I had been trawling Trade Me for almost a year while I waited for my house to sell – my only guidelines were that the car must be Pre ’49 and on the road – I wanted to be driving.  One car that kept catching my eye was a bright pink 1397 Chev sedan.  Now pink is not my favourite colour, I’d prefer purple or green, but how many purple or green cars do you see? definitely more than pink!

So my house sold and the pink 37 was still for sale, so I booked a one way plane ticket and she was driven home. The very next day we went out to Super Southern Swapmeet out at Kustoms’ club rooms at Mcleans Island for a bit of a show n tell and what should be there? A bright pink 1938 Sedan! So I had to park next to it.

Sxc 37 started her rodded days a Chev 4 U,  covered in B cerise pink, rolling on 14″ chrome Speedys (similar to SS Craigars) with a nothing-to-look-at 350 chev hiding under the hood.  My original plan was just to drive her around, but the engine bay was begging for some bling and so Chev4U’s transformation began.

The first thing to be upgraded was the Alpine tape deck with a new JVC headunit, connected to 6″ speakers front and rear and two 10″ subs hogging the bootspace.

Then with a new custom-built alloy radiator up front, chrome water pump, flamed alloy rocker covers and breathers,  flamed HT lead holders, chrome alternator, dura-shine inlet manifold, new 600 Holly carby  and pink chrome kraut helmet hiding the air cleaner, Chev4U was now worthy of having the bonnet sides off, showing off her new shiny bits.

Then came the new House of Kolor paint job in ‘Hot Pink’ with violet and silver pearls,  the heart-shaped exhaust tips, 17″ Billet Specialties rims, new wiring to include such mod cons as indicators, heater and electric window wipers and Chev4U was ready for her new name Sxc 37.

Along with the cosmetic work that has been done, I’ve also had the engine rebuilt, matching, balancing and tweaking the engine.  Her best time down the 1/4 mile was 14.5 in Drive, with a very tired trans.  The old transmission started dying a painful death on the way back from Whangamata, with it slipping getting into 2nd.  I managed to get another 6 months out of the trans, nursing her off the line until she’d changed into 2nd and was ok to go; before there was no more 2nd, just horrible knocking, grinding sounds.  So in with a recon’d turbo 350 with stall converter.  I’m keen to get her down the drag strip again to improve on that 14.5 but don’t want to break her while she’s still got upcoming events to go to.

Since the engine transplant (more horsepower) and drag racing, shes broken a couple of engine mounts, shock mount, driveshaft and the above mentioned transmission – I keep saying I’m running out of weak links, with only the ford 9″ to go, so won’t be amused if I break the diff!  But once her calendar is clear will have to beat that 14.5 time.