DURING my many visits to Redvers Charles’ Te Puke-based workshop, a rather inconspicuous Barrel nose pickup was undergoing work. Its only standout was the 2-1/2 inch top chop that seemed to suit it rather well. Other than that, it was just another work in progress vehicle in Red’s shed.
Fast forward to a few months back, and Redvers is living and running the same sort of workshop in Kerikeri in the far north. He phoned me about doing a feature on the “country’s best Barrel nose” ever. The contact and owner was Gordon Cowan from Thornton, about 12km to the west of Whakatane. The country’s best was an understatement as I was about to find out. I’ll let Gordon tell his story:
My wife Claudia and I bumped
