If you were to build your dream car, what would the key requirement be? For the owner of this XB coupe, handling, build quality, good looks and power all tied for first place. The result is one of the most impressive vehicles ever to appear in NZV8.

I know what all the fans of American cars are thinking after looking at the previous page. It’s something along the line of, “Why would you do that to a Falcon, why not an American car?” It is a valid question. It’s also one you may not like the answer to.

The owner of this XB coupe, who has asked not to be named, has had more cars than most of us could ever dream of. The majority of them have been Mopars, although there’s been a large number of Fords both American and Australian in there too, and a couple of Chevs just for good measure.

Ever since he was a kid growing up in suburban New Zealand seeing people drive XB Falcons when they were new, he’s wanted one. He knew that if and when he got one, it would be turned into the car of his wildest dreams and it would be the one car he’d never sell. (more…)



Some say a foot in each camp, some say a finger in both pies, either way The Rock’s half Ford, half Holden is a controversial machine.

Ring Ring. “Hello.”
“Hey Todd, it’s Robert and Jono from The Rock.”
“Hey guys,” I said, wondering what I had done to land myself on live radio that quiet afternoon.
“We want to build a Folden, and we hear you’re the man for the job of project managing the build.”
“A what?”
“Folden, half Ford, half Holden.”

And so it began. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t answered my phone that day. I know at the very least I’d be less stressed, have more time on my hands and would’ve got the magazine to print on time (sorry about that).

The Folden has been a great project to be involved with though, and hopefully by now most of you know what it’s all about. If not, here’s the brief version: (more…)

Paul Frazer’s genuine ’69 Mach 1 busts through the sound barrier and on to the NZV8 website.

The entire world will come to recognise this engine ” the 428 Cobra Jet ” at the pop of a hood.” Those were the words printed in Motortrend magazine in late 1968, among the coverage of Ford’s monstrous Mustang 428 Mach 1 debut. A big call for a journalist to make, but 40 years and on with the benefit of retrospect, what do we now make of that somewhat enthusiastic writer’s predictions?

Certainly not everyone knows what a Cobra Jet is, let alone what one looks like, but for those with even a passing interest in muscle, it is true to say that the 428CJ is one of the greatest and most recognisable engines of that era. Indeed, the vehicle that was wrapped around said motor is something that will more than likely forever be considered a little special too.

Paul Frazer, owner of Premium Restorations on Auckland’s North Shore, has always loved the Mach 1 Mustang. However, it wasn’t until three years ago, when the stars aligned and Paul had both the spare change and a suitable car in his sights, that he was able to finally own one.

“When I was first looking at the car, I had told my stepdaughter about it,” Paul remembers of the hunt and inevitable purchase. “She was pretty excited, telling me how cool it would be. Obviously that meant I had to have it. The day I bought it, I picked her up from school with some of her friends and I could hear the screams from 100 metres away over the sound of the car.” If ever there was a seal of approval for a vehicle, that surely must be it.

(more…)

The June issue of NZV8 has just hit the shelves, so grab a copy today.

In this month’s issue we have the half-Ford, half-Holden – Folden as our cover car and an article outlining the extensive work that went into creating this unique machine. Our other featured cars include an immaculate 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 and an awesome 1968 Dodge A100 Pick-Up ‘Little Red Wagon’ tribute vehicle. We check out a ‘zero to hero’ 1969 Chvevrolet Camaro and a race-spec Toyota Starlet powered by a Rover V8 engine. Our massive events section includes coverage from Americarna Invercargill, Matamata Panelworks tenth birthday open day and the Hot Rod Blowout for 2010. We head to the track and check out Round Five of the Century Yuasa Power Series and Round Six of the Central Muscle Car Series from Taupo. This special issue also comes with a couple of huge pull out posters for your garage wall, so don’t miss out.

All this plus the usual advice and technical information, readers’ rides and competitions to keep you up to date with all that’s happening on the NZ V8 scene. Pick up a copy now before they sell out!

Click here to subscribe to NZV8 magazine.

Each year Matamata Panelworks has an open day. Big deal, you may think. But in reality it is a big deal, and this years event was in celebration of Panelworks 10^th year in business, so was even bigger.

As well as around 50 odd customer cars on display, the whole street outside panelworks impressive facility was an ever-changing car show in itself. One of the cars that people were most interested in seeing this year was the Rock FM’s Folden. The Folden (half Ford, half Holden) was expertly joined together by the Panelworks team, and with NZV8 being project managers of the build, were more than happy to have it there on display. The car received varying opinions from the 1000+ strong crowd that viewed it over the day, most being very impressed with the vehicle.

As all proceeds from the open day go to the local Matamata Primary School, the place was swarming with children, most of who partook in a colouring in competition of which they coloured the Folden how they saw fit. Here’s hoping they aren’t too upset it’s not pink, as it was in many entries.

For more on the event and the Folden, check out the next issue of NZV8, on sale 12^th April. Till then check out images from the day by clicking the link below.

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Matamata Panelworks and Matamata Paintworks will once again be hosting their annual open day this Sunday March 22nd. They would like to invite valued customers and car enthusiasts to join their business to catch up and discuss new and up and coming ventures.

There will also be trade sites; Southern Mustang, Repco, BG Marketing Wheels, Fairview Motors, Classic Cover Insurance Ltd, PPG-Autolink will be showing a polish demonstration.  Fibrenew will be displaying a trade stand on panels for people to see what work that they can do.  The Beachhop organizers and their cars will be there to display a range of their merchandise that you can buy, hats, tops and also programmes to go in the draw for their giveaway cars.  These are only a few of the trade stands that will be attending.

The local Matamata Playcentre will be having a fundraiser providing a sausage sizzle and a coffee stand available to those that attend.  Donations will go to the Playcentre.

There will be spot prizes from Repco, so come along and enjoy the fun.

It’s set to be a great day out for a club run, all thats requierd is a gold coin donation on entry.

The open day will be held on Sunday March 22nd from 10AM onward at 23A Waihou Street, Matamata.

Clubs attending should RSVP to: Matamata Panelworks (07) 888 7831

Matamata Panelworks and Matamata Paintworks will once again be hosting their annual open day on March 22nd. They would like to invite valued customers and car enthusiasts to join their business to catch up and discuss new and up and coming ventures.

There will also be trade sites; Southern Mustang, Repco, BG Marketing Wheels, Fairview Motors, Classic Cover Insurance Ltd, PPG-Autolink will be showing a polish demonstration.  Fibrenew will be displaying a trade stand on panels for people to see what work that they can do.  The Beachhop organizers and their cars will be there to display a range of their merchandise that you can buy, hats, tops and also programmes to go in the draw for their giveaway cars.  These are only a few of the trade stands that will be attending.

The local Matamata Playcentre will be having a fundraiser providing a sausage sizzle and a coffee stand available to those that attend.  Donations will go to the Playcentre.

There will be spot prizes from Repco, so come along and enjoy the fun.

It’s set to be a great day out for a club run, all thats requierd is a gold coin donation on entry.

The open day will be held on March 22nd from 10AM onward at 23A Waihou Street, Matamata.

Clubs attending should RSVP to: Matamata Panelworks (07) 888 7831