Bucklers!

Going back into this, I spent some time on a phone call with Mid Beckett trying to establish which chassis that was for my records. He stated unequivocally that it was not a Buckler chassis at all, but a copy as he could not get a "real" one, and much easier to register as a Buckler than dream up another name.
That does not mean that your car Paul is in the same situation. Vic's wife told me that he gave it another name, it's now recognised by the folk who like Bucklers as such, a Buckler. Some were "authorised" copies by Buckler NZ, some were just done by those who could either not afford them, or Buckler NZ could not deliver, so they built anyway. I know of a car that was in exactly that cae, 2 cousins bought one rolling chassis, built another chassis and some of the parts supplied went onto both cars.

To follow on from post #286, here is the car when I owned it in Dunsandel, 1970. I think the plate number is AI...Attachment 77308

Advertisement from the 1950's - looks like from the " Pink " cover New Zealand Weekly News,

Attachment 77658

A well known Lotus XI with another well known car, a Buckler behind - believe Denise Ganley holding the umbrella.
the Ian Hallet MGA powered Buckler - it ran at the AHCCNZ Otaua Hill Climb a few times And was part of the Buckler Team at TACCOC and Le Mans Relay Races at Pukekohe.

Photo from Wellington Street Races in 1985

Attachment 77659

The Ivy Stephenson - Bruce Sutcliffe [ and others ] Buckler Climax - place date [ 1980's ] and event not stated Warwick Clayton photo - any help with ID of place - event and the date would be appreciated.

Have established it is Manfield in the 1980's there is a series of " Warwick Clayton photos from both Manfield and Wellington from then - Wellington believed to be the 1985 meeting - more photos to come of #15 and also the Mark 6 " Blue Brick " or its mate.

Attachment 77660

From David Montgomery - the Register List of Bucklers around the world - an updated list form October 2024.

Attachment 77661

Still 20 cars in New Zealand, was 21 back in 2015 according to David's lists.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Allan

According to my recollection the AX69 plate would have been issued in or around Christchurch

---

Allan, just came across this ;
Christchurch initial issue of plates in 1964 was " AJ1301 to AS6000 ". A total of 94691 plates.
AX69 - was in the series released to Whangarei which got " AV4801 to AX3950 " total of 19148.
Auckland got " AX3951 to BM2250 " the biggest release of 138,286 plates
Wellington had the 3rd biggest Issue " CJ8828 to CQ5600 " at 66771 plates.

This from a newspaper of the Day - as released by the Motor Vehicle Registration Department of the Government - what was its name back in 1964 ?

Attachment 77918

In 1963 the " Canterbury Car Club " held races at the New Brighton Trotting Track, which was closing down.
The Event was a fundraiser for Christchurch - for QE2 Park it is believed [ notes from Allan Dick ].

A photo of one of the Grids for a Race - with a Buckler in the front row - believed to be Merv Mayo - car is two tone.
A real mix of Sports Cars Specials and Saloons - real " Allcomers " event.

Attachment 77919

The Merv Mayo Buckler - two tone with a Hardtop - 1961 - 64 Plate " 74.464 " - David Montgomery archives

Attachment 77920

- Merv Mayo Buckler at another time - race #58 - different colour scheme but Jarvie body and looking a bit race-worn.
Is it the same car ? Where and When ? - different grille and a louvred bonnet. No number plate to help identify.
Graham Woods archives;

Attachment 77921

All three photos have the same style Ford 10 wheels but different windscreens.

Others will know more

I will alert the current owner who may be able to help!
Those wheels were known as Ballamy wheels, 15", and I am told made from Vauxhall ones, pressed t different offset (by a man who claimed to have been doing the job)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Oldfart

To follow on from post #286, here is the car when I owned it in Dunsandel, 1970. I think the plate number is AI...Attachment 77308

---

" Those wheels were known as Ballamy wheels, 15", and I am told made from Vauxhall ones, pressed to different offset (by a man who claimed to have been doing the job) "

Are they the same wheels as on your car Rhys, they look like it. ?

Must look at other Bucklers and Specials of the time.

The number plate on the car at the time of the photo was " AI6477 " later it had DJ5264.

This is a copy of the Registration Certificate - with ownership from the 1974 / 75 Registration Year.
[ posted before but should be with the photo ]

Attachment 78684

Notes / Photo added - 8th September 2025

Yes Roger, they are. They were a desirable fit for many in the UK. I don't have any decent photos of many showing them, but from what I read the Ivy Stephenson car had them, certainly has now.
I have no idea how many of the NZ cars had them. My ones had also been banded and I would guess at Jolly Wide Wheels based on the colour.

Not a Buckler, described as a ' 1958 " Custombuilt " Mistral Sports ' - Current Registration since 1991. but Carjam shows 1958 Mistral Sports.
Ferris De Joux style body.

Photo by Nigel Watts at a recent VCC event.

Does anyone know more about the car.

Attachment 77943

Last enquiry on Carjam in 2023 - so did it change hands then ?.

** A bit more;
When Bob Blackburn [ in Christchurch ] went on to produce the " Puma " in 1960 he sold the " Mistral " business to Dunedin company " Emslie and Flockton ".
Around the same " George and Ashton " - also in Dunedin began building the " Tiki " - again a body to go a chassis - usually Ford 10, but Triumph TR2 and others were used, as well as Custom builds.

There is an interesting article here in Pressreader on the History of the Mistral and its NZ connection.
Like Buckler quite a few Mistral cars were in NZ being built here.

" https://www.pressreader.com/australi...3599000?fbclid "

The article is from NZ Classic Car, unsure which issue. " pressreader " says 14 October 2019.

Thanks to Digby Paape for the link.

On further reading the Mistral Chassis, was a New Zealand creation as Microplas the creator of the Mistral bodies did not build or design chassis, the body was designed for going on to Ford 10, Triumph TR2, and custom chassis.

A drawing of the NZ Chassis from Weltex. part of an Advert for Bob Blackburns Weltex, when building the Mistral.

Attachment 77944

The Vintage Car Club held a Gymkhana / Funkhana at a parking area back in 1981, at Takapuna Town Centre
Some Keith Humphries photos, Keith was there in a Bugeye, Austin Healey Sprite, also driven by a lady called Diane B,
Ian Hallet was there in his Buckler - which as stated was sporting new Headlight covers.

Attachment 78359

Attachment 78360

The Buckler, The Bug-eye and others all lined up.

Attachment 78361

Buckler obscured in the image with another Bug in front Bug-atti.

Attachment 78362

Thanks to Keith for the images - the Sprites will go on the Austin Healey thread.

A well known Buckler - with Ferris De Joux body, when in New Zealand, Bart attended and competed in the Teuven Hill Climb " Heuvelklim Teuven " a little while ago in August 2024 - must be due again soon.
Here some photos from different photographers

First 3 from Bart Jonkers own archive from 2024 event.

Attachment 78646

The Hill Climb sticker on the car. August 2024 and a sticker from 2009 Club Lotus at Hampton Downs as well.

Attachment 78647

On the road - photographer Leo Jeurisson - Barts archives.

Attachment 78648

3 photos by Rolf Roozeboom. presume 2024 as car has the sticker and same Race Number " 01 ".

Attachment 78649

Attachment 78650

Attachment 78651

An Opel, A Talbot, and A Mazda RX8 all with race numbers on, quite a mixed group.

Buckler DD2 - the Ivy Stephenson - Bruce Sutcliffe car .

A note that Bruce Sutcliffe addresses to Alan Boyle and myself back in 2016 regarding the Buckler Climax [ DD2 with a De Joux body. Text is as written by the late Bruce Sutcliffe - often referred to as New Zealand's Mr Buckler for his work in restoring retaining the cars. - he notes 15 cars in NZ in 2016 - there were up to 21 cars here and now I understand 20 remain


" Buckler information from Bruce Sutcliffe re the Buckler Climax – ex Ivy Stephenson ..
6 November 07:40
Bruce Sutcliffe
RE: Alan Boyle and Roger Dowding Thank you for your reply and photographs. This is
the history of Buckler DD1 Le man’s car. There are 2 totally different stories. Mark
Cook of Buckler designed a special chassey to accommodate and FWA climax motor
Aston Marten Motor La Gonda Diff. This car was fitted with a paper thin alloy body and
built at Reading. The car has been accepted by the historic Lemons Organisation to
race in a special 24 hour race next year.
I can confirm the following when the car arrived in NZ it was fitted with 1098 CC
Climax motor. The gear box was out of the winning Aston Marten they had made the
mechanics smashed to pieces all parts of the winning car. Hence the gear box had a
large hole in the right hand side. This was covered with a riverted copper plate. This
has been certified by the Aston Marten mechanic who looked after the James Bond car.
The diff is definitely Laonda diff with in board brakes.
I have a great doubt that this car was ever intended for Le man. It would be hugely
underpowered and way overweight. The person who ordered the car to be built came
to NZ for the Hampton Downs race.
Buckler NZ purchased the car and brought it to Auckland. Bucklers in England have
started that the car would do 135 mph. On checking the car, the recorded weight was
miles out and would not achieve 120 miles mph. In my ownership, we changed 3
engines FWA FWB FEW. I reverted to the 1220 climax motor with a piper cam. On the
road test not a track it achieved 136 mph.
I am told that the car was sold to a racing collection in England for 1/3 of a million
NZD. I have no proof of this.
Alan all 15 Bucklers in NZ are restored as new all came to Hampton Downs. Cheers
Bruce
6/11/16 "

A photo of the car from Bruce's own archives, Bruce in the car. posted before a Stuart Short photo.

Attachment 78652

A few photos that popped up on FacebookAttachment 78653Attachment 78653

Post #311 - pic #2. The scrutineering sticker was the opening classic meeting at Hampton Downs in which we shared the organising with Club Lotus and the actual date was not 1/11/09!

Attachment 78654

[QUOTE=ERC;78917]Post #311 - pic #2. The scrutineering sticker was the opening classic meeting at Hampton Downs in which we shared the organising with Club Lotus and the actual date was not 1/11/09!

ERC " Ray ", thanks for the information - Club Lotus must have had the scrutineering stickers printed already.

Oldfart " Rhys " - whose is the #57 ? have seen other photos of the car.

Is it the one at the back in this photo ? - by Warwick Clayton - The Wellington Street Race 500 meeting in 1985.

Attachment 78659

The car as seen in the Wellington Street Race - Silver with Race #57 was owned by Graham Currie - details advised by Milan Fistonic [ who is unable to post on TRS at the moment ].

This image that " Oldfart " found is the same car - same Roll Bar, number " 57 " and colours, same helmet with Blue - same Driver.
- Colours as seen, Silver with a Blue Stripe.

The image that was posted - separated from the original post.

Attachment 78664

Another image of the car from the Ngapara Hill Climb in 2016 with Graham " Sausage " Currie ? - car was ex Kerwin Taylor - Allan Dick archives

Attachment 78665

Malcolm Currie [ An Austin Healey Car Club member in New Zealand ] - a relation of Graham Currie has more information on the car under Graham's ownership and is going to provide more details.

Found this photo of what I think is the Scott Wiseman Buckler - with a Jarvie body and the built in headrest.
Part of a set of photos from Norm Agnew which were just noted as 1960's - seems likely to be 1961.

The photo

Attachment 79149

An Entry List - the under 1500cc Sports Car Race - with 5 Bucklers entered - Scott Wiseman #271.
Well known names
Alwyn Marshall
C S Judd
M Hammond
Vic Simpkin
Scott Wiseman.

Attachment 79150

Entry List from Graham Woods who recently has posted entries for Races 1, 2, 3 and 5 so far - looking for more.

Will post the set of Entry Lists and the Track map - on the " Dunedin 1984 ... [ and other tracks ] thread " later.

The story goes that Scott Wiseman had the headdrest (maybe with a roll bar inside?) after he inverted it at Levin.

More information on this Buckler - described as a Buckler - Climax Le Mans in some sources.
A couple of photos appeared on Old New Zealand Motor Racing.

This extract appeared in post 312 in September 2025 although I had the information since an image of the car was posted back in 2016. When Bruce Sutcliffe was still alive.
- [ have edited = corrected spelling in this extract ]

" Buckler information from Bruce Sutcliffe re the Buckler Climax – ex Ivy Stephenson ..
6 November 07:40

Bruce Sutcliffe

RE: Alan Boyle and Roger Dowding Thank you for your reply and photographs.
This is the history of Buckler DD1 Le Man’s car.
There are 2 totally different stories.

Mark Cook of Buckler designed a special chassis to accommodate an FWA climax motor
Aston Martin Motor Lagonda Diff. This car was fitted with a paper thin alloy body and
built at Reading. The car has been accepted by the historic Le Mans Organisation to
race in a special 24 hour race next year.

I can confirm the following when the car arrived in NZ it was fitted with 1098 CC
Climax motor. The gear box was out of the winning Aston Marten they had made the
mechanics smashed to pieces all parts of the winning car. Hence the gear box had a
large hole in the right hand side. This was covered with a riveted copper plate. This
has been certified by the Aston Martin mechanic who looked after the James Bond car.
The diff is definitely Lagonda diff with in board brakes.

I have a great doubt that this car was ever intended for Le Mans. It would be hugely
underpowered and way overweight. The person who ordered the car to be built came
to NZ for the Hampton Downs race.

Buckler NZ purchased the car and brought it to Auckland. Bucklers in England have
started that the car would do 135 mph. On checking the car, the recorded weight was
miles out and would not achieve 120 miles mph. In my ownership, we changed 3
engines FWA FWB FEW. I reverted to the 1220 climax motor with a piper cam. On the
road test not a track it achieved 136 mph.

I am told that the car was sold to a racing collection in England for 1/3 of a million
NZD. I have no proof of this.

Alan all 15 Bucklers in NZ are restored as new all came to Hampton Downs. Cheers
Bruce
6/11/16 "
[ 6th November 2016 - not like the dates on TRS in American format Month Day Year. ]

** The above quote from Bruce Sutcliffe, should not be taken as " absolute fact " as it contains errors and was written late in his life. It is, however, as written by Bruce in November 2016.

RIP Bruce Sutcliffe.

Attachment 79196

The car at Levin in 1960 - which meeting - not stated, with a D Type Jaguar and others - same number plate, and Ivy Stephenson Race number " 38 ".

Looking at the photo, am wondering if this was the earlier body, although it has accident damage the grille shape and the headlight areas look different, and the number plate is attached directly to the body, not like the previous photos with it on a frame . bracket. [ Anorak note ].

Attachment 79197

Entry List from a Levin event in 1960. Ivy Stephenson in #38. Is is the same meeting - the two recognised cars by Race numbers #19 D Type #7 -A Mistral ? are not in the Entry List

Attachment 79198

Race #38 stayed with the car in later years in New Zealand and as seen on this thread now it is in the United Kingdom.

Comment from David Montgomery Secretary of the Buckler Register in the UK.
" 418.067 is the Buckler DD1. 38 was Ivy Stephenson's personal race number for most events. Ivy had the De Joux Mk 1 body fitted. The original lightweight alloy body fitted when the car was imported into NZ had not stood up to the rough track surfaces in NZ. "

Trying to find more photos with the later plates for this car the 1964 issue permanent plate and were there others before it went Overseas.

Will add more comments to this post, later.

Bruce Sutcliffe in the car in 1979.

Attachment 79199

Must check back through the " Buckler List " - prepared by Kelvin Brown and Rhys Nolan many years ago of the known New Zealand Bucklers.

Roger Dowding, I have tried to send you a message. Your inbox has "exceeded capacity", can you please clear at least ne so that I can send it?