Bucklers!

[Oldfart]

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.

[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...

[Roger Dowding]

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



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



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.



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



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

[Roger Dowding]

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 ?

[Roger Dowding]

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.



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



- 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;



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

Others will know more

[Oldfart]

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)

[Roger Dowding]

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

" 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.

[Oldfart]

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.

[Roger Dowding]

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.



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.

[Roger Dowding]

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.





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



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



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

[Roger Dowding]

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.



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



On the road - photographer Leo Jeurisson - Barts archives.



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







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

[Roger Dowding]

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.

[Oldfart]

A few photos that popped up on Facebook

[ERC]

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!

[Roger Dowding]

[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.