Good news V8 fans, the October issue of NZV8 Magazine has just reached shop shelves so it’s time to get your next fix of all that’s happening on the kiwi V8 scene. The new issue is packed with loads of feature cars, news and event reports so get your copy before they are all gone.

In this month’s issue we have a hard hitting cover car in the form of a 1100HP pump gas Camaro streeter. This 1969-vintage bad boy comes packing a 580ci big block engine and a F3 Procharger to help it pull 9-second passes at the strip. We also have an immaculately finished Valiant VG Coupe with a worked 318ci small block engine and stunning interior detailing and exterior paintwork. Another looker is our ’56 Chevy 150 Handyman feature car, this rare machine is painted in tuxedo black and is perfectly restored as a daily cruiser. Our final feature car is a little bit different, a Ford Focus GT with a wild engine conversion to 347ci Windsor mill. With the big V8 fitted and the Focus converted to rear-wheel-drive this track spec hatch is set for fast times on NZ circuits. Our event report see us travel to the Meguiar’s Motorex 2011 in Aussie and go to the annual Palmy Swap Meet, there are plenty of photos from both. Special features this month include an epic Streetcar Shootout where we take a close look at NZ’s quickest street cars. We also get greasy with FPV’s new Miami engine and see where, and how much power can be added to this high-tech V8 unit.

All this plus the usual advice, readers’ rides, shed visit and news to keep you up to date with all that’s happening on the NZ V8 scene. This is a cracker issue so make sure you pick up a copy now before they sell out!

“We’re 99% sure it’s Tuxedo Black… and it’s not what your usual ‘Handyman’ looks like. He’s a little dressed up… lookin’ a little flash, like he’s wearing his best outfit… his tuxedo,” says Andrea Dyer of her and husband Kevin’s 1956 Chev Handyman.

Being a two-door wagon and the 150 spec makes TUXEDO a rare sight on these shores; and being a Chev rather than a Ford makes it a rare sight in the Dyer’s Hamilton garage. The story of how this match made in heaven came to be is a good one, and although the car was originally imported to be sold on, it’s not going to be leaving the family any time soon.

While Andrea grew up in a car-loving family, it wasn’t till ‘the inlaws’ (Gary and Elaine Pulley) came to stay for a week or two in 2003 that Kevin soon caught the bug.

Gary was importing a Mustang and while waiting for it to arrive must have put the idea of doing something similar into Kevin’s head, as it wasn’t long before he was convincing Andrea that the boat they hardly used could be turned into a smaller boat and a Mustang also. Soon after this a 1969 Muzy was purchased from Christchurch, which arrived just before Gary’s ’65 notchback landed from the States. (more…)

People build and own V8s for various reasons. Some like the challenge of an intense, full-time build. Some like to tinker away in the garage on a 10-year-long project in an effort to hide from the missus. Others, like Southlander John Abbott, don’t mind skipping that part out altogether. As the owner of Charlton Auto Imports, John has been importing cars and car parts from the States for quite a while now. His main trade involves on-selling those goods to waiting New Zealanders, but occasionally he stumbles across something special, something that tickles his fancy just enough that he has to keep it for himself. This 1957 Chevrolet 150 coupe, in brilliant yellow, is one of those. Classic, American Graffiti rod looks, a five-speed manual and a whole lot of supercharged small block Chevy power at a fair price — that was just too good to pass up.

Running a 427 cubic-inch Chev Motown block sitting inside a smoothed and de-loomed engine bay, the big Chevy coupe snarls up an angry 650hp at the crank, which is more than enough to get the old girl moving. Internally, the motor runs a Scatt crank, pumping tough H-beam rods and forged pistons. Up above, Edelbrock has supplied a pair of high-flowing Victor JNR heads and thirsty twin carbs, which have a healthy dose of air sucked through them thanks to a whining 6/71 supercharger. A big Holley pump matches the large amounts of force-fed air with the right amount of fuel before an MSD 6 ignition system ignites the mix. Finally, a set of free-flowing Doug headers feed waste gases out into a simple exhaust system travelling out to the rear of the car. (more…)