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About

Established in 2017 and located in Hamilton, New Zealand, Bad Penny offers a comprehensive range of services to meet all your classic and custom needs – be it two wheels or four.

We prioritise clear and open communication, working closely with our customers to understand their needs and deliver customised solutions. To keep you in the loop, we invoice weekly, allowing you to closely track the progress to stay within budget. Our goal is to provide specialised services that bring your ideas to life, turning your automotive passion and dreams into reality.

Our team is made up of highly skilled professionals with years of experience across various areas of the automotive industry. From simple repairs and maintenance to hydraulic and airbag installations, all types of fabrication, bare metal restorations to full ground-up builds, we handle every aspect of your project with expertise.

With a shared passion for quality and craftsmanship, we are dedicated to bringing your automotive projects to life.

Meet the team

Ray

Workshop Foreman

With 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, Ray is an experienced machinist and has done his time in the paint and tyre industry. His diverse skill set ensures that every aspect of a project is handled with precision. Ray has a strong passion for Aussie muscle cars and loves pushing performance to the limit—especially when he gets a good run on the skid pad. Above all, he values clear communication with customers, making sure their vision is understood and brought to life.

Chris

Owner & Operator

With 28 years of experience in the automotive industry, Chris is a skilled and qualified auto electrician with a broad range of expertise. From electrical work to tackling various automotive tasks, he has the knowledge to handle nearly any challenge. Chris has a particular passion for GM vehicles, lowriders, and custom builds, making him the ideal person to bring your automotive projects to life.

Adam

Automotive Technician

With 5 years of experience in the automotive industry, Adam specializes in hydraulic and airbag installations, as well as fabrication work. He has a strong passion for lowriders and Japanese cars, always approaching each new project with enthusiasm and creativity. Outside of the workshop, Adam is a professional photographer, capturing stunning images that feature on our website and social media. His photography helps showcase the craftsmanship of our builds and adds a unique perspective to each project.

Graham

Automotive Technician

Graham is a third-generation mechanic with 39 years of experience in the automotive industry. He’s been involved in the hot rod scene since 1990, and his passion for cars began at age 13 when he rebuilt his first vehicle. Raised in a staunch Ford family, Graham has a deep appreciation for all cars, with a particular love for Mopar, especially the 1969 Dodge Charger. His extensive experience and knowledge make him a valuable asset to the team, ensuring every project is handled with expertise and attention to detail.

Having worked in various roles, including service manager, Graham’s broad experience allows him to approach every project with practical insight and skill. His extensive background ensures we deliver quality work on all types of vehicles, from classic muscle cars to modern builds.

Luke

With over 30 years in the trade, Luke is a second-generation panel beater who’s spent his career immersed in custom car design and restoration. 

He started out in Hamilton before heading to Australia in 2005, where he ran his own business and worked alongside ex-Holden designers, bringing modern car design technology into the custom and restoration world.

Luke has been hands on with everything from small rust repairs to full ground-up builds, his portfolio includes restoring iconic race cars – from V8 Supercars to Brock & Perkins Commodores and E30 BMWs.

He has a real passion for old school muscle sitting low on modern suspension, as well as Mopars, American muscle, and 90s Japanese performance cars.

After moving back to NZ for family life, Luke is enjoying working closely with customers to achieve the best results on their cars – whether that’s a tidy repair or a complete build.

Finn

Finn’s the youngest in our crew, with a few years of panelbeating experience and a big appetite for learning the ins and outs of restoration.  

He’s all about the Japanese car scene, old-school Mazdas and Toyotas with a particular love for rotaries.

Outside of work you’ll usually find him building his own cars or pushing himself at the gym and training Muay Thai.  He’s got a solid passion for cars and brings that same energy into the workshop every day.

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Contact

P 07 847 2491

E chris@badpenny.co.nz

285 Kahikatea Drive, Hamilton 3204

New Zealand