Ken, he will be at Taupo, will make sure you two catch up again....we can ask him then. Sounds good ???
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Ken, he will be at Taupo, will make sure you two catch up again....we can ask him then. Sounds good ???
In 1964 there was only one Spitfire entered and that was driven by Kerry Grant. There was a late entry but I don't have any details of driver or car.Quote:
Originally Posted by khyndart in CA
The Morgan is a well known car, as I have found out from Graham Kyle, a Morgan racer at the time ;Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
" The Morgan 4 / 4 was Peter Gendall, he drove Ron Roycrofts Bugatti Jaguar in a 50's Ardmore New Zealand Grand Prix. "
The car was quite modified over its life - more to follow
Got there again, was back in Auckland for 6 weeks,met up with ERC and Kevin H and his wife, missed seeing GeebeeNZ Gra3m3 .. have posted some photos on the MX5 thread
Here are other cars :
Americans
Attachment 56146
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American Military - had a Dinky Jeep as a youngster
Attachment 56151
American style English engineering - !!
Attachment 56148
More to follow English and some Europeans
Mini's
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Attachment 56155
and MG's
Attachment 56152
Attachment 56156
" Who let the Frogs Out " !!
Attachment 56157
977 was a popular number 977ARX and MG977.
Rays MGF now sold -am told only 6 more cars to go - according to " Her indoors " - then they will both be walking - better keep a couple !!
Attachment 56158
A C Ace - have seen it before here
Attachment 56159
An English JEEP General Purpose as G P became JEEP.. or in this case an early Landie !!
Attachment 56160
The UK branch of the General - Vauxhall .
Attachment 56161
Attachment 56162
McRae Porsche Spyder replica
Attachment 56163
an Alfa for Bruce !!
Attachment 56164
Some American Muscle !!
Attachment 56165
More from the US of A..
Attachment 56166
The MX5 that got away - somehow the name of a previous photo carried through !!
Attachment 56167
Number plate says it all
Attachment 56168
and that is all !! - 'til next time !! -November I hope, can't do Aug - Sep - Oct
Attachment 56324
Attachment 56325
1954 - Keith Roper in his 100 at speed on Winters Road.
Attachment 56326
and a group of cars at Dunedin in 1960 the Special is one of Ferris De Joux's creations -either Vanguard or Holden powered !! This one would seem to be Vanguard powered - see the entry list
Attachment 56327
The entry list for the Race - thanks Graham Woods
Attachment 56328
Credits are on the photo's
The number 6 Standard 10 is Cliff Knight of Northland (Far North really) he did a tour of every event available for 2 years with that car. Lovely man, rcent years he was running an E type Jag as a "Saloon" at Speedway events (or was it a stock car?) I note with interest, every saloon that completes 5 laps gets half what the winner does. That's a great gesture, and £10 back then was quite a bit of money!
Steve's second book in the series of Cars in New Zealand from 1950 to 1970's.
Uses pictures from brochures with contributions from various people, I managed to sneak into the book, as did quite a few other people;
Attachment 57624
Ken H -that photo!! Slideways Roger ..
Attachment 57625
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Attachment 57627
Not sure if on Bookshop shelves yet as mine arrived in the post this week.
Remi purchased the Tony Herbert car and was seeking information on it.
The car photos appeared in an article in " Sports Car Talk " magazine issue #3 in 1989 written by Richard Gray who was detailing the restoration of a Ginetta G15 a well known NZ car with Rego HL7470 now G15, the car fully restored and remains in new Zealand.
Here is a bit of Ginetta History from Richard's article. from issue 3 the 1989 Edition.
The magazine was an annual publication by the " Sports Car Club of New Zealand inc ".
P80
Attachment 57715
P81
Attachment 57716
P82
Attachment 57717
P83
Attachment 57718
Close-up of photos from the magazine pages above;
The G4 chassis
Attachment 57719
Tony Herbert at speed - track not known, Photographer not stated [ now believed to be Ross Cammick have seen identical image in colour ] ; assume from Richard Gray - archives.
Attachment 57720
The article is 9 pages and then a further 11 pages on the G15 rebuild.
Would be good to see photos from Remi of the car as it is now and any work being done to it.
As an aside, my ex-lodger in the UK, bought one of the Ginetta single seaters (G8?), formerly raced by Stuart Graham.
He also picked up the Lola T212 (minus engine and gearbox), now owned by Billy Apple, on behalf of a Kiwi. Towed it behind his 1116cc Mini, from Cheshire to Nottingham... Fitted a Lotus Twin Cam and at Loton Park (I think), knocked a corner off!
Further to September 2018 - Am going to use this thread for photos and news that doesn't fit into the Austin Healey or Northern Sports Car Club thread- will cover Specials and other events I come across that should be shared..Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Dowding
Roger 17th December 2018
Bringing the thread to the fore - as currently collecting information on " Specials " - starting with the previously featured " Bugley ", then The " De Soto ", " Mistrals " [ as they are not Bucklers and David Montgomery from the UK would not approve !! ]. Then others as I find things [ stuff ].
Lloyd Gleeson is a Classic car guy originally from Thames, still has a 1969 Morgan that he raced in 70's and 80's in NZ - Car originally purchased new in the UK, then exported.
The De Soto Special. the early 1950's one.
Question by Lloyd Gleeson; and some comments by others.
“Anyone know this car’s origins, or where it ended up? It’s the De Soto Special raced by Bill Culver in the ‘50s – shown here spinning out of the 1955 Ardmore GP and nearly being clobbered by Tony Gaze (Ferrari) who was lapping him. Bill owned the Kopu Service Station south of Thames and the Special was often to be seen parked on the forecourt (a magnet for car–mad passers-by!) When the Service Station was sold in the ‘60s, the racer was towed to Tararu (on the coast just north of Thames) to a rented lock-up, but when that property was up for sale some years later, the car was no longer there. About 20 years ago I bumped into to Jock Hill (who had been Bill’s mechanic) and asked him if he knew the fate of the old racer and all I got from him was a somewhat cryptic “Not a clue”, and unfortunately didn’t have time to press him further” .
Merv Hanna commented
“Zambucka,s first race was Wigram 1950, qual. 8th finished 4th. Ron Sutherland drove the car in 1953, did well in sprints. Geo Palmer bought the car in 1954, FTD standing quarter at Rotorua.
Bill Culver raced it in 1955 including the Ardmore spin. As of 1991 the car was reported to be in storage at Thames. “
- as an aside Ron Sutherland and brother Merv ran a Midget type car which will be the subject of another article - was raced against the Roycroft / Jack Boot " Bugley " - the Riley Bugatti mentioned on the NSCC thread.
Details from Graham Vercoe book “ Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand “ pages 107 – 108
Published in 1991.
There is a photo of the car on the third [ back ] row of the Ohakea showing race #21
Edited ; [ Italics mine ]
" Fred Zambucka ivory two-seat open [De] de Soto Special appeared at Wigram in 1950, and it proved quite a handful. I was powered by a 4099 cc de Soto six engine, and Zambucka had considerable success with it, especially after lengthening the chassis and fitting triple carburettors for 1951.
Zambucka was fourth in the Wigram race. At Ohakea a cotter-pin shook loose and dropped into the sump. Leaving a valve wide open and causing an inevitable breakdown after just six laps.
He shared FTD with George Smith at the Don Bucks Road Hillclimb [ Massey, West Auckland ] in April that year and won the North Island Champion Beach race in 1952.
Ron Sutherland drove the car in some races for Zambucka, and took FTD at the Port Waikato Road sprintin December 1953 with a standing quarter [ mile ] of 16.3 a and flying equivalent in 9.3 s.
The next owner, George Palmer,did 15.2 for the standing mark at Rotorua in 1954 taking FTD.
Bill Culver had a nightmare moment in the car at Ardmore in 1955 [ where the photo’s are from ] after spinning in front of a considerably faster Ferrari driven by Tony Gaze.
The car is believed to be still in storage in Thames. "
Engine shown as 4099 cc 6 in 1954 but 3368 cc 6 in 1955 Chassis was Z1 [ Zambucka One ] Presume there may have been and engine change, maybe because of capacity rules.
Photos of the car ; from the 1955 Ardmore Race and loaded up for the trip home
Attachment 59280
Attachment 59281
Cover of the Graham Vercoe book ;
Attachment 59282
The car was in an entry list posted on the Austin Healey thread.
Have several photos and a couple of entry lists - showing the car - photos from various people some TRS members as are the entry lists.
November 1964 meeting from Milan Fistonic.
Attachment 59341
On the grid with an Anglia - large rear wheels -unsure if the twin wheels
Attachment 59342
In the pits - caption says twin rear wheels
Attachment 59343
Racing with #112 as are some of the other photos yet entry lists are #148 April and #151 November
Attachment 59344
In colour - lots of Chrome and good paint must be an early meeting - on Wire Wheels - Alan Boyle photo
Attachment 59345
** Note from Milan Fistonic in next post Colin Lumsden De Soto had at the December 1964 meeting -
" 12/12/64 - 112 "
Just found the Entry List 12/12/1964 the ACC meeting Race 5 Allcomers arch Graham Woods
ACC meeting their " Winter Meeting "last of the season April 1964 - entry list from John Hatton TRS member - was in his Mark One Zephyr
Attachment 59346
Ray Bell - hope this helps a 5 litre V8 - presume a " Firedome " de Soto engine
From Wikipaedia - not always reliable
" Firedome production ended at the end of the 1959 model year.
For the 1960 model year DeSoto offered two models, the Fireflite and the Adventurer. For model year 1961, a model named only "DeSoto" was sold as a two-door hardtop and four-door hardtop. The end of the DeSoto marque came on November 30, 1960, 48 days after the 1961 models were introduced, ending 32 years of production. "
Firedome engine " 361 cu in (5.9 L) V8 " in 1959 prior to that a 4.8 litre 291 cu in " So not sure what Colins Motor was.
These are the numbers the De Soto raced with. All at Pukekohe.
7/12/63 -143
22/2/64 - 148
4/4/64 - 148
7/11/64 - 151
12/12/64 - 112
27/2/65 - 174
It also raced at Matamata in 1964 with 61 and 1965 with 63.
Roger- the wikipedia probably covers only the American market.- thus left hand drive
All right hand drive were Canadian assembled, usually base models- different specs to USA.
Safe to say I remember Diplomats, but not many of these shapes.
As I mentioned in the A-H thread, the Diplomat had a Plymouth body from the firewall back, the front was, it seems, largely Dodge panels while the grille was a mixture of whatever they had lurking around by the looks of things.
Most Canadian production was based on the Plymouth body in that era. Dodges with Plymouth's distinctively different fins abound in Canada. The last Diplomats sold in Australia were the '54 models, which sold here through to '56. After that they were morphed (as were the similar Plymouths) into the Chrysler Royal, an Australia-only model.
Any De Sotos marketed in Australia from that point were locally assembled by Buckle Motors (yes, Bill Buckle) from US-derived CKD kits and were nothing like the Diplomats. Simultaneously the Chrysler Australia plants assembled US-derived Dodge Custom Royals and Plymouth Belvederes, all three makes being sold at high prices as premium marques. Canada, meantime, produced Dodge Mayfairs and other models with names differing from US models. Some rationalising seems to have taken place in 1960 and Canadian Dodge Phoenixes were assembled here to set the pattern for Chrysler's big car marketing for the next dozen or so years.
Thanks for the information on this particular car...
Ray-My Dad had one of these Aussie assembled Chrysler Royal, brand new in early 1960s, push button auto, 6 cylinder.
Never see any of them on the roads now.
All this Aussie involvement with Chrysler, Plymouth info is new to me, so thank you for posting this.
I worked at GM franchise so we had continued rhd Chevs and Pontiacs -Canadian -cars available in our showroom till 1968
So after this information, would the Lumsden car-right hand drive- be a Canadian or Australian car ?
Milan Fistonic, Ray Bell and John McKechnie - Guys -thanks so much for all the extra information - now gathered on one thread too !!.
Milan - interesting that Colin didn't venture too far, Pukekohe, Matamata [ Alan Boyle may have more photo's of it as he went there to watch around that time from a showroom on a corner ]
Race number 112 appears on all the photo's I have so must be from the same meeting in December 1964.
*** October 2019 The Austin Healey 4000 of P A T [ Peter ]McLoughlin a Healey 3000 with the Austin 4 litre A125/A135 Six installed was raced at that meeting - more on this car on the Austin Healey thread - a story in progress at the moment.
What will the next car be that we look at ?? -
Agree John Mck, and I also know it is only as good as guys like us who contribute information which gets picked up by Wiki .... !!Quote:
Originally Posted by John McKechnie
as you mention NZ had a lot of US cars that were actually assembled or CKD packed in Canada - unlike Australia where many were chassis and front boywork - to scuttle then local coach builders [ like Holden ] finished them off with there own but similar bodywork.
John, this De Soto is one never seen in Australia...
And Roger, I doubt that GM pressed panels for any US models after Holden production started. All CKD stuff in Chevs and Pontiacs, with Pontiacs having Chev running gear in the latter stages, probably from about 1961 onwards.
Pommy Fords (Prefects, Anglias) might have been pressed in Broadmeadow or Geelong. Likewise Vauxhalls at Fishermens Bend.
Adding some more NZ content about Aussie cars., I hope no one minds-
I am a Motor Trimmer-40 years at it-, so I get to see details about different country cars that most wouldnt-.
1-1936 Austin 8 sedan...had Holden plate where Austin usually is on firewall
2-LIP and EIP Vauxhall , were only available as Roadster in Aus.
3- Have trimmed 1937, 1938, 1939 Ford V8 and Chevrolet Roadsters...not convertible. Aus only model.
A roadster has side curtains, a convertible has wind up windows
John I think Vauxhall also made in Aussie a Ute ....Vagabond ?
Vagabond Utes are the support class at Bathurst 1955..
Late night Vagabond drifting Parramatta road Saturday nights.
Duna derbies with Vagabond utes with the trays full of yahoos at Bribie Island sunday afternoons?
Long live Utes.
Bruce, I thought the Vagabond was an EI series Vauxhall Convertible 53-57 [ two door ] Holden also did a LI series 47 - 52 ?? Ragtop too !!Quote:
Originally Posted by Spgeti
a 1953 Vagabond - P.S. - Vauxhall EI series was also built in Switzerland !! as a Van ..??
Attachment 59354
The comment re the LI series - think they may have been coachbuilt - not by Holden ??
Could be the start of some other thoughts -
Not a Vagabond but the Australia only Vauxhall Caleche ..
Attachment 59357
John Mck - could just imagine drifting an EI Ute .. a mate had an LIP, he was in Northern Sports car club, had wide rear wheels under grafted on Escort Mk 1 round flares, an inline Hurst shifter for the Vauxhall gearbox - took the tree of the column.. had twin carbs - went well in a straight line and sounded good 2262 cc of sheer power ..
Ray, would agree the built bodies would have been pre - 1948 when the 48-215, later FJ came along .. although look at the Vauxhall stuff, was that Holden bodies or another " Coach Builder " .. Caleche and Vagabond ..Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Bell
To be honest, I am only guessing about these things. I know some strange things happened, particularly pre-war. Willys bodies became Vauxhall bodies and so on. But by mid-1949 the demand for Holdens would have stopped anything much happening with body pressing other than for the home-grown cars. All the same, I seriously doubt that any GM car had a body made in Australia other than one made by GM-H.
The Vagabonds existed in the earlier shape as well, like the Caleche body, I'm pretty sure. There certainly were utes in the Vauxhall range, but mostly labelled as Bedfords IIRC, at least until the later shape came on the scene (like the cream car above). A lot of that stuff would have come from England as CKD packs and been assembled in Australia.
I am pretty familiar with the Chrysler stuff in the fifties because of contacts I've made over the years and stories I've written for Australian Classic Car magazine which required some research.
January 2019, Good turnout but the overflow carpark was not full, there were two other events on though ; at Orewa and Hampton Downs, plus the 30 year rule - didn't seem to be imposed strictly.. UN7284 was there as a young 28 year old !!
Here from a previous event; August 2017 ;
Attachment 60140
No photo's downloaded yet, ERC [ in a modern ] and Kevin H [ in the 80's Celica ] were there and I think I saw Geebeez too in the distance.
Photo's will follow in a few days as away from home and using other peoples Wifi and data.
Seeing you have been discussing utes I thought I should post shots of this Ford Prefect Ute that was at the Thames Wings and Wheels on Saturday.
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Jim Bennett a well known car builder and racer from Dunedin has kindly sent me his story of the Furi cars and their racing.
I am in the process of converting the document so it can be shown here ;
As a start - here is a photo from Jim of his cars at Dunedin Autospectacular in 2010 ;
Attachment 61406
The idea of a story all started when I published photos of a " Jaguar powered - supercharged Special " I had seen in Dunedin in January 1984 at the Fryatt Street Sprints ; from that the Bennett Family commented on what the cars was, the fact that Furi 2 only did the Otago Sports car Club Sprints on the Saturday - The Vinatge Car Club Races were on the Sunday in January 1984.
- posting the photos again. [ must correctly rename the " Special "ones
Scene of the Sprints
Attachment 61408
The Car - Furi 2 apparently ;
Attachment 61407
The Jaguar engine - Supercharger - from one those wierd horizontally opposed Commer engines TS3 2 stroke Truck engines.
Jim Bennett wrote of the engine in Furi 2 well one of them as both GMC 6 and Zephyr were consdiered.
" Parts were being gathered for this car when I was offered a cheap Mk 7 Jaguar engine and about the same time was given a big supercharger off a Commer TS3 2 stroke diesel. These unusual engines had 6 pistons horizontally opposed in 3 cylinders operating through a series of connecting rods and levers to a crankshaft under the cylinders "
Attachment 61409
More to follow once I have printed and scanned the article - which has photo's inserted - I have some of the same photo's separately from the Bennett Family.
Working on the story - which not only includes cars called FURI - the Specials but includes a couple of modified Wolseley's
a 6/80 that became a BMC / GMC and a 4/44 too !!.
6/80 " 6/80 used a 2215 cc 72 hp (54 kW; 73 PS) straight-6 single overhead cam. "
GMC 6 advert - the car for sale - says " 276 ci GMC 6 " - think that it was actually a 270 ci - which is 4520 cc so twice the capacity of the Wolseley "
The BMC / GMC Wolseley 6/80 - that must have been a 6 / 100 something
The GMC 6 engine had been used by Gerald Hoare in a dragster [ rail ] before Jim decided use one - they were readily available.
Attachment 61619
Jim wrote about the car
" GMC engine was fitted with one of Gerald’s milder cams, I did a bit of work on the head including planing of 4mm off the face to bring the compression ratio up to 9:1. Two borrowed SU carbs, from a Mk7 Jaguar, and a free flow exhaust completed the engine modifications while a "bullet proof" Packard 3 speed gearbox was adapted "
just part of the story
The car was listed for sale after Jim owned it for a time ; Graham Woods archives
Attachment 61620
More to come - have read the whole story from Jim Bennett - just having fun with the photos.
- " Watch this Thread / Space "as they say
A couple of photos from Jim's collection.
of the BMV - Built from " Bits of Many Vehicles " - Furi 14.
The car is well used
2019 a tour
Attachment 61752
2011 an earlier tour
both in the South Island.
Attachment 61753
Article from a recent issue of " DriveSouth. " - Jim shared the article on his Facebook page.
Attachment 61754
Still working on a bigger article on all the Furi's #1 to 14 and beyond.
The Marlborough Car Club have ' digitized ' and posted much of their archives - including lots of photos of the Renwick Road Races of the 1960's -including the Renwick 50.
a couple of photos one from MCC archives and some programme details.
These are of the Saloon Races.
Mixed field as this was practice
Attachment 61755
This from Floyd Dini ; 1963 Austin Prattley in the Herald - the Mini must check that out.
Attachment 61756
Race 5 from 1963 -Graham Woods archives Allcomer Saloons Scratch Race
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Race 7 from 1963 Graham Woods archives Allcomer Saloons again Handicap Race
Attachment 61758
Front cover of the programme - the 3rd National Renwick Races - Ron McPhail archives
Attachment 61759
Map of the track - there were apparently 3 variations - this is 1962 - Ron McPhail archives
Attachment 61760
There is a Video recently uploaded from U -tube of the 1965 Renwick 50.
Will try and post it here - in a future post.
Two sets of photos of the Allcomer Races. from the Marlborough car Club archives.
" Renwick Road Races Saturday 16 November 1963
The start of Wellington driver Wayne Fuller's action on lap 4 during the all-comers race in which he finished 9th in his Humber 80 1592cc, after his spin
Thanks to John Penny for scanning, Marlborough Car Club historian Barry Voss and John Pierson for these images and notes "
Attachment 61767
Attachment 61768
" Timaru driver Ernie Sprague, MK3 Ford Zephyr, 2553cc has a moment coming off the West Coast Highway into Alma street on lap 4 of the all-comers scratch race. Sprague went on to win this race. Also in the action is Wellington driver Wayne Fuller having a spin. He recovered to finish 9th in his Humber 80 1592cc.
Thanks to John Penny for scanning, Marlborough Car Club historian Barry Voss and John Pierson for these images and notes. "
Attachment 61769
" Renwick Road Races Saturday 16 November 1963.
Coming into Alma St off the West Coast Highway, Timaru driver Ernie Sprague, Ford Zephyr MK3, 2553cc holds a slender lead over Christchurch’s Ray Archibald, Jaguar 3.8, 3718cc.
Sprague went on to win this all-comers Saloon scratch race with Archibald 2nd. Archibald had won the earlier over 1300cc saloon car scratch race with Sprague 2nd.
Thanks to John Penny for scanning, Marlborough Car Club historian Barry Voss and John Pierson for these images and notes. "
Attachment 61770
Attachment 61771
Race 3 the First Allcomer Race - entry list - Graham Woods archives;
Attachment 61772
Not a big field but many well known Drivers.
Humber faces Chev - Giff Tait in the Chev Coupe, after Wayne had Spun the Humber. see previous post - tried to have 7 photos.
Attachment 61773
Story from the archives - which are being posted on Facebook and shared to "South Island Motorsport" and Old New Zealand Motor Racing ".
" Nelson driver Giff Tait in his 4640cc Corvette V8 powered 1938 Chevrolet Coupe arrives on the scene of Wellington driver Wayne Fuller’s spinning Humber 80 on lap 4 of the all-comers race.
Tait went on to finish 4th and Fuller recovered to finish 9th.
Thanks to John Penny for scanning, Marlborough Car Club historian Barry Voss and John Pierson for these images and notes. "
The link to the Renwick 50 video - 4;30 minutes long.
" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3wm...QM&app=desktop "
" Renwick Road Races Saturday 10 November 1962
Barry Cottle (Dunedin) in his Lola Climax 1098cc takes a look at the photographer as he passes.
He was placed 3rd overall in a sports car race early in the day and first in Class A up to 1500cc.
In the “Renwick 50” race Cottle finished 3rd behind 2nd placed Chris Amon (Bulls) driving a Maserati 250F 2495cc, second (Amon’s Cooper Climax did not arrive in time for the meeting) and the race was won by Angus Hyslop (Hastings) driving a Cooper Climax 2495cc.
Thanks to John Penny for scanning, Marlborough Car Club historian Barry Voss and John Pierson for these images and notes "
Attachment 61774
#147- Giffs Coupe....Nice Coupe, lovely Coupe..Great Coupe...283 small block.We need to breed these and get more on the track
Chev Coupe's yes yes yes John Mck.Quote:
Originally Posted by John McKechnie
Would love to see them again. I once as a young 20 something looked at buying a 1938 Four Door sedan, in the early 1970's.
Closest I actually got to owning a Chev was this one in 1;24 scale - needs a bit of rebuilding, orginally put together in 1969/70 still have it. As I have told Chaindrive and others - on my list of things to do, a winter job. Glue and Paint and a lot of care required.
Kits by AMT -made in New Zealand by Tonka - have an unmade too!! - hence the two boxes in the photos - another task.
Attachment 61775
Attachment 61776
I built it with the Six and twin carburettors, made the V8 motor - just for display on a stand - or in another car.