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NZ Trip....Scrounger Mike ( awesome fab' pics)

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Kiwi Kev, May 11, 2008.

  1. Here are some more pics from my recent trip to New Zealand. Mike Roberts is one of the 7 members of the Scoungers car club and lives in a town called Papakura, a suburb about 20 minutes south of Auckland city. Mike is a fabricator as good as anyone in the world and that's no exaggeration. Mike is as nice a guy as you could ever hope to meet and is always happy to help people and show them how things are done. He built a very cool 31 sedan for his wonderful wife Dyan and she has logged thousands of miles in it including many in terrible weather and some dragstrip milage too! They live in a complex of workshops that have living quarters. Their neighbor on one side is a hot rodder and a drag racer lives on the other side. Anyway I thought you guys would enjoy these pics........


    That's Mike on the right, he has just shown me how he sectioned that Mustang door down the middle and there is no sign of a weld.

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    Here is Mike in his shop, The Buick is his current personal project. Check out how low it is compared to his 59 Chevy. The only original parts are the fenders and hood, both heavily modified. The rest of the car is being hand built by Mike.

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    Floor detail....

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  2. Chris Casny
    Joined: Mar 13, 2006
    Posts: 4,874

    Chris Casny
    Member

    I think we should all remember the name, "Mike Roberts", this guy rocks.
     
  3. Here is a scaled down Cobra body he made for aluminum.......

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  4. Mike doesn't just build things from aluminum. Check out this rear end housing for a front engine dragster that will run a blown flathead on nitro. It takes a Strange Engineering 9" third member with Chevy 12 bolt ring and pinion. It is designed to give the driver maximum room.

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    Here is the pattern.....
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  5. Cshabang
    Joined: Mar 30, 2004
    Posts: 2,458

    Cshabang
    Member

    wow man....MORE!!!!!! I got work to do...I just got another hero in the fab game....
     
  6. Dyan's sedan runs a 348 Chevy and Mike is getting ready to put a 4.71 blower on it. Here is the blower manifold he is building......

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    And for the top of the blower he has made a wooden pattern and cast his own 2 carb top plate.....
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  7. Here are a few shots of Dyan's sedan. Awesome details and build quality.......

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    Nice tunnel!..........
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    Nice firewall....

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    Nice scoop.....
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  8. squigy
    Joined: Nov 30, 2003
    Posts: 3,915

    squigy
    Member
    from SO.FLO.

  9. Cshabang
    Joined: Mar 30, 2004
    Posts: 2,458

    Cshabang
    Member

    Wow!!!


    pretty much the only thing that came to mind haha
     
  10. Mike works for Terry's Chassis shop. There they build drag cars and street machines. Here are a few pics from the shop........

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    This Mustang is a state of the art custom. It has been wedge sectioned and chopped.

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    Interesting bead roller is hydraulic powered....

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  11. Before the sedan was built Mike ran the 348 in this T bucket.

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    When some friends decided to have a slot car drag race Mike whipped up this dragster.....

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    Here is his speedway bike project...just for fun.

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  12. How would you like to come home and find your neighbor firing up his dragster, I know I would!

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  13. Cshabang
    Joined: Mar 30, 2004
    Posts: 2,458

    Cshabang
    Member

    thanks Kev...There is some insame talent out there..I can only hope to be somewhat at that level...but damn am I gonna try...
     
  14. LabRat
    Joined: Jan 10, 2008
    Posts: 1,551

    LabRat
    Member

    [​IMG]


    This is one of my favourite cars ! and thanks for the further insight of your travels and friends Kev ....
     
  15. That dude has some skills...
     
  16. hemi coupe
    Joined: Dec 25, 2001
    Posts: 1,162

    hemi coupe
    Member
    from so-cal

    Mike is a bad ass. It was a pleasure to meet him, when he stopped by my shop a few months ago!!
    Jimmy White
     
  17. That metal working is just insane. Please tell me you have more photos from his shop.
     
  18. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Amazing craftsmanship! The lines of that Buick remind me of Cadzilla.

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  19. Littleman
    Joined: Aug 25, 2004
    Posts: 2,617

    Littleman
    Alliance Member
    from OHIO, USA

    Thanks for the pics !!!.......Awsome stuff........Littleman
     
  20. Great pix !!

    Thx for sharing

    Rat
     
  21. Words cannot describe Mike but I will try.
    Brilliant personality and his craftsmanship leaves you speechless
     
  22. Mooseman
    Joined: Apr 4, 2007
    Posts: 310

    Mooseman
    Member

    wow I am going to have to meet this guy oneday!
     
  23. tfeverfred....Yes, Mike's Buick was influenced by Cadzilla.

    Hot Rod Ron.... Wish I had more pics of Mikes work. Imagine what he's produced over the last..say...5 years. We'll get to see plenty in the future!
     
  24. bardahl1
    Joined: Oct 16, 2005
    Posts: 353

    bardahl1
    Member

    I believe that Mike is planning on being in the states Aug/Sept. He plans on being at Bonneville, Primer Nats, maybe the reunion, etc.

    Great person (Dyan too!), unbelievable talent, very unpretentious and friendly. If you do see him out and about speak loudly as he has poor hearing.
     
  25. shoprat
    Joined: Dec 23, 2006
    Posts: 1,109

    shoprat
    Member Emeritus
    from Orange, CA

    Nice too see that kind of talent and quality of work being done. I guess
    the fire dept over there doesn't bother them for living in their shops like here.
     
  26. pan-dragger
    Joined: Sep 13, 2006
    Posts: 3,186

    pan-dragger
    Member

  27. Chris Casny
    Joined: Mar 13, 2006
    Posts: 4,874

    Chris Casny
    Member

    Plenty of us live in shops here too.:D
     
  28. 55olds88
    Joined: Jul 23, 2001
    Posts: 2,386

    55olds88
    Member

    Cool Pics Kev, Mike is a true craftsman, needs to get back to work on the Buick I guess with winter here there will be more progress, he went from nothing to pretty much where he is now in a pretty short time (between my visits) I was blown away with the speed and skill.
    Did you visit Mike the neighbours place ? now that guy knows how to live in a workshop.....
     
  29. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,579

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    I am bowing down at this moment.
     

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