NZV8 — February 2018

W

hen we featured Matt Hird’s stunning

’65 Mustang fastback on the cover of

NZV8 Issue No. 33, it was like nothing that

had preceded it. A restomod executed to the

highest standard, the Mustang emphasized

quality over everything, and that’s what gave it

so much impact. There was no focus on brute

power, or overstated body modifications, or

a crazy pro-street stance; instead, Matt took

what the factory offered, and turned the quality

up to 11.

The silky exterior was shaved and de-badged

without going overboard, while the front and

rear bumpers were tucked closer into the body,

the engine bay was smoothed to perfection, and

the factory interior trimmed in leather, with

any aftermarket additions chosen to retain the

character of the vehicle.

The crowning glory came via the full Air Ride

suspension and unique Foose Monterey rims,

which gave the build a cohesive fluidity that is

best seen rather than read about.

The warmed-up 302ci Windsor and C4 auto

were chosen to give the Mustang smooth

and reliable driving characteristics so that

Matt could comfortably cruise with the family.

While that happened for a while, it wasn’t

for as long as Matt had planned, with the car

getting snapped up by an Australian buyer

before it got too many local miles on it.

Sleep it Off

The LS has taken over the world, but back

when we featured Darren Van Nes’ tough

VT Commodore wagon, it hadn’t — and it

most definitely hadn’t when Darren started

modifying the thing, which was just after

he purchased it brand new! With a Vortech

supercharger and stroked LS based on an

iron truck block, the 1000hp streeter is the

definition of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Black Rat

When Bruce Cox’s ‘Black Rat’ Camaro first hit

the pages of NZV8, it had run a PB of 10.4s at

129mph with the 489ci nitrous-fed big block

under the hood. The car was, and still is, a true

streeter — no tubbing, leaf spring rear, and

running reliably on pump gas. Now owned by

Justin Weir, and running easily in the nines, this

thing is a weapon! Read all about the original

Black Rat in this issue of the magazine.

(^154) themotorhood.com
AND THE REST
BUY
THIS ISSUE
ONLINE
AT MAGSTORE.NZ
decade ago ISSUE NO. 33 — FEBRUARY 2008
1965 FORD MUSTANG — MATT HIRD
WHERE IS IT NOW?