STEVE PUGH
AGE: 47
OCCUPATION: Business owner
PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS: XR Falcon
wagon, HQ Holden, ’57 Chevrolet, ’61 Pontiac
Laurentian, ’89 Chevrolet Cheyenne 2500,
’67 Dodge RT Coronet; current: ’69 Dodge
A12 Super Bee, ‘69 Plymouth Road Runner,
’70 Plymouth Road Runner, ’69 Dodge D200
Sweptline
DREAM CAR: Got them, but there’s never just
one; an A990 or ’67 WO23/RO23 — or an AAR
Cuda
WHY THE ROAD RUNNER? I’m a big fan of the
A12s, especially the black post cars — I wanted
to build a Hemi version
BUILD TIME: Six months
LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: 15 months
STEVE THANKS: My partner, Tamanda, for
tolerating the constant exhaust smell drifting
through the house — and for going into
damage-control mode when the neighbours
get restless after evening tuning sessions /
early morning start-ups! Jimmy Hotton —
can fix and build anything, legendary Mopar
knowledge, and my car would still be a
work in progress without him; Paul Knight
at Classic Auto Petone — best classic panel
beater and works on every car as if it’s his
own; Pete at Peter Donnell Automotive; Eric
at West Auckland Engine Reconditioners;
Kane McKnight, for getting the hood finish
just right; Sam O’Sullivan, for fabricating an
awesome stainless exhaust system; Chuck’s,
for 100 per cent reliable parts shipping over
the years; Howat Engineering; Mike Ware and
Scott Marrison, for tuning/build advice; Jock
and Cam County, for giving us a fantastic street
race to let loose on; Masterton Motorplex, for
building a world-class track(^38) themotorhood.com
With the ’69 completed just moments before we
managed to catch up with Steve, it’s still in run-in
and tuning mode. However, Steve’s confident that
the car has what it takes to surpass the ’70’s low-
12-second quarters. In fact, he’s thinking there’s
the potential to drop a second or two off those
times. He will do this by driving to the track, having
a laugh with his mates, having fun with the kids,
and enjoying a beer on the way home — nice and
relaxing, exactly as it should be.
From what we’ve seen of the build, it’s one best
described as being planned with surgical precision.
Not only was it planned with precision, though,
but it was executed with it. This pairing is not likely
to have a cartoon-like comedic ending, as this
dynamic duo is set for success. Meep meep.
THE BUILD IS BEST
DESCRIBED AS HAVING
BEEN PLANNED WITH
SURGICAL PRECISION