Award Winning Custom Cars | Real Rides

Award Winning Builds

We've worked up our fair share of accolades over the years, for all sorts of projects. Keep scrolling to read all about our award winning vehicle builds.

Run to the sun 2019

Best Fastback

This 1970 VW Fastback came to us for a full restoration back in September of 2018. Over the four months the car was with us, it was stripped back to bare metal and just about completely rebuilt from scratch.

The work paid off though, with the car taking home the award for Best Fastback at the 2019 Run to the Sun event. Run To The Sun is NZ’s premier Volkswagen event, taking place annually in beautiful Mt Maunganui.

Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival 2019

Best Street Machine

Real Rides owner Kayton Coughey bought his 1968 RS SS Camaro not long after he turned 21, and has been working on it ever since.

After being featured on the cover of NZV8 Magazine back in June of 2018, the Real Rides poster car took home the award for ‘Best Street Machine’ at the Kumeu Car Show in January.

Teng Tools Grand National Rod & Custom Show 2018

First Place - Modified Sedan

After being imported from the USA, Patch’s 1955 2-Door Post Chevy came to us to undergo some modifications ready for cert.

This real nice example of a great model shoebox Chevy came first place in the ‘Modified Sedan’ category of the Teng Tools Grand National Rod & Custom Show in July 2018. You can check out some of the other winners on the show’s Facebook page.

Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod festival 2018

Best Commercial

In addition to some new shoes and a hard-top lid, we painted this 1940 Ford Pickup in House of Kolor’s Pagan Gold – a truly wicked paint job that we like to think scored it the award for ‘Best Commercial’ at the 2018 Kumeu Car Show.

You can check out some more pictures of this vehicle in our Gallery.

Automania Festival 2017

Best Paint

When Steve’s iconic V8 Austin Mini Ute received some impromptu body mods at the Beach Hop, he brought it to us for repairs.

While the vehicle was in pieces, Steve decided to scrap the car’s signature green wrap and replace it with a shiny new paint job. The decision paid off too — scoring him the award for ‘Best Paint’ at the 2017 Automania Festival.

This post on our Facebook page has some great before and after shots of our repairs.

Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod festival 2006

Best Muscle Car

Told you we’ve been doing this for a while!

In 2006, when Real Rides had only just opened, Kayton’s iconic 68 RS SS Camaro won ‘Best Muscle Car’ at the Kumeu Show.

As you can see, the car looked pretty different back then!