Innehållsförteckning för No 160 September 2018 från NZV8

I couldn’t believe it when Brendon Tordoff told me he’d pulled his Cuda apart — I mean, it was just weeks after we’d photographed the car in the studio for the cover of NZV8’s 23rd issue. The issue you’re holding in your hands is Issue No. 160, so, with 12 issues a year, that puts this conversation at just under eleven and a half years ago. I thought Brendon was mad then, and I’m still not totally convinced he wasn’t. Brendon’s Cuda, as featured back then, was unlike anything else built in New Zealand: the low ride height, massive wheels, and beautiful interior likely making it the first of its type, especially for an E-body Cuda — a car that many people dream of owning in stock form. The paint…

THE JOY OF SIX Hi Todd, I just picked up the August issue of NZV8 today and I’m pleasantly surprised to see you writing about six packs! I love both V8s and sixes, which is why I own one of each, and I’ve always thought sixes are so shamefully overlooked. GM’s 3800 V6 is one of the greatest motors ever made and it must surely have the longest production run of all six-cylinder engines. Unlike Australasia, in North America they have a massive fan base among performance car builders and tuners. Over there they even have front-wheel-drive versions of this little torque monster. Perhaps future issues may have a regular feature on six-cylinder reader’s rides? Regards, Julian Bravery ELECTRIC FUTURE Hi Connal, I enjoyed your Pull Your Weight commentary in…

Hey, guys. That’s a pretty cool-looking Chev you’ve got. Have you owned it for long? We bought it off a guy in Nelson, or somewhere near there, about a year ago and had it transported up to Whangarei. It was black and a bit bogan, and we’ve just made it lower and louder. Yeah, it’s plvow for a daily. Anything special underneath? It’s just drop spindles and lowering springs in the front, and a big C-notch with lowering blocks in the back. We now have it on Cragar Smoothies without the centre caps, so they’re basically chrome steelies. Running a signwriting business must help with the finishing side of things, too. It definitely looks good; what have you done there? Yeah, we’ve had it fully wrapped here at Frankensignz. It’s…

GRANDPA’S AXE KICKS BACK! Very few drag cars in New Zealand are as known and loved as Chris Tynan’s original ’55 Chev, known as ‘Rat Attack’ — a car that Chris sold to Mike Reid a few years back to fund the building of a new improved version. Well, that new improved car has since passed through a few hands and also ended up in Mike’s ownership. The Chev’s colour has changed, too. It’s no longer orange and black, or the yellow that it was painted by the previous owner, but is now coated in black. However, the colour is not the cool bit of this piece of Kiwi history; that’s what Mike’s been throwing together to go under the hood. The engine is based on the block from the…

Times change. The cars of today may well be the classics of the future, and, while you might look at the road outside in disbelief, you know it’s true. Back in the 1980s, though, it’s unlikely that anyone would have considered Holden’s then-new VL Commodore series to be anything more special than vanilla family taxis. The cars’ plastic-heavy exterior and Japanese-sourced straight-six were about as un-Australian as things could get, and these factors sadly overshadowed the fact that the VL was a genuinely good vehicle. James Bannister was never subject to these opinions, and, seeing as his first car was a Holden VL Berlina — with an RB30E six and manual box — you might understand his fixation with VLs that has lasted well into his adulthood. The iconic VL…

If anyone is guilty of trying to kill their car at every opportunity they can, it is Wainuiomata’s Dave Fishwick. Those of you who have frequented a drag race meeting or two in the lower North Island, be it on the strip or on the street, will be well familiar with the shrieking howl of Dave’s bright green Valiant VG Pacer. Back in 1993, Dave bought the bright green Pacer off his neighbour for the princely sum of $1350. No stranger to the brand, having owned a Charger a few years earlier, he thought that he wouldn’t mind another one, as that one had gone pretty good. “So the neighbour asked one day if I’d be keen on it, as I’d shown a bit of interest a few times, and,…

Of you want a car that’s long and low, you’ve got a few typical options; Cadillacs, Lincolns, and maybe Impalas all come to mind. Cory Dame wasn’t interested in any of those. However, a mate had a ’66 Pontiac Laurentian — now that was a car that caught Cory’s attention. Sure, the ride height was — at least in Cory’s eyes — a bit on the lame side, but it had the perfect look with its big slab sides and excessive chrome bumpers front and rear. From the first time he laid eyes on the Laurentian, Cory knew that was exactly what he’d been looking for. So began the search for one. Coming across this ’64 Parisienne — based on the same platform as the Laurentian but with a different…

WHEN STANDARD JUST ISN’T ENOUGH Keen to give your Nissan Y62 Patrol an upgrade? Well, the FDFI2300 Supercharger system is made specifically for it. The system is designed and manufactured by Harrop to OE standards and utilizes the latest generation Eaton TVS supercharger technology. Featuring the Harrop FDFI 2300 rotating group, two-piece manifold design, large intercooler core; and the shorter, less restrictive intake path improves airflow and delivers superior performance, producing 353kW / 638Nm (standard: 230kW / 454Nm). Vist eapc.co.nz, or email paul@eapc.co.nz, for more information. FEEL THE RUSH Ryco are raising the bar when it comes to performance, launching the O2 Rush range. This range of performance filters, including pod, panel, and radial configurations, are designed to not only increase performance, but also improve protection. They are formed out…

ORIGINAL SICKNESS How good is Brendon Tordoff’s Cuda on this issue’s cover? Pretty damn good, right? As you’ll no doubt be aware, from having read the article, this isn’t the first time the car has been featured on the cover of NZV8, although it looks plenty different now! We managed to drag a few photos (seriously, we mean a few — the CD was corrupted) out of our archive and have uploaded the full feature article from NZV8 Issue No. 23 (April 2007) to The Motorhood. To have a look, just visit themotorhood.com and search ‘One Sick Fish’ It was a game-changer back then, and we could say the same about it now. SHOW HALL HEROES You know what time of year it is? It’s Speedshow time of year ……

I received an email recently — nothing out of the ordinary, as this job means I receive emails frequently; sometimes I even read them. The one I’m writing about now though, well, I’m sure glad I read it — because it concerns me, and it concerns you. It concerns the future of our beloved vehicles, and until I received the email, I had absolutely no idea it was happening. Except, as it turns out, I did. Most of you will. The imminent dominion of alternative-fuel vehicles (predominantly EVs, or electric vehicles), is very real, and neither as hazy or far-off as we may think. Not when steps are being taken right now to reengineer New Zealand’s infrastructure in the pursuit of both lower emissions and greater productivity. You can (and…

SPEED DATING Speed Works Events, the MotorSport New Zealand (MSNZ) championship promoter, has announced the full 2018–’19 calendar for the country’s top categories. Calendar dates have been fixed for the eight events next season and for three full seasons beyond that, and, while venues, in some cases, still need to be confirmed, dates have been fixed to provide competitors, marshals, sponsors, teams, and fans with the longest possible lead-in time to plan for the meetings. All championship categories have put their hands up to be part of the 2018–’19 series and will run their own series within the Speed Works calendar. All of the regular fixtures — including BNT V8s, Portergroup V8 Utes, and Muscle Cars — will be returning, and Formula 5000 will also be back on the calendar…

GO AND TOW Jason Brown may have owned his HT wagon for five years, but it sure didn’t always look like it does now. Purchased with a 350/350 combo, Jason rebuilt the lot and added a nine-inch diff over the years, running it in that guise for about nine months. The combo’s 370hp at the tyres was good enough to push the car into the 13-second zone; however, she wasn’t the most economical to drive. So, with this in mind, a water-damaged VY Commodore was purchased to become the donor for the HT’s next evolution. Jason stripped the engine down, filling it with new rings, a decent cam, and a thicker head gasket when piecing it back together. This was all in preparation for a bit of forced induction in…

Recognize the number plate? You should — well, at least if you’re a long-time reader, as, way back in Issue No. 23, this same car graced the cover of NZV8 wearing it. While we’re not here to reminisce, in this instance, that’s where the story of this epic rebuild begins. You see, as cool as the car was back then — and it was at the pointy end of the scene — in essence, Brendon had only added his own cosmetic touches to a freshly imported car, and it wasn’t long before the cracks began to show. Some initial digging led Brendon to accept that one rear quarter on the 1970 Plymouth Cuda would need to be replaced, having been poorly repaired previously. For this, he shipped the car to…

Believe it or not, we don’t like describing shows as ‘having something for everyone’ — it’s a safe, catch-all phrase that tends to be used in lieu of any defining characteristics that the event in question may possess. So, with that being said, we’re going to let ourselves off the hook here, because it truly is the best way to describe the annual automotive extravaganza that is CRC Speedshow. Pursuant to last year’s announcement that CRC Speedshow was changing ownership, from Ross and Brenda Prevette to Terry Nicholas and Bruce Anderson, any heart palpitations were soon smoothed with the assurance that Ross and Brenda had contracted to run this year’s event. As such, the plan for 2018 was far from a complete overhaul; rather, a gentle massage of the existing…

On the mid ’80s, Nissan released its RB-series of straight-six engines to replace its ageing L-series. Reputed to be an acronym for ‘Race Bred’ the RB-series lived up to that name in competition across the world, and the less said about the 1992 Australian Touring Car Championship season, the better … Holden purchased the rights to the RB for use in its then-new VL Commodore due to the engineering investment that would have been required for the antique Holden six to meet tightening emissions standards and run on unleaded petrol. While the principle was not particularly palatable to consumers at the time, few could argue against the RB’s smoothness, power, and reliability, and it has endured the test of time. Though the base RB20E — a two-litre single-overhead-cam engine —…

Nowadays, it seems that bump steer is at the forefront of vehicle safety in the custom and aftermarket realms, and rightly so. But what actually is ‘bump steer’? In effect, it is exactly what it sounds like — a change in steering geometry resulting from a vehicle’s suspension moving through its normal range of travel. While it is almost impossible to set up a vehicle’s steering geometry for zero bump steer, it is desirable to have as close to none as can be achieved, due to its potential for dangerous and unpredictable steering characteristics. Bump steer is usually due to the relationship of the steering arms with the suspension arms, as each go through their arc of movement. The position of the inner steering-arm joints (the steering-rack end) may have…

ALTHOUGH THIS MONTH’S CAR IS ONLY A QUICK CONCEPT, WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT. SO, HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT WHETHER IT’S HOT, NOT, IMPOSSIBLE, OR RIDICULOUS BY COMMENTING ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, FACEBOOK.COM/NZV8MAGAZINE YOUR THOUGHTS ON LAST MONTH’S ’O.G. ROSE’ CONCEPT Richard Jackson: That’s one very nice Impala Rufiz Onfire: It’s gonna be mean! Good fulla, Josh, too @richbarbie_osr: Seen it in person, the paint is unbelievable! [via Instagram] Brendon Tordoff knows how to make a car look good. Just take a look at the cover of this issue for proof of that, and if you have one handy, flip back to Issue No. 23 for good measure. However, while a big block Cuda that looks as good as ‘SIKFSH’ is sure to be a dream car…

Looking at the cars that emerged from the factory floors of Detroit in 1959 and 1960, it’s hard to imagine what the companies behind them were thinking. While today we’re obsessed with smooth lines, aerodynamics, and fuel efficiency, the vehicles of 1959 and 1960 are as far removed from those as it’s possible to be. America was consumed by the Space Race, and anything rocket based was the trend of the time, gas was cheap, and safety standards … well, they’d not really been put into place yet. One of the poster cars for these few years of excess is undoubtedly the Chevrolet El Camino. Hitting showrooms for the first time in 1959, the El Camino utilized the full-size platform of the Impala but added truck-like versatility. However, with Chevrolet…

WHERE IS IT NOW? MIKE KITSON — 1963 FORD GALAXIE Back in 2008, Mike Kitson’s Galaxie was as good as it got. Mike, a panel shop owner, used all his resources to ensure the big old Gal’s panels were as straight as could be. Under the hood was a Dave Moyle–built monster big block that, despite how good the car looked, Mike wasn’t afraid to push hard on the strip. Over the years, as Mike grew his focus in drag racing, Moyle was called in again to perform more engine magic. Various components on the car were changed. One change that may have upset the purists, but that worked in terms of the results Mike was looking for, was a move to a GM THbased transmission. In 2016, Mike sold…

LE MANS ROYALTY The Ford GT40 was born extravagantly — a project spawned to prove a point over that most fickle of principles: ego. In the early 1960s, Henry Ford II sought to purchase Ferrari and proceeded with negotiations, but the dealings came to an abrupt halt over Ford’s unwillingness to permit Ferrari to remain the sole operator of its racing programme. With the deal dead in the water, Ford decided to beat Ferrari at its own game and instructed the racing division to build a car that could win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Choosing British manufacturer Lola, the first Ford GT was revealed in 1963 powered by a 289ci Windsor. Further development over 1964 and 1965 saw the Ford GT40 MkII — now powered by a 427ci…

HAMPTON’S MOST WANTED By the time you read this, the Prowear Chrome Expression Session will either be going down, or have just happened, at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Whatever, we couldn’t get coverage into this issue due to timing, but that sure isn’t an issue for the internet. Get onto The Motorhood and search ‘Chrome 2018’ to check out a monster photo gallery, while you wait for the full event report in our following issue. STARS OF THE SHOW Later on in this issue, you’ll get to read all about CRC Speedshow and the top-shelf builds that were displayed, or unveiled, there. We can only fit so many photos on these pages, though, so you know the drill — if you find yourself wanting to see more, all you need…

AUGUST 25 NZBC WINTER BASH Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and where there’s fire it isn’t going to be cold! Have a break from winter at the NZBC Winter Bash, taking place at Huntly Placemakers Speedway on August 25. The event marks the second round of the New Zealand Burnout Championship series, at which returning competitors will be looking to add to their points tally, guaranteeing a show for all. The speedway venue also means a selection of hot food and beverages will be available, and the pit area will be opened up for a walk around, letting you get up close and personal with the cars and drivers. Gates will be open at 11am, and entry is $20 per adult, $10 for kids, and free for under-10s. All additional…

On an era when most people earn their living in conventional ways, Gavin Forsyth sticks out as a bit of a statistical anomaly. After all, it’s not every day that you meet someone who works as an underground gold miner. Gavin’s daily grind involves searching the unknown for treasure, and the same could be said of the way his standout ’53 Chev 3100 came to be. “I’m not very mechanically minded, but I love old cars and trucks and have always wanted to own a hot rod,” Gavin says. “About four years ago, I was browsing YouTube and came across some videos of these old, patinated trucks, and just loved the look of them.” All of the trucks that Gavin liked were born, bred, and built in the US, and,…

Having just sold his Camaro, Tim Wilson was in the market for a new project. For most muscle car aficionados, the Camaro is considered the quintessential one, the just-have-to-have-it, bucket-list car. Timmy’s was certainly that and more: 427 cube big block, nine-inch diff, and a four-speed stick shift — what wasn’t to like? There was no denying that Tim loved the car, but, over the years, he had become a bit bored with it — yeah, that strikes us as a little strange, too. Tim’s quick to confess that he’s a drag racer at heart, and was a regular at Thunderpark way back in the day, so something tubbed, with a big cube motor, and street and strip orientated was more the direction in which he was heading. Once the…

Of you’ve never heard of the Hot Rod Power Tour, it’s an event that should be on the bucket list of any car-loving guy or girl. The executive overview is that the event, organized by Hot Rod magazine, gets a crowd of car lovers together to cruise across the States in convoy. We’re not talking a follow-me-at-every-turn, stay-in-single-file, no-overtaking–type convoy, but simply a bunch of amazing — and some not so amazing — cars that begin the day and end the day at the same locations, taking in the sights along a specified route. So, how many cars exactly does it attract? This year, the number sat at somewhere on the positive side of 6000! Yep, that’s right, six thousand, not six hundred, so it’s a whole lot bigger than…

Paul Southorn’s CL Valiant has changed plenty over the years; here’s his story: “In 1978, my father traded his 1955 Morris Oxford for a 1972 Valiant wagon. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a Valiant pull up our driveway!” Paul recalls of the moment he got hooked on Valiants. “Unfortunately, the wagon didn’t last long as a family member, as it turned out to be a lemon with a bad history. Too late for me, though — the Valiant seed had been sown, and it was my ambition to own my own one day.” Fast-forward many moons to 2004, when Paul spotted a CL Valiant ute parked on a local street. He immediately knew that that was what he wanted, even though they were usually hard to come…

Like most things that happen when Ian Neary is concerned, he got a little excited as he began planning to refurbish his old garage. “I’d thought about people having man caves, and they’re cool, and I’d look at them in the magazines … but I’d never really thought about it [for myself]. What was so interesting was the adrenaline and the drive that I had finishing the GTX — coming out to this garage in winter, and it was a dirty old 1970s A-frame. No insulation, no wall linings,” he describes in his natural-born-showman way. “But, because of what I was doing with the GTX, in those last couple of winters, thermalled up — hat, gloves, etc., — you just carried on. Once the GTX was finished last winter, I…

RED ROCKET With the Enzed Central Muscle Cars (CMC) season set to start on 13 October, Dr John Elliott’s new XU-1 replacement is drawing closer to completion. The LH Torana sedan is being built into an SL/R5000 L34 replica to race in Group 2, based on a bare shell sourced through Heads Racing Supplies. Dr John has liked the four-door LH Torana since boyhood, even over the later hatchback model, and he has always most admired the four-door SL/R5000 L34 spec, which is the rarest Torana of them all — hence his build of this car. All of the roll cage and fabrication work has been completed by Wayne and Tony Anderson of AV8 Motorsport, and Dr John sourced all the other necessary panels and parts from a wrecked LH…