NZV8

For many, Repco Beach Hop 22 has a laidback vibe, and that is certainly the case. However, when you’re working to produce the best coverage of one of New Zealand’s most beloved events, Repco Beach Hop can be hectic. This is not to say that I didn’t have a great time — I did — I just did so at a much faster pace than most of the other attendees. Cross-country trip with 17 featured cars, 12-plus events, live social media updates, and almost 55,000 steps (24 kilometres) walked. The NZV8 Beach Hop Annual that will be published soon after this Issue should do it justice; the team and I worked hard to offer you the greatest possible issue, and I can’t wait to do it all over again in…

From the start of next year, NZV8 will be transitioning to a bi-monthly format, meaning the next issue will go on sale 13 February, and then every two months after. You already know that the cost of living has increased, and it reflects on this magazine so we won’t waste your time with a bunch of boring bullshit about it. The gist of it is that we’re switching to bi-monthly publication, but we’re also going to embrace modern media trends by plastering editor Rixsta’s jovial face all over your social media feeds. That means you’ll still be kept abreast of everything V8-related from behind the scenes, including event coverage, chats with the owners of featured cars, and vlogs with wild cars in the build — there’s a lot planned! If you have subscribed…

Kevin Hart has added a new car to his growing collection, a 1987 Buick Grand National – an icon of the 1980s. However, like many of the classic muscle cars that dominate the comedian and actor’s collection, the Grand National has been extensively worked over, in this case by Wisconsin’s Salvaggio Design, the same company that built Hart’s 940-hp 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. Salvaggio Design dialed things down for the Grand National, choosing to forgo the easy route of dropping a V-8 under the hood and instead sticking with V-6 power. The selected engine was the twin-turbo 3.6-litre V-6 from a Cadillac ATS-V, tuned here to deliver 650 hp instead of the stock 464 hp. Almost all of the engine’s accessories needed to be changed or relocated to fit in the Grand National.…

Companies offering EV conversions for some much-loved classics are springing up all over the United states. The latest is San Rafael, California-based Kindred Motorworks, which revealed its latest offering, an electric Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck. The 3100 is Chevy’s half-ton pickup built between 1947 and 1953. While its design is iconic, the driving experience can certainly be improved upon, thus making it an ideal candidate for an EV conversion. The electric hardware consists of a single electric motor driving the rear wheels and generating a peak 294 hp. The motor is powered by a 74-kwh battery that Kindred estimates will deliver a range of up to 200 miles. The battery, supplied by Idaho’s Kore Power, takes about nine hours to charge at home using a Level 2 charger. Kindred also updates…

If you were one of the fortunate people who had ‘SKY TV’ back in the day, you might be familiar with the series American Hot Rod. Back then, before the rise of the internet and social media, it was difficult to keep up with what car builders were doing all over the world. Sky TV and Discovery Turbo kept us in check across the world of who was building what and fueling us with fresh ideas. The show American Hot Rod was a show that gave you the opportunity to see not only the incredible builds that had come out of the shop but also the talents of other companies that had been involved in building the radical hot rods. One in particular was called Gabe’s Custom Interiors, and it…

NORTH ISLAND EDITOR’S PICK 20 – 22 January 2023 01 Kumeu Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival Kumeu Showgrounds, West Auckland Kumeu is confirmed for 2023! Trade and swap site bookings can be made online, as can entry for the vintage caravan park. Expressions of interest are also being taken for the prestigious indoor car show shed — give Ken Galvin a call on 09 412 6318, or email desma.g@xtra.co.nz. For more details: www.kumeuhotrodfestival.co.nz. 26 – 29 January 2023 02 Cruise Martinborough Martinborough Registrations for Cruise Martinborough are open now, and there are just 100 spots left! The four-day festival is a hot rod, classic, and muscle car event showcasing vehicles from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and prior. It features cruises, shows (Saturday display is back at the Square), drive-in movie, flag drop drags, music, socials, Miss Cruise Martinborough…