Innehållsförteckning för No 186 November 2020 från NZV8

Don’t let the dress rings and stock-looking steelies fool you—this HQ will soon be hiding some very serious power under the cowl hood. It’s been in the build for the past few years in owner Geoffrey Lowry’s shed. The goal has always been to keep it looking as sleeper as possible, with Geoff going as far as to run stock-looking wheels—although, just as these are actually alloys with sticky rubber, under the bonnet is a serious engine package. The base for the package is a crate LSA with lid spacers and pulley upgrade, 15-litre water-to-air intercooler, and Hurricane headers. Backing this is a fully manualized TH400 and nine-inch rear, and for good reason; Geoff tells us that as soon as the cert is sorted, the wick will be turned up…

Back in the late 1970s, a young and impressionable Kerry Moses fell in love with a ’57 Chev that he’d often seen on the streets of Invercargill. While any ’57 would stand out amongst the beige traffic of the day, in his eyes the flame-coated, tunnelrammed Chev known as ‘Dream Weaver’ was easily the most impressive machine on the road. While Kerry didn’t know it at the time, this would inspire him to own plenty of similar cars in the years that followed. Part of the driving force behind the various cars that have been in and out of the Moses garage over the years is that Kerry’s wife, Cathy, is as in love with them as he is. Kerry’s love of ’57s goes back long before the pair met,…

Old cars don’t really feature in the New Zealand Transport Agency’s (NZTA) safety-rating statistics, with ratings really only going back to 1990. Of the fleet from 1990 onwards, however, 41 per cent are one- and two-star safety-rated cars, yet they’re responsible for 68 per cent of deaths and serious injuries. Or, put another way, the occupants of one- and two-star cars are at least 90 per cent or 60 per cent, respectively, more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than in a five-star vehicle! Think about that for a moment. It’s pretty sobering. The numbers are huge too, with New Zealand loving their cars. The total size of the current fleet is 4.04 million vehicles, so the one- and two-star cars total 1.45 million in number.…

It’s all too common to read in these pages about a Kiwi finding a car abroad that looks great and dealing with an American con artist who swears black and blue that said car is rust-free and reliable. Luckily, this is not one of those stories. Instead, Rob and Marian Goodman found this 1938 Ford Standard coupe in person while they were on holiday in Minnesota back in 2015, without any foreign dishonesty being involved at all. “We were on holiday in the US driving Route 66 with some friends,” Marian explains. “Part of the holiday was to attend the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s Back to the ’50s festival. More than 11,000 vehicles regularly take part in the event, which attracts around 100,000 spectators per day.” Knowing that there was…

Ben Morris’s ’69 Camaro is one of our favourite tough streeters despite it having been off the track for a few seasons now. Ben hasn’t been sitting idle in that time, as he’s made some radical changes to the car to make sure that when it returns it should be capable of reclaiming its title as one of the quickest street cars in the country. The big change is to the rear end. When it last raced, it did so on 28x14.5x15 Hoosier Quick Time Pro tyres, and clocked a PB of 8.37 seconds at 175mph. As the rest of the fleet started catching up, Ben set about making sure he stayed ahead. Little did he expect to get quite as carried away as he has. While the engine itself…

If all of the cars that have worn the ‘EATU4T’ plate over the years have taught NZV8 readers—or staff—anything about Matt Jukic, it’s that he does nothing in a subtle way. In fact, he puts it best: “You know me—more is more.” Given the opportunity, Matt would take this month’s cover car to another level—and we’re not just talking about the engine height. A big-cube Hemi would be the power plant of choice. We’re guessing over 500 cubes here; with an equally big supercharger strapped to the top; and, to go one step further, a pair of 68mm turbos straddling the blower sides. These would take air from the bug catcher, compress it, then feed it through a pair of blower carbs mounted on top of the blower and water-to-air…

Often a cool and unique vehicle can be built quickly and cheaply from a combination of basic parts—as long as you aren’t too bothered about fit and finish, are prepared to roll your sleeves up, and maybe even lose a bit of sweat and blood. These can be the most fun vehicles to own, as you’re not afraid to use them, not afraid to have people lean on them, and not afraid to keep modifying or building them as you go. Tony Richardson’s ’46 Ford jailbar, from Mataura, Southland, is an awesome case in point, and it all started when Tony and son Daniel spotted a jailbar cab and guards at the back of a local transport yard. They quickly discovered that it was destined for the scrap heap. Tony,…

If the massive tower of power sticking out of the engine bay of Karl Draper’s 1977 Holden Torana didn’t get your attention, then the massive departure from your average Torana wheels sure will. Slammed as low as possible over 18x10- and 18x12-inch Riverside wheels, the car looks so good that you’ve got to wonder why more Toranas aren’t built in this fashion. A decade on from being featured, the car looks much the same as it did, with the only changes being minor ones made along the way. The exception to this has been the addition of a Tremec TKO 600 five-speed gearbox to replace the overworked Saginaw and a couple of kids to the back seat. While Karl’s bought and sold many cars over the years, we’re pretty sure…

If you ask us, the Supercars series is about to get real interesting as new manufacturers jump on board, coinciding with the release of the Gen 3 chassis over the next few seasons. There is also a new major sponsor as Repco has now increased its commitment to the championship, signing a landmark five-year deal to have naming rights for 2021 onwards. “We have a rich history with the sport and, together with the Repco Bathurst 1000, this is our most exhilarating step yet,” stated Jonathon Maddren, executive general manager of Repco New Zealand. “We can’t wait to work even more closely with Supercars, and with the teams, the drivers, and support crews. The Supercars family have shown in recent times how well they have all pulled together for the…

Hidden at the back of a Ford dealership is the last place you’d expect to find a Holden XU1 GTR Torana, but stranger things have happened, right?! When you see that it’s on chrome 12-slots then that begins to make sense. Traded into Aberlines Ford, New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 with only 86,000 miles for $900, the numbers-matching machine has sat ever since. That was until the dealership shut up shop, sending the Torana and other oddball cars like a Ford BA Falcon Devil R to a no-reserve auction. Bidding is currently under way and had topped $50K for the Torana at the time of printing. With mint-condition ones selling for upwards of six figures, there will be a steep rise in that number before bidding closes on 3…

The rumour mill has been lit up with leaked details surrounding the ZO6 variant that is set to be released in 2022, despite the fact that it has been reported GM has shifted a significant number of the Corvette design team to the electric vehicle (EV) programme, as it focuses 60 per cent of its resources on that area. EVs aside, the biggest news surrounding the ZO6 is that it will not make use of the 6.2-litre (378ci) LT2 found in the base model. Instead, a flat plane crank double-overhead-camshaft (DOHC) V8 will sit behind the seats, much like the engine found in the current C8.R race version—although it’s not going to have the same 5.5-litre (336ci)–capacity power plant. It’s likely to share the Cadillac Blackwing–derived block although with a…

MAXIMUM APPEAL The new American Racing VF497 is a forged 6061 two-piece wheel offered in sizes from 17 inches right up to 24 inches in custom offsets. It features a timeless split five-spoke design that not only suits both modern and vintage vehicles but also gives big brake clearance for that pro-touring build. Full polish comes standard, with custom finishes available. Check out dtm.co.nz to order a set. STAY COOL Our beloved classics often have cooling systems that would have worked perfectly when ‘heavy traffic’ meant more than one car in front of you at the lights, but times have changed. Add the extra demands of performance modifications and competition driving into the mix, and you will want to see the team at Adrad. They specialize in designing radiators for…

The kids are OK! At only 19 years old, Cody Horan would seem to have his head on straight, having built himself one tough ’90s-street-machine-inspired VK, all in his single garage at home. The VK was actually his first car, purchased at 15, and he’s carried out all the work on it himself excluding the wiring. As with any build, there have been a few bumps along the way, including losing the original de-stroked 253 race engine due to an oiling issue. Not to worry, a high-comp 383 Holden stroker is currently in the works, and, while that build happens, a 308 with a mild cam and pop-up pistons gets the job done, complete with flower pots. There’s the right number of pedals in the cabin as well, with a…

How many times have you heard, or maybe even said, “They don’t build them like they used to,” or “They made them from real steel back when this was made”? They’re both true statements, but when it comes to vehicle safety, not true in a positive way. As much as some people may claim that their old steel–bumpered dream machine will do well in an accident against a small modern vehicle, science, and a database of over eight-million crashes from across Australia and New Zealand disagrees. And, although classic cars are not overly represented in crash statistics, over the last few years, there have been a few notable deaths and serious injuries that, if the person involved had been driving a late-model vehicle, would have probably survived. The old “but…

While newer vehicles in general perform better during crash testing, or real-life crashes, than older vehicles, age alone is not a reliable indicator of a vehicle’s crashworthiness. For example, a five- or 10-year-old Hilux or Ranger is highly likely to receive a higher rating than a brand-new, lesserknown, cheaply manufactured ute. Likewise, the size of a vehicle, while again an indicator, cannot be taken as a reliable indicator of a vehicle’s crashworthiness. For example, Mercedes performed a well-publicized crash test with a Smart car and an S600 sedan—the bonnet of the S600 is about the same length as the entire smart car. The cars came out equally, such was the strength of the Smart car. In contrast, some of the most common small cars on the New Zealand market are…

As soon as you hear the name ‘Squig’, the chances are you think of the XP Falcon top doorslammer that’s been under constant evolution over the past 20-something years. That may soon be set to change, as Squig’s long-standing sponsor and great mate Mark Segedin from STA Parts has purchased a 2003 Ford Mustang funny car that Squig will soon drive. The car was imported from Canada and is a replica of a McKinney chassis that has been built to NHRA five-second specifications. Purchased minus running gear, the flopper has been fitted with the legendary PSI blown BTV Sainty three-valve engine from the Falcon along with 10-inch Crower clutch and three-speed Lenco transmission. The rear end consists of a Strange 9½-inch modular set-up complete with carbon-fibre brakes. The car wasn’t…

OK, so, fair call, you’re probably sick of hearing the word ‘Covid’, and we don’t want to ram it down your throat any more, but there is no denying that the virus has shaped 2020 and is the sole reason we find ourselves here looking at a pair of Asiaspec TA2s—known as ‘TAV8s’—gearing up to race the North Island Endurance Series (NIES), having just signed on Ford as their major sponsor. TA2-spec cars have been garnering lots of press lately with the announcement of the class entering the fold here. One thing we need to get clear from the outset is that these cars are not those. While the chassis are the same, as are the bodies, to put it simply, these are TA2s on steroids. The team at Corliss…

The surname ‘Porter’ is a well-known one in New Zealand motor racing, and one that’s set to make a debut in CMC this coming season. Andrew Porter will be taking on the affray behind the wheel of the former Bruce Dreadon 1969 Ford Mustang, a car currently being prepared by Angus Fogg. Andrew is very experienced behind the wheel, having campaigned NZ V8 touring cars and, in more recent times, the crash-and-bash world of UDC V8 ute racing. Having competed in the car himself, Fogg knew exactly what was required to transform it from a modified road car to a car capable of footing it with the best. Fogg’s own JA Russell–sponsored Mustang has been the template for the build, with Angus replicating the three-link suspension design along with other…

Ford continues to make inroads into the electric vehicle (EV) market, although this time, in typical Ford style, it has chosen to demonstrate its skills in this growing market with motorsport. Ford has taken what is considered to be one of the crowns in its Mustang line-up—a 2020 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet—and electrified it with a 1500-plushorse-power-equivalent EV drivetrain. Dubbing it the ‘Cobra Jet 1400’—although it made more power than that—Ford teamed up for the project with MLe Racecars, Watson Engineering, AEM EV, and Cascadia, which supplied the inverter and motor. “This project was a challenge for all of us at Ford Performance, but a challenge we loved jumping into,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. Despite it being a challenge, even in shakedown testing the car exceeded…

Following a six-year hiatus, the dust will once again fly at Waihi dirt track on 3 January—Noddy Watts and the crew have decided it is time to bring back the Classic Cover Jalopy Dust Up. “We stopped for two reasons: one–interest waned; two–others started popping up doing a similar thing,” Noddy told NZV8. The hiatus has done wonders for interest, as entries have all but sold out only weeks after opening, but you might be lucky if you wish to race your traditional hot rod, Pre ’65, vintage stock car, midget, modified, or sprint car. Noddy explained that the team at the Waihi track have done a whole raft of upgrades since the last dust up. “The track is wider and smoother, the access road is now sealed three-quarters of…

Back for its seventh season, Muscle Garage will return to your screens 18 October on Three’s CRC Motorsport, welcoming Repco on board for the next three seasons. As fans of local content, local cars, and personal expression through the medium of workshops, we’ll be tuning in to get a weekly dose of New Zealand’s coolest V8-powered cars, events, and shed-based creativity. So why not join us on the couch, settle down in front of CRC Motorsport every Sunday, and take in the weekly segment of Repco Muscle Garage. This show simply could not happen without the support of Repco New Zealand, Meguiar’s, and Mount Shop Ltd.…

Hayter Precision Metalworks in Taupo is quickly earning a name for its chassis work, especially when it comes to getting trucks sitting and riding right. Morgan Schwass’s ’50 Chev 3100 is the latest to come off the chassis table. Morgan picked up his 3100 in the US in a half-restored state from a guy who had been working on it for 30–40 years. At the time he threw in the towel, it was a rolling chassis devoid of an engine and came with enough spares to build two trucks. Having spent over a year of looking to find the perfect project, this very clean rust-free truck more than ticked all the boxes for Morgan, who wanted something near stock to avoid the horror stories we all hear. Morgan admits that…

IF I’M GOING FOR OLDSCHOOL MUSCLE, WHAT BETTER PLACE TO START THAN A B-BODY MOPAR? There is a special place in hell for thieves, and there are a few who should count themselves very lucky that Matt Jukic hasn’t given them an early ticket there. He’d barely any time to enjoy the fruits of his labour in building his Roots-blown and injected Hemi–powered 2011 Dodge Challenger, when the light-fingered brigade broke into his lockup, stripped it of everything valuable, and made a mess of the rest. It was an insurance write-off, and although Matt was paid out, he found himself at a loss. How do you put a price on the blood, sweat, and tears that go hand in hand with building the car of your dreams? Should he try…

There’s a great video on YouTube showing an offset frontal crash test between a 1959 Chev Bel Air and a 2009 Chev Malibu—we suggest looking it up. It showcases just how far vehicle technology has come in that time, as, sadly, as great as the ’59 looks, it gets well and truly destroyed by the later-model vehicle. Offset frontal crash tests are never pretty, but it’s interesting to watch exactly what unfolds here. The curved shape of the ’59’s A-pillars allow for the roof to collapse inwards on the front-seat passengers, whereas modern designs ensure that this can’t happen. The ’59’s dash and steering column are forced inward into the passenger space, probably due to the engine itself being instantly dislodged by the impact and traveling backwards rather freely. The…

It’s been a wild ride for Arran Brattle and Pauline Lane over the past five-and-a-half years. With Pauline being the daughter of Wellington drag racing icon Colin ‘Shady’ Lane, it was only a matter of time before she ended up at the drag strip once more. Partner Arran always had the itch too. That them to import a 502ci injected 2010 Mark Williams–built front-engine dragster (FED) back in 2014, which went on to become known as ‘Angry Azz’, and proudly display Panhead sponsorship, thanks to the Brattle family business Dzine Signs and Displays. The shakedown saw Arran gain his licence with an 8.4-second pass at 153mph, a time not dissimilar to what Pauline would run on her first passes. Over the years, the pair have been great competitors up and…

Will Dodson has owned Toranas since he was 16 years old, owning no fewer than 14 in that time, so it was no surprise when he decided back in 2005 that his next purchase would be … yes, another Torana. Let’s face it, after owning that many of them, he’d become a bit of an expert and knew exactly what he was looking for. Willy scoured different places looking for the perfect car, not knowing what his next Torana project would be, where in the land of the long white cloud he would find it, or how many long hours it would take to get it to what you see today. Finally, he found it at Lodge Auto Centre in Hastings, the advertisement reading: “SLR replica with a 308/355ci stroker…

It’s been a long time since Shannon Coker showed the Central Muscle Cars (CMC) field that he could foot it with the best of them, but now that his longawaited HQ is complete, the field had better look out. The young Waikato resident has just hit the track for an initial shake-down session in the car, and, by all accounts, it was flying. The Group 1 car runs a number of components sourced from a 2005 Toyota Nascar, including a 358ci SB2 engine and four-speed Jerico gearbox. That’s not to say there hasn’t been a serious amount of fabrication that’s gone into the build. Shannon has a long list of people who’ve played a major part in the project, including Aaron Beech, Michael Shute at MDS Engineering Solutions, Jamie Ryan,…

A lot can change in 10 years, and Matt Elliott’s C10 is a prime example of this. We won’t go into too many details here, as you’ll be seeing a full re-feature very shortly. In brief, the vehicle has undergone work on so many different areas that very little of it has been untouched. With Matt being the driving force behind Low Fast Famous, a blog that showcases the coolest cars in the world, you can expect the C10 to be nothing short of jaw-dropping ……