NERVOUS SURGEONS

Nick had purchased a 1968 RS Camaro and had regretted it from the moment he handed over the cash! Nick used the car everyday for work and his frustration with the car grew until a few months later when Nick was discussing his dissatisfaction with the car with Chris. Chris was bemused by Nick's rantings as he said he would love to own the RS at which Nick said he would love to own Chris's Model A, you know what is coming next, that's right a swap. Both of them agreed the cars were of the same value so a straight swap took place and everyone was happy!

OBW 47 was not Just Jim's first Rodded Pop far from it, however it is considered by him to be his best example of this classic base for English Rods. The Pop ran on a Viva front, Westminster Back axle and was motivated by unusually a Vitesse engine, which sound really throaty! If you look closely you will see that this 70's period shot has a period accessory, a Ford Anglia as a parking partner. The Pop was just one of many that Jim had, he even got round to building a coupe from one. Photo's of that one to follow! This Pop was Sold on to finance another project and last seen by Jim languishing in a field near Chinner. Anybody else recognise it or have you saved it from the field?

Following the swap Slingshot set about stamping his mark on the Camaro by making some changes to it's appearance, the most noticeable of these was the addition of American Racing Wheels and the less noticeable was the NOS bumpers front and rear. In Chris's hands the "RS" KOE 500W had never looked so good and in that I am including the day it rolled off the production line because they didn't fit ARE wheels at the factory! The RS was sold on as Chris had other plans which included an X Harris MK 1 Zephyr and like so many other cars the RS has disapeared, unless of course you know any different?

56 UTE was imported from Queensland Australia, not by Dave, but purchased by him when it arrived on these cold shores. Dave had owned various other Ford built cars, before taking owenrship of the ute , and he had for many years appeared to ignore V8 power, this despite most of the Custom Car scene at that time, embracing V8's, especially the good old Rover. Perhaps the influence of the Harris family, finally stirred something within Dave, but he finally decided that V8 power was not sacrilige and now he had in his possession a car just right for the swap, the ute.

One of the first photographs of the ute when Dave took ownership, resplendent in Woolworths Blue the car really stood out, but was under powered. Ford came to the rescue by supplying a 302 and C4 box, and whilst Dave set about installing these he aslo set about changing the colour and putting wider steel wheels on her.

With the ute now in paint it wasn't long before Dave ditched the steels in favour of a set of Centerlines, and began to enjoy the roar that only a V8 can supply.

The ute was featured in Street Machine but eventually made way for new projects. The new owner has changed the wheels to American Racing Salt flats and the car continues to see regular action at the Pod.

63 RNM - Nick's 55 now seriously slammed onto the ground and so changed from when we last saw it. The entire rear floor from behind the Drivers seat has been removed a replaced with fresh steel panels from C.A.R.S. The car has been tubbed with steel tubs from Competition Engineering, A roll cage by Hauser Race Cars has been installed and the rear end is a mandrel bent chassis again from Hauser's workshop with a narrowed Ford 9" hung on Coil overs and attached via a Hauser 4 bar and diagonal link. The 55 was now rolling on American racing Mags 5x15 & 10x15 respectively and with a Chevy Small Block of the 350 variety with a warmed over Turbo 350 backing it up. Snake was also running the Model A at this time but sold the 55 on as near complete project with various minor jobs to complete including the installation of a new Ron francis Wireworks Kit following a small fire which destoyed the main harness! Despite the 10 years of ownership and the bills for all the work the credit for building the car has been claimed by another, strange world isn't it!

Just like so many of us, Mike spent many years lusting after having a rod, and his personal taste dictated it had to be the back bone of Rodding in this country, a Ford Pop.

Mike originally found the Pop 15 years ago, and at that time it resided in the Middlesex area, Hayes if you want strict accuracy, the Pop was running a 2000E gearbox which was forced into action by a 1600 crossflow. This combination wasn't going to set the world alight, but it did return fairly decent MPG figures, on most occassiosn reaching 40.

In its original guise, with all Ford running gear, note the serious top slice on the Pop behind!

Mikes Pop at the jet wash in Aylesbury, sporting the now oh so retro slot mags and if I am not mistaken there appears to be a low slung Cherry Bomb poking out from under the car!

After a few short years the "need for speed" was to rear its head and the search for V8 power would be on.

Now this is really going back in time, as we see a line up of Pops belonging to the Sunny Valley Roadsters. The SVR ran out of Aylesbury and we are not exactly sure what year this is but it is circa 1980. The picture of the Pop parade was actually taken just before they all set off to Cruise Chelsea! (ah those were the days) The line up from left to right is: John Flemming - Just Jim - Neil Barren - Chris Meek. Chris Meek went onto build the V12 motivated High Ridin PA Cresta and Jim set off on his long road of rod ownership. We not only wonder where the cars are now but what happened to all that fresh faced youth?

Jim's 35 pickup SSU 408 nearing completion the pickup was all steel and motivated by a warmed over 302 Ford driving through a C4 to a narrowed 8" axle. The front end was held off the ground via a tube front end with Granada discs gratfed on each end. Inside the cab was a bench seat from a Morris Oxford, gauges were by Classic, Shifter and handbrake by Gennie. The truck ran on red steel wheels, whitewall tyres and baby moon hubcaps. The truck even had a functioning front screen wind out mechanisum for old style air con! The truck was nearly purchased by Snake the Gasser but he came up short on the readies, eventually Jim sold it to finance his ultimate mode of transport a STEEL 1932 traditional roadster. This can be seen on "Our Cars" page.

After swaping cars with "Slingshot" Nick set about adding his own touches and one of the first tasks he did was to rub the car back and spray it Matt Black. The main motivating force behind this was that the car had always warn it's gel coat but over the years this had begun to turn motely and Nick tired of explaining that it in fact was not a paint finish, although he did explain to a few that it was achieved by Rag rolling the car when the paint was still drying! Nick installed a new Vega steering box after the VW Bus box he installed turned the wheels left when he turned the steering wheel right!! He also updated the steering column and junked the old Triumph Dolomite steering in favour of an Ididit Column courtesy of John Reid. The Model A was used as Snakes everyday transport and when he retuned form work his daughters used to run out to intercept him so they could ride down the road stood on the running boards!Who said Rods aren't practical. His daughters were also fascinated when then went out in the A as it shook so much their voices sounded like Daleks when they spoke! The interior was also retrimmed by Snake and then it was time to move onto new projects and the Model A was sold and was recently reported to have been into FH Ellis for some remedial work!