Hot rodder, custom car builder and artist, Dave Hart’s involvement in street rodding and the organisations that nurture it has spanned almost 60 years!
Born in 1952, Dave left school at age 15 to pursue a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship with the local council, influenced mostly by his father.
“I was a lousy mechanic; I never did any work on cars, but at least I learned to fabricate,” he quips. “I saved up a bit of money and bought a Model A four door sedan.”
Dave completed the car around 1971, which ran a 283 small block Chevy and Powerglide transmission, one of very few Chevy V8-powered hot rods at the time. His induction into the club scene began as a member of the Early Iron Rod and Custom Club, then as a founding member of Northern Beaches Hot Rods, of which he is a life member today.
“Northern Beaches is a pretty big place, and there was lots of hot rodding around here in the early 1960s. Most of the fibreglass T-bucket body builders were here, East Coast Antiques and three or four speed shops, all between Ryde and Palm Beach, and Sutherland.”
He also recalls the very early Metropolitan Street Rod Association, and the Australian Hot Rod Federation, which famously split in 1973 as drag racing and street rodding factions went on to form their own organisations, including the ASRF. He also attended the very first Street Rod Nationals in Narrandera, and has served on the NSW Street Rod Committee for close to 40 years.
“I came in just at the end of the era of channelled, unchopped cars. Hot rodders were starting to travel more, but a lot of cars were getting held back from rego by the Department of Motor Transport. Resto rods were coming, bodies were starting to get imported, and many more aftermarket accessories began to become available.”
Having built and modified countless cars and bikes, each of his personal vehicles have been unmistakeably unique. His interest in art and custom painting led him to spend a short time working with custom painter Rick Pacey, followed by an unexpected role painting motorcycles for the classic Aussie biker film, Stone (1974), a very memorable and proud moment in his career. “The Hells Angels got the contract to supply the 15 bikes for the movie but never had anyone to paint them, so they set me up in a workshop and I turned out 1-2 bikes a day,” he reflects.
As custom graphics grew in popularity, he continued to paint motorcycles, hot rods, customs and race cars, and furthered his skills in fabrication and body work. Dave estimates he’s played a significant role in the construction and design of more than 40 unique and significant vehicles. He has also been the go-to guy for hot rod artwork thanks to his fun, exaggerated style.
Dave is honoured for his service and his legacy with an ASRF Legend award.
