Table of contents for No 231 January - February 2026 in NZV8

Here we go — another magazine fuelled by petrolhead passion makes its way out the door. At the same time, another year has come to an end, and if you’ve caught yourself saying “already?!”, you’re not the only one. From the team at NZV8 and me, we hope that you have a great Christmas; a great New Year’s; and, depending on where you live and when you pick this copy up, a great anniversary weekend. Here’s to 2026, and the possibilities it holds for us all. Who knows, maybe this year will be the year that you’ll find your perfect project car gem — hidden away in a shed, covered in hay and spider droppings, just begging to be fixed up and enjoyed? Or it could be the year where…

If you somehow hadn’t heard already, Kiwi Formula 1 (F1) driver Liam Lawson has secured his place on the grid for 2026, confirmed to stay with the Racing Bulls team alongside rising rookie Arvid Lindblad. After being demoted from the Red Bull main team after just two races, he gradually found his footing in the junior team throughout 2025. This year’s highlights for Liam included a fifth in Azerbaijan and a sixth in Austria, finishing in the points reasonably often elsewhere too. Team principal Alan Permane praised Lawson’s resilience and consistency, calling him “impressive” under pressure. Hopefully, Liam will be able to build further momentum in 2026.…

Glen Oldfield was just eight years old when Chev Novas became a staple in his life. His dad, Pat, purchased a 1965 Nova SS decked out in red, white, and blue, complete with American flags and eagles on the doors. You can imagine the impression that made on young Glen — but that was only the beginning. Pat had been crewing for Bobby and Wendy Owens and their well-known ’34 Ford, so the desire to own something quicker than the family’s ’35 Dodge soon proved too hard to resist. In the early ’90s, there was one man to call: the legendary Chris Tynan at Tynan Race Cars. Before long, the Nova was dropped at the Matamata-based workshop, where Chris set about back-halving it as a dedicated quarter-mile weapon. The new…

Autofest is an annual automotive festival delivered by Downtime Entertainment (Pare and Alan Togia), whose mission from day one has been to bring their passion for V8 muscle and import culture together in one place. Originating in 2016 at the Mystery Creek Events Centre, Autofest has never stopped evolving. In fact, no two Autofest events have ever been the same. With numerous venue changes over the years, the festival has continued to search for where it best fits within Aotearoa’s vast and fast-growing automotive events scene. AT AUTOFEST, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LOT HAPPENING FOR PETROLHEADS To say it was ‘struggling’ to find its place wouldn’t be a criticism; instead, it’s more a testament to the event’s ambition. Autofest has never been afraid to experiment, to try new formats,…

When we featured Warwick Garth’s‘Hannibal’ Camaro in Issue No.225, we mentioned how it had been moving into the low eight-second zone. Well, now the Procharged 598ci-powered machine has gone one better, dipping into the sevens running a best of 7.95 at 176.99mph at NAPA Autoparts Dragway’s first Comp Meet of the season. While there may have been much celebration from the team, sadly, that didn’t transition into season points, being edged out of the Super Sedan competition reasonably early in the day when Phil Hargreaves ran a hard-to-beat 9.29 on a 9.20 dial in against Garth’s 8.03 on a 7.95 dial in. NZ’S QUICKEST STREETERS…

With the dust finally settling after the first round of the Pro Burnout competition — the Chrome Horsepower Festival — all eyes turned to Autofest to find out which Kiwis would be joining the line-up for Summernats 38 in Australia. Held at a new venue, Baypark Speedway in Mount Maunganui, I thought I was well prepared with plenty of sunscreen and an extra-large sunhat. What I should’ve packed were gumboots and a rain jacket! In true New Zealand fashion, the weather had other ideas, and we were treated to a solid dose of rain throughout the weekend. Friday’s load-in provided a good chance to inspect the pad layout. The event was staged in the Baypark car park, giving organisers full flexibility with set-up. They’d opted for a decent-length chute, wide…

There’s a lot of important social and political context behind low riding culture, but here’s just a taster of what makes it tick. As the story goes, low rider culture started off in the US, post World War II, born from the Chicano communities of Southern California — especially in East Los Angeles. In the late ’40s and early ’50s, young Mexican Americans came home and began customising older Chevrolets, Buicks, and Cadillacs with only style in mind, rather than modifying cars to chase performance, like the rapidly growing hot rod movement. Instead, they started dropping them as low to the ground as they could, with ‘low and slow’ being one of the core mottos. It was a radically different way to enjoy a car, and it became an outlet…

KING SPRINGS King Springs are Australia’s leading manufacturer of high-performance automotive coil springs, trusted by workshops and enthusiasts alike. Engineered from premium X5K high-stress steel, they offer unmatched strength, reduced weight, and superior suspension response. Ideal for New Zealand’s demanding roads and off-road conditions, King Springs improve handling, ride height, and load capacity across a wide range of vehicles — from 4WDs and utes to performance and passenger cars. Easy to pair with KYB or OEM shocks, they’re a go-to solution for reliable, high-quality suspension upgrades that deliver proven performance and customer satisfaction. Kings Springs are available through Mount Shop REPLACEMENT HEI TYPE DISTRIBUTORS Available now at Rare Spares: DA1001 HOLDEN HR-WB, VB-VK, LC-UC 186 202 6CYL DA1002 HOLDEN HT-WB, VB-VK, LH-LX 253 308 V8 DA1003 COMMODORE VN – VP…

Australian motorsport icon Allan Moffat has died aged 86, surrounded by friends and loved ones, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Canada, Moffat moved to Australia when he was 17 and went on to become one of touring car racing’s greatest stars. He finished his career having been Australian Touring Car champion and Bathurst winner four times each, among many other impressive feats. His epic rivalry (and later friendship) with Peter Brock helped define a golden era of Ford v. Holden battles, while his off-track influence helped shape subsequent golden eras of the sport in the decades that followed. Allan Moffat leaves behind a legacy as one of the greatest — he was a true pioneer and unforgettable ambassador for the sport.…

What’s the best way for sellers to register their vehicles for the Sunday Drive Live Auction at Repco Beach Hop 26? The easiest way is to register directly through the Sunday Drive website. Sellers can submit their vehicle, upload photos, and outline key details in a few minutes. Once received, our auction team reviews every entry, reaches out personally, and walks vendors through the process, timing, and marketing options. For anyone wanting a more hands-on approach, they’re always welcome to call us directly — we’re happy to talk through suitability, reserves, and what will help get the best result at Repco Beach Hop. Compared to listing online, what are the main benefits that a live auction at Repco Beach Hop provides to sellers? A live auction at Repco Beach Hop…

If tomorrow you woke up, and were given two years to live, what would you do? It’s a question that many of us have never thought about, and with some luck, will never have to. But for Luke Miller, he had no other choice but to consider his options when he found out in April 2023 that he had stage-four bowel cancer. Since that terrible day, he’s chosen to shift his life’s priorities slightly, embarking on a racing journey that has brought him overwhelming support from the drag community. He’s been fighting like you wouldn’t believe since then, as he chases down a dream that he’s had since he was young. Just a few years ago, things were looking great for Luke. He was in his late 30s, newly married,…

In the last column, I talked about a special surprise for the next event. Well, as you may have seen, I had the privilege of debuting a throwback paint job on the Aussie Raider nitro Funny Car. It was 40 years ago that Graeme and Wendy Cowin debuted the Aussie Raider Nitro Funny Car in America, qualifying at the first event they ever attended and then, two years later, making the final of the World Finals in Pomona. At the time, being the first non-US car to ever make a professional final, it was a very iconic car for international drag racing. Being close to Graeme and Wendy, it was very cool to be able to help re-create this car and so many memories for them. From street kids, they…

THE OLD CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED WITHIN JUST A FEW MINUTES OF BEING FIRED UPS Something is in the air here at NZV8 magazine. It’s nothing illicit, we assure you, unless, for some strange reason, the government has illegalised the smell of 1980s Aussie nostalgia topped with E85. If you hadn’t guessed it, we’re of course talking about the Holden Commodore, specifically the VK — a model that has been featured in our pages more times than we can count on one hand this year. With that being said, it seems we Kiwis are fairly prone to catching the VK bug, and the same can be said for lifelong car fanatic Robert Gillam, whose fully built example graces the pages before you. Funnily enough, this car was only ever meant to be…

When Roger Kett purchased this 1967 Chevrolet C10, it looked tidy enough. He figured he’d drop it down to Henry’s Rod Shop just out of Tauranga to have a full stainless-steel exhaust system made, but when it went up on the hoist, they found some serious problems. Underneath, the chassis was notched above the diff so poorly that it was cracked, and the tray was packed up with blocks of wood to bring it back to level. The tray was essentially the only thing holding the chassis together, and this was enough of a red flag for the Henry’s Rod Shop team to inspect the vehicle more deeply. Once it was down off the hoist, they noticed the roof gutter was filled with bog — another classic sign of an…

SONIC RACE STREET BRUISER At Sonic Race & Machine Ltd, there’s a real head turner in the works. Bic Anderson is working on a supercharged 423ci small block Chev–equipped 1970 Chevelle, running a five-speed manual and twin-plate clutch. It’s going to be making power in the vicinity of 850hp, accomplished without going down the LS route. Based on this information alone, it sounds like it’s going to be an absolute animal in the best way possible. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be a little civilised — it’ll also be equipped with electric power steering, AC, a full leather interior, and even an electronic park brake, so the only hard part about long drives will be the fuel bill. Chris Burns, the owner commissioning this beast, isn’t the kind of guy…

Initially announced in 2023, the year that Ford is set to return to the Formula 1 (F1) paddock has arrived. Next year will see Ford become Red Bull’s engine supplier, over 20 years since the company’s last F1 involvement. Ford’s initial introduction to F1 resulted in immense success, with Cosworth helping Ford to develop the DFV V8, which became one of the sport’s most iconic engines, securing Ford a title win with Lotus, and netting it 155 wins from 262 races using the engine. Ford’s next title came in 1994 with Michael Schumacher and Benetton, so there’s definitely a proven track record behind the company as engine supplier. Things have changed drastically since those days, however, with rules currently requiring turbocharged 1.6-litre V6s. But this may be a great warm-up…

Your life changes when you have kids; everybody knows that. There are always plenty of ups and downs, but one of the greatest opportunities available to parents is the chance to share with them something that you’re passionate about. For Jamie Etridge, that was the ability to build a car for his son. And it looks like he’s done a bang-up job. The careful attention to detail, the refusal to cut corners, and the obsession with getting every last element perfect really shine through on this 1969 Ford Falcon XT. With the intention of handing over the keys to his son on his 21st birthday, this car would prove to be Jamie’s most in-depth build yet, as it was required to stand the test of time as a family heirloom.…

Mark Shotter might not be a household name just yet, but his Mk1 Cortina is quickly earning a reputation at NAPA Auto Parts Dragway and Masterton Motorplex. A regular in Super Sedan, the compact Ford has been turning heads with its no-nonsense stance and serious pace. Until recently, the largely homebuilt Cortina had run a best of 8.48, but Mark’s been busy in the off-season. The 5.3-litre iron-block LS now breathes through a pair of 64mm BorgWarner SX-R turbos, replacing the previous setup. Alongside that, he fitted Trickflow 220 heads, a BTR Stage 3 camshaft, Johnson hydraulic lifters, and 2500cc injectors. The results speak for themselves. On the dyno at NDT Developments, the Cortina laid down a massive 1046hp. Tuning revealed the exhaust was a bottleneck, so new dump pipes…

There are those like Dave Jamieson — ‘Cadillac Dave’ to you — who did it. Who lived the dream. And then there are those — like me — who didn’t, and have instead spent their whole lives wishing they had. Imagine it … being 22 years old, and living in Los Angeles in the carefree 1980s, when cool old American cars were everywhere, beer was cheap, girls were fast, and life was simple. I’ve got to know Cadillac Dave, now a youthful 60-year-old, pretty well since appointing him the custodian of ‘T-Rex’ for the next 20 or so years. He’s a low-profile guy, never looking for the limelight, but instead far more interested in hearing about others than he is talking about himself. He’s a thoroughly good dude to be…

This year, 2025, is a big deal for Old Skool Rydz (OSR) — marking 25 years since the club first came together. It started in Hamilton and Auckland, when a few of us started rolling low and representing that true low rider lifestyle, before many people in New Zealand even knew what it was about. Over these 25 years, the club has spread throughout the entire country (and to Australia), so come Labour weekend this year, Wellington was the spot to celebrate. The capital turned it on, and we made sure to do it right — with cruises, pub crawls, shed raids, hanging out with family, talking shit, and then the main function: bringing together over 160 people. Members, family, friends, and various clubs were all part of the journey.…

NATHAN BRYAN 1977 HOLDEN HZ STATESMANW What started as a simple dream of owning a Holden Statesman nearly turned into a disaster back in 2011 — all thanks to a $1 reserve auction and an enthusiastic wife with fast fingers. Nathan’s wife placed the bid on a sight-unseen Statesman sitting at the opposite end of the country … and won. When the car arrived, the body was rougher than expected, but luck swung their way: underneath it all was a solid-running 308, even if it came with an LPG conversion. A few years later, Nathan’s good mate Kerry Hackett, who was in panel and paint at the time, stepped in to save the day. The big HZ received a full makeover, covered bumper-tobumper in a deep dark-green pearl. With all…

WHERE IS IT NOW? TONY EWANS — 1973 DODGE CHALLENGER Few cars turn heads quite like a Sublime Green Dodge Challenger, and back in Issue No. 122 we featured Tony Ewans’ stunning 1973 example, powered by a 440 big block. Even then, the car stood out thanks to its high-end finish — but Tony didn’t stop there. Since that feature, the Challenger has undergone some notable upgrades. It now sports a fibreglass hood with a T/A scoop, complemented by Ringbrothers hinges. The bumpers have been tucked and smoothed for a cleaner, more aggressive look. But it’s the changes beneath the surface that have truly transformed the car. Tony has overhauled the suspension with Hotchkiss tubular A-arms, sway bars, leaf springs, and subframe connectors. The result? A dramatic improvement in ride…