By Jerram Watts
After 13 weeks, 800 man hours, 25 different contributors and three, pending four marriages, the Folden is complete.
For more on the Holden go to the Rock's website.
The unholiest of motoring matrimony, the Folden has the catchphrase “a finger in both pies” – thanks to key sponsor Big Ben Pies – but NZV8 Magazine editor Todd Wylie prefers to call it a “mechanical Frankenstein”.
The Ford vs Holden debate is polarising and with such passion in both camps, it seemed nigh impregnable to bring them together - but Robert Taylor and Jono Pryor from The Rock wanted to.
“It was all born from the idea of sticking two things together,” says Robert.
“What we do is find different angles. A lot of what The Rock does is born from motorsports, a lot of our listeners are car enthusiasts.
“What would happen if we stuck half a Ford and half a Holden together? Would it bridge the gap between the two camps once and for all?”
Though the answer was a resounding “no”, some Ford and Holden lovers have been swayed.
“I thought it was a good idea,” says Nick Whitford, a self-proclaimed “Holden man through and through”.
“People were saying, ‘Don’t do it, it’s a waste’, but it has come out really well.”
Annette Lee, an office manager and “avid Ford supporter” says initially she was disgusted at the prospect.
“Until I heard that a Ford was going to be at the front and I think it’s amazing,” she says.
“I wouldn’t have been happy if the Ford was at the back, but we are out in front, where we should be – Holden are trailing along behind, so that’s cool.”
The launch was everything one would expect of motorsport demographic: lots of black and leather, beer and pies at 11am and a half-naked lady body-painted half red, half blue.
Todd Wylie, who has been overseeing the project from the get-go, says it’s a relief to have finally finished.
“Building something like that, in that time period, is a big ask,” he says.
“I can’t express me thanks enough to the guys who I have pushed to the breaking point to get it done, so it’s good to be able to finally relax.”
The Folden’s concept was the brainchild of Robert and Jono, but its exact specifications were decided by Rock listeners and built by Matamata Panelworks.
It has a Ford 1969 Mustang for the front, and a Holden HQ for the rear, a set of Foose wheels and a 302 V8 Ford engine - as chosen by listeners.
“It’s come out really well,” says Wylie.
“When we went into it, we didn’t really know what to expect. The public were voting on different bits and pieces, so we didn’t quite know what it would look like until halfway through.”
“I think they key to it is that it doesn’t stand out as two cars joined together as one,” says Jono. “It sort of looks like it’s meant to be.”
To the untrained eye – the car is flawless. It has a front and a back, four wheels, orange racing stripes and black interior.
But car enthusiasts would definitely be able to see what’s wrong, says Wylie.
“If you didn’t know old cars, you would kind of look at it and go, ‘Hey, that’s an old car’, but a lot of the guys that are into old cars would be able to pick up that something’s not quite right.”
The Folden now goes on a two week road trip around the country – before being sold on TradeMe with a $1 reserve.
“I guess it would go for around $30,000,” says Wylie.
“Someone is getting a bargain, it’s a really nicely finished car – whoever gets it is getting the best of both worlds.”
Jono hopes it will fetch a little more.
“I’d like to see it go for at least $80,000 – but that’s someone with a lot of money and no wife or girlfriend,” he says.
Before the road trip, the Folden has one more stop – a race at Meremere with an Ford Mustang and Holden HQ, which can be seen on Campbell Live tonight.
Has the Folden brought the two camps together? Will peace and harmony prevail?
“I think we’ve created a few more problems,” says Wylie. “The battle will continue, but we have done our part.”
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