Indholdsfortegnelse for No 388 July/August2023 i NZ Classic Car

In this month’s issue, Michael Clark pays tribute in Motor Sport Flashback to Kiwi motor racing legend Chris Amon, who, on July 20, would have turned 80 years old. Who could ever forget the famous victory for Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren at Le Mans, when the Kiwi duo won the 24-hour race in a Ford GT40? That performance did not go unnoticed at Ferrari, and for 1967 Chris was signed to the famous Italian marque. He remained there for three seasons, during which he won the 24 Hours of Daytona race, the 1000 Kilometres of Monza, the New Zealand Grand Prix, twice, and the Tasman Championship in 1969. Having established himself as one of the very best drivers in the world, he went on to drive for March and…

Following the collapse of takeover negotiations between Ford and Ferrari in May 1963, Ford’s Don Frey was given the message by Henry Ford II to go all out and build a car to beat Ferrari. It seemed an impossible task for Ford, which had little experience in European sports car racing. The job fell to Englishman Roy Lunn, who headed Ford’s Advanced Vehicles department. Lunn had developed Ford’s 1962 mid-engine Mustang concept, an aluminium roadster racing car that should not be confused with the very different 1964 production Mustang. Starting as an engineer with AC cars in 1946, he moved to Aston Martin (AM) as assistant chief designer from 1947 to 1949. He contributed to the two DB2s that Aston Martin prepared for Le Mans in 1949. In 1953, he…

My father has a peculiar sense of humour. When I was born, he figured on naming me after that most German of cars, the Beetle, so my initials are VW. My brother came along a few years later and got the initials BMW, a fact he has taunted me with ever since, supposing it the superior motor. My dad even had DKW in mind if a third child appeared. Thankfully, for my inheritance, it did not. I had VW badges on my clothes and the dinner plate–sized Kombi VW badge adorned my bedroom wall, and various other items to boot. I have just opened a car-themed coworking office and these artefacts are proudly displayed, some 50 years on. RARE SIGHT While the Beetle and Kombi were imported into New Zealand…

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Swiss-born Hans Tanner and American Temple Buell were apparently among the many overseas visitors who arrived in New Zealand for the Ardmore Grand Prix (GP) and Lady Wigram Trophy in January 1959. Unlike Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Ron Flockhart, Harry Schell, and Carroll Shelby, who lined up for the sixth New Zealand Grand Prix (NZGP) that year, Tanner and Buell were not racing drivers, but they were key players in international motor sport. Neither the rotund and cheery Buell nor the multi-faceted Tanner was keen on being photographed, so the word ‘apparently’ is used in the absence of hard evidence that Buell actually arrived in this country 64 years ago. As a 13-year-old school lad struggling to produce a fledgling cyclostyled motoring magazine, I was fortunate enough to meet Carroll…

Given that I seem to be noticing an increasing number of people I know about passing on to that great highway in the sky – the one without potholes – lately, I thought it worth noting how much trouble has been caused to grieving relatives by bureaucratic noddies at the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), now alternatively known as ‘One Canoe’. I’m referring to the pointless difficulty and expense now involved in dealing with a deceased person’s motor vehicle(s). By way of an example, back in 1953, someone bought a Ford Mk1 Zephyr, which I now own or, in burueacratese, for which I am now the responsible ‘registered person’. In 1953, the purchaser bought it from the Ford dealer, and their name was recorded as being the ‘owner’ on the…

“A special year in 2023. Back in 2021, we announced that that Autumn Colours Outing was the last one,” David Mehrtens said, introducing this latest and possibly last event. He and Christine had given ways to pleas to run one more. “It is 20 years since the first one, and it’s also Otago’s 175th regional anniversary, so here we go!” A lot of planning goes into Begg / McLaren display these events. Usually held over the second weekend in April, the Autumn Colours Outing, or ACO, is a celebration of nature’s colours as Central Otago undergoes its dramatic seasonal change, with brilliant reds and oranges among the deciduous trees. It’s one of the best times to tour the region. It’s also a great chance for those who enjoy motoring tours to…

Susan Keeler has a bit of a soft spot for ‘Morris’, her 1973 Morris 1300 daily driver. “That’s what the previous owner, Lyn Woodrow, called him, and I’ve stuck with it,” Suzzie says. He has become a firm favourite among the family, particularly with her dogs, Jet, a border collie, and Bu, a samoyed. The pair enjoy taking over the backseat on any outing, usually with the windows down. A classic car enthusiast, Suzzie has a number of cars stored away, including a Ford Zephyr that she is keen to get back on the road. Morris has had just three Southland owners from new. “A farmer Norman Dickie owned him for four years and used it on his farm. It’s always been blue, but Lyn had him repainted,” Suzzie says.…

By 1959, Japan’s Nissan had begun expanding its export market for its export-only brand, Datsun. It established itself first in the US, and, in 1962, began its first foray into New Zealand. Initially, about 200 cars were shipped here from Japan to test the market. These cars were in direct competition with the Mark 1 Cortina, Vauxhall Viva, and similar. Apparently, those first test cars were sold for about half the price of the Ford product. Adverts from the time show the Cortina being sold for £923, which would put those first Datsuns on the market here for less than £500, or $1K in today’s money. TEST RESULTS These early cars were well received and a further batch was ‘tested’ here a while later. In 1963, Nissan established an office…

Ford put in a massive effort for Le Mans in 1966, testing its 427-cubic-inch (6997cc) engine under Le Mans–type conditions non-stop for 48 hours on the dyno. Twelve engines were prepared for the race, along with seven spares and 21 tonnes of spare parts. With nine cars prepared and 100 staff assembled for the assault on La Sarthe, Ford was going all in, and Henry Ford II was expecting a good return on his investment. Apparently, he handed a business card to racing-programme boss Leo Bebbe inscribed with the note “You better win!” The finish was possibly one of the most controversial ever, as three GT40s crossed the line in a dead heat, on team orders. But the organisers weren’t having that, and declared the McLaren/Amon car the winner, as…

Post-war America was a period of unbridled optimism. Unlike the other major powers involved in the war, the US escaped significant physical damage. As returning American GIs demobilised, they had money to spend. And many, through the GI Bill, bought homes and went to college. Many, too, were the first in their families to get a college education. When GIs were stationed in Europe – especially in England, Germany, France, and Italy – they were exposed to a kind of car not offered domestically, either before the war or after. These were small, lightweight – compared with typical American cars, anyway – two-seater sports cars. And they wanted their own. They created home-built specials or bought very low-production cars often sold as kits – for instance, the 1952–1958 Woodill Wildfire…

If motor racing trivia were an Olympic sport, and each nation had to be represented by two Formula 1 (F1) drivers, we’d at least get a medal – and probably gold – with Howden Ganley and Chris Amon. Howden’s knowledge of motor racing history is impressive while Chris could back it up, especially with questions on the Indianapolis 500. The Amon interest in motor sport started while at Huntley School in Marton, when he borrowed the Australian Modern Motor magazine of one of his mates, as he told me as I was putting the finishing touches on Eoin Young’s Forza Amon! “There was a report on the 1956 French Grand Prix at Reims won by Peter Collins in a V8 Lancia-Ferrari. I was really fascinated by it and read it…

TAKE THE WHEEL: A FOND LOOK BACK AT THE HD AND HR HOLDENS Glenn Flinkenberg. Published 2022 by Catch Phrase Media. ISBN 978-0-473-64854-1. Price $60 from the author, who also supplied the review copy (theflinks@xtra.co.nz). Review by Mark Holman This book is written by a knowledgeable uberenthusiast of the HD and HR Holdens, but it’s not over the top or bogged down in detail. These 212 pages start with wonderful period General Motors (GM) publicity material and adverts for all possible variations of the HD and HR Holdens, full of gushing text and boundless 1960s optimism. The Premier was ‘First with the imported look’, while the HD range had ‘all-new Space Curve styling’. If that wasn’t enough, enthusiasts could marvel at a selection from the Nasco accessories catalogue, which offered…

Legendary racing car driver Greg Murphy was full of praise for the Wheels at Wanaka show held at Easter this year, which attracted nearly double the previous crowd of 25,000 achieved in 2021. “Wheels at Wanaka has to be one of the greatest shows celebrating all things vehicles anywhere in the world,” said Murph. Murphy and Australian motor racing commentator Greg Rust joined forces to keep spectators informed and entertained over the three days. Australasia’s biggest all-vehicle show opened its gates to crowds on Good Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The organisers anticipated record numbers but most expectations were well surpassed, with more than 40,000 visitors poring over 3000 machines on the 60-acre site. The result has been donations to community groups from the Wheels at Wanaka Charitable Trust totalling $100K…

Twizel was the place to be for all and any Zephyr enthusiasts at Easter. More than 60 cars from both ends of both big islands descended on this Mackenzie country hot spot for a weekend of camaraderie and cruising. The weather played ball and a great time was had by all. A noggin and natter kicked off the weekend on Friday night, before a well-known local showed slides and spoke on how the village came to be. A cracking frost on Saturday morning had everyone taking up the cleaning rags to de-ice their cars before judging could take place. After lunch, the cars hit the road for a cruise along the canals before ending up at a salmon farm for a round of tasting. After dinner, a live band soon…

In the auto world, the 1980s belonged to the Japanese. They spanked the Americans’ subpar reliability; they rode over the Europeans for their lack of competition; and they drove a stake through what was left of the British efforts, which were largely in name only. The big three – Toyota, Nissan, and Honda – dominated sales of the boring old passenger car, whether it be small, medium, large, hatchback or coupé. Corollas, Sentras, Accords, Coronas, Bluebirds, and Civics sold in the millions and often ranked as the number-one-selling model in the US. This was something previously unheard of, as Toyota, for instance, had only entered the US market in force in 1971. People loved the reliability. People loved the fuel economy. People loved the driveability. Used to large land yachts…

Names like Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Riley, Wolseley, and Rover, to name but a few, came to the forefront at a time when luxury was on the agenda and these marques were at the top of their game. Their signature was soft leather, deep carpets, and lashings of wood scattered around the car. At least, that was how it was until a decade or so after World War II. By then, manufacturers had worked out that people who paid a fortune for their cars could also stand to pay a lot for the parts needed to keep them running. By the time the ’60s rolled around, the average British working man was getting to the point where he could afford to own a small or second-hand car. Luxury cars were still out…

The Sambar was a utility vehicle built in the little town of Bunnythorpe located between Feilding and the city of Palmerston North. Only about 18 of these tough little workhorses were produced between 1992 and 2001. Designed to be tossed around on farms, it is surprising to learn that any have survived. My quota of surprise was used up when I learned that two of them are owned by a father and son who live around the corner from each other in the city of Upper Hutt. Paul Slater bought his Sambar in 2007 to use at his Himatangi bach as a beach basher. At the time, he was looking for a quad bike and, as the Sambar was advertised as a quad bike by its previous owner, it came…

When Invercargill Jaguar enthusiast Neil Lewis first took delivery of his attractive 1977 Jaguar XJ coupé, all looked well except for a few rust bubbles, signalling attention would be required in some places. As is often the case, a ‘few’ rust bubbles can indicate a multitude of sins, and Jaguar’s XJ models are not unknown to suffer from rust. Given the rarity of these big coupés and the sharply rising values of this model here and overseas, Neil took the plunge after an inspection and decided that it was worth doing a full restoration, as he explains: “John and Brett at Melrose Panel Beating [Invercargill] had previously done work for me, and they began the repair work as soon as parts arrived from the UK. A new replacement panel for…

Highlands Motorsport Park is a wonderful addition to the enjoyment of what has been a stellar season of classic motor racing – which is also showing a noticeable renewed enthusiasm in many classes. Good fields were evident in all the classes, ranging from the Mainland Muscle Cars to the Historic Vehicle Racing Association (HVRA), Vintage Car Club (VCC), M Developments Sprint Series A and B classes, Highlands Modern Classics, and HIghlands Nostalgic Classics. It was also cause for celebration too, clocking up the first decade since Tony Quinn’s project became a reality. Thick fog early on Saturday added to the atmosphere, even if it delayed racing, but good crowds were treated to some intense racing in all classes. It’s also been a very long racing season that has been a…

The second round of the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) headed to the gravel roads north of Whangārei for Saturday’s eight stages, while the six stages on Sunday took place on south of the city centre. Would it be repeat of round one in April on the Otago roads, where Hayden Paddon won the event by blitzing all of the stages on his way to winning the Otago Rally a record 10th time? Even so, he’d had to share the limelight there with special guest Mikko Hirvonen, who also shone in the south, dominating the International Classic Otago Rally in the Rossendale Escort RS1800. In round two, the cars competed on 14 special stages totalling 225km. The format had changed from previous years, as just the ceremonial opening and driver…

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…