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NZV8 Concept Corner: show ’Stang

18 March, 2015

 

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“Every month we ask the cover car owner for the concept they’d most like to build, or see built”

The gold ’65 Mustang envisioned by Nick Hall, and built by Matamata Panelworks, is quite possibly the finest custom-Mustang build the country has seen — but what would have come out had Nick really let loose?

“If I had unlimited money, I would have gone totally overboard on my ’65 Mustang — I’d transfer the build across to a ’69 Mustang fastback, and go to town on it,” says Nick.

“First off, I would chop it a couple of inches or so, shave the door handles, and delete all the exterior trim. I’d sit it nice and low on chrome finish 20×10- and 20×12-inch Rambler rims made by US Mags, the same style as on my ’65, with tubs, if needed, to fit them.

“The suspension would comprise of coilovers all round, with an independent rear, and I’d include rack and pinion steering, and the biggest six-pot brakes that would fit inside the wheels.

“The engine would be a 351-stroked to 427ci, all alloy if possible. The fuel-injection system would be through individual throttle bodies, with a centrifugal supercharger sending its intercooled air charge to the intake trumpets via a Ferrari-style intake plenum — should be good for 750–800hp. The gearbox would definitely be a six-speed Tremec, with an aftermarket 3.50:1 diff.

“Paint wise, I’m very happy with how the Matamata team made the colour scheme on my Mustang work, so I’d use a similar formula here — I’m thinking ox-blood red (no, the illustration above isn’t exactly this colour) for the sides and a dark graphite grey on top, following similar lines to my ’65.

“The interior would include a fully custom dash and centre console, that flowed seamlessly into each other. All the controls for lights, wipers, etc., would be on the steering column — like a modern car — and she’d have all the mod cons, such as electric mirrors, DVD screen, and so on. The comfortable, but secure, seats would be swathed in leather like everything else on the inside, set off by some two-toning.

“Still, I’m more than happy with the Mustang I’ve got!” Nick says. We would be too if we owned it, but how rad is his concept of what could have been in that lotto-winning realm!

If you want to check Nick’s awesome ’65 Mustang fastback — the real-life version — pick your copy of NZV8 Issue No. 119 up from your local stockist, or grab one online here.


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Coaching from the bench: Casting plastic knobs and rubber parts

16 July, 2026

Casting rubber items is simple if you have a good original to work with. The item doesn’t have to be perfect. You can use plasticine to smooth out cracks, and you can even make whole prototypes out of low-fire modelling clay available from craft stores if you need to. Prototypes can also be made of wood or metal.
You will need mould dams to contain the liquid urethane moulding solution until it cures. You can build boxes out of strips of wood, but I have found that small plastic boxes and bowls such as those you would use for leftovers in your fridge work well if you spray them with a mould release agent.
Temperature is important to the chemical processes involved, so work in an area that can be maintained at around 20 degrees. You will also need adequate ventilation because the fumes can be dangerous to breathe. And you will want to wear latex gloves to protect your hands.

Fraser Cars – low flying into the fourth decade

10 July, 2026

With almost three and a half decades under its belt, Fraser Cars is one of New Zealand’s longest-surviving car manufacturers. The company first opened its doors for business in 1988, during the boom time for kit manufacturers. During the ’80s, around 40 different companies were building kits and turnkey cars for this niche market. Of those, only Fraser and Almac Cars (established 1981) are still in business today.
Most of the new kit car companies were killed off in the cradle by the threat of new legislation that never eventuated and definitively by the sudden availability of high-performance Japanese cars when the floodgates to second-hand imports were opened. The now long-retired founder of the company, Neil Fraser, first came across Lotus Seven replicas while racing Lotus Cortinas in the early ’80s. He regularly found himself racing against a little Caterham, a Lotus Seven–styled car built in England. He was very impressed by its simplicity and handling. In 1986 Fraser built his own Lotus Seven–type car, using the knowledge he had gained from several close looks at the Caterham.