Very special Kiwi-built hot rod comes to CRC Speedshow

2012 CRC Speedshow
21-22 July 2012
ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland

13 July 2012

Very special Kiwi-built hot rod comes to CRC Speedshow

A hot rod called ‘Speed 33’ took 4,000 hours to build in a Tauranga workshop before winning some of the most prestigious custom automotive awards in the US. Now there’s a one-off chance for Kiwi car fans to see the stunning cabriolet at next weekend’s CRC Speedshow in Auckland.

The Ford Speed 33 cabriolet is sure to garner plenty of attention as it graces the display of its award-winning builder, Rods by Reid, from Tauranga.

The Rods by Reid exhibit complements the New Zealand Hot Rod Association 50th anniversary hot rod show which is incorporated into this year’s CRC Speedshow taking place at the ASB Showgrounds over the weekend of 21 and 22 July.

Owned by expat Kiwi and long-time hot rod enthusiast Steve Payne, based in the Philippines, the '33 Ford cabriolet is back in New Zealand for a short time before being shipped to Payne after its award-winning trip to the US.

Builder John (‘JR’) Reid says they shipped the car to the US in August last year to make its debut at the Goodguys West Coast National hot rod show in California.

“It was very exciting to have the Rods by Reid-built ’33 cabriolet selected as a top five finalist in the award for America’s most beautiful street rod. There were over 3,500 cars entered and as far as we know, it’s the only non-US car to receive any major award at any of the Goodguys events,” says Reid.

“Steve and I then were invited to enter the car in the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) which ran in January this year. This is quite an honour to be personally invited by the show’s owner John Buck, as he may invite only three or four car owners a year. At the GNRS, the Speed 33 won its class – the biggest and toughest of all the classes – giving it the awards for best altered street roadster and the most outstanding engine in a hot rod. In hot rodding terms, this is like receiving two gold medals!”

The Speed 33 was built in Tauranga with over 4,000 hours labour in fabrication, engineering and steel body alterations alone. Its immaculate butter yellow leather upholstery is the work of an Auckland firm. It has a specially styled full steel body on a Rods by Reid chassis and independent suspension with particular attention paid to detail for looks and performance with hundreds of parts hand-made. An 8.6-litre all-alloy Keith Black Hemi engine provides the power.

CRC Speedshow organiser Keith Sharp says he’s honoured that Payne and Reid were able to make the car available for this year’s show.

“It’s always a pleasure to have the chance to see this calibre of vehicle, especially as a talented group of Kiwis have gone and taken on the Americans at their own game.

“This year’s show has an amazing line-up of cars, bikes, classics and the latest models, top class motorsport equipment and all kinds of auto-related accessories and merchandise. So the Speed 33 fits right in – it’s cool, it’s fast and it’s among the world’s best.”

The sixth annual edition of the show dubbed ‘the greatest show on wheels’ takes place at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland on 21 and 22 July. Tickets are available at the gate and the latest show news is updated on the website, www.speedshow.co.nz, on a regular basis, or follow the show on Facebook and Twitter.

ENDS

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