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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Real Rides LTD

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Real Rides LTD

Muscle Car Restoration & Re-Creation
Full Custom Rebuilds - Panel & Paint - LVV & Compliance Repairs Welcome to Real Rides Limited.

We have a great website up & running so check it out! If anything really gets you going & you want to know more about what we can do to make your dream custom a reality, give us a call or drop us an email. Hot rods & classics are our passion & we get excited about boats & bikes too! Our services include disassembly, bodywork, paintwork, all engine & gearbox work, & final assembly. Additional services we can offer:
Full interior custom repairs & restoration
Sourcing of classic cars & importing
We can manage just about any project or idea you have.

26/10/2026

Simon's XY Falcon has been a great long-term project over the last couple of years. We kept it running and driving throughout the entire process so Simon could still take the kids out for a skid whenever he wanted.

We started by tidying up the engine bay and then moved on to the bodywork as funds allowed. After a few trips to RR, we made the final big push to paint the roof, rear quarters, bonnet, and boot, as well as refit the missing trims.

The next stop for the car will be the upholsterer, but with summer just around the corner, it's time to get back out on the road and cruise.

21/10/2026

Brett's Rambler Rebel had all of its bodywork and paint finished a couple of months ago. Since then, we have been patiently waiting on shipping from the USA for the donor 401 engine, which was sourced from a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

These engines aren't easy to find, but Brett wanted to stay true to the AMC heritage.

In the meantime, while we wait for the engine to arrive, we are moving ahead with a four-wheel disc brake upgrade and a new wheel and tire package.

18/10/2026

When Mark's Impala recently came in for drivetrain upgrades, we were glad to find the floors in better shape than usual, needing just a few minor rust repairs before we prepped and sprayed the full underbody.

From there, we blasted and powder-coated the chassis, fitting all-new QA1 front and rear suspension alongside Big Wilwood brakes with a new electric park brake system. To clear the massive 14-inch rotors and calipers, we upgraded the front wheels from 18 to 20 inches.

Under the hood, we dropped in an L77 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission out of a VE Commodore, rounding out the build with a custom-fabricated stainless steel exhaust system. On the inside, it received a Dakota Digital dash, some fresh paint, and a floor-mounted shifter.

15/10/2026

Parts for the Mk1 Capri are quite scarce these days. When this vehicle was involved in a fender bender, we had to use the original guard, incorporate two additional guards, and fabricate custom mounting surfaces to restore it to better-than-new condition. Although many suppliers list these parts online, none currently had stock available.

13/10/2026

Gary's CF Bedford camper was a prety solid old van—much better preserved than most that rusted away years ago. While it had seen its share of repairs over the years, Gary decided it was well worth keeping in the family a while longer.

We properly repaired all the rust and bodywork, applied a fresh coat of white paint, and fitted new door and window rubbers. This camper is sure to be the talk of many campsites across the land soon enough.

05/10/2026

THAT’S A WRAP ON CHROME SHOWCASE 2026!

What a weekend!
We took three very different Real Rides builds to Chrome Showcase: ’64 Imperial on our stand, with Patch’s Apache and Shane’s Nova representing us in Elite50.

We’re stoked to come away with a Top 10 Mothers Choice Award for Patch’s Apache.

It’s been a pretty good run for this truck lately — cover truck and feature for NZV8, and New Zealand Hot Rod Magazine, Top Five at Beach Hop, People’s Choice at our 20th Anniversary Event and now a Top 10 at Chrome Showcase!

A massive thanks to everyone who came along, checked out the cars and stopped by the stand. And a huge thanks to our staff, customers, friends and everyone who helped make the weekend happen.

Getting everything ready was a huge effort, but it was great to see it all come together.

And thanks to the Chrome Showcase organisers for putting on a seriously impressive show.

Here’s a look back at the weekend.

01/10/2026

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Congratulations Barbara Ludlow - you’ve won a double pass to Chrome Showcase 2026!

Thanks to everyone who entered and told us about their favourite Real Rides build.

We’ll see you at Chrome Showcase, 3–4 October at Auckland Showgrounds.

Come and check out Patch’s Apache and Shane’s Nova in Elite50, plus the Black Beauty replica ’64 Imperial on the Real Rides stand.
See you there!

23/09/2026

WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO CHROME SHOWCASE 2026!

We’re taking some of our biggest builds to Chrome Showcase 2026 - including Patch’s Apache and Shane’s Nova, both on display in the Elite50 showcase.

And on the Real Rides stand, you’ll get to see the Black Beauty replica ’64 Imperial up close - complete with hood-mounted machine guns, stinger missiles and all the other weapons and gadgets that make this car so wild. Yep, we even figured out how to get this machine road legal in New Zealand!

Now’s your chance to win a double pass and come see them for yourself.

What’s your all-time favourite Real Rides build?
Tell us in the comments for your chance to win.

📅 3–4 October
📍 Auckland Showgrounds

The lucky winner will be drawn next Wednesday 30 September - and announced on Facebook.

ChromeNZ

07/09/2026

20 YEARS OF REAL RIDES part 2.
The cars...

07/09/2026

20 YEARS OF REAL RIDES — WHAT A DAY!

Well… that was one hell of a way to celebrate 20 years!

40+ Real Rides cars and more than 300 people came through the workshop on Sunday, filling three car parks and making the place absolutely hum.

At around 11:15am, the final car pulled into car park - it was so cool to see all these great cars we have done so much work on, all in one place!

And that's exactly what the day was about.

From Patch's '59 Apache — fresh from the cover of NZV8 — to Mark Painton's rare HEMI-powered '68 Charger, John's '66 and '69 Chevelles, Darren's '70 Cuda, Kris's Anglia, Michael's Camaro and the Green Hornet, it was pretty special seeing so many Real Rides cars back at the workshop.

Some had been full builds. Others had been through the shop for paint or other work over the years — including cars painted here 15 or even 16 years ago.

We had customers travelling from Tauranga, Cambridge and as far away as Arrowtown to be part of it.

There was live music from Uncle Lex, Michelle Greaves & family, Big D BBQ, Lisa-Jane Coffee, Grow & Brew, plenty of car talk and a whole lot of catching up.

And of course, our People's Choice Award:
1st — Patch's '59 Apache
2nd — John's '69 Chevelle, just ONE vote behind!
3rd - Mark's '68 Charger

Most importantly, people stayed, caught up, wandered around the workshop and enjoyed the day. It was exactly the kind of reunion we'd hoped for.

A massive thank you to everyone who brought a car, came along and helped make the day happen — especially our friends and family who pitched in behind the scenes. We couldn't have done it without you.

Here's to the next 20.

Address

27 Foundry Road, Silverdale
Auckland
0932

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.realrides.co.nz/

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