DEAN BLAKE’S Z21 AND ’37 COUPE

Dean’s clearly a man who likes to keep busy, handling nearly all aspects of his projects himself; it’s always a juggling act as to which one to focus his limited spare time on, but the end is close. He has owned the ’37 coupe since the age of 19, and undertook the first rebuild soon after purchasing, when it was tunnel rammed and repainted. That was enough to nab it third in the People’s Choice award at the third Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Show. It stayed in that guise for a decade before rust bubbles prompted another rebuild.

That was 12 years ago, and since that time almost everything has been changed — Dean admits things got carried away. Bodywise everything that could be shaved has, the doors are now suicide, and its recived a fresh panel and paint ready for final assembly.

The chassis has been four-linked with a custom centre K-member to strengthen things up, Up front, the HT Holden front end Diff R Us grafted in over two decades ago remains; the only change will be six-pot Wilwoods. Diffs R Us has also built a hybrid nine-inch with Holden axle tubes to convert the rear to disc brakes. The tunnel ram is long gone, with Dean having built a 383 stroker with a 6-71 to power it. This will be backed by a built TH400. Dean has also built a set of custom headers, which have been HPC’d. With everything Dean needs to complete the build, the end is in close — if his other build doesn’t get in the way.

The Camaro is a number-matching manual Z21 that was purchased as an accident-damaged wreck after the last owner had a run-in with a motorway barrier and had no insurance. Before the front had been wiped off, it had undergone a big-dollar build. The interior is immaculate and even still has the warranty booklet. Underneath is much the same. Following the crash there was a new front subframe and all arms, and so on, have been powder coated. The engine was rebuilt, but just to make sure it’s been taken apart, fully detailed, and received all new gaskets, etc. The car is now back running and waiting in line for a paint job as soon as Dean’s painter can fit it in. The finishing touch will be a set of wide Rallyes.