Eagle ready to take off

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 20

Eagle ready to take off

PA Auckland When an Auckland car buff, Mr Clifford Everson, began putting the pieces together for his dream eagle it was touch and go that it would not end up a “big monster.”

But after 3000 man-hours work of reshaping and beating his early fears proved unwarranted.

His dream car, named the Everson Eagle, turned out almost exactly as envisioned — long and sleek and a tribute to the 19305. “When I first started I didn’t really know if it was going to end up as a big monster or what,” said Mr Everson.

The owner of a welding workshop at Mt Roskill, he

hatched the idea of building a “true” sports car while he was working in the United States in the late 70s. At the time, he had been working on such famous car names as Ferrari and Lamborghini. “I saw a picture of a hand-made car in a magazine I just happened to pick up, and decided then that I wanted to do something.” He styled his future car along American lines, with “bits of European” thrown in “plus some of my own.” He emphasised the 1930 roadster look. Without drawing up specifications, he began work about 18 months ago. The car, conservatively estimated to cost about $85,000, still has a few

minor touches to go before it is completed. Its body panels and chassis are hand-made — beaten out of steel and aluminium. It has no fibreglass parts. It is powered by a 318 Chrysler engine and is capable of speeds of over 200 kilometres an hour. With a view to producing the car on demand, Mr' Everson ensured that spare parts were readily available. He said he had already had tentative inquiries, with at least one firm offer. Mr Everson declined to say how much money had been mentioned. “What I would like to do is produce these cars, whether for people here or overseas, on ’ demand,” he said. Over an 18-month period he could put together about 10 of the vehicles.

If the venture gets off the ground, Mr Everson believes it could be the first of its kind in New Zealand. The car will feature at the motor show being staged at the Auckland Showgrounds between July 14 and 17.