Chevy polishes up for festival

It's taken three years to transform "a big rust bucket" into a shiny machine.

Rob Bowring's 1956 Chevrolet stationwagon has only been back on the road six months, but it will be a feature of the Woodstock Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival indoor display at the Kumeu Showgrounds this weekend.

A mechanic with his own Kumeu automotive business, Rob and wife Sarah of Waimauku found the Chevy in California on eBay.

They got a Kiwi guy in the States to check it out, and he told them that despite the rust they had found "a pot of gold".

"A full rebuild was needed," Rob says.

He received help from Kumeu businesses and people. "Active Auto Electrical redid the electrics, the interior was done was Cut Loose Motor Trimmers and Huapai Car and Truck Painters changed the original dark red and white two-tone to sunset red and white Indian ivory."

Chuck's Restoration Supplies in Swanson provided hard-to-find spare parts.

Rob replaced the six-cylinder engine with a 454 cubic inch V8 from a Chev truck, the 72 litre motor turning out 440 horsepower.

Now it's complete and has an insurance value of around $90,000.

The number plate says it all – "I'm LTD – Living The Dream".

The Chevy isn't just brought out for shows though.

"It's used as the family car," says Rob, who has three young sons.

A Huapai Hot Rod Club member for about a year, Rob is among three club members with cars in the display shed.

A retro caravan towed by a trike, a Ferrari, last year's show winner a Lincoln Zephyr, and various flash hot rods and street machines take up about 25 indoor display slots.

Bonnet artwork will be auctioned to support CanTeen, the organisation supporting young people with cancer.

More than 45,000 people are expected at the event over Saturday and Sunday, the 18th annual show also drawing more than 1500 vehicles daily.

Along with a huge variety of vehicles from dragsters and off-roaders to American muscle cars, the show features a woodchopping show with a difference – hotsaw racing, axe throwing and chopping relays, bands, a Saturday night hop called Rockit2012, a swap meet, more than 100 trade stands and plenty of food and refreshment.

The festival is from 7am to 6pm Saturday and 8am to 5pm on Sunday.

Visit www.kumeuhotrodshow for more information on the event.

- © Fairfax NZ News