Sydney hot rodder's 25-year odyssey with blown Hemi '33 Ford coupe

A quarter-century affair

Some project cars come and go. Others become lifelong obsessions. For Sydney's Joe Kurtovic, his 1933 Ford coupe falls firmly into the latter category, having occupied his garage and imagination for over 25 years.

According to Street Machine, Kurtovic acquired the stalled project during a trip to Melbourne for the Victorian Hot Rod Show. What started as plans for a straightforward hot rod cruiser took a dramatic turn when he picked up a 6/71 supercharger. As he puts it: "I was going to build a simple hot rod cruiser, but then I bought a 6/71 supercharger and all plans changed."

Blown Hemi firepower

The Sydney-based builder eventually transformed the '33 into a full-fendered, tubbed street machine finished in bright yellow. Under the bonnet sits a blown 392 cubic-inch Hemi – the legendary Chrysler Firepower V8 that defined the early days of American hot rodding.

The combination of classic '33 Ford styling with proper Hemi grunt and forced induction represents the sweet spot of traditional hot rodding values. It's the kind of build that respects the car's heritage while delivering genuine performance.

The long game

Two-and-a-half decades with the same project might seem extreme to some, but it's a timeline many Australian hot rodders will recognise. Between work, family, and the inevitable parts-hunting that comes with any early Ford build, these projects have a way of stretching out – and that's before you factor in the constant evolution of ideas and standards.

For Kurtovic, the journey has clearly been as important as the destination, with the '33 coupe representing a sustained commitment to getting it right rather than rushing it out the door.

The full feature appears in the July 2026 issue of Street Machine.