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Beerbowser: the ultimate in man-cave companions

25 August, 2016

When you’re out in the man cave, tunes cranking, spanners spinning, working on something that’ll no doubt be finished when it’s finished, sometimes you’re after some company — company that fits into the metalwork-orientated, petrolhead wonderland that is your shed, garage, or workshop. The only complementary item that suits such an environment is a Beerbowser. That’s right, it’s a brew-pumping ’50s–’60s petrol bowser capable of storing your yeast-produced liquid refreshments for whenever they’re required. 

Handcrafted using quality materials right here in New Zealand, Beerbowsers are the ultimate old-school-looking bowsers, yet pack a modern punch. With the ability to add a Bluetooth sound system and USB-charging capabilities, you can refill your favourite vessel with the bowser to your favourite anthem, and keep those power-hungry devices on charge. 

Based on Haier fridges, you need not worry about your 30-, 40-, or 50-litre keg turning warm due to mechanical error, either. Beerbowsers are built to order, which means that whatever is your favourite brand or style, it can be made to suit. 

There’s only one serious issue now though — we’re all going to need bigger sheds for our Beerbowser collections! They also have the added bonus of being able to slot into your original fridge spot in the kitchen with ease.

If you’re interested in checking out the entire Beerbowser range, or are wanting to get in touch with the talented team behind these creations, head to beerbowser.co.nz. 

Disclaimer: Beerbowser does not promote our products by brand. All Beerbowsers displayed have been custom made by customer request and are not marketed specifically by brand. The images are only examples.  © 2016 |  Beerbowser NZ  |  All rights reserved 

Chrysler’s classy cruiser

22 May, 2026

I first saw our feature car, a 1970 V8-powered Regal 770 hardtop, towing a trailer carrying the tidy Ford Anglia classic racing saloon in Broadspeed racing colours that has featured in these pages. The coupe is comparatively rare here, which means anyone contemplating purchasing one of these big two-doors is sure to see prices continue to climb. The latter Charger has claimed much of the Aussie Chrysler limelight, but the simpler and classier lines of this car, which appeared dated soon after its introduction, now have a more timeless appeal.
Former owner, Balclutha motor engineer, Mike Verdoner, remembers the car well. He believes it came from Dunedin originally.
“I’m not sure about the car’s history, but I bought it off its owner at Kaitangata. Unusually, it was advertised in the local newspaper, the Clutha Leader, which was a surprise as these usually go for a lot more money on the internet. I had it for quite a few years. It needed a little bit of work to tidy it up, so I had to decide whether to spend the money on it to do it up, which could have been twenty grand. Its value at the time was not like it is now, so I sold it to Ewan. It’s probably now worth three or four times what I sold it for.”

The Pininfarina 230 SL

14 May, 2026

It’s October 1964, and imagine you’re an automotive journalist covering that year’s Paris Auto Show (Mondial de l’Automobile). As you approach the Pininfarina booth, you come across a car that looks a bit like the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL introduced the previous year at the Geneva Auto Show, a car then arriving at Mercedes-Benz dealerships around the world.
But looking closely, its styling and proportions seem to be a bit different. And it has a fixed roof, unlike the Pagoda-style greenhouse of the removable hardtop seen on the production 230 SL. While today, the styling of the W113, under the supervision of Head of Styling Friedrich Geiger, with lead designers Paul Bracq and Bela Barenyi, is considered a mid-century modern masterpiece, acceptance in-period was not universal. Some critics called out the concave design of its removable roof, which ultimately gave the car its “Pagoda” nickname.