Car Features

Article by Chris “Krutch” Wall

She didn’t start out glamorous. Far from it. When her owner, Etienne Fouché, first found her, she was nothing more than a bare metal shell sitting flat on tired 14-inch wheels. Most would have walked away, or at best stripped her for parts. Etienne saw something worth saving — not to restore her to “factory correct” condition, but to shape her into a pure expression of what a muscle car should feel like: raw, honest, loud, and unfiltered.

The Chevy’s story starts on a farm in Delmas, Mpumalanga, where it had been resting under a tree for decades. It belonged to an elderly woman whose husband had planned to restore it before he passed away. By the time Danie found it, the car was partially sunk into the ground, the woodwork had rotted away, and most people saw nothing more than scrap. Danie originally bought it just for parts and even felt he had made a mistake on the drive home. But once the car was in his yard, something about it demanded attention.

But don’t be fooled — this Galaxie isn’t just a showpiece or a weekend cruiser. Whenever Dimo’s back in South Africa, it’s his daily driver. It racks up proper mileage each month, and every trip behind the wheel brings that unmistakable smile only a true V8 classic can deliver. 

A Ford with Family Roots Franco explains, “I decided to build this truck as these particular vehicles have always been a part of my life and business. I’ve always been a huge fan of this shape and model.”

The truck in question — a 1942 Ford Jailbar — was discovered in Barkley West. What was initially intended to be a simple shop truck and parts runner quickly spiraled into a full-blown custom build. As Franco laughs, “One thing led to another, and here we are.”

Underneath the imperfections, the body panels were solid. But the sills, floorboards, and rear bumper sections had seen better days. Most people might have written it off or done a standard restoration. Dave, however, had something more ambitious in mind — he wanted a 2-door. Not imported, not replicated — converted. The 2-door models are rare in South Africa and always in demand, while the 4-doors tend to be overlooked. So, armed with diagrams and factory specs sourced online, Dave and his business partner set about turning the dream into steel.

Owner: Greg Parton

Builders Name and/or Shop name: Greg’s Garage

The car was given to Clark & Kent in Sydney Road, Durban and they carried out the wide kit conversion. The original fenders had to be significantly cut and trimmed and welded before the new kit could be fitted. They mentioned that it was a lot of work and had to be done with care as the kit came with no installation instructions. Stainless steel button head screws were Kal-Gard coated black and used to fasten the new bodywork to the car.

Photos by Tony & Carman Matthews

“When I bought the Ford, a fair bit had already been done, but it was missing detail – it lacked soul,” Steve says. “Most COEs I’ve seen are haulers in the States, but I wanted to do something different. That’s where the Texaco wrecker theme came in. Down the line I may set it up as a proper shop hauler, but right now, I’m pretty happy with where she’s at.”

The Birth of a Drag Strip Icon 

The ’41 Americar was small, light, and perfectly proportioned. Originally fitted with a modest 4-cylinder Go-Devil engine, it didn’t stay stock for long. By the 1950s, racers like Stone, Woods & Cook had transformed the Willys into the sweetheart of the quarter-mile, cementing its place in hot rod culture. 

David Blumberg’s Dream Find 

Back in 1961, Ford USA launched the unibody pickup. On paper it was slick. In reality? Not so much. Buyers weren’t impressed and by 1962 sales were tanking. Ford had to move quickly, ditching the unibody design and returning to a separate cab and bed. The only problem? There wasn’t enough time to tool up a new bed, so they bolted the older ’57–’60 Styleside beds onto the ’63 cabs. The lines didn’t quite match, and enthusiasts quickly christened them “wrong bed” trucks. So, while it might look “incorrect,” this F-250 rolled off the line exactly as you see it.