Fletch catches up with the Trojans Rod & Custom Club members whilst in Lismore, visiting the sheds of several members to see some of their handy work.
First up is Rick, the residing President since the club's inception 16 years ago. Fletch goes into his inner sanctum, where he builds these iconic Hot Rods not just for himself but also for others. He admits that no two Hot Rods are the same, and his inspiration comes from Hot Rod magazines from the 50s and 60s.
Rick's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster is a beautiful example of his work, a fibre-glass body with a 302 Windsor 5 litre engine. As Fletch puts it, this lightweight Hot Rod is a very powerful go-kart.
Out of the same shed is Toni, the daughter of Rick, with her Hot Rod, a 1944 Ford Pickup. The 44 Ford Pick-Up boasts a 351 Cleveland engine, so it's a Ford in a Ford that Toni admits is unusual. You can see that the whole of Rick's family is part of the Hot Rod community. Toni started collecting pieces for her Hot Rod, and when she couldn't find something, she just had to put the word out to the Hot Rod community and, one way or another, found what she was looking for.
The third member of the family is Janelle, the odd one out. While she likes Hot Rods, her real love is for classics, like her 1953 Standard Buick Sedan. Beautifully restored and maintained, the Buick still has its Straight Eight engine, and while it's a bit slow off the start, it's very smooth to drive when it gets up to speed.
But wait, there is more. In shed two, the domain of Bruce & Steve is the official Clubhouse which incorporates a showroom, museum and workshop. It's also a meeting place to hang out with other members to chat about all things motoring. Three vehicles on display include a red 1948 Chevy Coupe - with an American imported body, a 253 V8 engine and tri-matic transmission. A striking orange 1933 Chevy Tourer with a 383 heavy Chevy and 700R Gearbox. And one slightly more quirky Rod is an Army 'Area 51' staff car, complete with bullet holes, described as a cartoon on wheels, but with a 350 Chevy engine and R700 gearbox and disc brakes - it's a little bit of a head-turner at events and a lot of fun.
Onto shed three, a home away from home for Jeffro, which proudly features his first Hot Rod build, a 1932 Ford Model T 2-door built from scratch with Rick, his lifetime friend. He couldn't have done it without him.
There is always a project car on the go. This one will be interesting if what we've seen is any indication. Based on a 1948 Desoto 4-door sedan, with a 6.2 litre LS3 HSV engine and eight-speed gearbox planned for the new powerplant.
Great cars and genuine passion.
Comments
PonyRider
Hello again Fletch, jeez I needed the bib on today, with all the auto-eye-candy, love all the Rods and the big Buick.
A great Brotherhood of Trojan members and families too, so nice to see.
You've got a tough job Fletch but someone has to do it! 😄))
Just kidding of course, it was another mighty fine episode and I thank you again. Best Wishes, PonyRider
Fletch
Ponyrider - my apologies for the delayed return, just had a bit on. Thank you as always - to you & Blinkie, the Shannons Club Dynamic Duo !! Indeed mate, Lismore left an impression on Donna & Myself, having made some close associations in a short amount of time there. To think where I was standing to film, ended up 14m under water literally just a handful of days later. That's an incredible depth. One of the Stars here, Rick Pacey, thanks to his two daughters that you saw interviewed, managed to save his Hotrod that you saw on this episode featured with him driving it. His Hotrod & the clothes he stood up in is all he had, his shed & his house gone.
Bruce who featured a self-contained piece for us on this episode, highlighting the Trojans Shed, had a similar story, and lost everything as well. And Jeffro in the end of the episode, same deal again - however his Blue Hotrod was saved & his LS Engine on frame went under, but we believe salvageable. Anyway mate, there's a little behind the scenes rundown on the outcomes of these legends featured. As always Pony, thank you for watching & supporting. Regards Fletch.
Blinkie1
That's pretty sad there Fletch but so glad they got out okay and saved the rides shown. In the video it sure looked like a storm was brewing, my heart goes out to all effected. So glad you and Donna got out okay as well bro and hey many thanks for the update mate.
Take care, stay safe & well at this time.
Cheers
Blinkie1
Blinkie1
Gee that Lismore certainly got some rather beaut rides and the 53 Buick of Janelle's was real nice being an original. Sounds like you had a beaut time at Lismore Fletch and getting to meet some amazing people and their sweet rides, what a great few days you had.
Thanks mate for sharing and hey stay well & safe at this time.
Cheers
Blinkie1
Fletch
Hey Blinkie, g'day mate. Yes, I appreciate everything mechanical, but Janelle's Buick stirred the fletchy-emotional pot here. Janelle took me for a drive in the car (notice the rain was starting then?) and even from the passenger's side, you can feel the torque in your back of this amazing old iconic Straight Eight as she accelerated. To think back at that same time, with respects, Australia was running the Grey Six...no where even close compared to how many streets ahead the American's were with the power of these vehicle types they had on tap.
The Buick may not be looked upon as "super-quick" in 2022...but back in 49 when the world wasn't in such a big fireball hurry, it may have taken a good Packard Six, Hudson Hornet, or a flathead V8 from Mr Ford to round up a car such as this. Nice hearing from you as always mate, I am glad that you enjoyed the episode. Regards, Fletch.
Blinkie1
Couldn't of said it better myself bro and I so glad you got go for a ride with Janelle in that Buick as that would of been so fun.