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NZV8 Issue No. 121 races into stores

6 May, 2015

We knew that last month’s ‘10th Birthday’ issue would be a hard act to follow, but we’re pretty sure Issue No. 121 is right up there — and it’s available in stores now.

Gracing the cover is a circuit car like no other — designed to be cool first, and fast second. The 465ci Ray Barton Hemi that Keith Sinclair fitted to his ’70 Cuda ensured that that goal was achieved with ease, especially when combined with the iconic ‘Hot Wheels’ livery from the AAR cars of the period.

We know circuit racing isn’t everyone’s thing though, and we’ve made sure to pack the issue with just as much straight-line horsepower as always. Helping out with that task is a methanol-drinking big block Chev–powered Ford Capri.

Bridging the gap between straight-line power and handling prowess is a ’66 Chevelle that we’ve been trying to get into print for a few years now — the owner is always busy making it better. Finally, he relented, and we’re sure you’ll agree that it’s been well worth the wait.

Another car that we’ve had our eyes on for some time is the supercharged Commodore VN SS of Taupo’s Paul Topless. There’s not that many highly modified VNs out there, but that may all change after people see Paul’s one!

And, if hot rods are more your thing, you may enjoy finding out about the build of this gorgeous ’37 Ford coupe, which now packs a supercharged LS punch under the hood.

On the event front, this issue is packed with coverage from the recent APT Nostalgia Drags, the always impressive Hot Rod Blowout, NZDRA Drag Racing Nationals, as well as a vintage speedway day out.

On the tech front, we delve deep into the world of camshafts to find out what all the tech speak really means, as well as find out how ‘true fire’ flames are created.

NZV8 Issue No. 121 is on sale now for just $9.99 in store, or you can grab a digital copy online here for just $6.99.

Almost mythical pony

25 July, 2024

The Shelby came to our shores in 2003. It went from the original New Zealand owner to an owner in Auckland. Malcolm just happened to be in the right place with the right amount of money in 2018 and a deal was done. Since then, plenty of people have tried to buy it off him. The odometer reads 92,300 miles. From the condition of the car that seems to be correct and only the first time around.
Malcolm’s car is an automatic. It has the 1966 dashboard, the back seat, the rear quarter windows and the scoops funnelling air to the rear brakes.
He even has the original bill of sale from October 1965 in California.

Becoming fond of Fords part two – happy times with Escorts

17 July, 2024

In part one of this Ford-flavoured trip down memory lane I recalled a sad and instructive episode when I learned my shortcomings as a car tuner, something that tainted my appreciation of Mk2 Ford Escort vans in particular. Prior to that I had a couple of other Ford entanglements of slightly more redeeming merit. There were two Mk1 Escorts I had got my hands on: a 1972 1300 XL belonging to my father and a later, end-of-line, English-assembled 1974 1100, which my partner and I bought from Panmure Motors Ford in Auckland in 1980. Both those cars were the high water mark of my relationship with the Ford Motor Co. I liked the Mk1 Escorts. They were nice, nippy, small cars, particularly the 1300, which handled really well, and had a very precise gearbox for the time.
Images of Jim Richards in the Carney Racing Williment-built Twin Cam Escort and Paul Fahey in the Alan Mann–built Escort FVA often loomed in my imagination when I was driving these Mk1 Escorts — not that I was under any illusion of comparable driving skills, but they had to be having just as much fun as I was steering the basic versions of these projectiles.