Kiwi Kev's backyard Hot Rod Shop.

Kiwi Kev · May 17, 2010

I spend alot more time on the H.A.M.B. than the Garage Journal but I thought I would get in on the action and post some pics of my garage here. I worked full time out of this garage doing fabrication for local hot rodders and drag racers for 12 years but that was about 8 years ago. I still do a little side work for others but now it is mostly for my own projects. I am a big fan of old style hot rods and drag cars. I also love old speed equipment and I am a bit of a pack rat. Although it looks big in pictures it is just a regular 2 car garage with an enclosed carport on one side. It is deeper than most because there is a granny flat added on the back and I have knocked the wall out, that is why there is a bathroom out there. My garage is always changing, some of these pics are from a few years ago.......

TONE · May 17, 2010

This thread is gonna be HUGE!!!!

Great space, thanks for sharing

35mastr · May 17, 2010

Kevin the shop looks great. Nice to see you come on over here. How is the 34 chop coming along? Is it all done yet?

Kiwi Kev · May 17, 2010

I do a lot of work outside in my back yard. The climate in Ventura is the best!Greg has taken his coupe home and finished the metal work on the chop.....

Wingnut65 · May 17, 2010

Awesome Garage! This really shows your years of work to get it just right. Cool collections of toys, large and small. And the reading rack in the throne room is the best I've seen here. Congrats! Thanks for posting for us to dream some more.

jeff

Kiwi Kev · May 17, 2010

I have a little make believe gas station on the back of my house, here is an of old pic of it.......

StingRay · May 17, 2010

WOW. You're supposed to have to die BEFORE you get to go to heaven.

eborcim · May 17, 2010

That is a sweet shop...how do you keep all that stuff from walking?

Kiwi Kev · May 17, 2010

eborcim.....Alarms, locks, guns, dogs, cats, booby traps, faith and crossed fingers. Plus there is always someone home.

aar0s · May 17, 2010

this is the bestest back yard i have ever seen! love the magazine rack next to the shiter.

Nighttrain · May 17, 2010

Very nice and thanks for sharing. Nice collection of old speed gear. Looking forward to seeing many more pictures.

NASMAN · May 17, 2010

Fabulous
Was in Ventura a few years back when we took a trip around the country , wish we had ran into you.
Fabulous

Falcon67 · May 17, 2010

I can tell somebody's having a good time in the shop. Must be a lot of "right place/right time" for some of those signs, especially the Blairs Speed Shop monster.

Kiwi Kev · May 17, 2010

Yes, I didn't even know what was on that when I bought it, it was 3 sheets of pretty beat up plywood that were behind Blairs but I knew there was something on there so I made an offer. It was on the fence at a race track but I don't know where. It's 24'x4" so it's hard to find a spot for. I also got this N.O.S.Blairs/Kendall sign form an upstairs backroom at Blairs. It was leaning on a wall, covered with dust and had never been hung up. I like speed shop stuff so I was happy to score my Service Center sign also....

Heathens · May 17, 2010

Very, very freaking cool shop.

SILVERPLATE · May 17, 2010

Out of this world cool! Would love to visit some day! Mike

chopper1 · May 17, 2010

Looks like the Holy Grail of vintage speed equipment is in Ventura :thumbup:

Great place.

colt zantop · May 17, 2010

wow....Im speechless....thats the coolest garage on here!!!

Kevin54 · May 17, 2010

Holy ****!!!! :eyecrazy:

Every picture posted would make a great piece of artwork! Fantastic looking place. That place looks straight out of the history of hotrodding. Thanks for posting. And as Tone stated, this thread will be huge. :bowdown:

RIVERWEST AUTO · May 17, 2010

whoh, that rules.

Boyd · May 17, 2010

1. That first pic is now my wallpaper.
2. Your garage/backyard is what I imagine Heaven looks like.

Thanks for posting. Very, very, very awesome!

Krusty · May 17, 2010

Every now and then I think about how many Moon pedals, or M/T mags, or other hotrod parts went to the junkyard still bolted on to some failed dream. It's nice to see that you saved some of them. Awesome.

Krusty

aar0s · May 17, 2010

I just noticed the yellow California plate, isnt that the same number as Harrison Ford's car in American Graffiti? Where'd ya find that?
never mind, just noticed all the other AG stuff in the case there.

Kiwi Kev · May 17, 2010

The THX 138 plate is a souvenir plate you can get at swap meets etc. It's from Milners Deuce coupe.

kizer · May 17, 2010

I'm only going to say one thing.

:bowdown:

NJHandyGuy · May 17, 2010

my god sir if that were myt bathroom i'ld never leave that is AWESOME

TRWTOW · May 17, 2010

wow thats great thanks for posting

WhatThaFrig · May 17, 2010

In the words of Wayne and Garth----"We're not worthy! We're not worthy!"

evintho · May 17, 2010

The ultimate in bathroom reading material! Mine's not quite as well stocked but isn't this the standard for all California bathrooms? Dig the dual rolls of wipes for those coveted extended sessions.

Dan in Pasadena · May 17, 2010

Boyd said:
1. That first pic is now my wallpaper.
2. Your garage/backyard is what I imagine Heaven looks like.

Thanks for posting. Very, very, very awesome!

DITTO!

I live just around the corner from Blair's Speed Shop in Pasadena. I pass it almost every day and it doesn't hold a candle to your shop and yard. Heresy? Probably, but I LOVE your shop. It reminds me of Nimrod's shop if he were in business. I assume you've seen his? No? Well, here it is in these two threads:

1. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3740
1. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5322 -

Simply outstanding. A car guys Heaven on Earth. NOT an exaggeration at all for me. Add a little food and I'd never need to leave. Huge congrats, Dan

Kiwi Kev · May 17, 2010

Here are a couple more pics from the bathroom/library. I sure do like Nimrod's place! Some guys on this board have one thing I am lacking and that is space. I guess I have enough for my one man operation but more would be nice. Luckily I have a mini junk yard in the corner of my yard to put the unsightly stuff that follows me home.

raging bull · May 17, 2010

I have seen shots of your garage on the HAMB a few times and I am always amazed at your collection and your tools. You have some very cool tools and I can only wish that some day I will have a few peices in my garage that you do. Very nice!

Ram · May 17, 2010

That just can't be a back yard, are you sure that its not your shop where you do the 9-5 gig?

Any way, its great and Thanks for sharing.

dragster · May 17, 2010

Freaking sweet. We drag race a 68 front engine dragster.
Love the old school.

whaler2001 · May 17, 2010

Oh.

My.

God.

kaso · May 17, 2010

That is simply awesome.

Kiwi Kev · May 17, 2010

80% of my tools and machinery are bought used at swap meets, yard sales etc. Some of
my stuff is home made. Most of my tables, cabinets, shelving etc has been scrounged for free.I operate on not much cash flow. Here are pic's of my home made louver press and mini english wheel........

before....

Dan in Pasadena · May 17, 2010

Kiwi Kev said:
I have a little make believe gas station on the back of my house, here is an of old pic of it.......

THIS is the one I'm using for my desk top. I'm pretty sure we're ALL using one or another. :bowdown:

Flatland Dave · May 17, 2010

Cool, very cool

Dan in Pasadena · May 17, 2010

P.S. with ALL this...do you have an understanding wife? My yard is configured like yours but in place of the carport I have an added on "gym" (ha...ha..) which we never use and a tropical forrest in the yard but it COULD be a lot like yours if I lost the jungle. My girlfriend wold never go for it. I always wonder about the guys like you and Nimrod that have such kickass play areas.

Kiwi Kev's backyard Hot Rod Shop.

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