Indholdsfortegnelse for No 383 November 2022 i NZ Classic Car

After we had settled into the Bay of Plenty way of life, my hunt for another classic car to grace our garage began in earnest a few months ago. After searching through a local auction site I was staggered at the prices of some classics, which have skyrocketed in recent times. For example, any early Holden in nice condition will cost plenty — a 1962 EK will set you back in the region of $25K-plus, a later model HK Premier around $50K, and a half-decent HQ will cost about the same. As for Statesmans, I’ve seen some HQ models in the region of $60K. Another mover and shaker in the market is the humble Ford Cortina. A Mk1 GT was offered for the mid $50Ks, a nice standard Mk2 in…

The new Jaguar XJ-S created a controversy within the world’s automotive media when it was launched in 1975. Journalists were split, either loving it or hating it. The legendary E-type had finished production and sports car enthusiasts were expecting a suitable replacement. Jaguar, however, had recognised the E-type was going to be a hard act to follow and, thinking the sports car market was in its twilight years, decided to move instead into the luxury GT market, where it believed there would be more money and more sales. No doubt Jaguar had been following the fortunes of Aston Martin, Porsche with its 928, and the Ferrari Daytona. The car Jaguar launched in 1975 came with a 212kW (285bhp) V12 engine as standard and, in sharp contrast to the svelte E-type,…

Like the French, Australians liked to share their premier open-wheeler race around. The French invented the term ‘grand prix’, holding the world’s first ‘great prize’ at Le Mans in 1906, and of the 90 Grands Prix de France held since, 17 venues have been used. Of those, six were used just once. The extraordinary Montlhéry on the outskirts of Paris, part speed-bowl, part drive out into the country, hosted the race from 1933-37 and therefore came close to providing a semi-permanent home after the great Italian Tazio Nuvolari won for Alfa Romeo on the high-speed triangular Reims-Gueux in 1932. The race returned to Reims for the last two GPs before World War II and, when the world championship was introduced in 1950, the venue bounced between ‘the champagne capital’ to…

Elliot bought his Cortina from his father, Peter, in the late ’80s. Peter had restored the Cortina with Elliot’s help. The distinctive Ford burgundy has been repainted. The car was Peter’s daily driver back then and it became Elliot’s daily driver until a few years ago, when he put it in the shed to begin addressing the rust patches creeping through it. It is now ready to be driven and enjoyed again, although future plans could involve swapping the engine back to a 1500cc Kent motor as originally fitted. “The car was imported a year or so after it was made and first registered in New Zealand in 1966,” says Elliot. “We have the original ownership papers. It currently has a 1600cc cross-flow motor in it, and it’s had that…

Earlier this year, Mobil motor oils and their brand ambassador, motorsport legend Greg Murphy, went looking for New Zealand’s meanest machine. With $10,000 cash up for grabs, they put the call out to all tinkerers, tuners, and polishing pros. The Mobil Mean Machine competition was open to all kinds of vehicles — sports cars, muscle cars, supercars, show cars, and not-even cars. Whether it was a pick-up, low rider, fixer-upper, or still on blocks, it was eligible. The whips came flooding in with over a thousand entries and nearly 100,000 votes from members of the public. The top 20 featured Mazdas, a Mitsi, Subaru, Chevs, Fords, a couple of trusty Corollas, and a fair few Holdens, including a 2008 HSV Murph edition featuring an underhood mural of the man himself.…

SOUTHERN CLASSIC SEASON RACING OPENER Southerners got a taste of what’s to come as the Classic Motor Racing Club (CMRC) kicked off its 2022-2023 season with a great line-up at Levels Raceway, Timaru. The meeting introduced a number of new cars and, something you don’t see often, a solid turnout of racing motorcycles. Added into the mix on the Saturday meeting was the quirky three teams Brooklands Challenge, which was won by the motorcycles. The return of some warm weather in early September made for an enjoyable day of motor racing. There was great close racing in all classes, not just for the win but right down the finishing order. RALPH SMITH OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD The 2022 CMRC Award Trophy for Outstanding Contribution was presented to Ralph Smith, a popular…

September’s event was a great day out for many classic car owners after a three-month recess owing to precautions related to the Covid and influenza outbreak and winter months. To honour Queen Elizabeth ll, we reserved the grass oval for British vehicles only. All other classic models were diverted to the large lawn area. The British contingent made up nearly a quarter of the vehicles present — 26 out of the 106 vehicles attending. However, the honour of the ‘Classic of the Month’ title went across the pond to Brian and Sharon Savin from Rangiora for their 1958 Cadillac Eldorado. They received a dining voucher for two, to be redeemed at the sponsor’s venue, the Better Half Kitchen & Bar in Leithfield, North Canterbury. The band, Magic, once again entertained…

Surviving the decades This very Italian little car had a number of iterations — a second series came along in 1955 with so many changes it was almost a different model. Over the 10-year life span of this model several versions were produced by associated Italian carrossière or coach builders. Lancia provided limited numbers of chassis platforms to a selected group of companies who produced prototypes. This particular Lancia is probably the most original example anywhere of this car. It was found in Italy not too long ago and the registration sticker on the windscreen attests to the fact that the last time it was registered for use on the roads in Italy was 1973. The odometer shows only 45,800 kilometres. This may or may not be totally accurate but…

Dunedin resident Ralph Allen does not like seeing something worth preserving rot away into obscurity, especially when it comes to classic Triumphs. Restorations are often challenging, requiring a fabricator with suitable skills and an owner with the heroic level of patience required to see the job through. Ralph’s 1968 Mk1 Estate is very much a triumph over seven years of adversity, which finished earlier this year. Several other Triumphs contributed scarce panels and parts to complete what is now an impressive restoration. AN ESTATE IN A STATE Ralph smiles as he counts 13 classic cars of various models that have inhabited his property above Otago harbour. These days, the collection has been stripped back to a more manageable level. In pride of place is his Estate. It is currently running…

Japanese cars, and Hondas in particular, were about to flourish in New Zealand. This was the crux of the conversation I was having with Russell Moller, sitting in his Greenlane, Auckland, motor dealership early in 1973. Russell was particularly excited about the new Civic EB1 small car that had been unveiled in Japan the previous year. I was about to leave on an extended stay in Britain. When I returned more than two years later, it was apparent Russell had called it right. Norton and Russell Moller had gained the licence to import fully built up Hondas, and formed Honda Pacific. A few highly prized Civics arrived before the New Zealand Motor Corporation (NZMC) assumed the franchise from the Moller Group. The corporation’s plans included building the EB1 at NZMC’s…

STAR OF ARION I note in your September issue that the article on the Mitsubishi Starion refers to the myth that its name was an “accident”. This is not correct. I happened to live in Japan from 1981 to 1983 and was able to visit the Tokyo Motor Show while I was there. I have the original brochures for the Starion and these clearly state the name is associated with the Star of Arion — nothing to do with the word ‘stallion’ and Japanese speakers’ difficulty with the letter L. Mitsubishi says ‘Starion’ is a contraction of ‘Star of Arion’ and refers to both a star and the mythical horse, Arion. The cover of the original Japanese Starion sales brochure, published by Mitsubishi (May 1982) carried the text: “The name…

LOCK ’EM UP Never let those turbo flange nuts or sump bolts come loose again. Designed to lock and seal nuts and bolts on all mechanical parts, body assemblies, and in hundreds of other applications subjected to shock or vibration, the red Perma-Lock High Strength Threadlocker is for heavy-duty applications. It requires heating and the use of hand tools to separate parts. The blue version is medium strength and suitable for loosening with hand tools alone. Both strengths are available in 6ml, 12ml, and 36ml bottles. Available from leading automotive and hardware stores — contact them for pricing. TRUST VALVEMASTER Cars built in the era of leaded fuels relied on the lead content to lubricate their valve seats. Now that you can only buy unleaded at the pump they are…

We all need a good car show rush from time to time. They stoke the imagination and the urge to get that project car back on the road, or tidy up those jobs that will get it ready for the next rally or club day. Plus you get to be with like-minded people talking the same language and appreciating what someone has put together. Car shows inspire us. Sometimes it’s nice to look at other car types to compare notes on how others have done some finishing work on their car or discover a colour that might have you rethinking your assumptions about your selection. Ideally you would attend a number of shows to get exposed to a wide cross section of ideas, tips, and tricks, one of which could…

Invercargill turned on brilliant sunny weather as the celebrations began with a public display of 36 members’ cars, with Jaguars, Daimlers, and HWM Jaguars drawing steady crowds throughout the morning. As major restructuring of the Invercargill CNB was not quite finished, the numbers of cars on display was restricted. Guest of honour for the weekend was Richard Waugh, author of Classic Jaguars in New Zealand, and a stall was set up for him to sign and promote his book. Richard was prompted to comment, “For a small provincial region, I’m impressed by the number of cars which have turned out.” A capacity centenary dinner was held on Saturday evening at the Ascot Hotel, where guest speaker Richard Waugh spoke about the Jaguars and Daimlers in his book and the company’s…

Otago motorsport enthusiast, Paul Coghill, was awarded the Lupp Trophy at the recent MotorSport New Zealand awards evening in Auckland. The trophy recognises a competitor from classic and historic racing who has demonstrated exceptional levels of sportsmanship and vehicle presentation, and who embodies the very spirit and values associated with the classic and historic movement. Paul is a familiar face, having competed regularly for many years, often in either his Triumph Vitesse or his Jaguar Special, and his competitive spirit is well known and enjoyed on racetracks and, formerly, street races throughout New Zealand. Paul is also an active member of the Otago Jaguar Drivers Club.…

For a brief period in the late ’80s, squared-off lines, especially in cars from Japan, were the last word in modernity. Today, those lines give cars of that era a distinctive period charm. Owner Deven Solanki says his JDM 1986 Skyline GT Limited S car is a real head-turner and he gets a lot of comments from people whenever he takes it out. It’s curious, in a way, that a comparatively staid, boxy, four-door saloon, which was only just beginning to hint at the world domination the ‘Godzilla’ Skylines would achieve, has its own kind of cool, but there is no doubt it’s there. Curiously, the squared-off lines make it look older than the sixth generation that preceded it, and even some versions of the fifth, which date back to…

Seeing the Darracq 120 racer that Louis Wagner, also a pioneer aviator, drove to victory in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup in a shed in Hamilton, New Zealand, race felt a little like finding a Rembrandt at a garage sale. For historical significance, I’d say this car ranks with Ray Harroun’s Marmon Wasp, the first Indianapolis 500 winner. Unlike Harroun’s Wasp, which has been lovingly cared for at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum over the years, this historically pivotal machine wound up half a world away from its home in France and, to most of the motoring world, largely forgotten. Sadly, so is the story of how the car got to Aotearoa in the first place. More often than not, a racing car that is a few years…

When people think of Spartans, they are more likely to think of ancient Greek warriors than a 1930s inspired kit car, but it’s the latter we are considering today. Our Spartan is one of the most successful kit cars manufactured in the United Kingdom, one of approximately 4000 that came out of the factory from 1973 to ’95 — thus vastly outnumbering their 300 famous warrior predecessors. Spartan was one of the first kit car makers to hit on the formula of building a retro-style kit car with modern — at least for the time — underpinnings. The first Spartans were built on a Triumph Herald chassis and owners could opt to build them using the Herald engine or fit their own. ALSO MEDITERRANEAN By the end of the ’70s,…

We’ve all read the stories of people who have lusted after a particular car for ages and then circumstances finally allow them to realise their dream — me and my lust for an E-type Jaguar, by way of an example. What is it that pushes those specific buttons on an individual that permanently register an interest for however long it takes? I can trace mine back to when I was aged three or four. My father, a car dealer, used to bring home a different car every night — or that’s how I remember it. By way of a treat, he used to take the family out for a drive and, as was the way back then, he had me sitting on his knee steering! Apparently I was always trying…

The challenges you may face when converting a 12-volt generating system to an alternator are: ◼ Finding brackets to mount the alternator to your engine◼ Determining the wiring you want to use for your particular set-up◼ Deciding whether you want to use an ammeter, an idiot light, or a voltmeter to monitor your classic’s charging system. BRACKETS With recent, more popular classics, brackets to adapt alternators are available from aftermarket sources. In other cases, brackets from more modern cars can be fitted to earlier engines. In a few cases, brackets may need to be fabricated. Just make sure you mount the alternator securely so it won’t wobble and vibrate, and make sure its pulley lines up precisely with the pulley on the water pump and fan, and the vibration damper…

After disruptions due to Covid, the way is now clear for the Taupō International Motorsport Park to host the sixth edition of its Historic Grand Prix over the weekend of 21 – 22 January 2023, with practice sessions all day on Friday 20th. The Historic Grand Prix is New Zealand’s leading classic race meeting. It will feature eight different race categories in 24 races over the two days. These include Formula 5000, historic Formula Ford/Formula Junior and invited historic single-seaters, historic muscle and saloon cars, historic sports sedans and invited all comers, Tranzam, heritage touring cars, Formula Open NZ and Hooters vintage race series pre-1966 saloons, and sports cars. After celebrating Alfa Romeo in 2020 and Ford in 2021, the marque to be celebrated in 2023 is Jaguar. The VCC…

After 21 years of hosting the V8 Supercars at Pukekohe, the Auckland Racing Club decided to focus on the horses of the four-legged type and end the track’s long association with motorsport. September’s race was the last, and tens of thousands of punters congregated at the circuit for one last time, honouring the track that has seen so many great drivers compete for glory. Among those drivers were Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon, Scott Dixon, Greg Murphy, and Scott McLaughlan. On the track, the support classes included the Historics, which featured Greg Murphy racing the Whittaker’s Ford Sierra he first drove 30 years ago, John Bowe in the Shell Sierra, and Michael Lyons in a Nissan Primera. John Bowe had engine failure in the first of the three races…

One of the South’s most popular car shows returned on September 10, with many declaring it the best one yet. It was long-awaited after a three-year absence, and a continuous queue of people waited throughout the morning to enter. Glitz and glamour abounded on the displays, which ranged from a tiny BMW Isetta and motorcycles to stately Packards. The riches on display meant it took at least a couple of hours to canvas the quality of local talent applied to restoring all facets of these amazing examples of motoring. Rare parts and memorabilia stands catered for all sorts of makes, and collectors could find many a delight in the models for sale. The enthusiasm from supporters throughout the lower South Island was evident throughout the show — no doubt pent…

Thanks to Top Gear, in recent years the Morris, Austin, and sometimes Leyland Marina (this example came with all three names on it) have been much maligned. Throughout its production life, the Marina was a popular runabout car for a person with a small family. Its main competition was the Ford Escort. Apart from 1973, it would spend most of its life playing bridesmaid to the Escort in the sales charts. During a production run of nine years, 1.2 million cars were built (1.5M Escorts built over the same period) with the last Marina rolling out of the factory gates in 1980. Like the Marina, the Escort came as a two-door, four-door, sports coupe, and panel van, but uniquely the Marina was available as a pick-up or ute with a…