Gidday From New Zealand

[Steve 38]

Hi folks, my name is Steve Holmes, I live in the Wairarapa in New Zealand. I run a company called Monster Race Wear, which supplies custom apparel and merchandise for race teams, hot rod shops, car clubs, race clubs etc etc. Plus I do a bit of writing for various Kiwi and Australian car mags. This is my first hot rod. I’ve really only gotten interested in hot rodding in the last couple of years.

My car is a quasi-1938/39 Ford Coupe, but I call it a ‘38. My father bought a ’38 Ford V8 Deluxe four-door back in 1977 for NZ$700. It was complete and fairly original, but needed a heap of work. The body was pretty good, but someone had begun restoring it, and painted red and grey primer everywhere, so on top of the original faded green paint, it looked a bit ugly. It had a flathead V8, but it was a later model. The old man got it fired up pretty quick, and it sounded good (and loud!), as the exhaust had all fallen off.

Anyway, he ripped into it, pulled the engine, removed the guards, running boards, bonnet etc, then kinda lost interest. I was just a kid when he bought it, and it was like a part of the family. I spent a lot of time just hanging out in it. Anyway, it sat around for 30 years gathering dust. Then last year I told him I wanted it, and we did the deal. I wanted to make a traditional 40s/50s style hot rod from it, but I didn’t want to have a four door. At first I looked at getting it converted to a Tudor, but that was going to be too expensive. Then I started making enquiries about a ’39 Ford Coupe body in the South Island. Turns out the body was cut up to be mounted on a speedway stockcar back in the ‘60s, but it never quite made it that far. About ten years ago, it was bought by this guy in the South Island, who had it pieced back together, though it didn’t have a floor or rain guttering.

For me it was perfect. I wanted a ‘warts-n-all’ style car, and the fact the body was going to be used on a stockcar just adds to its fascinating story. It’ll take a while before the car is going, I have only just paid the deposit on the body. The guy I bought it from is neat, and typical of the great people involved in hot rodding. It’ll never be a showstopper, but I wouldn’t want a showstopper anyway. It’ll be a tough old nail, with average paint. I want to keep as much of the original car the old man bought back in ’77 as possible. Should make for a fun project.

Anyway, sorry, I didn’t mean to write a novel on my life story. Am looking forward to getting to know everyone on here. Looks like you have a great little community here. Would be good to hear from a few of the Kiwis on the HAMB, and post pics of your rides so I know how to spot you at the shows!

[Bassfire]

Gidday from Texas, and welcome to the HAMB!!

[Casey]

another gidday from texas , no worry`s mate ! got a great bud in aucklin . gota get over there one of these day`s ! the sheep here are ugly ? welcome aboard !!!!!!!!!! Casey.

[Steve 38]

Hey thanks for the welcome guys, its great to be here. hot rod artist, the best quality sheep are in the South Island, something to do with the fresh air, mountains, and wide open spaces.........or so I'm told.

[RUSTY50F1]

Welcome to the HAMB From RUSTY in Mustang OK.

[97]

Hi folks, my name is Steve Holmes, I live in the Wairarapa in New Zealand. I run a company called Monster Race Wear, which supplies custom apparel and merchandise for race teams, hot rod shops, car clubs, race clubs etc etc. Plus I do a bit of writing for various Kiwi and Australian car mags. This is my first hot rod. I’ve really only gotten interested in hot rodding in the last couple of years.

My car is a quasi-1938/39 Ford Coupe, but I call it a ‘38. My father bought a ’38 Ford V8 Deluxe four-door back in 1977 for NZ$700. It was complete and fairly original, but needed a heap of work. The body was pretty good, but someone had begun restoring it, and painted red and grey primer everywhere, so on top of the original faded green paint, it looked a bit ugly. It had a flathead V8, but it was a later model. The old man got it fired up pretty quick, and it sounded good (and loud!), as the exhaust had all fallen off.

Anyway, he ripped into it, pulled the engine, removed the guards, running boards, bonnet etc, then kinda lost interest. I was just a kid when he bought it, and it was like a part of the family. I spent a lot of time just hanging out in it. Anyway, it sat around for 30 years gathering dust. Then last year I told him I wanted it, and we did the deal. I wanted to make a traditional 40s/50s style hot rod from it, but I didn’t want to have a four door. At first I looked at getting it converted to a Tudor, but that was going to be too expensive. Then I started making enquiries about a ’39 Ford Coupe body in the South Island. Turns out the body was cut up to be mounted on a speedway stockcar back in the ‘60s, but it never quite made it that far. About ten years ago, it was bought by this guy in the South Island, who had it pieced back together, though it didn’t have a floor or rain guttering.

For me it was perfect. I wanted a ‘warts-n-all’ style car, and the fact the body was going to be used on a stockcar just adds to its fascinating story. It’ll take a while before the car is going, I have only just paid the deposit on the body. The guy I bought it from is neat, and typical of the great people involved in hot rodding. It’ll never be a showstopper, but I wouldn’t want a showstopper anyway. It’ll be a tough old nail, with average paint. I want to keep as much of the original car the old man bought back in ’77 as possible. Should make for a fun project.

Anyway, sorry, I didn’t mean to write a novel on my life story. Am looking forward to getting to know everyone on here. Looks like you have a great little community here. Would be good to hear from a few of the Kiwis on the HAMB, and post pics of your rides so I know how to spot you at the shows!


Bugger, I was watching that coupe too, (I guess you are talking about the black one at Rusty Acres!) .....good on ya , it will make a great rod.

Hey when/if you need it brought up from Nelson give me a PM, see what sort of trucking deal we can do.

[HotRodDaddy-O]

Nice intro.

Good luck with the build and welcome to the H.A.M.B.

baaaaaaaaa.....

Lance

[displaced_kiwi]

Welcome.
Thats a great story, try and post progress pics as you work on it. I was born and raised in Dunedin but now live in Kansas (I never dreamed of that as a kid). I'm also working on my first hotrod. All this South Island talk... I could really go for a speights right about now!
cheers
ricki

[Steve 38]

Hi Rusty and Lance thanks for the welcome.

Ricki, its always great to hear from Kiwis living abroad, I bet you're having a great time over there. What hot rod are you building?

97, yeah, its the same body. I'd been watching it for a while too, can't believe nobody bought it, its not like coupes are too common here. It needs a lot of work, but its the history of it that really appeals to me. Will make for a great conversation at hot rod events! Thanks for the offer on the freight, its much appreciated. But I have to go down to pick it up, because I'm taking my '38 Deluxe four door body with me as part of the deal. What sort of car have you got?

[Alfster]

Hey, good to see another Kiwi on here. There are quite a few of us that hang around here.

The car sounds like it will be a cool ride. Hope to catch up with you on the road sometime.

Alfster
Cambridge

[Steve 38]

Hey, good to see another Kiwi on here. There are quite a few of us that hang around here.

The car sounds like it will be a cool ride. Hope to catch up with you on the road sometime.

Alfster
Cambridge

Hey Alfster, thanks mate. How about posting up a pic of your car?

[Rckt98]

Welcome aboard.Alot of Kiwi's here but also alot of very knowlegable people worldwide. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

[Steve 38]

Welcome aboard.Alot of Kiwi's here but also alot of very knowlegable people worldwide. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Thanks for that Rckt. Yeah, I've been pretty amazed with the info and knowledge here. Each time I consider posting up a question, I do a search first, and usually find the answer!

[55olds88]

Good to see somone bought that body with plans, plenty of good folks down your way for help and insperation too.

Welcome aboard.

[rockabillybassman]

Welcome to the Hamb. I'm not too far from you (Napier). That's an old shot of my 55 Plymouth in my avatar.

[SimonSez]

Hi Steve. Looking forward to seeing the coupe's progress.

Here is an old post about re-doing the guttering on it to get you started :-)

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146469&&showall=1

[Steve 38]

55 and rockabilly, thanks for the welcome. Great to hear from you. rockabilly = Voodoo Kreepers? 55, the coupe body was to be used on a stockcar back in the '60s, so it only seems right its built into a traditional rod, and not a glitzy billet trailer queen don't you think? I plan to have a lot of fun with it. I'd love to see a pic of your Olds, those are really stunning looking cars.

Simon, thanks for the link. That is great and much appreciated. I've found a couple of companies in the US that produce both the guttering and the floors, so I'll have to post up a couple of threads to find out who is the best company to deal with.

[Firefly]

[quote=Steve 38]55 and rockabilly, thanks for the welcome. Great to hear from you. rockabilly = Voodoo Kreepers? quote]

Hi Steve

Welcome to the HAMB.

Rockabillybassman = Blacksnapper. Voodoo Kreepers = Ricky Wood, not sure if he is registered (me thinks he has been a long time lurker), but his good lady is on the HAMB as Emma Jane. :)

[Steve 38]

Hey, thanks for clearing that up Firefly.

[moon doggie]

welcome........... man there are alot of people on here from new zealand, now iknow what a kiwi is. its cool to hear you talking about the same car stashed some were, just when i think vintage tin is drying up here in the u.s. you hear just how difficult it is to find in other places. build on buddy and good luck

[Steve 38]

Thanks Moon, much appreciated. I guess old tin is the same everywhere. If you look hard enough, you'll find it. I just wish I had a time-machine. How great would it be to nip back to the '50s, pick up a few rarities for next to nothing, then stash them away for a few decades. That'd make life easier!