Indholdsfortegnelse for No 376 April 2022 i NZ Classic Car

I can’t believe how much has happened, both around the world and locally, since I sat down last month to write my editorial. Firstly, citizens of the world are in total disbelief as Russian troops continue their unwavering assault on Ukraine, moving closer to the capital, Kyiv, and leaving behind them what can only be described as a ‘humanitarian catastrophe’, as stated by the Ukrainian president. Despite desperate attempts by the Ukrainian military and armed civilians to defend their land, the toll of misery and death mounts as Russian bombardments on the capital and around the country continue. As ongoing talks between officials from both sides fail to yield a ceasefire, the world waits with bated breath for a humanitarian response to this accelerating tragedy. Closer to home, we find…

While doing his apprenticeship in Lower Hutt during the 1970s a young Paul Cocker heard the rumble of a V8 passing by. When he looked up he saw his first Range Rover. The sight and sound of that vehicle made an impression on the teenager that lasted a lifetime. The Range Rover, thanks to Charles Spencer King, went into production in 1970 boasting an iconic shape that would last until 1996. The vehicle that would create the ‘sports utility vehicle’, or ‘SUV’, moniker came about because Rover decided it was time to add a bigger four-wheel-drive vehicle, one with a 100-inch wheelbase, to the model range. Land Rover made a 109-inchwheelbase model but the standard vehicle had a 88-inch wheelbase. The new model would be more suitable for road use…

When 75-year-old John Nicholson passed away in September 2017, there was little recognition for the talented and skilful yet modest New Zealander who had left his mark in international motor racing. At the 1973 British Grand Prix, John saw the Cosworth Ford DFV motors he prepared finish first and third in the hands of McLaren team drivers Peter Revson and Denny Hulme. Yet there was more to come that same day on the open spaces of Silverstone when Nicholson not only took pole position but also won the 25 lap, 106-km Formula Atlantic international race driving the Lyncar BDA 1600, also powered by one of his own carefully fettled engines. It was a proud day being a New Zealander at Silverstone, with Nicholson joined by David Oxton and Jim Murdoch…

The world of motor racing wasn’t just shaken on 23 April 1962, it was nearly rocked off its axis. As was once the way, races for Formula 1 (F1) cars comfortably exceeded the number of Grands Prix (GPs) counting towards the title. For example, 60 years ago there were 20 other F1 races on top of the mere nine that counted for the world championship. By the opening round of the championship on 20 May there had already been eight non-championship races — but none had the impact or the ramifications of the Glover Trophy on Easter Monday at Goodwood. There were two Kiwis on the grid. Bruce McLaren shared the front row with Graham Hill and pole man Stirling Moss. Qualifying a highly respectable seventh in a field of…

Long-time readers might recall my writing about petrol in the 1990s, mainly about the introduction of unleaded, but also about the price of petrol around the country. At the time it had been alleged that there was price collusion between the oil companies. As I travelled frequently, I carried out a survey of petrol prices on behalf of NZ Classic Car at petrol stations in the towns I visited. The Commerce Commission took an interest, so much so that they requested a copy of my findings when completed. In a nutshell, with the exception of Taihape where diesel was a fraction of a cent different, the prices at the pumps were exactly the same everywhere in New Zealand. Interestingly enough, the day I forwarded my report to the Commerce Commission,…

Southland engineer Roy Clearwater has moved to a new home featuring a great workshop which is rapidly filling with work. The house remains the priority, but you can tell he is keen to get back into his workshop. “This place is absorbing a lot of my time and cars just aren’t a priority at the moment. The Pacer and the MKII are the projects I’m aiming to finish.” Centre stage is a Mini Cooper MKII, waiting for the installation of its rebuilt engine. “It’s a 1969 Morris Mini Cooper MKII, fitted with a 996cc motor. It should be finished now and I’ve been working seriously on it for the last six months. I usually try to do a restoration in about 12 months.” Behind the Mini is a Chrysler Valiant…

Auckland pair Cameron Ross and co-driver Matthew Buer (Subaru Impreza STi) held their nerve to claim a popular win in the first Targa tarmac motor rally to be held in this country in almost a year, the two-day, Hamilton-based Targa Bambina, held over the 12-13 March weekend. With both event favourites — last year’s Targa Rotorua event winners Jason Gill from Auckland and Christchurch-based co-driver Nicole Summerfield (VW Polo R 4WD), and multi-time former Targa Rotorua event winner Leigh Hopper and his co-driver Michael Goudie (Subaru WRX Impreza) — striking what quickly turned into terminal mechanical issues early on the first day of competition on Saturday, Ross and Buer found themselves in second place overall after the second closed road special stage. Then they took the outright lead after the…

After almost a year of being unable to get to the circuit it was welcome relief to attend the Tasman Revival at Pukekohe. The twoday event was held on the last weekend of February and featured no fewer than 12 categories, including the BMW Race Driver Series and Pirelli Porsche Race Series among the stand-out groups. The hot, dry conditions of both days meant there was little by way of safety cars and the programme was kept intact. This year’s Revival was held in recognition of Jim Palmer, a New Zealand motor racing legend of the ’60s. Although spectators were not permitted this time around, the organiser, HRC Events, plans to stage it again next year so that punters can join in the reminiscences about Palmer’s era. One of the…

GENERAL LEE The Dukes of Hazzard TV series wrecked 350 1969 Dodge Chargers, and the films another 180, so pickings in the US were already slim when Nick Day went looking for one. The story of acquiring this one, which he put through a nuts and bolts restoration and conversion into this truly spectacular General Lee tribute car, has to be read to be believed. STACCATO ZAGATO The owner of this gorgeous thoroughbred has a passion for Italian sports cars and the stories that go along with them, a passion that is cranked up several notches if they have a Zagato badge on them. That led him to the Zagato factory and into a friendship with one of the senior staff from that enterprise. Passion is its own reward but…

The P76 was ahead in many areas of its Australian ‘big’ car rivals from Holden, Ford, and Chrysler. It was the company’s first attempt at a large car built for Australian conditions. Prototypes even used Holden shells to develop its new running gear. Excellent structural rigidity resulted in a light but very strong body. That intriguing shape was an obstacle for some for sure, but it was bold — as any challenger needs to be — and it makes the car an appreciating classic today. There was a lot riding on the P76 and, given its positive reception in the press, it deserved to sell better than it did. It was Wheels magazine’s ‘Car of The Year’ in 1973. The sums looked good and it was lighter and handled better…

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It’s 27 December 2021 and I am sitting under the sun umbrella enjoying a cold beer and gorgeous Christmas cake baked by our youngest daughter, Carol. And, oh yes, today is our eldest daughter Pamela’s birthday — she turns 63. I never thought for one moment while sitting in the back seat of my 1938 Ford Ten with my wife Lorraine, under the olde pine trees along Marine Parade, New Brighton, that we would … one day … have a daughter just two years off drawing the pension! Well, you don’t look that far ahead at 15 and 16 years years of age, do you? So here I am, sitting in the sun, reminiscing about the past and stories still untold. It reminds me of the photo caption in a…

If there’s one good thing to come out of the Covid border lockdown it’s that New Zealand tradespeople have plenty of work. That’s actually too much of a good thing if you want to get something done in a hurry but on the whole it’s good for all of us that the tradespeople who weathered lockdown have full order books. Some have even taken on more staff and apprentices from the growing number of people who decided a trade was a more dependable career option in these uncertain times. The owner of this car, Barry Watson, has long made it his mission to support local businesses, so that’s what he did when it came time to replace the soft top on his 1973 TR6. The hood Barry was replacing came…

CROPDUSTER Great story on the two Stanton cars. I noted the mention of the Cropduster being at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed with Warner Mauger. We were travelling Europe at the time so I was at this meeting to see this car on the hill. I was standing with a group of locals when Warner started his run. They were blown away with the unusual body style and were a bit disbelieving when I told them the sort of speeds this car was capable of. I also mentioned the record run near Ashburton. When he booted it up past the house the noise from the stubby exhausts made them realise this was something not only a bit different but the build was also a bit of home grown skill,…

Motor racing at last! The brave decision of the Classic Motor Racing Club of New Zealand to go ahead with its restricted classic race meeting without spectators was rewarded with a good entry list from all over. Timaru’s Levels Raceway was wet and breezy for the start of the South Canterbury Hydraulics Southern Classic for 2022, clearing Sunday, as if it was doing its best to remove the familiar smells of burning rubber, toasty clutches, and race fuel. A small group of photographers and pit crews braved the elements and we were treated to some great motor racing. KELFORD ENGINEERING SERVICES — HISTORIC & CLASSIC PRE-78 SALOONS This new class is set to become a major drawcard among classic car fans. Rodger Cunninghame’s battles in his Fahey Tribute Ford Mustang…

A fine Sunday morning turned up for Hamilton's Classics Car Meet at Classics Museum/Jukebox Diner car park. As the morning progressed a diverse selection of cars rolled in, with all their owners enjoying a general get-together and chat. The classics boot sale was also The Jukebox Diner car of the day was awarded to a very original 1933 Rolls-Royce RR1933. Classics Museum cash prizes were awarded as follows: Second place car went to a 1993 Jaguar XJ12 convertible; third for the day was a very tidy 1971 Holden Kingswood, FR3940; and the furthest travelled prize went to a gentleman from Rotorua. Another very enjoyable Classics Car Meet.…

Attractions Exhibitions, museums and other vehicle-related curios Marlborough OMAKA CLASSIC CARS A unique collection of vehicles giving insight into New Zealand Motoring from the 50s to the 80s. 90 cars on display at any one time. omakaclassiccars.co.nz / 03 577 9419 /Aerodome Rd, Blenheim Coatings Heatproof, cosmetic, chrome, and specialist coatings & water transfer printing Auckland HIGH PERFORMANCE COATINGS Exhaust coatings, piston coatings, turbo coatings, and much more hpcoatings.co.nz / 09 267 1007 / Unit 0/62 Mahia Road, Manurewa, Auckland HP COATINGS New Zealand’s leading performance coating specialists, serving you over 20 years hpcoatings.co.nz / 09 267 1007 / Unit 0/62 Mahia Rd, Manurewa, Auckland Consumables Oils, additives fluids, fuels and workshop consumables Auckland RECHARGE BATTERIES Battery revitalizer and conditioner recharge.net.nz / 0800 36 66 36 / PO Box 350, Pukekohe, Auckland SOUTH PACIFIC…

Unicorns — these mythical creatures have enchanted children and adults alike for centuries. The collective noun for unicorns is a ‘blessing’. Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn, an association that dates back to the 12th century and not, as I imagined, the result of a late-night brainstorming session liberally fuelled by whisky. Despite their frequent appearance in popular culture unicorns remain famously difficult to spot in the wild. I hadn’t seen one until I was invited into the presence of Malcolm’s original-condition 1966 Shelby GT350 — one of the real unicorns of the car world, alive and well in Wellington. My only previous sighting had been of one in captivity at the Shelby museum and factory in Las Vegas. This car’s badge of authenticity is its chassis number, 6S349: ‘6’…

The man on the mountain bike pedalled over, taking it all in. Gazing in wonderment at this small Japanese coupé with butterfly doors, he said, “Wow, I have never seen one of these before. What is it?” When I told him it was a Toyota, he nearly fell off his bike. The Toyota Sera is unique amongst ’90s Japanese coupés. The Sera, which is Italian for ‘evening’, can trace its roots back to Toyota’s AXV-II concept car. Launched as part of a trio of Toyota concept cars at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show, it shared its underpinnings with the P70 Toyota Starlet. The similarities ended there, thanks to the AXV-II’s low-slung and rounded coupé styling with butterfly doors. These doors were held upright by gas struts when fully open. Glass…

We have noted many significant motoring milestones in these pages and, while cars are closest to our hearts, it’s time to tip our hats to Toyota’s Land Cruiser, which, for more than 70 years, has been a permanent yet always evolving feature of the motoring landscape. The origins of the Land Cruiser date back to 1941, when the Japanese government instructed Toyota to produce a light truck for Japan’s military after seeing Jeeps in action in the Pacific war. Toyota developed the AK10, a half-tonne truck with angular wheel arches that show the lineage to the FJ40 and, of course, to the Jeep, but it never appeared in Jeep-like numbers. In 1950, during the Korean War, the US government ordered 100 vehicles to a Willys design from Toyota. In 1953,…

By the time Brian had taken control of the promotion of our premier events, the Peter Jackson Series (no relation to the film-maker) via the sports promotions company Global, New Zealand, had been running Formula Pacific for nearly a decade. For the purists, these 1600cc high-revving machines not only provided state of the art design but also gave us a chance to see future talent first-hand. Keke Rosberg, Teo Fabi, and Roberto Moreno all significantly advanced their careers by winning the New Zealand Formula Pacific title. For people who pined for the good old days of Formula 5000, the — by comparison — puny Pacifics were always tough to like. Brian could see both sides of the discussion, having been closely involved in brother Graeme’s F5000 campaigns, but recalls, “The…

The simplest way to verify if a car's shock absorbers are working properly is to give them the bounce test. Push down sharply on each corner of your car and let it come back up. The car should just recover its height and then stop. If it continues to bounce up and down, your shock absorbers (also referred to as hydraulic dampers) aren't working. If your car won't move at all when you press on it in the front or back, the valves may be clogged in one or more shock absorbers, preventing any movement at all. Also, if things move easily and you hear a lot of clinking and clanging, your shocks may be shot too. Most of the old style, lever-action shock absorbers used on cars made from…

When it comes to cars for enthusiasts, few marques can equal Alfa Romeo. Plus, few Alfas are as iconic as the GTV and Spider, the 1966 ‘Duetto’ Spider shooting to fame as Dustin Hoffman’s ride of choice in the film The Graduate. The Pininfarina-designed 105 series Spider — first in boat tail round-tail, then in Kamm-tail form from 1970 — remained in production for 30 years. Then, in 1993, Alfa Romeo gave us its long-awaited replacement, the 916 Spider, designed by Enrico Fumia, also at Pininfarina. Along with its GTV coupé equivalent, the front-wheel-drive 916 became another Italian design icon, a little challenging to some, but today it still looks unique and fresh. “It’s those lines,” says Spider owner Darryl Mudgway. “I think the lines are just classic. It was…

It’s been a long and dull drought for motor racing fans over many months, then suddenly it was all on. Teretonga hosted the Mobil 1 2022 Classic Speedfest over the 18-20 February weekend, just after the classic racing at Timaru the previous week. Southland Sports Car Club organisers and volunteers pulled off a great meeting. The mandated crowd restrictions were helped by Teretonga’s expansive viewing areas, which meant some great motor racing could be enjoyed by that rare breed — spectators! As expected, racing starved North Islanders made the trip south, taking in both Timaru and Invercargill classics, which resulted in some big entry lists in most classes. The enforced time alone in the shed also meant a number of racing cars not seen on the track for some seasons…

Held on the last Sunday of each month, this event was started in January 2021 and has continued to grow as the months roll by, reaching 131 cars in November. February’s turnout was a little down on this figure, but never-the-less, a great variety of vehicles came on the day. I saw the best paint job that I have ever seen on a Pontiac Le Mans. It was good to see an ever increasing number of early Japanese vehicles coming on to the scene. I particularly liked the 1996 Toyota Corolla four-door hatchback that appeared to be all original, but still like new. May the trend continue. The classic of the month award was presented to John and Sheryl Glas, from Rangiora, with their better than new (probably) 1973 Mitsubishi…