Maund Speed Equipment

Handmade nostalgia speed parts from James Maund in Los Angeles.

instock now...

Ace Customs at Tradspeed

New product from Ace Customs!!!!!

Finned Brake Drum Covers - alloy...

Available in two types:-

DELUXE FULL DRUM KIT - INCLUDES

* 2 full brake drum covers

* 2 backing plates

* 2 scoops

* 2 caliper brackets

* Nuts and bolts

This drum cover turns with your front wheels, ideal for open
type wheels ie 5 spoke or Radirs etc. $1350

ECONO HALF DRUM KIT - INCLUDES

* 2 half brake drum covers

* 2 backing plates

* 2 scoops

* 2 caliper brackets

* nuts and bolts

This drum cover is bolted to the backing plate and does
not turn with your wheels. This still has "the look" but is
the lighter alternative. Ideal for solid wheels. $950.

PLEASE NOTE: These fit 15" wheels or larger. Unpolished
aluminium. Are designed to fit over Falcon disc rotors with
Wilwood Dynalite Brake Calipers but other set ups may work also.
Spindles, rotors & other accessories not included. Please contact us for further info.

Winter sucks! Gotta love those fine weekends...

The rain receded for a bit, so time to seize that opportunity.

Man, it's great to drag the jalopy out of the garage from hibernation and take the kids for a blast down the highway.

Blows the cobwebs out of the 327 and my head all at the same time!

Rock on Summer and all the cool events that come with it.

Go with MOON! Available soon from the Tradspeed library....

Following 'The Electroline Diaries' and 'Rebel Motorcycles Ltd', award winner(*) Laurent Bagnard is back with a new book: 'Go with Moon'. The story of the legend and legacy that is Dean Moon and the brandname that survives him.

Laurent Bagnard was born on April 10th, 1963. He grew up listening to the Clash, the Sex Pistols and the Ramones, reading Kerouac and Zelazny.

Faithful to his 'dreams of elswhere', Laurent is also the founder of PowerGlide magazine, which spiced up the hot rod and custom enthusiast's press with crossover cultural feeds: music, photography and illustration. He walks the underworld with a Telecaster in mind and an outdated Nikon in hand.

(*)-7th International Automotive Media Competition concluded June 24, 2008. Gold medal for Illustration & Photography.

'Go with Moon'

Did you know that Dean Moon created his first fuel Block while still in high school? did you know that 15 or so years later he imported Drag Racing into Europe? Did you also know that the 1968 Japanese Grand Prix was won by a Nissan that ran a Moon-built Chevy smallblock?

You know that Shige Suganuma, currently the torch bearer of the Mooneyes spirit, bought the bankrupt company in the early 1990's, but did you know he restored it completely and saved it from possible oblivion? Did you know he kept the same phone number Dean had since 1955?

Read all about it and more in 'Go with Moon'.

Wanna secure your copy? Just drop me an email now at dale@tradspeed.co.nz.

TWO-LANE BLACKTOP | UNDER THE HOOD OF THE EPIC 1971 ROAD FLICK

“The whole idea of the road, of going from one place to another, is essentially American.”

*

–Two-Lane Blacktop Screenwriter, Rudy Wurlitzer

“I saw a picture of James Taylor on a billboard on the Sunset Strip promoting his new album. I thought his look was right for the part of The Driver. Regarding Laurie Bird, I took a trip to New York to meet with Rudy Wurlitzer, and, while there, met with a number of modeling agencies just to explore that field. When you’re looking for someone that age to play that role, it’s impossible to find someone who is established, so I anticipated finding an unknown. I checked out modeling agencies and met with people in L.A. as well and she was recommended. Laurie was so inexperienced it never occurred to me that I would actually cast her. She seemed so typical of what we had in mind for the character, however, that we used her as a prototype. Rudy and I did a three-hour taped interview with her; she became the template for the character. I still thought I could cast an actress who could play the part, but I couldn’t. Someone then had the bright idea of screen-testing Laurie.” –Director Monte Hellman

Esquire magazine printed the entire screenplay in its April ’71 issue before the movie was even released and boldly declared Two-Lane Blacktop as, “The Film of the Year.” Set largely on old Route 66, which had seen better days, filming locations stretched from California to Tennessee, and the project was wrapped up in two months for mere pocket change– $950,000. And while it wouldn’t quite live up to Universal’s expectations (who did little to promote it) and become a commercial success by anyone’s standards– it would survive the test of time to become a cultural icon, and one of the most loved road films ever made. There still a lot of love for Two-Lane Blacktop– even after all these ears. Sadly, there aren’t a lot of great studio stills that have survived– finding decent pics on the internet was slim pickings. I’ve had a few squirreled away for a spell (courtesy of Performance Pontiac Magazine, go figure) and so out they now shall come– along with a few tidbits from behind the camera.

“Dennis Wilson (of Beach Boys fame) was the last one to come onboard, after I ran through every actor and some other musicians. As a matter of fact, we even met with Randy Newman. Fred Roos, the casting director, finally suggested Dennis. If memory serves, I saw Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and James Caan; I think I saw every young actor in Hollywood. Dennis was very easy going. The only problem was that he was having so much fun that it was hard to find him when we were ready to shoot because he was off somewhere playing all the time.” –Director Monte Hellman

“With Warren Oates in the role of G.T.O., the character was so much bigger than life, while the others were really just life. He had mystery about him. He’s someone who doesn’t reveal everything the first minute you meet him. There was always something more than he was letting out. The character of G.T.O. is a lot like that and I think he was naturally able to give off those vibrations. I think he has mystery because you feel there is something deeper there, something more that you can discover. The others are what they appear to be. They’re very simple characters; they’re very simple people-particularly in the case of James’ character. He wants certain things from life that he’s unable to get because he wants other things that are interfering with it. That’s his conflict.” –Director Monte Hellman

To further the yarn-spinning quality of the character G.T.O., he deftly describes the GTO’s engine incorrectly a few times in the movie, referring to it as a 455 with Mark IV Ram Air, a Carter high-rise set up and 390 horsepower. A “Mark IV” is a big-block Chevy, the Pontiac engine didn’t come with a “Carter high-rise” but rather a Quadrajet on a cast-iron intake and no Pontiac engine at the time was rated at 390 hp. (via Performance Pontiac Magazine) But, let’s not get hung-up on the nerdy details though, it’s a movie for cryin’ out loud– and G.T.O. (Warren Oates) is clearly a little off in the head anyway.

“One (of the ’55 Chevy used for the movie) was an authentic race car and was too loud inside to record dialogue. The second had a smaller engine in it and was quieter. The last one was a stunt car, so it had a rollbar and equipment for the stunt shots. James had to do a launch in the ’55, which was shot from behind. What he didn’t know was that the transmission was mistakenly put into Reverse by whoever was in charge of the car. He was told to pop the clutch [at 6,500 rpm] and when he did, the ’55 started going backwards instead of forwards. Happily, he stopped it before running over the crew and the cameras. James said he blew up the transmission and broke the driveshaft and rear when he popped the clutch and it went backwards…” –Director Monte Hellman

I hope they never attempt to remake Two-Lane Blacktop, and neither does the man behind the masterpiece–

*

“I never see the point in remaking anything, unless it was done badly.

That’s the only reason you’d remake something.”

*

–Monte Hellman

Deadend Magazine

Best damn e-mag out there.... go there now

Rebel Wire

Rebel Wire is a small company founded on the basic principal of bringing an American made, high quality, affordable wiring harness to the hot rod public. We feel they have done just that with all of their products, and that is why we handle Rebel Wire products exclusively. All of their kits are hand built in their shop in Tennessee from heavy duty, flame proof, SXL wire. Each wire is labeled every 6" then bundled for easy installation. Every wiring harness comes with an easy to follow, 12 page instruction book and tech line information.

Whether you are building a Traditional Style Hot Rod, Streetrod, Custom, or RestoMod we have the harness for you.

New just this year is The Rebel Wire 8 circuit 6 volt system for the Restorers and really Traditional guys.

Check out available Kit sizes and pricing online at Tradspeed.

Deuce Book

At nearly 500 pages and approximately ten pounds this book exhibits the finest reproduction and high quality standards that you’ve come to expect from The Rodder’s Journal.

Deuce is the quintessential book about ’32 Fords.

Six pages each is devoted to the 75 most significant 1932 hot rods as selected for the 75th Anniversary of the 1932 Ford display at the 2007 Grand National Roadster Show.

Order yours here.

Fuel Magazine

Issue 4 now instore! $22 + P&P

A grouse little quarterly mag from Victoria Australia produced by Luke Ray.

Issues 1, 2 & 3 still available.

Rodders Journal available here:

Tradspeed is now fortunate to be included as a dealer for what is arguably, the best Hot Rod magazine in the world.

Subscribe now! $40 an issue delivered anywhere in NZ.

Atomic Hot Rods

Awesome Hot Rod documentaries don't come much better than these 2 pearlers from Brian Darwas at Atomic Hot Rods New York. Follow Brian as he travels coast to coast in flattie-powered hot rods with the boys from Rolling Bones to race at Bonneville and spends time hangin' with 2 of the coolest car clubs from opposite sides of the US.

$50 delivered folks.

Hot Rod Revue 2 instock!

Proudly supported by Tradspeed, Cal Thorley has created another excellent video representation of Traditional Hot Rodding in New Zealand. Plus bonus footage from days gone by.

$35 to your door.

Also some copies of Hot Rod Revue 1 still available.
$25 + p&p.

Posters by Jeff Norwell now instock!

$35 delivered to ya door folks! Jeff's art is sublime.
The stock of these prints is super heavy quality.

Size is 18" x 24".

Lucky Bastards Movie NOW INSTOCK!

"The Lucky Bastards Car Club" is a documentary film produced by Erik Johnson that explores the lives of eight men and their wives and girlfriends who formed a Minnesota chapter of a traditional hotrod car club that started in Northern California. This group of friends share a love for a bygone era when hotrods ruled the streets and now embrace it through their cars, clothes, hair and music. Unlike other car enthusiasts, The Lucky Bastards' passion for traditional hotrodding is more than a casual hobby, but is a way of life.


INSTOCK NOW! $30 delivered  Click here to buy.

Click here for Trailer.

CCM Rod Shop joins Tradspeed

Another new brand to Tradspeed is CCM Rod Shop hailing from Tucson, Arizona.

The Nelson family produce an exceptional range of high quality milled alloy products that will enhance the hot rod in your life.

Check out more of the product pics and info on the Tradspeed website.

Porter Mufflers joins the Tradspeed family.

The 'true' vintage sound muffler for your ride, coming soon exclusively to Tradspeed.

Steel pack Porter Mufflers™ are very unique; they have a deep, throaty rumble. They are hand crafted and built to last. Stainless steel mufflers are also available.

These vintage mufflers were first made popular back in the 1930's by ...the Porter brothers out of Los Angeles, California. When the brother's closed their shop in the late 1970's, they gave the rights to Gene Fechter of Minneapolis, MN. He continued to make the mufflers until he passed the rights to the Babler family of Mound, MN, who continues the tradition today.