NERVOUS SURGEONS

Unusually Big Jon and Nervous Nick share their passion for modified cars as siblings often go in different directions with Hobbies and sports. This photo from 1985 shows Big Jon's 57 and Nick's 55 following heavy snow, these boys were not afraid to use their Classic Chevies in all weathers.

The 57 was eventually moved on to make way for a 41 Willys and sold onto an Arthur Daley type who thought the car was worth a small fortune and surprisingly didn't have much response when he put it on his forecourt for a 5 figure sum! During this period Nick made as much mileage from the fact that Big Jon had a 4 door by regularly shouting "TAXI". This has returned to haunt him as he now runs an Austin Devon and Jonny has a long memory! TAXI anyone?

Big Bad Jon's Taxi Service

The 57 just out of the paint shop

If you ever need confirmation of how far some of us travelled then this is it! Firstly, thanks to Jim for being brave enough to let me post this on the website, it's his first Rod a Ford Pop reg UTG 690 and this image is from the early 70's once again with the obligratory Ford Anglia as it's stable mate.

Jim actually purchased the Pop with most of this work done and it was the first Hot Rod in Aylesbury! Look closely and you can see it had Quad headlights, a vinyl roof and yes those are Ford Transit rear light clusters. The engine kept it Ford as well with a 1500 Xflow providing the motivation. With Jim now building a Steel 32 he can easily measure how far his rodding has come.

Just Jims handy work on yet another Ford Pop it seems that so many Pops were pasing through Jims hands that to keep things interesting for himself he set about Couping one. This ultra rare shot shows the Pop part way through the conversion which did get finished, the rear of the car utilised the boot lid from a Jaguar with the rest of the bodywork hand crafted to marry upto the Jag lid. Hours of work went into the project and the bodywork was finished when the car was sold on. Current whereabouts unknown!

Oh the shame, what were they thinking? Nick & Jon's first modified vehicle brings back memories of an exceedingly good Editorial that once appeared in Hot Car which tried to inspire readers not to modify the car they currently owned but instead to purchase the vehicle they really desired and modify that. If only Nick & Jon had learnt to read by then! Instead this hand me down van from their parents became their first road going mode of transport. The boys added Bedford CF arches to accomodate the N50 Kelly Superchargers that were wrapped around distinctly illegal banded steel wheels. The side windows were (wait for it) mirror filmed and the whole van sprayed black and even had a really tacky mural on the side proclaiming "Generals Motor".

The battle bus was used as the "South Beds Cruisers" mini bus and at one time slept 8 when at the Pod for Garys Picnic. The boys even got to run it through the traps at the Pod with Nick praying his brother did not stall it on the line as the van had no starter motor instead you had to turn it over by hand via a starting handle! Jon did not stall it and they ran an appalling 45 second Quarter as fast and as boring as Tot rod racing! However the bug had bitten and the brothers hope that over the intervening years that they have made ammends!

834 DYV as can be seen was a convertible which Dave restored and added not only a set of American racing mags, but also installed a MK3 engine with tripple carbs. The car looks very straight and it was, but it would sure sound nicer with a V8.