SCROUNGERS...club profile.

Here is a profile on the club I'm in, the Scroungers from Auckland, New Zealand. I hope this will motivate some other Hambers to tell us all about their clubs.
Next year the Scroungers will celebrate their 10th anniversary. It was started by 2 long time friends John Pavlovich and Chris Piaggi who were long time fans of traditional hot rodding. The club has 7 members and doesn't have any regular meetings but does put on an annual car show called the "Hot Rod Blowout". This is the best gathering of traditional cars in NZ and if you search the H.A.M.B. for Scroungers you will find coverage of the Blowout going back 4 years.
Each year at the Blowout several pioneers of NZ hot rodding are inducted into a hot rod hall of fame created by the Scroungers.The show has been covered in several magazines down under and also in the USA. Anyway pictures tell a better story so here are some pictures.

Left to right, Mal, John, some american guy named Gene who was visiting, Chris, Evan, Mike. Colin must have been polishing his coupe .

 

Here is a T bucket that club founders John and Chris built together back in the 80's. John lives on the North shore of Auckland and works in promotions for Burger Fuel resteraunts.

 

Chris Piaggi also lives on the North Shore. He has his own automotive repair shop working mostly on old American iron. When it comes to scrounging Chris is a master! He has accumulated an awesome collection of old time hot rods and parts for building them. Chris lived in the States for several years during the 80's and worked for Dean Moon. He still has many friends in the States. Here is a pic of his low, Y block powered 29 roadster......................

 

The chassis is based on rails from an English Ford Pilot.

 

Chris also owns this FE Ford powered 38 coupe with 39 ft end.........

 

Chris is partners with John in this T altered with blown flathead power. Best time so far is 9.47. They grenaded the engine a few seasons ago so it's rebuild time. That is Colin working on it with Chris.

 

Colin is a bodyman and recently completed this 32 5 window. We're thinking about kicking him out for having a car that's too nice!

 

Here is Colin's other ride, a De Soto powered 34 pickup. This pickup has a long history in NZ as a chopped and channelled hot rod owned by Davie Thomas going back to the early 60's. Colin is currently piecing together a fully fendered 32 roadster.

 

Malcolm is a mechanic and has this 31 coupe with 354 Hemi and powerglide. He also has a 57 Ford, 2dr post mild custom.

 

Evan is a parts man and his daily driver is this 29 roadster. He lives in West Auckland and drives this thing rain or shine. That's Chris's flathead powered 29 RPU to the right and then Colin's truck.

 

Road trip.......

 

Probably makes you a little homesick, huh Kev......

 

Mike is a world class metal fabricator currently working for Terrys Chassis shop in Auckland. Before that he worked restoring McLaren race cars. He is a world class metalman and is currently building a custom . Based on Buick front sheetmetal the rest is being completely fabricated from aluminum. Pics will follow. He lives with his wife Dianne in Drury, a town south of Auckland. Here is Dianne's 31 Sedan with 348 Chevy power and alot of Mike's outstanding Fab work! Mike also has a 348 powered T bucket.

 

Chris also has this '57 "Stock Car".

 

Here's a pic from the Blowout.......

 

It's kind of lonely being a Scrounger in California but I don't mind the compromise. We stay in touch and get together every couple of years.

 

Awesome.

 

I used to own the 38 coupe that Chris owns now. This is what it looked like when I got it.

 

that blue roadster has always been one of my favourites

 

I was very inspired by the Nov 73 R&C mag Chopped top issue and proceeded to chop it. I had to sell it when I decided to move to the States and Chris bought it. Here he is picking it up 27 years ago. Holy shit time Flies!!

 

Another Project belonging to Chris Piaggi. This one will be sold.

 

And a future project. A coupes are not too common in NZ.

 

Here's our jacket and logo, I should have put this at the start of the thread.

 

Awsome post Kev, its nice to learn about some hotrod history from another country.

 

Here's a pic of Colin's 32 before paint.......

 

Chris has had this RPU on the road for many years. I got to ride around the North Shore in it the last time I was in NZ. I also got a White Knuckle ride in Mal's Hemi coupe!

 

Chris and Kelly's son Carson. Better hide those keys Chris!