Hi guys, I'm Gus, a car and bike fanatic from Kirriemuir on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. I lost an arm in a bike crash twenty years ago, so I have trouble doing as much as I'd like to on my cars. My mate Big Gus helps me out - he has accident damage to his back, so between us we make a whole mechanic. I lived in New Zealand for a while and brought back a '69 351w Cougar XR7 which I have been restoring for the last two years. It's almost done and is waiting to be resprayed. See it here http://www.flickr.com/photos/10909637@N05/sets/72157601201086491/detail/ My latest toy is a '29 Model A which I bought in California and will be working on to get it ready for next summer. The engine and chassis are great, but the inside needs a lot of work. It has a '61 401cu Buick Nailhead with an Offenhauser manifold and triple Rochester carbs. It runs open Lakester headers just now, but I am making up baffles as 'The Polis' here in Scotland don't appreciate that sort of thing. Check it out here http://www.flickr.com/photos/10909637@N05/sets/72157601201066411/detail/ I'm a bit new to pre 49 American cars so expect me to make a lot of stupid sounding posts over the next few months. BTW, great site guys.
I lived in Ponsonby in Auckland on and off from 98 till 2001. I would still be there if I hadn't met Maureen (now my wife) and moved back to Scotland where she was living. Where are you from originally?
From Pukekohe (just Sth of Auckland). Have been in the States for the past year (living the hot rod dream) but we are heading home in 5 weeks.
Not a bad place to go home to. And there are lots of classic cars in good condition in NZ. It could be worse.
Hi Gus, welcome mate...that's a cool "A" you've got there. Do you ever venture very far south...I'd love to see it in the metal. Cheers HRD
It's not going anywhere until I get it re-registered and MOT'd. There is quite a lot of sheet metal work required inside to finish off and I'm wrestling with getting a speedo to work with my 61 buick dynaflow trans. Know any good gauge specialist shops in UK where I can get advice on that?
hello Gus, didnt realise you were a closet hot rodder, LOL, Met you once when I come round to tell you to junk that Holley... Love the A, I was buildng one just like it a few years ago, The 36 takes up all my time now though.. Looks like Angus is becoming a hot bed for real hot rods. Nip round some day, the 36 3 window chassis is nearly done, a mate Gordons 35 cabriolet is comming along, wee marks 35 coupe is on the road constantly and his 35 roadster is the baws man... Al;l that classic tin on your doorstep and you never even knew it eh ..
hello gus.. would be good to see the car, thats a nice little 401 sitting in the car. im surprised ive not bumped into you in kirrie, been there more than a few times in the coupe. as redoxide says ive got the '35 on the road and has been for about 5 years now - just about to take the roadster off the road and give it a little makeover im sure the polis will be fine about the car ;-) as for the speedo speak to adrian speedwell http://www.autoinstrumentservices.com/ - he does a lot of work on gauges for hotrods etc. his work is really nice.
Hi, What a surprise - it's a small world. I would love to come round and get some advice on some things needing done to the A, but I don't know your address. Email me at the address you used before and we can arrange to meet up.
Thanks for the advice Mark. I've come across your webpage before, so I know your car - very nice! Thanks for the advice on the speedo. I need to get the A MOT'd so I can register it and it needs a few things doing, so it won't be on the road for a wee while. If you would like a trip to Kirrie email me and we can arrange to meet up. Nice to hear there are some like-minded people close at hand.
gus - will drop you an email off line, im round at redoxides quite a bit as well so if i dont see you in kirrie, might see you there. if your looking for any advice on the nailhead give me a shout, one of my friends has about 8 of them.
Mark, I've just had an email from Ian saying he wants to come round tonight, so speak to him and arrange things. Hope to see you soon.
The Jalopy Journal
