Austin-Healey’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others

Potted History of NZ Number Plates from Richard Armstrong - a some time Motorsport Competitor in the 1970's was a member of Hamilton Car Club and a Vauxhall enthusiast !!
Richard writes ;
" Until 1941, New Plates were issued every year, In 1941 due to steel shortages caused by WWII the period was increased to 5 yearly until the last issue in 1961. The dates I've noted elsewhere of when plates were replaced with Permanent plates which stayed on the vehicle until it was de-registered or replaced with a personalised plate. If a Personalised plate is removed the vehicle is often re-registered with a new issue permanent plate, in some instance's the original permanent plate may be able to re-issued "


Attachment 57928

The period when Austin Healey's were built - 1952 - 1968 [ 1970 for Sprites ]

Attachment 57929

Permanent Plates ;
Richard writes again ;
" The permanent plates were introduced first on July 1st 1963 when all Motorbike's & trailers were required to display them. Then one year later in 1964 private motorcars got them again from 1st July when around 685,000 of the new full size permanent plates were delivered to Post Offices around the country beginning with AA1000 - AC9000 to Southland the progressively up the South Island then AV4801 - AX3950 to Northland and down the North Island ending with CI886 - CQ5600 distributed to the bottom of the North Island. Further plates were sent out in 1965 for the registration of Light & Heavy Trucks as well as Buses to display from 1st July 1965. After final large distribution plates were sent to Post Offices as required and there are no known records of what area got what plate numbers but they were not in any sort of sequence like the initial distributions."

My fathers 1963 Zephyr came out on the Yellow and Black plates and changed to BL927 in 1964.
My first car a 1960 Austin Seven [ Mini ] was AW309 and reputedly from Northland - Whangarei from memory, would have had the previous issue on when new.

Permanent plates were phased in over 1964-65 for cars but over all types from 1963 - 1966, the Aluminium " Silver ' [ brushed Aluminium ] and Black plates - from AA to MZ, then in 1987-ish the Black on White plates starting with NA - a change of letter style in recent years.

In mid 1987 purchased a brand new Fiat UNO 70SL which had the plate NG4909 and was in the new Black numbers white background style - similar to the pre-permanent plates in style.

There a website link on NZ Number Plates that is not totally accurate, and much information was lost as new Computer systems were introduced around 1990 and archives not retained.

A Healey with a permanent plate - early style - before you could get proper personalised plates you request a plate that going to be issued and then wait - the usual reason for the replacement was that the plate was damaged - taken to with a hammer before going to the local Post Office where you had requested it be made available.
Plate was acquired in 1984 from memory;

Attachment 57930

with its previous plate on ;

Attachment 57931

in the background part of the Triumph 2.5 PI that was the daily driver - TR4A under restoration at the time 1983

Photo's in the same place, our house in Herne Bay 1980- 1995 [ had been in the family since 1929 - when built ] picket fence shortened as Carport built and the shrubs have grown in the LX100 photo from around 1987-88 - LX100 had been repainted too !!

I believe the last black on yellow dating to not be correct. Letter I have from LTNZ would confirm my belief, that 66 is not right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oldfart

I believe the last black on yellow dating to not be correct. Letter I have from LTNZ would confirm my belief, that 66 is not right.

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"Oldfart " the plates were phased in from mid 1963 - Motorcycles and Trailers, then Cars [Private] in 1964, followed by Commercial vehicles, Buses Trucks etc 1965 " to be displayed by July 1965 " [ precis of information from Richard Armstrong ], so the last old style plate would have been replaced sometime in the vehicles 1965-66 licencing period.
That is probably why the description is as posted.

Official records are not that complete, as in lost or destroyed as not important once vehicles were re-registered.
You cannot find out registration details prior to the current records which has Permanent Plate details and even those do not often have previous plates even when registration was continuous apparently.
This is probably why Carjam is unreliable too !!

Just checked LX100 my old Austin Healey pictured above was ID9783 [ also pictured ] previously and I kept reg current from purchase with those plates in 1982 to new plates in 1984 LX100 which is on Carjam - no details of the previous plate now.
May 1977 would be when the car was Registered as ID9783 after being returned to the road - it had been in New Zealand for many years before then.

Plates History

" Plate Effective Date
LX100 20-May-1977
Registration

Registration Status: Get Full CarJam Report
Plate: LX100
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 20-May-1977 "

Start of the 1955 Australian Grand Prix, Port Wakefield, SA. Reg Hunt Maser A6GCM and stan Jones Maybach 3, on the front row left and RH side. Jack Brabham and Doug Whiteford, Cooper Bristol and Lago Talbot respectively on row 2, the race won by Brabham

The photo :

Attachment 58110

Some " British " nostalgia
- had a Tee Shirt once that said " The British drink warm beer because they have Lucas Refrigerators " .. ummm !!

Attachment 58111

[QUOTE=Roger Dowding;68029]Start of the 1955 Australian Grand Prix, Port Wakefield, SA. Reg Hunt Maser A6GCM and stan Jones Maybach 3, on the front row left and RH side. Jack Brabham and Doug Whiteford, Cooper Bristol and Lago Talbot respectively on row 2, the race won by Brabham

The photo :

Attachment 58110

That is actually the start of the third qualifying heat, held on the Saturday before the Grand Prix on Monday. The Healey behind Brabham is driven by Greg McEwin and the one behind that is Clem Smith's.

Beside McEwin is the Wilcox Dodge... after it was fitted with a Ford V8, behind it is the car which came fourth in the Australian Grand Prix the previous year, having travelled from Adelaide to the Gold Coast with a trailer carrying the jungle juice Eldred Norman brewed up for the supercharged high-compression motor. It first won a sports car race with a decompression plate fitted.

And then there's the stonemason, Steve Tillett in the MG TC with which he took out the handicap honors in the '51 AGP at Narrogin.

One has got to admire the spectator facilities and safety barriers.

And if you were there...

You would be admiring the ability of the circuit's founders to find a place so flat and featureless. And so far from town.

As time went on there were amenities added, these were all transferred to Mallala when it was opened. Only half as far from town.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Allan

One has got to admire the spectator facilities and safety barriers.

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Not to mention the lack of roll over hoops, safety cages, balaclavas, fireproof suits, HANS devices and fire resistant underpants, gloves and socks...

Photo from Nigel Watts at " The Elms Car Show " a few months ago

an EX USA car - HBJ8L 40850 [ as Healeyites know the " L "in the chassis number indicates built Left Hand Drive ]
Came to NZ in February 2003 but not registered until August 2007.

Carjam says - not to be fully relied on, of course ;
" Carjam says " Year: 1967
Make: AUSTIN
Model: HEALEY
Colour: Gold
Submodel: 3000 MK111
Body Style: Convertible
VIN: 7A80T070706040850
Plate: ECB493
Engine No: 29-RU-H/85798
Chassis: HBJ8L/40850 "

Attachment 58196

The Ex California BJ8 of the late Rene Cades of Fountain Valley LA Ca -brought to NZ by Frank Karl and was for sale earlier in 2018.
Car was Blue over White when built and then Red for 30 years until 2014/15 - now Blue over White again.

Seen here in Red and modified with Mark Donaldson's Tri-Carb behind
The Tri-carb came to NZ in the 1980's

Attachment 58201

As seen in 2018 - the licence plate belongs to a S-SangYong - very Del Trotter
Attachment 58200

This Sprite has been in NZ since the 1970's - was Left Hand Drive - but the Chassis details do not show that :

Carjam report ;

Year: 1960
Make: AUSTIN
Model: SPRITE
Colour: Yellow
Body Style: Sports Car
Plate: GC287
Engine No: AN529924
Chassis: AN529924
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 5
CC rating: 948cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Assembly Type: Unknown
Country of Origin: Not known
Industry Class: PRIVATE

Origin: Import from "not stated "
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 26-Jul-1972
NZ Last Registration: Get Full CarJam Report
Was Registered Overseas? Yes "

word in Italics are mine.

A photo of the car at a Club Gymkhana in 1981 - Photo Mark Donaldson - Adrian Rhodens owning and driving.

Attachment 58202

The same car a couple of my own photo's ; a Club event in early 1983 - in company of my 100 and Frank Karl's purple 3000

Attachment 58203

on the course - a bit distant ;

Attachment 58204

another Austin Healey with some History - photo from Ken Devine archives - info from Joe Armour and Chris Dimmock

The car in 1957

Attachment 58229

Some information on the car - which is still racing .. in Australia ..where it was created from a burnt out 100

http://www.acmefluid.com.au/larry/ma...Lw1d6r0NW_T6Nc

It's worth noting that there were two different Austin Champ gearboxes, one built for the Rolls-Royce-engined military Champs and one for the civilian version which used the engine derived from pre-war Austin trucks.

Roger Wells could not find one of the civilian boxes, so the bellhousing (which was cast with the gearbox case) didn't fit directly onto the Austin engine. The original Champ box, after having been removed when the Holden engine was installed, lay around the service station where that job was done for years, but was discarded just before Roger went looking for it.

Wasn't it ever so?

This car always looked fantastic in the sweeper at Winton when driven by Roger. He drove it hard and was very stylish.

Ross Jensen Austin Healey 100S picking up a passenger on his way back down the hill Ivy Stephenson Riley sports Jim Boyd Buckler Gavin Quirk Cooper Bristol All at Puhipuhi Sept 1956 : notes from Brian on the photos posted on Old new Zealand Motor Racing

Attachment 58231

another photo [Advert ] of the Ross Jensen AH 100S.

Attachment 58232

It was racing pretty much continually up until last year. Graeme is carrying out repairs on it at the moment. Im sure it will return to the track some time soon.

Photos from Peter Sodaitis of the MacHealey- the car and the badge !!

Attachment 58242

Attachment 58243

Posted on ERC's thread Puhupuhi Hill Climb 1956 , Northland NZ

Healey, and others, Jim Boyd in the Buckler 3rd pic.

Attachment 58251

Brian Skudder who provided some photos from Puhipuhi Road Hillclimb 1956 has written a bit of a story about George Lawton and his involvement with Northland Car Club before he won the " Driver to Europe " Scheme Award along with Denny Hulme in 1960

Go to this link ;

" http://www.ncc.org.nz/index_htm_file...ry_updated.pdf "

These photos are from an article in the Northland paper the " Northern Advocate "
and a quote " A member since the club's early days, Brian Skudder fondly recalls the delight in seeing legendary drivers such as Bruce McLaren gracing Northland's Puhipuhi Rd and Waipu Gorge. "

George Lawton in his 100 Six at Puhipuhi 1957
Attachment 58334

Bruce McLaren in a Cooper Bobtail, also at Puhipuhi in 1957

Attachment 58335

George had a Bobtail and the 100 Six later - was it the same car as Bruce is Driving ??

Attachment 58336

Posted before - photo from Graham Wood archives

As is known George was killed racing at " Roskildering " in Denmark in September 1960

Ross Bond's AH 3000 in mild and wild form - plus another car.
Some pics by Larry Varley and others from the Fb page " Old Australian Motor Racing - Photographs ".

The page is well worth a visit, and many names will be well known in NZ too !!

This is the link to the photo's

" https://www.facebook.com/groups/190760908334658/photos/ "

Off the trailer - Calder Park 1968 - I stand corrected " Sandown 1968 " Larry Varley had it wrong !! must edit the photo notes
Attachment 58349

Attachment 58350

Racing - not that modified - race not known;

Attachment 58351

in much modified form !!

Attachment 58352

Another Racer - details not known apart from the photographer - or poster of the photo to the group !! ** Update from Ray Bell - it is the Bond Healey

Attachment 58353

The monochrome shot is from the Farm, entering the esses with Ken Ward's Morgan in Creek Corner behind Bondy...

Personally I don't ever remember the Healey with a hardtop on it, maybe it was during the 'Country Club' shirt days when they sponsored races for GT cars. When I get a chance I'll see if I can find it.

Not a 'Country Club' GT race, but a GT race all the same...

Oran Park, August 10, 1969.

And the last pic is also the Bond Healey 3000. That rollover bar was sometimes used on the car, it seemed to be changed at will. Pics of the car in early '68 show it to have that roll bar and no signwriting, also the bungee cord over the boot handle.

But where is the photo taken?