MOBIL MEAN MACHINE WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Earlier this year, Mobil motor oils and their brand ambassador, motorsport legend Greg Murphy, went searching for New Zealand’s meanest machine. With $10,000 cash up for grabs in the Mobil Mean Machine competition, entries were open to all kinds of vehicles — whether it was a street sweeper, a drift hack, or a project that has been going on for decades, it was eligible. Suddenly, whips from all over NZ came flooding in, leading to over a thousand entries and nearly 100,000 votes from members of the public.
The top 20 featured Mazdas, a Mitsi, Subaru, Chevs, Fords, a couple of trusty Corollas and a fair few Holdens, including a 2008 HSV Murph edition featuring an underhood mural of the man himself! Here’s the rundown on the two runners-up and the ultimate Mobil Mean Machine winner …
From Taupo, in third place, Aidan’s 1998 Mazda RX7 is from the ‘golden era of Japanese motorsport’, and this is the RE Amemiya and Mazdaspeed Japanese-built JGTC GT300 RX7 that competed in the 2000–’01 championship. It’s powered by a peripheral-port 20B three-rotor with a Hewland six-speed dog box, and still retains its original chassis and floor, with the body covered in RE Amemiya/ Bomex assembled panels, carbon-fibre doors, bonnet and GRP front fenders. Some will also remember this car as one of the ‘unlockable’ cars featured in the Gran Turismo 2 video game. “This thing stands out!” says Murph; he also notes that petrolheads will love what’s under the hood.
In second place, from Auckland, is Billy’s 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK, possibly the only jeep in NZ running six-potlong travel shocks. “I had to twist arms to supply that,” says Billy, who bought the Jeep stock-standard a few years ago. When he couldn’t find the parts and accessories he wanted locally, he started importing his own.
And finally, from Taranaki, taking out first place — and crowned New Zealand’s Meanest Machine — is Matt’s incredible 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air. “It’s got a beautiful stance,” says Murph. Matt agrees and says, “When you go for a roll in it, heads turn.” This is one of the most iconic lowrider bombs in New Zealand, and most likely the only one that holds a cert for hydraulic suspension. Watch the video to see Matt and Murph give these a blast! It’s also running the original 235 blue flame and original ’50s era car accessories. This Bel Air has had a few owners, but now it’s in Matt’s care he says it’s up to him to bring back the bomb of the glory days. The prize money will help; Matt says the $10,000 will go towards helping him start his own customs business.
To check out the winners, watch the videos at mobilmeanmachine.co.nz, or head over to the Mobil1 Performance NZ Facebook page at facebook.com/ Mobil1PerformanceNZ.