Many of you have probably seen this incredible car before on the pages of Speedhunters, where the team documented some of the build and shared top-notch desktops of the finished product. Recently, Build-Threads reader Geoff emailed me a link to a full gallery of the build hosted on the workshops own website, so I thought there was enough visual treats to share with you guys, even if some of you are already familiar with the car.
Category: Build Threads
LS3 NC MX5
In the past I’ve seen plenty of pictures of NA MX5’s with their windscreens chopped off, hurling around a race track with a minimal amount of metal left on the car in the interests of faster lap times. But I have to say, this would be the first time I’ve seen the same treatment being given to a newer, NC model MX5. Not only has it been put on a healthy weight loss program, it also now has an LS3 V8 sitting in front of the lucky driver, new custom front and rear subframes, plus a whole lot of other stuff you should definitely check out below.
Thanks to Jon for submitting.
Picnic at Hanging Rock 2012
The annual Picnic at Hanging Rock car show was held today at Mt Macedon, and as usual there was more cars and bikes in attendance than anyone could ever need in one place, it’s definitely the largest automotive event in our State, year after year. Our day started with a 5:30am wake-up, so I’m too tired to write any more, so feel free to browse a few pics that I took, click for larger versions.
VW Type 3 Wagon
If I ever have the opportunity (and I hope I do) to travel down the air cooled VW path, my weapon of choice would definitely be a Type 3 wagon. I just love the shape, ever since I first saw one back in highschool with deep black paintwork and brightly contrasting chrome, I’ll never forget it. But enough reminiscing, there’s an interesting story about the wagon in this feature. From what I can gather, apparently it started it’s life as an Australian Delivered model which was imported at some point during it’s lifespan over to the United Kingdom. The story picks up in the present day with the wagon being restored with the utmost detail to show-standards, before being sold to a lucky buyer back in, you guessed it, Australia.
Thanks to Chris for submitting.
Upstairs Audi Quattro
When you start off your build thread with a picture of a stonking great big turbo, you’re sure to grab peoples attention. The sizable huffer in question belongs to an Audi Quattro that started it’s life as a long-wheelbase model before being stripped to a bare shell, shortened, and built back up into a full-house race car. What’s with the title of the post? Well this project started out on the second floor of a garage, using a large trap door to raise/lower the car, hit the pics below to see for yourself.
Thanks to King for submitting.
Volvo 480 RWD
Fredrik, from the build-thread-rich forum known as Zatzy, emailed me his project late last year. A Volvo 480 is a car I’ve never seen or heard of before, but after learning that this specific car was converted from FWD to RWD with a B234 engine and BMW ZF gearbox, I was more than interested.
For more RWD conversion builds, click here.
Project 510 goes offline!
I arrived home from vacation yesterday (apologies for the lack of posts) to find a nice surprise waiting for me. Late last year I was contacted by Fast Fours magazine in the form of a feature offer, which I excitedly agreed to, and the finished product is now in my hands…
Model A Coupe
We haven’t had a good ol’ hot rod on the site for a little while, so here’s one that’s been patiently waiting in my archives. A classic looking Model A, low to the ground, in a gorgeous combination of blue and gold, stunning in it’s simplicity. Notice the distinct lack of rust, skulls, or goofy body proportions. This is my kind of rod.
Thanks to Chris for submitting.
Area 52
To follow on from the last post about his MX5, I thought it was only fitting to continue with another creation from the hands of Bruce. But this time it’s not a car, it’s a place where car guys come together and work on their projects as a community, forging bonds that are thicker than oil and stronger than steel. I present to you, Area 52.
This garage feature differs slightly from the others, as it doesn’t involve the actual build of the garage itself, but the automotive activities that happen within the walls and the new toys (hoist, anyone?) and tools that slowly trickle in. The site was transformed from your run-of-the-mill factory space to a character-filled hideaway where friends spend days and nights wrenching on their cars, helping each other out, and learning new skills. The monthly “play weekends” have an open door policy and go from Friday afternoon all the way until Sunday, with members traveling from all over Europe to be a part of the action. All of this is solely funded by Bruce for his love of cars and the community that comes with it.
The world would be a better place if there was an Area 52 in every town.
Teenage Dirtbag – NA MX5
If there’s a person who embodies the spirit/mantra/black magic of Build Threads and the people who get it post tag, it’s definitely Bruce aka Mystery Machine from the Retro Rides forum. He’s someone who lives and breathes cars while also enjoying the challenge of taking cracking photos whilst wrenching, and documenting his actions as clearly as possible with an intent to educate and entertain his audience (not as easy as some may think). Having owned and modified more cool cars than I’ve had hot dinners, his MX5 project was the first that caught my attention, a thread that I happily read numerous times for my own enjoyment (a rare treat these days, as my usual priority is to find stuff that everyone else will enjoy). I hope you all take as much pleasure in reading as I have, and I look forward to keeping an eye on – and later sharing with you – his new project, already firmly planted in my bookmarks.