Build Threads

Midmounted Mazda Minitruck

anth — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:32:14 +0000

This following build was part of the teasers I placed in my “Best of 2010″ guest-post on Speedhunters last year. Out of the 5 teasers, I have only managed to do a follow-up feature one of them, The Widow Maker. Well, here’s number two!

This minitruck is like no other I’ve seen. It might be bagged and body-dropped like many others, but what sets it apart from the rest is the Lexus V8 sitting behind the cabin. Another element of this build that strays away from the norm is that Nick, the owner and builder, has chosen to document the build in video format, creating his own YouTube channel to showcase the progress. The updates are always informative and entertaining, with some choice Kiwi wit thrown in amongst the tech stuff. Head below to find all the links you’ll need to get acquainted with this unique creation.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ3D4Evtq0M

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTjRpBkcdoo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCimmKA1F_w

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkkDCV2_fdQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_pntRIjtH4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVUxJFpGhQ

These are only a small sample of videos available, there are over 30 for you to sink your teeth into (that’s almost two hours worth), so hit up the links below and start watching.

pimppalacecustoms.com

CLICK HERE to head to the truck’s YouTube channel,
click on “Play All” to view the videos in sequence.

CLICK HERE to keep up to date with the project on Facebook.

CLICK HERE to view the project in a build thread format.

The Adventures of Mystery Machine

anth — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:49:36 +0000

Earlier this year I made two consecutive posts about the automotive exploits of one Retro Rides member by the name of Bruce (aka Mystery Machine), a person who truly understands the appeal of a good build thread. Bruce not only built a very cool MX5 along with a number of other awesome rides, but he also spearheads and bankrolls a communal garage space known as Area52. You should already know what type of guy he is (a die-hard car nut), so it’s no surprise to learn his hands have been less than idle since the last time he graced these pages. I thought I’d do a little ‘catch up’ piece on his latest projects (a Land Rover and a Lotus, can’t get more variance than that!), since I’m enjoying reading them so much myself, it’s only fair to share it with all of you…

First up we have the very charismatic Land Rover, purchased by Bruce in an already very modified state, but that didn’t stop him from tearing into it straight away.

But not before a quick thrash, of course.

Apart from a number of smaller mods, the main call to action has been swapping out the tired transmission, which required the paneled flooring to be removed for better access.

With the old and new boxes laid out side-by-side, their difference in size became obvious. There was only one solution.

Starting with some of these…

…then a bit of this…

…and finish off with a bit of that.

In what I can only describe as a sever case of Build-Threaditis, Bruce also snapped up a second project car, a well-worn Lotus Elite.

First things first, she needed to be brought home to the operating theater, Area 52.

It didn’t take long for the boys to get the old girl up in the air, peering at here undersides to work out how she was put together…

…for the purpose of a suspension tinkering and wheel test-fiting session.

But the biggest progress has been made in the purchase of a second Elite.

While this second car is in a very sorry state on the surface…

…and even worse underneath…

…it’s the engine and suspension that prove to be worth the purchase price alone.

Like what you’ve seen so far? Grab a hot or cold drink (depending where you are in the world) and dig into the threads below.

CLICK HERE for the Land Rover build thread.

CLICK HERE for the Lotus Elite build thread.

B18C Powered Mini

anth — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:45:47 +0000

What do you do when your classic Mini no longer provides you with enough forward velocity to quench your desire for speed? Well you could supercharge it, but what if you’ve already tried that route? How about getting your hands on an aftermarket subframe conversion kit and slotting in a DOHC Honda B18C? Thanks to Michael from JDMST for submitting.

For more Mini builds, click here.

CLICK HERE for the full build thread.

Batmobile…nuff said.

anth — Tue, 01 May 2012 05:21:09 +0000

If you have a pulse, then there’s a good chance you wanted to drive a Batmobile at some stage in your life, and probably still do. The only variable is which Batmobile you prefer, depending on your age. Hell, I still vividly remember the glow-in-the-dark Batman poster I used to have hanging in my room as a kid. Well, some people out there take this desire a step further and actually go out and build one, just like Tim here, who planned his own Batmobile replica for 10 long years before starting on the actual build. The fiberglass body sits atop a stretched Chevy Caprice donor chassis, plus plenty of trick fabrication going on to make this dream a detailed reality, not to mention the Blackberry controlled mechanics!

Thanks to Dave from StanceIsEverything for submitting. I’ve also featured a link to a more modern Batmobile build, click here to read about it.

CLICK HERE for the full build thread. It’s a single page blog, so just keep scrolling down to get to the beginning.

Spirit of Sunshine

anth — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:58:13 +0000

Seeing as Anzac Day is fast approaching, I thought it would be a fitting tribute to feature a very unique build I’ve had sitting in my submissions for a while now. Not your typical hatch/coupe/sedan, this is an Aussie-built land speed record chaser, using the tank from a 1953 Canberra Bomber as it’s body (aka belly tanker), powered by a Buick 3.8ltr V6 from a Holden Commodore and built by a couple of guys in a garage in my home state.

Thanks to Geoff for submitting. If you stick around long enough through the 160+ page thread, you’ll be rewarded with a second, smaller belly tanker build that the guys decide to tackle.

CLICK HERE for the full build thread.

thespiritofsunshine.blogspot.com.au

E46 M3 Road-to-Race

anth — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:26:20 +0000

How many times have you caught yourself daydreaming about turning your road-going pride and joy into an all-out race car? A stripped interior, beefy roll cage, some fixed bucket seats, sticky rubber, top of the line suspension, and of course some engine upgrades to round it off…sound accurate? Come and take a look as a lucky E46 M3 road car gets the race car make over we all desire.

Thanks to Jaime for submitting.

CLICK HERE for the full build thread.

1975 Honda CB400

anth — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:42:32 +0000

Classic motorcycles, everyone I know likes them, and wants one. If you read blogs like Pipeburn and Bike Exif, it’s hard not to get caught up in the romance of cafe racers, bobbers, board trackers, flat trackers, and all the other sub-categories that I don’t have enough time to Google. With second-hand retro Japanese bikes available for more than affordable prices, and many online outlets selling the must-have accessories, it seems the perfect time for outsiders to step into this world. But what if your knowledge of bikes isn’t terribly strong? Could you give it a shot anyway? Well, Rick did, and the result certainly has me inspired…

CLICK HERE for the full build thread.

1953 Chevy Pickup

anth — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:04:45 +0000

An enthusiastic car fan drags his grandfather’s old work truck from his uncles farm in very poor condition, with the intention of restoring it to it’s former state, prior to it’s neglect. Nothing unusual about that, we’ve certainly heard similar stories before, but you don’t usually hear about a job like this being undertaken by someone whose previous automotive experience is limited to changing spark plugs on a Taurus. To my delight (and surprise), the restoration was taken on with vigor, and piece by piece the truck was brought back to life, completing what many other family members said they were going to do, but never did. Right here is the essence of this game we know and love so much, just a guy restoring a car and learning things along the way, doing as much as he can on his own, bringing back a piece of history.

Thanks to Pixel for submitting.

CLICK HERE for the full build thread.

Toyota Starlet / Volvo 240

anth — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:01:12 +0000

Time for another one of our favourite types of builds, where the mad scientists of the car world decide to take two unsuspecting cars and morph them into a single automotive frankenstein. I’m talking, of course, about chassis swaps. This time it’s a Toyota Starlet having it’s insides removed, while a Volvo 240 donates it’s underpinnings and drivetrain, giving us a RWD Swedish powered Starlet.

Thanks to Jose for submitting.

CLICK HERE for the full build thread.

1JZ Nissan Cefiro

anth — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 01:55:46 +0000

When I first stumbled across Liam’s Cefiro build it was still in it’s infancy, and I remember thinking to myself “I hope he goes through with this”. As we all know, time and time again build threads are started but sadly not finished, however this was not to be the case. In a matter of months the thread detailed the transformation of a very stock looking Cefiro into a 1JZ powered, kitted and slammed drift/street machine. The updates came in thick and fast, with great photography and a very cool shared workspace, the build is now close enough to completion to be enjoyed by the masses…

CLICK HERE for the full build thread.