Car Features

Brad had acquired the Chevelle from Ray Exton with dreams of building a street beast, but cash flow issues saw those ambitions passed to Leonard. His only regret? Letting go of his beloved ’57 Chevy truck to fund the deal—though a new project has since softened the blow.

Under the decklid lies the heart of this road-going predator—a robust 351 Cleveland V8 that delivers a symphony of power with every throttle blip. Mated to an Audi 5-speed transmission, this combination provides a thrilling blend of brute force and precision engineering, putting you firmly in control of an automotive legend. It’s raw, it’s exhilarating, and it’s everything a true enthusiast craves.

Rewind to 2012: The Birth of a Legend 

Carlos? He lived that nightmare. He even flirted with selling the project outright. But you don’t build a successful nightclub by giving up when things get tough. So he doubled down and went looking for a real pro. That’s when he found Simon at Old Mill Rod and Custom. Simon’s shop was packed, but instead of sending Carlos packing, he did the unthinkable—he referred him to a competitor. Enter Jacques from the West Coast, who was also slammed.

THE CHALLENGER THAT CHECKED A BOX 
For Richard Irwin, this ‘70 Dodge Challenger wasn’t just another car—it was another checkmark on the list of life’s hard-earned rewards. The man started with nothing and built himself a business that now fuels his passion for American muscle. While others collect watches or wine, Richard collects horsepower, and frankly, we approve of this vice 100 percent. 

Breaking It Down: The Build Process

Starting with the Foundation 

Photography by Stefan de Koker

By the 1970s, South African racing legend Willie Hepburn saw untapped potential in this compact cruiser. Lightweight? Check. Simple design? Check. Room under the hood for something mean? Absolutely. Hepburn turned the unassuming Nova into a dragstrip contender, wringing out every ounce of performance it had. The car made its mark on the South African racing scene, but by the mid-‘80s, it was ready for a new chapter. Enter Mick van Rensburg—the godfather of South African drag racing.

Photos by Chris Wall

Born to Run

Photos by Kian Eriksen

The Hunt for the Perfect ’48
“I just love the shape of the ’48 trucks,” Gavin starts with a smile. “It’s beautiful, and it’s been something I’ve always wanted. It’s a dream car.” That dream, however, didn’t come easy.

Photos By Joe van Zyl
Owner: Nick Vernon

Nick Vernon, the proud owner, picked up this beast about four years ago from Custom Classics in Cape Town. But the credit for this masterpiece doesn’t belong to them. To uncover its history, we travel to KwaZulu-Natal, the stomping grounds of Mike Egan, a legend among SA’s V8 enthusiasts. If you’ve ever been blown away by the roar of a proper horsepower V8 in SA, chances are you’ve encountered Mike’s work.