TRUE BLUE
Putting local Aussie talent on the world stage
AUSTRALIA IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE AFTERMARKET, AND THE PRODUCTS WE DEVELOP AND MANUFACTURE HERE ARE EXPORTED THE WORLD OVER.
STREET MACHINE’S TRUE BLUE SECTION CELEBRATES THE MEN AND WOMEN BEHIND THE PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESSES AND PRODUCTS THEMSELVES THAT HAVE MADE AUSTRALIA THE INTERNATIONAL HOME OF HORSEPOWER. BUYING AUSTRALIAN SUPPORTS A THRIVING LOCAL INDUSTRY, AND KEEPS REAL PEOPLE IN REAL JOBS. HERE ARE A SELECTION OF BUSINESSES DEDICATED TO STAYING AUSTRALIAN MADE:
What is your business name and what do you do?
The Castlemaine Rod Shop. The ‘Rod Shop’, as it’s known to enthusiasts, specialises in conversion products (chassis and suspension upgrades, brake conversions, gearbox adaptors, engine mounts and more) for a wide range of vehicles – everything from 80-year-old hot rods through to modern-day cars
Describe how your business came about.
The Rod Shop was started in 1976 in the small country town of Castlemaine. CRS is owned by Waddingtons, who are a Castlemainebased, family-owned company who have been around the car scene since the 70’s
How many years have you been in business?
The Rod Shop has been supplying parts to enthusiasts for 40 years
How many people do you employee in Australia?
22
What would you say is your niche – what do you really specialise in?
Our product range is incredibly diverse – over 6,000 catalogued parts at present. It’s difficult to say what our niche is
What is your company’s best-selling product?
We developed an Independent Front Suspension (IFS) setup for early Holdens and Fords and these have been incredibly popular – we’ve sold over 400 units to date
What are you currently developing?
We are about the release a bolt in coilover front end for the valiant guys
Do you collaborate with other Australian businesses?
Given that we’re well equipped to develop pretty much every part we need for our kits in-house, there’s little need for us to rope in other Australian businesses. What this means is we’re able to provide the customer with the best possible price for our parts, and the best customer experience.
What do you import from overseas?
We import plenty of products from the USA, like Wilwood disc brakes for example. They’re an established and respected brand name and suit the quality we’re looking for in our kits. We are the biggest Wilwood dealer in Australia
How much do you export overseas?
Plenty! We have a USA-based company called Roadster Ute Inc. that’s based in California, and we’re shipping Australian-made parts in to the States every week. We supply the US with a lot of reproduction panels for hot rods that we make on-site in Castlemaine, using Australian materials
How much of your work is for Australian clients/customers?
Around 80%
What achievement or product are you most proud of?
In 2010 we won the NSRA Best New Product in the USA for our new all-steel 28-29 closed cab body. We are the first none American company ever to win this award.
Further comments that you believe are of interest to our readers.
To celebrate out 40th Anniversary we’re holding a massive Open Day later in 2016, and we’d love all the Street Machine fans to come along.
More details will released on The Castlemaine Rod Shop Facebook page.