CRC Speedshow: So hot this street rod sizzles

The team at Rods by Reid put 4000 hours of work into turning a 1933 Ford into a thing of beauty that has aced awards at US car shows. Photo / Colin Smith

A sweet, sweet hot rod that's already shown the Yanks how it's done will make a special appearance at this weekend's CRC Speedshow.

The Tauranga-built Speed 33 took a staggering 4000 hours for the Bay of Plenty's highly respected Rods by Reid to build for its expat owner.

Philippines-based owner Steve Payne wanted no expense spared on his 1933 Ford cabriolet, which is in New Zealand after picking up awards at some of the top American custom shows.

The striking hot rod is making a round trip from the US to the Philippines via the Speedshow. It was sent to the States last year by builder JR Reid to debut at the massive Goodguys West Coast Nationals in California last August.

"It was very exciting to have the Rods by Reid-built 1933 cabriolet selected as a top five finalist in the award for America's most beautiful street rod.

"There were over 3500 cars entered and, as far as we know, it's the only non-US car to receive any major award at any of the Goodguys events," says John "JR" Reid.

"Steve and I then were invited to enter the car in the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) which ran in January this year. This is quite an honour to be personally invited by the show's owner, John Buck, as he may invite only three or four car owners a year.

"At the GNRS, the Speed 33 won its class - the biggest and toughest of all the classes - giving it the awards for best altered street roadster and the most outstanding engine in a hot rod. In hot-rodding terms, this is like receiving two gold medals."

Speed 33's success came via 4000 hours of fabrication, engineering and steel body alterations alone. It has a specially styled full-steel body on a Rods by Reid chassis, with fully independent suspension. A huge amount of attention to detail has been paid to the car, from its immaculate butter-yellow leather interior to the massive 8.6l all-alloy Keith Black hemi engine.

Speed 33 can be seen at this weekend's CRC Speedshow at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland.