After Tuesday's controversial Lakester, how about this for an altogether different type of hot rod? This Antipodean special started life as a 1920s Crossley 20/70 tourer, owned by Mrs Vida Jones of Sydney. Vida and her husband John were keen motor sport participants in races, trials and hill climbs in a variety of interesting cars – Vida even owned an Alfa Romeo 1750SS at one point. The Crossley was sold to Bob Pritchett in 1938, and after an accident left the engine and radiator unusable, he did what anyone would do, and fitted a supercharged Mercedes engine to the chassis... Bob didn't complete the car until the 1950s, and quickly made a splash on the VSCCA scene with his thoroughly over-the-top creation. It soon earned the nickname that it still carries today – Monster. A most appropriate name for a true Australian hot rod, which is still causing a stir today. Current owner Tim Shellshear has recounted its history in the latest issue of The Automobile, which is out now. |
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Monster - A different kind of hot rod
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