NZ Hot Rod July 2022

I FEEL like the time has come to relaunch our top national events in a way that makes it a better experience for the entrant and makes it way easier for the organisers to run and more cost-efficient. The National Show and the Street Rod Nationals are vastly different events but need to be our “Cream of the crop” shows for our organisation. Being a member of NZHRA allows you to enter either event as long as it meets the criteria of your affiliated club and is of an acceptable standard. the whole point of the National show is supposed to be showcasing our best efforts, not an ego trip One of the earliest shows was Autorama, and it boasted a crowd of well over 2,000 punters...in the first hour! Nowadays, due…

A Small World AFTER finishing my apprenticeship in about 1969 (or so), it was time for the traditional big OE in Australia. One of my travelling cohorts was Graham Mills from Blenheim; his folks owned a garage there. He told me he once owned a mint ‘32 Ford V8. It wasn’t running well, so they replaced the original Detroit Lubricator with a brand-new carb from a PA Vauxhall. The’32 Fordor Sedan featured in the June mag rung a few bells, and on checking the photo of the original ownership papers, Bingo! One Graham Bradford Mills of Blenheim owned it. Back in 1964/1965, he would have been 15 or so. At that time, I was driving to school in a mint ‘35 Hudson Terraplane Coupe. There were two nice ‘32 Fords in…

• Spring Little Cobra GRAHAME Berry’s latest model shows incredible detail, and he’s achieved a level of realism that leaves you thinking you’re looking at the real thing. The real thing is actually real because Grahame built the road-going version back in 1990? • Long Roof Camper HAVE you noticed the increasing trend towards rooftop tents? They make for a very adventurous road trip and enable many to migrate back to their camping roots rather than renting pricy camper van setups. Craig Stare spotted this perfect getaway rooftop camper and ’63 Mercury Woody combo at Squeak’s March Meet. • 50th Fun TARARUA Rodders recent Anniversary celebration was a reunion in many ways, which saw Lloyd Wilson being re-united with his old ‘37 coupe that he owned 50 years ago when he founded the club. The…

• Flat Top THIS car is one of many “next level” cars that Shane Kemp has imported from Stateside Imports in the Nelson area. It is a 1959 Buick Le Sabre 4 door flat top pillarless sedan and arrived via Kiwi Shipping. It wears its original red paint and perfect interior with a 364ci Nailhead under the hood. The car has already been sold. From Craig Stare. • Working It RAY Fenton recently purchased this restored 1937 Ford pickup out of New York via Kiwi Shipping. The pickup appears to be very tidy and features a finned headed flathead engine. From Craig Stare. • Uncle Daniel PHILLIP Gillespie from North Canterbury just landed this 1939 Ford Deluxe coupe out of New York via kiwi Shipping. It will keep his 1938 Ford standard coupe and “barrel…

HOW many of you “True Blue old-time Kiwi Hotrodders” can recall the story of Arohanui and Billy Big Time? No, not ringing any bells with ya yet; still scratching your noggin? Well, it goes something like this. Back sometime in January 1967, a tall young fella named Bill with a North American accent arrived on the shores of NZ looking for some adventure. He landed a job working for Joseph Lucas in Newmarket, taking phone orders for parts to be delivered to strange sounding places like Fen-you-a-pie. (Whenuapai). Being a bit of a young larrikin, he was soon enjoying the locally brewed beer and attending more than a few flat parties. But, of course, a party isn’t a party without beer and girls, and before you know it, Bill had himself a lovely…

OWNER: Bill Lemon – Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada. CHASSIS: Original ’32 Ford. ‘32 Reproduction fuel tank. FRONT SUSPENSION: Super Bell I-Beam, Stock ‘32 steering box, leaf spring, Pete and Jakes tube shocks, and ’48 Ford F1 brakes. REAR SUSPENSION: ’36 Ford Banjo Rear End, 4:11 ratio, Air shocks (Trailer Hauler), Shortened ’36 wishbones, and ’46 brakes. TIRES/WHEELS: Front: Firestone 600x16 whitewall bias ply on 16” 1935 Ford wire wheels with ’32 hub caps. Rear: Firestone 700x 16white wall bias ply on 16” 1935 Ford wire wheels with ’32 hub caps. SECOND SET OF TIRES/WHEELS: Front: Coker whitewall radials on 15” solid ’46 Mercury wheels with ’41 Ford hubcaps. Rear: Coker whitewall radials on reversed 15” solid ’46 Mercury wheels with ’41 Ford hubcaps. ENGINE: 1946 Ford 59A with Edelbrock finned heads and Edelbrock intake. Three…