Indholdsfortegnelse for No 401 September/October 2025 i NZ Classic Car

Christchurch’s Angus McLeod first worked on cars as a 10-year-old with his father on a 1937 Plymouth, followed by an engine overhaul and body respray on a 1939 Citroën, the car in which he gained his driver’s licence. Angus joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1964 as an airframe engineer and worked on aircraft including the Harvard, Vampire, DC3, and the Canberra bomber. THE ALFA BUG His first Alfa Romeo was a 1967 GT Veloce bought and restored in 1978 and later raced in the production class with Invercargill’s Dave Brown. This car was Angus’s first exposure to the marque, and he was bitten by the Alfa bug, big time. Angus and his wife Ann moved to the UK in 1979, intending to take a two-year working holiday,…

Join us for the Ayrburn Classic 2026 from Friday, February 20-22, in Queenstown’s stunning Ayrburn precinct. Enjoy a unique atmosphere surrounded by restaurants, bars, and entertainment, set in beautiful gardens in the Southern Alps. With plenty of food and drink options to keep you refuelled as you admire an incredible display of vehicles, and enjoy the thrill of seeing select exotica in displays on The Dell, where each car is presented on stage and its owner interviewed. Don’t miss this extraordinary experience that the whole family will enjoy! EXOTICA CLOSE UP You can get up close to exotic supercars, classic sports cars, and amazing custom creations, all while enjoying a relaxing atmosphere and all that Ayrburn has to offer. Many of these cars are seldom seen up close, making this…

When Trev Halstead bought his 1956 Studebaker Sky Hawk from a collector in the South Island he had his suspicions that all was not what it seemed. He recalls, “It didn’t look too bad, but she was pretty buggered. However she did go.” The previous owner had plans to restore it himself but once he started sandblasting the floor he quickly realised he was in over his head in over his head. According to Trev, “Everything was rusted to hell: the floor, the boot, the guards, the whole car. The chassis was a throwaway; rotten.” CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH FLAIR To classic car and hot rod show enthusiasts, Trev is probably better known as ‘Mr Studebaker’. A collector, championing and rebuilding Studebakers since the early 1970s, Trev has made an art form…

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It could be because the Canterbury town is sun-blessed, with excellent country roads less than 10 minutes in any direction. They are flat and include the longest straight roads in New Zealand, but if you want some sweeping bends, then the 200km ‘Inland Scenic Route’ traversing the foot of the Southern Alps is 20 minutes away. Alternatively, there are the tight twisty roads through Arthur’s Pass further on. The only thing Rangiora seems to lack is a lot of traffic. SOMETHING IN THE WATER? Regardless of the reason for such automotive popularity, I once again found myself in Rangiora knocking on the door of Peter Parkinson. I last visited Peter back in 2016 (New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 309), to check up on the progress of ‘Lucy’, a car…

Colorado means ‘coloured red’ or ‘ruddy’, relating to its river. It’s often said to be the closest in size, population, people’s attitudes, and landscapes to New Zealand. Colorado is a similar area at 269,603km2, to our 268,021km2. The population of 5.8 million is dominated by one city, Denver, not too dissimilar to God’s Own. As in New Zealand, both have mountain regions, encouraging outdoor lifestyles with lots of scenery, tourism and farming. In the 1800s, the discovery of gold led to vast wealth, development, and investment. When the gold eventually ran out, both economies transitioned to other resources. SHOWCASING SHELBY However, since 1996, there has been new gold in Colorado in the form of the Shelby American Collection (SAC). This amazing world-class museum collection sits quietly in Chaparral Court, in…

The forthcoming Royal Automobile Club of Australia Auction of classic motor cars is to be held on Sunday, 26th October (with the catalogue and online bidding going live on 5th October). RARE CLASSICS In conjunction with the Royal Automobile Club of Australia in Sydney, Halcyon Auctions will conduct a sale of important and rare classic motor cars. Early consignments include an exceptional 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Fastback by H.J.Mulliner in current family ownership for over 30 years; 1963 Bristol 408, chassis number one of just 84, in concours condition; highly desirable and with impeccable provenance 1985 RUF 911 3.2; the Bohemian 1971 Velorex 16/350 threewheeler; the ultimate Australian Superpower, 2017 Holden Special Vehicles GTSR W1, the fastest and most powerful car ever built in Australia; 1968 Citroën Mehari. For viewing…

Welcome to our new Classic Southern Scene bringing you motor racing, interviews and background to what’s happening on and off the track in the North Island classics so if you have something special, then contact Phil or me (027 733 9158) and we will do our best to get your story/event covered. Phil Noble’s team is bringing you track and pit news from the North Island The Classic Motor Racing Club’s Brooklands 2025 meeting is on Saturday, September 13, so we will have coverage in our next issue of the 2025-2026 season opener. What a season it’s been with a host of new cars on the track and some old famous ones resurrected. The silence is deafening at the moment, so I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing some motor…

Classic Fun Ho! toys are favourites with collectors who actively search for mint examples of those they once played with, or for models they can successfully restore. In 2025, children have as much fun playing with toys as their parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents did. Some of the toys may have been passed down through the family for generations. NEARLY A CENTURY OF MODELS Fun Ho! toys has been manufacturing for 90 years, producing four main ranges: Lead, Cast Aluminium, Midgets, and Repro. The company started in the 1930s when Jack Harold Underwood experimented with lead toys in his Karori home, leading to the establishment of his business in 1935. The initial products were lead models catalogued in the order of production. The first model was the Fire Engine Pump…

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 N ot all is as it seems in the movies, and in the original John Wick movie, it is a classic case of one of the stars being a little dressed up. Ford’s Mustang Boss 429 from 1969 are now a highly coveted and soughtafter model of the breed, commanding enormous interest, and with just 859 examples made by Ford, prices range from US$19,000 for a good runner, to top examples commanding eyewatering prices around the US$400,000 mark. No producer in his right mind is going to deliberately damage this rare beast. The outcry from enthusiasts would have been deafening! The solution was to build five examples for the first John Wick movie, and apparently, all five no longer exist, written off in the movie.…

The deep black of our impressive feature car says everything about the US muscle car era of performance, looks, and an intimidating presence. This one, although sympathetically restored, is still very much as it was assembled at the factory. Plymouth designer John ‘Dick’ Samsen’s preference for the slender hunting fish’s name thankfully replaced Plymouth’s suggested ‘Panda’. It was no secret that Ford was planning the sporty coupe Mustang, while, over at Chevrolet, the Corvair Monza was another challenger in the ‘pony car’ stakes. PONY CAR CHALLENGER In 1957, Chrysler led the charge in automotive design with its ‘Suddenly it’s 1960’ theme, introducing jet aircraft–inspired wings, lights, and chrome, along with large sweeping curved glass windscreens. It was a marketing move that emphatically caught the other two big car manufacturers on…

The delightful Alfa Romeo convertible in the photos with Angus is his other regular driver, a 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta. This is a car that has received regular work over the years from Angus, and it is a delight to drive, he said. “It needed new sills and has been tidied a lot. We enjoy driving it without the hardtop and leaving the top in the garage.” This car retains its little 1290cc twin-cam engine and, like Angus’ other Alfas, it gets driven regularly. According to registration records, there are now a handful of these little sports cars remaining road-registered in New Zealand.…

Hello! I’m Miranda Easten—a singer-songwriter, hopeless romantic, and lifelong car enthusiast. I am also a very excited new contributor to NZ Classic Car magazine. You’ll often find me either behind a guitar, behind the wheel, or running a bit behind schedule… just kidding about that last part! I’ve been obsessed with cars for as long as I can remember. My childhood toy box had fewer dolls and more Matchbox Ferraris, and my first words may or may not have included “camshaft.” Fast forward to adulthood (questionable term), and I’ve now owned more cars than I can count. I did try counting once, but I got distracted somewhere in the ‘30s. ALPINE INSPIRATION At the moment, I’m driving a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, my third one, because I’m a glutton for stainless…

Back in the ’80s, Group B set world rally sport alight! Rulebooks were burning, and officials were scrambling to contain a monster evolving from one event to the next. Spread amongst the danger and insanity was a special kind of flamboyant romance that made even Formula 1 seem just a little bit vanilla. WRC’S DAYS OF THUNDER Rallying produced cars that reacted quicker than the human brain, piloted by individuals with nerves of steel down spine-tingling ribbons of tarmac and gravel with fanatical fans lining the stages. Rallying had truly reached its pinnacle. Then, in the blink of an eye, the cars that were too dangerous to exist were gone. That bygone era is nowadays typically remembered for three manufacturers-Audi, Peugeot, and Lancia. Many forget Japan was lining up for…

Sometimes being world famous can attract little attention. In company with 1961 world champion Phil Hill, a stroll along Invercargill’s Dee Street early on a Friday night seemed nothing out of the ordinary. We passed the historic Grand Hotel on a busy footpath before looking in the window of a home appliance store. A television in the shop window, in black and white, of course, was showing the news that Sir Winston Churchill had just died. Certainly, no one noticed my walking buddy was someone quite notable. It was the night before the 1965 Teretonga Tasman Championship race, and I am not sure how I happened to be walking with the quiet, yet friendly American racing driver who had teamed up with Bruce McLaren for the Antipodean series. Yet that…

Director and engineer at Elite Race Engineering (ERE), Tim established his specialist race engineering facility trackside in 2022, in Quinns Way, among the precincts of Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell. It’s a natural progression of the area first created by Tony Quinn in 2013, driven by his passion for motorsport. The growth of this motorsport-focused area has attracted new businesses, many of which provide services to the racetrack and its competitors, while also supporting local businesses and the community. A SKILSET DEVELOPED INTERNATIONALLY Tim recently returned from the USA, where his busy motor racing lifestyle and expertise require him to regularly consult for various racing teams, including those in IMSA, V8 Supercars, WEC, ELMS, and BTCC. As Tim explains, “Our expertise extends internationally, and we also offer race engineering and strategy…

Thanks (or rather, no thanks) to modern technology, I’ve had to replace my current (at least) 20-year-old cell phone because some bright spark decided that the old 3G network has to be replaced with 4G! IT’S CALLED PROGRESS! Why? I’ve no idea, but I had resisted the change for as long as I could. However, in mid-July, I bought a more modern phone, and my problems started. The main issue I had was that I could not transfer my cool call tunes. And can I say here that the modern ones are not ones that I would want anywhere near my phone! But logic prevailed in the end, and the fact that none of the helpline personnel had English as their first language didn’t help in the interim. LIFE WAS…

CONTINENTAL GRAND TOURER Built from 1970 to 1977 for well-todo continental types to saunter around country lanes and across Europe, with its glorious sounding V8, gorgeous Michelotti styling and that wind in your hair feeling of freedom thanks to its clever T-Top roll-bar arrangement (something which Triumph had to include to make the Stag sellable in the US), has earned it legions of fans. “Personally, I find the Stag a car like no other,” says Stag owner Nixon Fryer. “The Stag’s unique T-Top roll-over hoop and its long, muscular look make it stand out from any other car of its class, along with it being one of only a handful of British V8 sports tourers. And on the topic of the Stags 3.0L V8, it was also unique itself. The…

Steve Fabish has been a Holden enthusiast for decades and bought his first Holden, a ute, when he was eighteen. For a couple of decades, he has bought more Holdens than he has sold. He and his wife, Joy, decided that it was high time to build a shed to house them all on his six-hectare property in Hillsborough, just down the road from Egmont Village, Taranaki. Their Hillsborough Car Museum near New Plymouth uniquely focuses on the Holden marque. After building his shed in 2017, he learnt that Holden was about to stop operations in Australia that year and rather than a shed holding his collection, he decided he could make it a museum to preserve the Holden marque indefinitely. SUPPORT FROM THE TOP Steve contacted GM Australia, who…

Automotive technician Melissa Hannan joins New Zealand Classic Car magazine from our next issue, No.402. Melissa appeared in issue #396, with a large Chevrolet Station Wagon lurking in the background. With the number of women joining the industry in various roles and driving their own classics and customs, it seemed timely bringing on board someone with her extensive mechanical experience, along with her Girls ‘N’ Gasoline tutorials, now held around New Zealand. It’s been a busy year for Melissa with her Girls ‘N’ Gasoline classes proving to be a popular event wherever they are held. Originally from Auckland, Melissa moved south to Christchurch four years ago and has wasted no time seeing the South Island, usually travelling in her 1959 Chevrolet Parkwood Station Wagon running a 283ci V8 and Powerglide…

“We’re not doing it like that! You don’t need all that shit!” Famous words from a man of few words. Those were Barry Robinson’s comments after his first look at the underside of the Wellingtonbased GM Dealer Team Vauxhall Chevette, HSR Rally car. BUILDING A WINNER Barry and John Keast from Winton had just competed at the Blenheim Rally in Barry’s 2-litre HB Viva GT in the mid-1980s. They left the car and trailer in Blenheim, then ferried across to Peter Parnell’s workshop in Wellington to check out how to rally-build Barry’s burgundy red ex-rental, 1256cc Chevette he had just bought. The discussion about what to do continued on the drive home, and the die was set. Barry stripped the car and delivered it to John Keast (‘Keasty’) in Winton…

The Barracuda, derived from the Plymouth Valiant, was designed to stand out among pony cars. The ‘’Cuda’ name became official in 1969, introducing a trim package. Its third generation featured a new E-body that marked a distinct shift in Mopar styling while sharing its floorpan with the Dodge Challenger. Available models included the base Barracuda, the luxury Gran Coupe, and the sporty ’Cuda. While a slant-six engine was offered, the V8 options were more popular, producing up to 317kW (425bhp). Only 17 convertible ’Cudas were made in 1971, making those rare and valuable today. The car’s extra performance required enhanced suspension modifications and body decals in vibrant body colours like Limelight and Sassy Grass were added, highlighting its muscle car status. It achieved significant success on the race track, with…

Renowned for their versatility and tough build, these vehicles were assigned a wide range of tasks and often exceeded their intended design capabilities. They also had some unique local characteristics (read: home-grown modifications) that set them apart. Our featured pickup, affectionately named ‘Old Bluey’ by its owners, the Hargreaves family, has become a beloved part of their history. A family dedicated to Ford vehicles, when Ian Hargreaves (89) reached out to me last year, he had a fascinating story to share about Old Bluey, and its recent restoration. Surprisingly, it has remained in the same family since new, in 1947. Its background, going back nearly 80 years, also includes a lot of local history. “Back in the 1800s, Joseph Hargraves, my great, great, grandfather, had a farm near Auckland. Fed…

A superb dark green, tan leathertrimmed 1987 Bentley Continental convertible, first owned by Sir James Fletcher and three further owners, reached a NZ$110K to realise a subject sale. A 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda W113 hit expectations with an opening bid of $210K, finishing on a sold price of $310K. The 1932 Packard Twin Six Dual Cowl Phaeton, star of the auction, failed to find a new owner. This remarkable open classic had an estimate between $700K and $800K, but with an opening auctioneer offer of half a million dollars, saw no bids. REGULARS HOLD THEIR LEVEL A highlight of the July auction was that certain models remain good value for money. The 1972 MGB GT, with approximately 128,000 miles, attracted two bidders and sold for $14,500. A 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280SL…

Tucked away in the heart of South Canterbury, a small but mighty workshop in Temuka is redefining what it means to build trailers. With a strong reputation for quality, customisation, and craftsmanship, this locally owned business specialises in building bespoke enclosed trailers—each one built to order and tailored exactly to the client’s needs. From compact 2-metre luggage trailers to full-sized car transporters and toy haulers, every trailer is constructed in-house from the ground up. This end-to-end approach ensures total control over quality and precision, with no corners cut and no detail overlooked. The team, led by Brendon, works one-on-one with each client to deliver a finished product that not only meets but often exceeds expectations. What sets this business apart is its ability to fabricate exactly what the client envisions—no…

At Ford dealers, the dream market for new car salesmen was becoming increasingly challenging as the company struggled to keep up with the demand for its 289ci V8 Mustang engine and other vehicles using the same engine. CHANGING TIMES Ford General Manager, Lee Iacocca, is credited with coming up with the idea of a ‘Sprint’ six-cylinder version as part of Ford’s “Millionth Mustang Success Sales’ programme in 1966, in an attempt to encourage sales of the less popular sixcylinder model. Iacocca personally championed the Mustang project, with the car being developed in an amazing 18 months before its launch in April 1964. Led by project design chief Joe Oros, the Mustang project had been known initially inside Ford’s design team as the ‘Cougar’. Petrol was cheap, so many asked why…

This little beast really dialled all my numbers. It was a raw race car on the road. No frills. Hard suspension, limited slip diff, a grunty, 186ci engine with triple-Stromberg carburettors, 4-speed M20 gearbox and Monaro GTS disc brakes. What’s not to like? Crossing the Desert Road (Tongariro National Park) in winter! The demister’s not doing the business, single-speed wipers need to be flicked on and off in the drizzle, and I’m pummelling myself against the fixed non-retractable seatbelts as I lunge for the wiper switch. Add to that my head hitting the roof regularly as I hit the undulations on the road with billiard table settings of the race suspension at 100mph (OK, I exaggerate slightly!), and yes, you could say that everything wasn’t always fun. But mainly it…

Hi Quinton, Greetings! Checking in on a few matters and updates. Jaguar MkVII 75th anniversary Everything is coming together well for our weekend for the national event on 1–2 November 2025 and activities. This week we ‘sign off’ on the new Jaguar book. Just over 70,000 words and 300+ photographs/illustrations, so a comprehensive effort, and we have been helped by many international experts. Paul Skilleter, the UK-based world authority on Jaguar history, has written one of the forewords, and considers our analysis and information to be ‘groundbreaking’. See attached front and back covers (the book is near A4 size). Canterbury Brit & Euro Classic Car Show We have just signed our major sponsor for 3 years, AVID Group Ltd (major car detailing company here in Chch). We are almost there…

Capped at a production of 299, affluent owners can display the Ferrari Testa Rossa ‘J’ as art, drive it on their property, or let their kids enjoy a memorable ride. They are built by TLCC at Bicester Heritage in Oxfordshire, UK, under full approval from Ferrari who supplied TLCC with the original drawings of the car from Ferrari’s Classiche department. Centro Stile helped design the two-seat layout, correct paint colour codes and leather trim details of the car, mimicking its current road models. BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED A body crafted in hand-beaten aluminium, and the attention to detail is exquisite. Spectacular Borrani-style wire wheels with Pirelli Cinturato tyres, presumably made specifically for this vehicle, add significantly to its aesthetic appeal. A handcrafted Nardi steering wheel, featuring a quick-release system for easy driver…

The Taupō Historic GP kicked off the New Year of racing in spectacular fashion, while the NZIGP Legends of Speed Festival in late January further showcased the splendour of classic car racing in New Zealand. This year’s event celebrated the motorsport career of David Oxton, highlighting his achievements and contributions to the Formula Atlantic and Formula Ford communities. CHANGING MOUNTS After taking 4th place from Greg Murphy at Taupō, Oliver Sentch left the Historic and Vintage Racing Association (HVRA) to focus on Formula Open New Zealand (FONZ). He achieved success in his second race with the DB4 Swift, winning the Formula Atlantic group and the David Oxton Cup. Heavy rain on the second day cut short the third round of the Tasman Cup Revival Championship, leading to the cancellation of…

Take a look at what was on offer at the Ayrburn Classic in 2025, and with the list of inaugural industry supporters growing along with the participants’ entry list, the Ayrburn Classic 2026 is going to be a very special family event. New Zealand Classic is proud to be associated with the Ayrburn Classic, and along with Chris Meehan and the team at Ayrburn, we know this will become a mustsee event like no other in the country with its rural park atmosphere, restaurants and bars and unique viewing platforms. It’s an experience not to be missed!…

Citroën, a French automobile manufacturer, has a rich history of innovation and design that began with its founding in 1919 by André Citroën. The brand is known for its bold engineering choices and has consistently pushed the boundaries of automotive technology, particularly in areas like suspension and styling. THE EARLY YEARS André Citroën, after whom the brand is named, was an engineer with experience at the Mors automobile company. He founded Citroën in 1919, initially focusing on mass production techniques, which made him a pioneer in the automotive industry. Citroën’s first model, the Type A, was notable for its innovative design and was ready to drive, unlike competitors who offered only chassis. The company quickly expanded by establishing a dealership network, providing servicing, and even creating road signs. Citroën was…

From the biff and bash of saloon car track racing car to possibly one of the finest examples of this popular Ford, you will be amazed by our cover feature car in issue #402. Patrick Harlow discovers a couple of sports cars heading into spring, one an extremely rare prototype that has somehow surfaced in New Zealand. The other is a New Zealand-built model that everyone loves. Miranda Easten’s introductory feature is an absolute stunner of a supercar, and we ran out of room for Gary Johnstone’s Jaguar TWR in issue 401, and here it is. We go to the other racing extreme with a tiny Italian Abarth racer that Jim found Stateside and which was an absolute delight to drive, now preserved in the hands of its famous European…