To keep up with trends of the time and keep the judges’ attention, Rock Solid was almost totally rebuilt to create Rock 3. The colour change – with Berger aqua paint - and Ralfus-applied graphics soaked up more than 300 man-hours and grabbed fresh attention wherever it went. But it wasn’t just new paint: there were plenty of other mods, too, such as shaved door handles, painted – rather than alloy-sheeted - engine bay components (the radiator was totally-hand-built for smoothness) and significant suspension modifications. The front end incorporated hot rod-style twin wishbones and coil-over springs that allowed Howard to smooth the top of the Ford’s spring towers. A sensational rebuild.
“Rock 3 was the culmination of changes to achieve maximum points for the work. That was a six-month rebuild that allowed me to deliver the latest trends from the US, in suspension and paint. I sold it to (Summernats promoter) Chic Henry who gave it away as a prize at Summernats.”