NZ Hot Rod February 2022

A Better Way HOW can we humans be so dumb? Apparently, we are collectively smart enough to land and fly a helicopter by remote control on mars, yet we’re turning our own planet into a compost bin of toxic waste. I’m not a tree-hugging greenie or radical environmentalist but why do I say that: Because we’re screaming full throttle towards a future laced with battery-powered electric vehicles with great claims of clean solutions to the environment. Yet when we bookend EVs with the actual environmental impact of their production, use and then end-of-life disposal, the true picture is blurry and distorted with facts surrounding dirty mining of the critical minerals used in Li-ion batteries: the new standard for automotive power. I’ll name the two elements which stand out head and shoulders…

Humbled THANK YOU for the great feature in your great mag Paul, l feel humbled as l never intended to build it to go into a mag like yours A couple of photos of when l rebuilt Barb’s old roadster, so Happy New Year to all of you. Cheers Grant Earnshaw Miles with Smiles HI PAUL, Thanks for the great feature and photos of our roadster. With all this great weather we will be out there clocking up the miles with smiles. Cheers Errol and Valerie Mollet. I’m Back HI PAUL, wow, 18 months or so in the wilderness (no, not jail) and here’s Owen’s painting of the little yella tractor on page 66. It still has pride of place on my wall. Then back page in Toolbox Tales with a beer in hand, me tellin’ lies…

Bloopers RECENTLY, a long-time reader called the office about our special Christmas December cover depicting Santa seated next to Elaine Clarke’s deuce coupe. “Have you seen the Elite Fries on the cover?” he giggled. We wondered what on earth he was alluding to, but a quick look at the cover did indeed reveal the words “Elite Fries” on the Edelbrock Air Cleaner box. Unfortunately, the Christmas ribbons around the box had partially obscured the word “Series” in Edelbrock’s Elite Series Air Cleaner. Not to be outdone, another reader called to say the Christmas decoration in the top left-hand corner of the same December cover had partially obscured the top of our logo, claiming it looked like the “Not Rod” magazine. Aren’t bloopers great! Innovation Plus IS that Hilborn injection on a 390ci Cadillac?…

Mint Merc HERE’S a new arrival from Craig Stare via Kiwi Shipping. It’s a one-family owner 1959 Mercury Monterey 2 Door Hardtop with reportedly some 53K original miles. The first and only owner ordered it brand new from the New Jersey dealer. After a lifetime of ownership, he passed away, and his grandson drove it across the USA to California, where it was sold. Under the hood is its original factory ‘N’ code 383/280HP 2 BBL V8 engine and matched to its original ‘Mercomatic’ automatic transmission. It features its original interior, which is in excellent condition. For all GM restoration supplies. Real Steel AUCKLAND based hot rod, muscle and classic car enthusiast Dave Tuke just landed this all-steel 1934 Ford Roadster. It’s a late-‘70s or early ‘80s True-Spoked resto rod that runs and drives…

MANY hot rods evolve over the years, mostly updates during maintenance, sometimes in keeping with current trends. But the ‘34 Ford Tudor you see here has had more significant changes than most. Since its ‘hot rod’ days began in the early 1960s, it’s been channelled but not chopped; it’s been chopped and dechanneled; it’s been fenderless, fendered, had a Deuce grille, ‘34 grille, even had various chassis. It’s been flathead powered and Chevy-powered, then back to Ford power. It has even been the subject of a couple of NZHRM tech articles in the ‘80s (top chopping and body mounting). Every time I’ve seen this car since 1974, it is like the start of another adventure, probably because usually it is. Of course, anything could happen, and it often does. But…

DECEMBER 11th and 12th’s Central Nationals at Masterton Motorplex is where you should have been for your drag racing fix. It’s been a long time since the last meeting, and lots has happened, new cars have been built, and imported cars have changed hands, different motors installed and new paint jobs. The weather wasn’t looking good, but Saturday was fine, not a stinking hot day like some race days, but just good. Lucky racers got plenty of runs because down came the rain on Sunday, and nobody got to run. COVID has played a big part in most events, and race numbers were down, and spectators were also down, but it was still all go for the vaccinated ones. The track was well prepared again, producing plenty of wheels up…