MARK COLLIS
FORD ESCORT RS2 000“THIS is my ’79 RS2000. It’s been
lying around in a shed for 22 years. It
was a shell six weeks ago. It’s got a big
brake kit, new bushes all round and an
adjustable front. It runs a 2.1-litre Pinto
with mild cam, ported head, big valves
and 45s. It will cop a Zetec conversion
very soon. We put it all together at my
workshop and I would like to thank my
guys for all their help.”“I’VE always liked rat rods/hot rods, but I never thought
I would own one, let alone build one. It all started when
I drove a family friend’s (Ron Zelukovic) 1934 Ford
three-window coupe and thought: ‘Man, I need to build
something.’ A few weeks later, I found a ’48 Chevy cab
and HQ one-tonner chassis and started from there. I
had never done anything to this extent before but I dived
in the deep end and went with it. I remember hearing
a saying by Peter Brock: ‘Bite off more than you can
chew and then chew like hell.’ So I got the cab mounted
onto the chassis and ended up changing the front sheet
metal to a smaller American pick-up size front end. The
motor is an injected 5.0L rebuilt with Crow cam, lifters,
valve springs and a Mace memcal, all installed with the
help of my mate Jeremy Shaw. The Chevy is sitting on
a set of 20-inch Detroit steel wheels out of the States;
I like the smoothie look, but wanted something to fill
the guards up. My wife Kim and I painted the truck
over a few weeks with rust-effect paint to create the
rat rod weathered look. I fabricated the tub and running
boards, and with the help of Ronnie we fabricated the
tailgate. The truck is running a set of VE Commodore
calipers and rotors up front with an HZ disc set-up at
the rear with a 3.55 centre. An HT bench seat fits nicely
inside, re-trimmed by a mate of mine, Geoff Baker at Ol
Skool Auto Trimming. The door artwork inside and out
was painted by Mim.” Photos: Ben Hosking
MICHAEL PERRY
’48 CHEVY PICK-UP