NZ Hot Rod March 2022

News and Views THIS month sees a substantial retail cover price increase to $14, including GST. We never like doing this but are victims of massive price hikes from our suppliers, which we cannot adsorb. We’re not alone in this, as the tsunami effect of the COVID 19 pandemic has created massive rifts in the business community. At the foot of our increase is our printer’s 20% price increase. They are The Print Lounge and do a fabulous job of printing the magazine, and they look after us well, but in the last 18 months, there have been well published, significant shifts in global supply chains as well as many challenges within the printing industry. There are now fewer papermaking machines. Many paper mills throughout the world have either permanently ceased…

More Deuce Cabriolet HI PAUL, I have enjoyed following the discussion and pictures regarding NZ ‘32 Cabriolets. The photo in the Jan. issue looks like an English assembled version, as it has no cowl lights but has the typical English ‘wing lamps’ . A few years ago while watching a film clip of VE day in Wellington, up popped an English ‘32 cabriolet filled with rollicking soldiers and women, having a good time. The attached photos are of Roy Rowe’s cabriolet, taken in the 1980s in Nelson at a V8 National Meet. (The one with side mounts) The other was taken at the Car Corral at the Hershey swap meet, about 20 years ago. The car was RHD, and according to the owner, had come from Christchurch NZ in the 1960s.…

• Models to inspire GRAHAM Berry’s models have been featured in these pages before, and although since retired from doing them, his models and book are worth another look. “I was fortunate enough to get the Bob Rossiter Pirate dragster model GB built and donated to the Scroungers Hot Rod Blow Out auction in 2015”, says Greg Stokes. To complete the package, the book on GB Models was ordered. This book, designed by GB’s daughter Sharee, documents all GB’s model builds from when he was a teen thru to the present day, and it’s a worthy addition to any hot rod or model car enthusiast book collection. With lots of pictures and Graham’s own comments, it is a book to inspire others. If you would like a copy, they are a…

“When one door closes, another one opens. Other than that, it’s a pretty good car.” • First 2023 Corvette Z06 Raises $3.6 Million THE USA’s Operation Homefront will receive $3.6 million from the sale of the first retail 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction. Operation Homefront is a national non-profit organisation focused on building strong, stable and secure military families. The 2023 Corvette Z06, offering the highest horsepower naturally-aspirated V8 to hit the market in any production car, was driven onto the block at the annual auction by retired Corvette Racing legend Oliver Gavin. • Clarification IN the last issue, In Passing Editor, Paul Grace’s comments on structural certification were wrongly titled LVVTA News. That title should have been positioned 1 column to the right and headed Tony…

• Do it in the Dirt RENOWNED hot rod upholsterer Ian Goodwin landed this 1948 Kurtis Kraft Midget via Chuck’s. Under the hood is a snarling Ford flathead V8 60 running Offy heads, Eddie Meyer intake and dual Stromberg carbs. Power goes through an in-out box and out to a Posi-track rear end. Torsion bar suspension, Norden steering and four-wheel brakes complete the vintage race car. • Triple Treat IAN Goodwin also landed these three Model As from the USA via Chucks. There’s a stock ’28-’29 coupe and tudor that are both complete and runners. Also in the containers was a hot rod ‘30 tudor on Deuce rails project. Great material for any Model A lover. If you have a New Arrival you’d like to share with our readers then drop us a line…

THERE was a brief time in 1957 and 1958 when General Motors designers skilfully merged fashion and function, combining posh and practicality in equal measures. It was a time of fashion wagons, and there was strong competition. Chevrolet’s Nomad and Ford’s Del Rio 2-door wagons need no introduction, while Oldsmobile and Buick brands were graced with the outstanding design of the 4-door hardtop wagon. Mercury was also on the playing field with Commuter, Voyager and Colony Park 4-door hardtop wagons. They were all strikingly beautiful automobiles with Buick and Olds built for big folks and big cargoes, with luxury tailored interiors. Buyers saw it was styling that was going places and flocked to the Caballero pillarless wagons. Buick positioned the Century Caballero Estate Wagon near the upper end of the market.…