CRUZIN MAGAZINE #284

The cover of this edition features the best and the best of hot rodding… huh? The Grand National Roadster Show celebrated 75 years in February and gathered a collection of past winners of the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award. Yes, these were the best of the best, and while styling trends have changed dramatically throughout the decades, there’s no disputing that these cars and their builders are at the top of their game. 

Then there’s Fred James’ 1936 Ford three-window, a traditional build in every sense. Boy yearns for car, boy finds car, boy cruises in car, then rebuilds it into what he wants it to be. How shiny or how fast is irrelevant; it’s the journey that’s important. If you break it down, the only thing that really separates column 1 and column 2 is their budgets.

All that aside, this issue has some cracker features, like a hand-formed ’34 roadster with the holy grail of flathead mods – an Ardun conversion. The concept has been in John McArthur’s mind for decades and finally came together last year.

We’ve also got a show-class International pickup from the workshops of Viking Hot Rods, a sweet 1963 1/2 Ford Futura convertible, and a sharp-dressed ’34 Chevy coupe. 

Our main feature is, of course, the Grand National, but we also cruise into Chromefest and check out the Cairns Auto Spectacular in the far north.

Aussie Norm sat out this month for his “Cruzin the Salt” column as he prepared to race at Lake Gairdner, but thanks go out to our other regulars.

Check it out in Cruzin Magazine #284, out now! Grab it at your local, or buy it online at https://www.drivebuy.net.au/collections/cruzin-magazine and pay no postage within Australia!