GOODBYE, BOB

Over the years, hot rodding has certainly enjoyed some very colourful characters. Sadly, one of them, Robert ‘Bob’ Armstrong, passed away on 3 June 2021. I didn’t know Bob all that well but first learnt of him maybe 30 years ago. He was a larger-than-life figure who knew everyone — as was apparent at his service in Auckland. There was also a final service and burial at his marae in Pipiwai, Northland. A loyal family man with strong Māori heritage, Bob was also a loyal friend to many and a father figure to many more. He also had a sense of humour and could tell a good story — much like the late Billy T James.

In the early days, Bob was best known for his ’34 Chev sedans — the later ones powered by the blown big block out of the late Bryce Wilkinson’s ‘Storm Bringer’ T-bucket. These Chev sedans were a regular sight cruising Queen Street and Beaumont Street in Auckland city. Bob’s brother, the late Kenny Armstrong, also took part with his ’55 Chev, which had the jacked-up gasser appearance that we take for granted today. Many people today say that it was the Auckland city night cruising Bob did that inspired them to go hot rodding. With truly the greatest respect, Bob was the original badass.

At a young age, Bob learnt the art of wheeling and dealing, and in later years, he was constantly importing cars, trucks, parts, wheels, and tyres from the US. He was a regular fixture at swap meets all over New Zealand, and helped many people get into hot rodding, selling them parts or hooking them up with the right people.

Bob was also a long-standing member of the Tamaki Rod & Custom Club, and, after the Chev sedans, it was his gorgeous 454 four-speed SS Chevelle that he and wife Raewyyn were frequently seen in at rod runs or drags.

There will never be an era of the Bob Armstrong type of hot rodder again — those days are vanishing fast. Bob had very old-school morals and values — something lost on today’s world. There was a certain amount of high jinks during the ’60s and ’70s, as with most people, but that kept Bob in good shape to know all the right people for all the right occasions.

In short, as well as providing for his family over the years, Bob was a go-to guy for a lot of people when they needed help or something sorted. Family and friends near and far received Bob’s help over the years. One such person was a mutual friend of ours, the late Pete Dore, who had a shop called STR Engineering in the late ’80s and the ’90s that specialised in hot rods, importing parts, and right-hand-drive conversions. Pete and Bob went on many buying trips together and often shared shipping containers for bringing their purchases back to New Zealand. I know Pete was very thankful for the friendship and also the help Bob offered over the years.

One warm and fuzzy moment that springs to mind is when Pete had terminal cancer and Bob arranged a golf cart at Kumeu to drive Pete around to visit all his mates at the show. That was the big heart Bob had — indeed a special moment. A number of years later, when Bob was mounting up the tyres on my roadster, I talked with him about that occasion with Pete. He just nodded and said, “That’s what you do, boy.”

It was at a Toy Run that Bob first saw my completed roadster, which paid tribute to our mutual mate Pete Dore. Bob said, “You did good; Pete would be very proud of that.”

Those heartfelt words made it all worthwhile. But that was Bob; he didn’t waste his words or tolerate fools, but when he spoke it came from the heart and really meant something.

Another thing I will always remember about Bob is that he always seemed to have a perfectly sized and well-stocked chillybin in his cars at any given time — almost as if the chillybin had been tailor-made for the back seat of the car. One year, at the famed Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso drag strip in Bakersfield, California, there was Bob with a ’63–’64 Ford Galaxie two-door hardtop. Well, I would have sworn the chillybin was a mile wide, as it filled the entire back seat!

Funny stories aside, Bob Armstrong was a man who was well respected throughout the country and across the globe. He will be missed by many. Our sincere condolences to the Armstrong family, extended families, and all Bob’s friends.

RIP, Robert ‘Bob’ Armstrong.