIVEL, NON MARKING CASTORS

FROM

59.98 exc.VAT

£

£71.98 inc.VAT

CW2D

CW1D

‡ WAS £214.80 inc.VAT

exc.VAT inc.VAT £169.00 £202.80 £209.00 £250.80

VISIT

LIVERPOOL, L3 5NF LONDON CATFORD, SE6 3ND LONDON EDM'TON, N18 020 LONDON LEYTON, E10 7EB LUTON, LU4 8JS MAIDSTONE, ME15 6HE MC CENTRAL, M8 8DU MC OPENSHAW, M11 1AA MANSFIELD, NG19 7AR MIDDLESBROUGH, TS17 6BZ NORWICH, NR2 4LZ NORTHAMPTON, NN5 5JW NOTTINGHAM, NG1 1GN PETERBOROUGH, PE1 2PE PLYMOUTH, PL4 9HY POOLE, BH14 9HT

SSC1000G 020411030

£

Model Tank Cap. CW2D 10Ltrs CW1D 45Ltrs CWM20‡ 22.5Ltrs CW40 75Ltrs

CALL

OVER 10,500 LOCATIONS STORES NATIONWIDE 0115 956 5555 01304 373434 01332 290931 01302 245999 01382 225140 0131 659 5919 01392 256744 0191 493 2520 0141 332 9231 01452 417948 01472 354435 01482 223161 0208 518 4286 01473 221253 0113 231 0400 0116 261 0688 01522 543036

63.99 exc.VAT

£

£227.98 inc.VAT

PARTS WASHERS

INCLUDES SANDBLASTING GUN, DELIVERY HOSE, 4 CERAMIC NOZZLES AND SAFETY HOOD

WARRIOR WINCH

CALL & COLLECT

Peak Boost 600A 1000A 1200A

169

5 TONNES

Model Order Code exc.VAT inc.VAT 20SPS12 020110281 £89.98 £107.98 25SPS12 020110296 £129.98 £155.98

‡ WHAT CAR BEST JUMP STARTER 2024 Start Boost 300A 500A 600A

AWD1 051310205

Hydraulically powered, foot control operated device Adjustable spring retainers Springs up to 400mm diameter JSM1000 & 520mm in length Tough steel safety * AUTO EXPRESS CHOICE JUMP guard

Heavy duty steel FROM construction sandblasters for £ .00 exc.VAT the quick removal £202.80 inc.VAT of surface rust, paint, dirt/grease etc.

89

Digital electronic torque wrench

49 exc.VAT

£59.98 inc.VAT Compact enough to fit in a vehicle glove box

Model JSM600 JSM1000* JSM1200‡

603x370x150mm

1 TONNE STRUT SPRING COMPRESSOR

SANDBLASTERS

24.99 exc.VAT

£

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MM3 Custom Car 275x200 pg3.indd 1 Mart_3PS.indd 3 Custom Car_2024_12_Winter_Machine

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Out & About

Words & Pics: David Hart Event: NSVA Truck-in Date: 16-18 August Venue: The Drum and Monkey, Upton upon Severn August saw the 51st running of the National Street Van Association’s Annual Truck-in. This was was once again held in the grounds of the Drum and Monkey in Upton upon Severn, amid glorious weather. The weekend had all of the usual activities and attractions. These included live airbrushing by Nimbus Airbrush Art – who donated a raffle prize won by Dave Watts, who had his van bonnet airbrushed. There was also a Saturday night van light show, as well as

fancy dress and various raffles. One of the raffle prizes was a very special vanning quilt, handmade by Sheila Attrill from several old van T-shirts. Further attractions included Titan Wolf selling various items of merchandise and Ruth Tice Art Studio, who provided this year’s artwork for the Truck-in, selling her own prints and accessories. Other bits on sale over the weekend included die-cast models, prints and T-shirts, and the Gulp and Gallop mobile bar was there providing drinks and snacks. The NSVA welcomes all vans of any age, make or model, and as always the show attracted a wide variety of vans and pickups. This year we enjoyed the company of some vanners from Belgium, too. The main show and shine was held on the Sunday, which resulted in a packed show field. The Trophies were supplied by

51st state

Vintage Classic and Prestige Limited, and thanks are also due to Adrian Flux for their help and for supporting the club.

WINNERS Best in Show: David Cooper (Dodge Van) Other winners: Lloyd Fisher (Chevy G20) Debbie and Arthur Lowery (Ford Transit) Martyn Kent (Mazda Mini Truck) Ann-Marie Oram (early Chevy Van) Paul Goodman (Ford Econoline) Ruth Tice-Lamb (Chevy G20) Clifford Lack (Bedford CF) Chris Brown (Chevy G20) Colin Campbell (VW Caddy) Tim and Sherrie Blackmore (Chevy Astro) Mike Suter (Bedford CF)

58 CUSTOM CAR WINTER 2025

1p NSVA Truck-in.indd 58

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BRENTACRE CUSTOM CAR & HOT ROD INSURANCE

NB: We advise you to double check with organisers that the event or show as listed is still going ahead, to avoid any wasted journeys. To submit an event, email alan.kidd@assignment-media.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2024 23 British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Dinner. Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey. britishdragracinghof.co.uk 24 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 30 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

DECEMBER 2024 1 Huddersfield Auto / Retro Jumble. Brook Street, Huddersfield. www.phoenixfairs.jimdo.com 4 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 8 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 17 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 28 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

21 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 26 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 30 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

FEBRUARY 2025 5 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 16 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey 16 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 18 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 21-23 Race Retro. Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. www.raceretro.com 22 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

28 Cold Turkey Run. Peterborough to Cromer, Norfolk. Facebook: Bod Here

23 Huddersfield Auto / Retro Jumble. Brook Street, Huddersfield. www.phoenixfairs.jimdo.com

29 Huddersfield Auto / Retro Jumble. Brook Street, Huddersfield. www.phoenixfairs.jimdo.com

MARCH 2025

JANUARY 2025

2 NSRA Southern Swap Meet North Weald Airfield, Essex www.nsra.org.uk

1 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

5 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

5 New Year Autojumble. Whitewebbs Museum of Transport, Enfield. www.whitewebbsmuseum.co.uk

16 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey

19 Huddersfield Auto / Retro Jumble. Brook Street, Huddersfield. www.phoenixfairs.jimdo.com 19 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey

18 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 21-23 Classic Car and Restoration Show NEC, Birmingham. www.necrestorationshow.com

23 Huddersfield Auto / Retro Jumble. Brook Street, Huddersfield. www.phoenixfairs.jimdo.com 29 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 29-30 Springspeed Nationals Santa Pod Raceway www.santapod.co.uk 30 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk

APRIL 2025 1 Hayling Hot Rods at the Beach. Hayling Island Seafront, Hampshire. Facebook: Hayling Hotrods at the Beach 2 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 6 The Fast Show Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk 15 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 18 Wheels Day Newbury Showground, Berkshire www.surreystreetrodders.com

60 CUSTOM CAR WINTER 2025

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22 Custom and Classic Show. Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, Essex www.customandclassicshow.co.uk 29 VHRA Swap Meet Ramsey, Cambridgeshire. www.vhra.co.uk 27-29 Dragstalgia Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk

18-20 Festival of Power Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk

23-26 The Main Event Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk

20 Huddersfield Auto / Retro Jumble. Brook Street, Huddersfield. www.phoenixfairs.jimdo.com

26 – 1 June NSRA Fun Run. St Ives, Cornwall. www.nsra.org.uk

20 Krispy Kreme 20th Anniversary Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey 26 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

MAY 2025 4 BHP Show Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone. bhpshows.com 4 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 6 Hayling Hot Rods at the Beach. Hayling Island Seafront, Hampshire. Facebook: Hayling Hotrods at the Beach 7 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 11 Classic Ford Show South of England Showground. Facebook: Classic Ford Show 16-18 Doorslammers Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk 18 Classic Wheels Rutland Showground, Oakham www.classicwheelsrutland.co.uk 18 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey 20 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 23-26 Run to the Sun Newquay. www.rtts.co.uk

30-2 June VanJam Fir Tree Farm, Warmington. www.vanditos.co.uk

27-29 National Hot Rod, Custom and American Car Show. Lincoln Showground, Lincolnshire www.hotrodandcustomshow.co.uk 28 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

JULY 2025

31 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

1 Hayling Hot Rods at the Beach. Hayling Island Seafront, Hampshire. Facebook: Hayling Hotrods at the Beach

JUNE 2025

2 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

3 Hayling Hot Rods at the Beach. Hayling Island Seafront, Hampshire. Facebook: Hayling Hotrods at the Beach

4-5 Hangar Rockin St Stephan Airfield, St Stephan, Switzerland. www.hangarrockin.com

4 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

4-6 MPH Vintage Sprint. Deenthorpe Airfeld, Corby, Northants www.mphvintagesprint.co.uk

5-8 Hot Rods and Hills. Park Foot, Pooley Bridge, Penrith Facebook: Hot Rods and Hills

4-6 V8 Brothers Village. Hooglede, Belgium. www.v8brothers.be

7-8 Players Classic Goodwood, West Sussex. www.players-show.com

5-6 Summer Nationals Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk

7-8 Sportsman Nationals Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk

10-13 Goodwood Festival of Speed Goodwood Estate, West Sussex. www.goodwood.com

8 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk

13 The Ford Show. Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk

14-15 Race the Waves. Bridlington, East Yorks. backfireinfo.weebly.com

15 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

15 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey

18-20 Hot Rod Rumble. The Camp, Ramsey, Huntingdon www.hotrodrumble.co.uk

17 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 21-22 Duchy Ford Show. Watergate Bay Touring Park, Newquay www.duchyfordclub.co.uk 22 BHP Fuel Fest Westpoint Arena, Exeter, Devon. bhpshows.com

18-20 Rock’n’Ribs Festival Wincanton Racecourse, Somerset. www.rocknribsfestival.co.uk 19-20 American Auto Club UK Summer Nationals. Upton Upon Severn Worcestershire www.american-auto-club.co.uk

WINTER 2025 CUSTOM CAR 61

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BRENTACRE CUSTOM CAR & HOT ROD INSURANCE

14-18 Hillbilly Hoedown Crystal Lakes Leisure, Huntingdon. www.hillbillyhoedownweekend.co.uk

20-21 Pistons and Props Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire www.sywellclassic.co.uk

15-17 Hot Rods in the Borders Lilliardsedge Holiday Park, Jedburgh. Facebook: Hot Rods in The Borders

20-21 VHRA Pendine Sands Hot Rod Races. Pendine, Carmarthenshire www.vhra.co.uk

16-17 Greenlight Nationals Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk

21 Ford Fest. Mallory Park, Leics. www.fordfestshow.co.uk

17 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey

21 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey

19 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

26-28 Yorkshire American Car Club American, Rod and Custom Show. Fort Paull, Hull. yancs1@yahoo.co.uk

29-31 VW Action. Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk 20 DeuceDay Details TBA. Facebook: Deuces of Britain

26 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

20 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey

SEPTEMBER 2025

25-27 Bug Jam Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk 26 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

AUGUST 2025 1-3 Hot Rod Hayride. Bisley Shooting Ground, Surrey www.hotrodhayride.co.uk 1-3 Ultimate Street Car Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk 5 Hayling Hot Rods at the Beach. Hayling Island Seafront, Hampshire. Facebook: Hayling Hotrods at the Beach 6 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 7-10 NSRA Hot Rod Supernationals Old Warden, Bedfordshire. www.nsra.org.uk 8-10 Retrofestival Newbury Showground. www.retrofestival.co.uk 10 Ford Fair Silverstone Circuit www.fordfair.co.uk 10 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk

2 Hayling Hot Rods at the Beach. Hayling Island Seafront, Hampshire. Facebook: Hayling Hotrods at the Beach 3 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 4-7 Euro Finals Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk 5-7 The Trip Out Euston Park, Suffolk. www.thetripout.co.uk 12-14 Goodwood Revival Goodwood Estate, West Sussex. www.goodwood.com 12-14 Hot Rod Hoedown. Barrasgate Farm, Annan.Facebook: Hot Rod Hoedown at the Steading 12-15 Isle of Man Ford Fest www.iomfm.com 14 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 16 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 18-21 Isle of Man Festival of Motoring www.iomfm.com 19-21 National Finals Santa Pod Raceway. www.santapod.co.uk

27 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

OCTOBER 2025 1 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 7 Hayling Hot Rods at the Beach Hayling Island Seafront, Hampshire. Facebook: Hayling Hotrods at the Beach 19 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey 19 ‘Normous Newark Autojumble Newark Showground, Newark, Notts. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 21 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 25 All American Cruise In. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 26 NSRA Northern Swapmeet Magna Science Centre, Rotherham. www.nsra.org.uk

NOVEMBER 2025 5 Hot Rod Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com 16 Krispy Kreme Cruise. Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden, Surrey. Facebook: Krispy Kreme Cruise Surrey 18 VW Air-Cooled Night. Ace Café, London. www.acecafe.com

62 CUSTOM CAR WINTER 2025

3pp Events Winter 25.indd 62

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1932 Ford Model B pick up Original chassis, dropped I beam 2.5 inch chop, Halibrand rear axle 8 ba Flathead and 39 box £21,000

24/11/2023 11:27

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