Very nice shop, wish I had better fabrication skills.
Kiwi Kev's backyard Hot Rod Shop.
- Thread starter Kiwi Kev
- Start date
28HopUp
Well-known member
Agreed! I liked seeing the old Hop Up issues.
My wife is super cool about my illness. She never gives me a hard time about anything. We have been married 25 years so she is pretty used to it. I don't get any say when it comes to decorating inside the house though. She has the other half of the backyard (more like 1/4). If you notice the fence in the first pic I posted, well this is the small yard that is on the other side. Behind the back fence in this pic is the mini junkyard.....
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autoclassicnut
Well-known member
This is my new favorite post to check ....Wow!
Itsahobby
Well-known member
When I saw the first picture I thought someone had done a amazing diorama, You win the the man with the best stuff, hands down.
If I was your neighbor you would have to call the cops just to get me to leave.
If I was your neighbor you would have to call the cops just to get me to leave.
I don't consider this a competition or bragging thing. I just enjoy sharing because I know there are guys out there that enjoy this stuff as much as I do. I will take a walk around in the next week or so and take some current pics for you nuts so check back.
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e-tek
Well-known member
I'm sure he appreciates the visual of having to drag your frozen-legged *** outta his bathroom.....
Thanks for posting Kiwi. Now, what do your neighbours say??
I have an old lady on one side who likes me, an alley on the other side. A Hermit type guy across the street who died last week and a nice couple behind me who never complain. The front of my house looks perfectly normal and I don't make noise late at night. I have a couple of pretty big BBQ's each year with hot rods everywhere and everyone seems to like it.
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tasso
Member
Butter my **** and call me biscuit, I am absolutely astonished. Thanks for sharing it with us, a credit to you sir.
wagonmaster
Well-known member
Wow! Service Center! I knew the guy that opened the Santa Ana Service Center in 1969. His name was Butch, something, and his wife's names was "Bo". I departed Southern California and the Marine Corps but, gave him a black helmet with "Bo's Pride" on it in gold leaf when I left. Really good folks that helped me a lot with my drag racing stuff. I believe they were headquatered in Compton, at the time and went there with Butch more than once to pick up "stuff" that we needed. Great memories and you have a wonderful shop! The Blair's sign is gold!!
The stuff dreams are made of...It reminds me of 'old car guys' compound....just with more charm....or OCG just hasn't finished his collection and spent enough time in there yet...I find it odd how your space is much smaller, but can see how so much can be done in there...and the little oasis with the grass is perfect!!
I mean no disrespect comparing the two, I envy both. These shops are difficult to duplicate for many reasons. I guess this is why we all love these shops.
Thanks for sharing!
-T
I mean no disrespect comparing the two, I envy both. These shops are difficult to duplicate for many reasons. I guess this is why we all love these shops.
Thanks for sharing!
-T
Okie Pete
Well-known member
What was the frame of your louver press before it was made into a louver press? Amazing fab skills build the tool then build the cars .
Elkiebob
Well-known member
We need to have an award like an Oscar or Emmy for the best post of the year. I nominate this one big time. Fantastic shop.
Ord
Well-known member
This is an amazing garage! Did you have an idea that it would turn out like this when you first started?
Hemihead2
ALLIANCE MEMBER
What a great shop to hang out and work in. Just an amazing collection of fine old hot rod and race equipment. Thanks for sharing.
I couldn't help but notice the row of New Zealand Hot Rod magazines in your magazine rack in the "library". I'm wondering if you know my friend Lloyd, Magoos Street Rods, from Masterton? We built a '30 Model A Roadster pickup together in my shop here in Auburn. You might have the Nov 2008 issue of NZ Hot Rod that had coverage of the build.
I couldn't help but notice the row of New Zealand Hot Rod magazines in your magazine rack in the "library". I'm wondering if you know my friend Lloyd, Magoos Street Rods, from Masterton? We built a '30 Model A Roadster pickup together in my shop here in Auburn. You might have the Nov 2008 issue of NZ Hot Rod that had coverage of the build.
Cobra4B
Well-known member
Awesome.... very cool assortment of automotive history.
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Totally agree this is one of the greatest true hotrodder/car guys garages I have ever seen.`Oh, I admire the guys with the uber organized surgical suite garages too, they're just not what I'd do if I could do whatever I wanted - but YOURS IS.
Can I ask, how old a guy are you? I ask because I wonder how long it has taken you to acquire all this stuff. It couldn't have come fast unless you had a LOT of cash laying around. A lot of that stuff used to be relatively easy to collect if you went to garage sales/flea markets, but no more. Hasn't been that way in a looong time now. And I want to know too, did you have a plan or just start snapping up old stuff you thought was cool or you could use and then this just sort of "sprouted"?
I especially love the old gas station. I know of two places here in L.A. where the remnants of an old gas station that was that small originally exist. Best to you, Dan
P.S. I'd love to drive my '46 to see your place if you ever have an "open house...uh...er...garage"
Okie Pete
Well-known member
There was a thread on the HAMB on a bandsaw frame used to make a English wheel.
classicharleyj
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2006
- Messages
- 197
Simply amazing....thanks for sharing!
eborcim
Well-known member
Needs to be nominated for the Garage Slab..if not already.
Okie Pete..... This is a saw the same as the one I started with when I built the louver press. It is made by Oliver.
Ord....My garage just kind of evolved into the way it is now. When I first moved in I was going for a more sterile shop but stuff just keeps accumulating. I have been here about 20 years now.
Hemihead2....I have met Lloyd, in fact he visited a couple of years ago with a group of touring Kiwi's. I saw the RPU at Bonneville. It came out nice! I have a full set of NZ Hot Rod magazines, I've been reading it since I was 13.
Dan in Pasadena....I am 50 years old. I was a teenager in the 70's but all the stuff I like is from the 2 decades previous. I'm glad you used the word aquire, alot of people ask me how long have I been collecting but I don't consider it a collection. (I do collect gas pedals, started a couple of years ago). Basically this is stuff I have aquired over the last 30 years or so. Alot of scrounging and trading, some good deals, some saved from cars bought and sold. Some from swap meets.Some from customers who saw what kind of stuff I like. Alot of it is unuseable for various reasons but it looks good hanging on the wall or on a mockup engine.
Ord....My garage just kind of evolved into the way it is now. When I first moved in I was going for a more sterile shop but stuff just keeps accumulating. I have been here about 20 years now.
Hemihead2....I have met Lloyd, in fact he visited a couple of years ago with a group of touring Kiwi's. I saw the RPU at Bonneville. It came out nice! I have a full set of NZ Hot Rod magazines, I've been reading it since I was 13.
Dan in Pasadena....I am 50 years old. I was a teenager in the 70's but all the stuff I like is from the 2 decades previous. I'm glad you used the word aquire, alot of people ask me how long have I been collecting but I don't consider it a collection. (I do collect gas pedals, started a couple of years ago). Basically this is stuff I have aquired over the last 30 years or so. Alot of scrounging and trading, some good deals, some saved from cars bought and sold. Some from swap meets.Some from customers who saw what kind of stuff I like. Alot of it is unuseable for various reasons but it looks good hanging on the wall or on a mockup engine.
ol55
Well-known member
Glad to see you finally wandered over here Kevin! Kiwi Kev is my idol!
e-tek
Well-known member
The reply to my neighbour question was really cool. Love to see the whole family affair thing going on. Now you're a hero from every angle!! Cheers Kev!
metal1313
Well-known member
i want to come take pictures...no one would understand how awesome this is, save for the peoples here. amazing, simply amazing.
AndrewBigA
Well-known member
+1 i saw that too. so many mags to read during crapping time.
awsome dam garage! this is going to be a big thread. sick!
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Thanks Kev, I feel better knowing you've got some age on you (in a good way, I'm 55) and worked a lifetime to get this beautiful stuff. Isn't it amazing how you didn't exactly plan it and yet somehow it came out looking like the "vision" you probably had in your head as kid?
I started high school in '68, graduated in '72 - some damn good years for car kids. Watching my buddy's '69 Camaro go off against another buddy's Mopar 440 on our lunch hour. Driving my buddy's '66 SS 396. In those days; as you know, these were just "used cars" and 17-18 year old kids could own them. I grew up in Whittier and cruised Whittier Blvd. I was driving my Dad's black, '55 CHevy Belair 2 door hardtop with a 235 and 3 speed overdrive. He bought it because he didn't think the "new" 265 V8 was going to amount to much!
So many memories. SO many cars I SHOULDA kept.N8
Well-known member
Kev,
Good to see you over here. Always love your posts on the H.A.M.B.
Next time you see Scooter tell him Nate says hi.
Great space you have there. Love everything you have done. I admire the preservation of all your historical items. I hope to have mine at that point some day. I also admire your fab work..Simply top notch ingenuity.
N
Good to see you over here. Always love your posts on the H.A.M.B.
Next time you see Scooter tell him Nate says hi.
Great space you have there. Love everything you have done. I admire the preservation of all your historical items. I hope to have mine at that point some day. I also admire your fab work..Simply top notch ingenuity.
N
Justanoldguy
Well-known member
Makes me proud to be a Kiwi..
Love the Sulphur City Plaque.
I had some involvement with them in the 70's/80's
when I had my '51 Merc Kustom.
Cheers for that Kev.
Clive.
Love the Sulphur City Plaque.
I had some involvement with them in the 70's/80's
when I had my '51 Merc Kustom.
Cheers for that Kev.
Clive.
hguerrero
Well-known member
although i'm usually a fan of the more sterile ,high end garages... this "organic" culmination of speed shop paraphernalia looks amazing! thanks for posting
WHB Porsche
New member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2010
- Messages
- 1
Not to highjack Kev's thread - but do you fly for Travis County STAR Flight? I see TX, yellow, blue, and Eurocopter in your avatar.
Kev - great looking garage!
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
KiwiKev, Can you kick this thread into high gear with pictures of the projects you've made in it? Both customer cars and your own? I think we'd all like to see more of the tools you have or have made too.
phartman
Well-known member
Very nice, what a shop. Thanks for posting.
Okay since no one else is going to ask I will..... When is the next BBQ?
You have one of the best, if not THE best, old school garages I have ever seen. I can only hope to acquire half that amount of history. I am like you (born a little later, in '76) but feel I should have grown up in the '50 and '60, There is very little I don't like about those decades.
You have one of the best, if not THE best, old school garages I have ever seen. I can only hope to acquire half that amount of history. I am like you (born a little later, in '76) but feel I should have grown up in the '50 and '60, There is very little I don't like about those decades.
I have a BBQ on the Saturday afternoon/evening of the Primer Nationals (now called the Ventura Nationals) car show held in Ventura Labor day weekend. If anyone is interested in my homemade tools there are a few threads on the H.A.M.B. about them. You would have to search my profile for threads called Ten homemade hot rod shop tools, Ten more homemade tools and Another ten homemade tools. Also Built me a louver press....and it works. I just don't have the time to post all that stuff twice.
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Boyd
Well-known member
Mr. Kev, can you explain the induction set up on the model A pickup in your first pic? I saved that pic as my desktop background and every time I see that picture I end up staring at that strange deuce set up on top of the motor trying to figure it out. Thank you sir.
Okie Pete
Well-known member
Thanks for what it was Kiwi Kev and thanks for the picture tour of your man cave .