Table of contents for No 404 March/April 2026 in NZ Classic Car

FAST FACTS NUMBER 11 Secure your favourite magazine’s future. Subscribing not only saves you money but also goes to help secure the magazine’s future. Having guaranteed readers and copy sales goes a long way to help keep Kiwi magazines alive. SUBSCRIBE TODAY ONE YEAR $79 SAVE 13% SIX MONTHS $42 SAVE 7% ONE-YEAR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION AVAILABLE FROM ONLY $39 ADD A DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TO YOUR PRINT SUBSCRIPTION FROM ONLY $8! New Zealand Classic Car subscription terms and conditions: • Prizes/Gifts are as stated, not redeemable for cash, and the publisher’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. • Prizes/Gifts are administered by the magazine publisher. If the subscription purchaser is a gifter, prizes/gifts will be sent to the subscription recipient unless requested otherwise by the gifter. • Prizes/Gifts are…

At over $50,000, the “Ultimate Goodwood Experience” is the first major competition of this magnitude in Star Insure’s history. This is a meticulously curated immersion into the high-octane heart of global car culture, access usually reserved for the racing elite. Iconic Goodwood House in West Sussex, home of the Festival of Speed, is the ultimate “Garden Party of the Gods.” Join the fans and stand inches away from legendary Formula 1 machines, iconic Le Mans winners, and the world’s rarest supercars as they scream up the famous 1.16-mile Hillclimb, or experience the grit of the Forest Rally stage, or warm to the prestige of the Cartier ‘Style et Lux’ Concours, experiences defining the pinnacle of the automotive world! Gabrielle Byfield, GM Marketing & Communications, says the competition marks a defining…

Helensville is in the sweet spot – close enough to Auckland to make the big city accessible but still a proper rural town. As such, it draws people working on odd and fascinating projects, restoring and building every kind of vehicle, inventing the next big mechanical wonder, but still with a full complement of farmers. They all, sooner or later, turn up at the hardware shop of their dreams, and once found, they keep returning to it: Thrifty Auto Supplies, a local legend for near on half a century and now also selling online for the benefit of mechanical tinkerers nationwide (thriftyautosupplies.co.nz). Having emerged early this year from premises hidden off the main road, Thrifty is finally on show in an industrial warehouse large enough to display its mind-boggling variety…

In the era of the smartphone, we tend to forget that carrying your music in the car once required complicated electronics. The sound experience, depending on the local geography, was not always helpful. Electronics companies had some novel solutions Years ago, in the early 1970s, a neighbour gave me my first-ever novelty radio, which looked like a Coca-Cola bottle. At that time, my experience with radios had been limited to an old Philco mantel radio (belonging to my grandparents), my mother’s little white Bell Colt, and a Murphy Radiogramme. I did recall that at boarding school in the 1950s/1960s, one of the other boarders who hailed from Singapore used to be sent the coolest stuff, like a spaceman crystal set, and a tiny Sony transistor radio, which we all used…

Based on the best-selling Falcon platform, it grew longer and wider for the 1967 model, essentially to accommodate a big block engine. The 1969 model was slightly widened and substantially lengthened. For many, the 1969 and 1970 model years are the best-looking shapes, embodying the muscle car craze of the time and competing with other pony cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Firebird, as well as the Dodge Challenger and Barracuda (both released in 1970). The Mustang also had big brother cars during the muscle car craze, such as the Ford Torino, Dodge Charger, Roadrunner, and Chevrolet Chevelle. FULLY OPTIONED Ford Mustang fans in 1969 and 1970 enjoyed a veritable feast of options – that haven’t been seen since – due to circumstances, a lack of government safety rules, and…

Check out New Zealand Classic Car’s new website: classiccar.co.nz Every week, we upload new content from our 35 years of article archives onto our New Zealand Classic Car magazine website. Some uploads of the past few weeks include: An umbrella for four – 1985 Citröen 2CV6 Charleston: Citröen’s iconic 2CV embodies French chic. It is a triumph of minimalist design with a large dose of practicality, packaged to make the most of the least https://classiccar.co.nz/1985-citroen-2cv6-charleston/ One lady owner: When Trevor sold his much cherished 1965 Ford Falcon in 2003, little did he know that twelve years later it would be back in his tender care https://classiccar.co.nz/one-lady-owner/ Video of Classic Manfeild 2025: Glimpse some of the classic racing action from this annual classic racing event https://classiccar.co.nz/short-intro-video-ofclassic-manfeild-2025/ Project Adder – an MGB with…

On a roasting-hot summer’s day, courtesy of the incredible team at Southern Specialist Cars, I found myself behind the wheel of a stunning 1995 BMW 840 Ci dressed in Avus Blue metallic paint – and you may or may not believe this, but it was my first ever time sitting in, let alone driving, a BMW. Not any BMW. Not even a quick passenger moment. Nothing. Zero. Zilch. Which I admit, does sound slightly unhinged for a self-confessed car-girl. It’s not that I’ve ever had anything against BMWs. I promise. No childhood trauma. No mysterious grudges. No emotionally scarring ex-boyfriend who owned one and ruined the brand for me forever. (Although that does feel like something that could happen. I’m looking at you, Nissan Skyline). They just never happened. For…

Over the past 15 years, Martin has devoted many hours to bringing his Rover 3500 Vanden Plas up to the superb condition you see in these photos, as he explains: “My wife bought it for me as an anniversary present, and it actually came from a ‘one lady owner’. I got it with very low kilometres on the clock, so, yes, it looks tidy, doesn’t it? That was about 14–15 years ago, and she bought it for me off the guy she worked with. It was his mum’s car.” A GOOD CAR IMPROVED The car was well documented, including its original sales receipt. In great condition, Martin set about fixing the niggling bits that made it not quite perfect. When I speak to him, he has just sent the car…

Our 400th issue cover of New Zealand Classic Car sparked a lot of interest for an Australian reader, Phillip Rizzo, when we featured Auto Restorations’ stunning restoration of the ex–Rod Coppins Chrysler Charger commissioned by Mike Todd. A devoted enthusiast, Phillip owns a beautifully restored E49 R/T Charger in Hot Mustard, one of the great colour names Chrysler used in the past. PHILL’S LETTER (ABRIDGED) “Greetings, Greg and Quinton, as you can tell from my email, I am from across the ditch and the proud owner of a fully restored Hot Mustard, E49 (sprint tank) Charger. I have been a Chrysler Charger enthusiast since my teens. “I recently acquired Issue No. 400 of your magazine (featuring the E49 Charger), which then prompted me to place a backorder for Issue No.…

Simply because a car was popular when new does not diminish its value or appeal over time. Forty-year-old BMW 3 Series sedans, convertibles, and station wagons are genuinely usable classic cars that are not only good to drive but have an edge to their design and still age well. Despite the strong sales here, they are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Generation-two BMW E30 3 Series models span 12 years, from 1982 to 1994 and were available with at least five engine sizes. New Zealand would offer many of the versions new, with exceptions including the four-wheel-drive 325ix (only made in left-hand drive) and the high-performance full-house M3, which is a rare, highly prized import. “CHOOSING YOUR FAVOURITE POWER UNIT WILL LIKELY BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN FINDING A REALLY GOOD…

Put this one in your diary now and support a great cause! Head out with your classic or custom ride to the Marsden Bay Christian Camp on Saturday, 11 April 2026. From 10am until 2pm, the Ruakaka Fire Service (RFS) is holding its annual Classic & Custom Car Show, featuring raffles; prizes; food vendors; live music; and, of course, all the cars on display, all for just a $10 entry fee. Show cars and those aged under 15 get in for free! Prize-giving kicks off at 12pm, midday. The service is fundraising to purchase a side-by-side Polaris. It will help rescue crews reach patients in difficult terrain, such as farm blocks and sand dunes, which the RFS fire appliances cannot access. Organised and run by local volunteer firefighters, the project…

Oliver’s school years were spent buying and selling old Falcons for parts to help fund his love for the vintage scene. Now just 22 years old, Oliver has started a collection of vintage vehicles – not exactly what you’d expect to see a young guy cruising around in today! TUDOR TIMES His journey began with his 1928 Ford pickup, followed shortly after by a 1928 Ford Tudor, both of which he has owned for more than three years. Most recently, he added a 1925 Chevrolet Superior tourer to the mix – a fun paddock car built purely for enjoyment. In the shed, he is currently building a 1928 Ford Model A tourer hot rod. For Oliver, the love of vintage cars runs deep. “It’s in your blood from the start,”…

The 36th edition of the SKOPE Classic, held at Euromarque Motorsport Park, lived up to the praise it has previously received from spectators and competitors alike. Hosted by the Canterbury Car Club, the event ran over three days and featured around 270 stunning cars across seven classes. The wide variety of classic racing cars represented past eras of racing, from historic saloon cars to vintage open wheelers. BRING ON THE MUSCLE One of the most popular motorsport categories was the Muscle Cars, a combined grid that included the Mainland Muscle Cars, Central Muscle Cars, and Touring Car Masters NZ. Rivalling the V8 sports coupes were the eagerly anticipated F5000 cars, a sight and sound that attracted many to the trackside. REMEMBERING OUR HEROES Several classes are named in remembrance of…

You might remember Mark and his 1967 Galaxie from Issue No. 399. Mark also has an early model Mustang, a Ford Ranchero, and a Lincoln four-door hardtop. Yep, Mark is a Ford guy through and through. We meet a couple of his massive behemoths, leviathans of the road in every sense of the word – the Ranchero and the Lincoln. WORKHORSE RANCHERO Henry Ford is credited with creating the term ‘pickup truck’ when he built one from a Model T in 1925. Americans have been buying them ever since, and they are now a staple of the New Zealand fleet too. Ford is also credited as the first car manufacturer of the ‘ute’. According to legend, an unnamed farmer’s wife in Australia in 1932 wrote a letter to Ford Australia…

An American favourite, the Chevrolet Corvette has been a successful part of General Motors’ marketing since 1953, up until the current C8, and the popularity of the fibreglass wonder from Bowling Green, Kentucky, shows no sign of diminishing. When Dave O’Connell contacted us, he described a few of the steps taken to rebuild his C2, but when he got into the details of how it was done, it became clear that this was an exceptional rebuild, involving many skilled technicians across the country and in the US. Around the start of Covid-19, Dave met a young local mechanic who sparked his dream of restoring the C2 that he had owned for 20 years. “It sparked a dream I had always harboured and started a four-year restoration pilgrimage (with a twist)…

The Cobra, by AC Cars and Caroll Shelby, is one of the most replicated cars in the world, second only to the cars built in homage to Colin Chapman’s Lotus 7. New Zealand is not exempt from this passion for these particular cars. From the 1960s through to today, many companies offered their versions of these cars. Many replica manufacturers come and go, but one that has lasted the distance is Almac Cars. For 40 years, Cobra replicas have rolled out of the Upper Hutt factory, and for the last 20, Almac Lotus 7 replicas have been sold alongside. These iconic marques will continue thanks to Almac’s new owner, Matamata Panelworks. PERFORMANCE IS OUR BUSINESS The second chapter began in 2018, when Malcolm and Nicky Sankey, owners of Matamata Panelworks,…

Pat Garlits started it by suggesting that hubby Don put a Chrysler Hemi into his ’27 Ford drag car. And the debate has raged ever since! When it comes to sitting outside a café with a coffee, listening to the cars driving by, the gentle rumble of a V8 will always capture the attention of anybody with even the remotest interest in cars. There is something about that deep, even base note that exudes power and the promise of great things. Over the decades, a few V8 engines have become legendary. Two of these, with the same displacement but completely different manufacturers and histories, battled it out during the early 2000s: the Chevrolet 5.7-litre LS1 and the Chrysler 5.7-litre Hemi. PROUD HERITAGE Both these engines appeared in many cars. The…

His first job after leaving school was an apprenticeship as a car mechanic. After that, he was a butcher’s apprentice, and whilst working as a butcher, he rebuilt and repaired motorbikes as a hobby, before leaving both trades behind him to work as a tow-truck driver. He followed this with a stint as a panel beater and then as a car painter. Later, while serving his compulsory military service in Germany, he trained as a paramedic. After finishing his compulsory service, it was back to motorbikes and other mechanical things. Mike started repairing crashed bikes and developed a skill for fitting non-standard parts to the bikes that he was building. He began fabricating motorbike fairings, which led him to build custom motorbikes with his own unique twists. His designs brought…

A Mercedes-Benz was once again a star of the Webb’s Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia pre-Christmas auction in Auckland. At the July Webb’s auction, a green 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda sold for $352K (including commission), and at the most recent auction on 7 December, another 280SL was reflecting strong money. The white-and-black hardtop 1969 280SL W113 Pagoda went under the hammer at $319K, just short of the $325K estimate. The immaculate automatic transmission example, showing just 80,196 miles, was imported from the UK in 1984 and received a cosmetic and engine restoration. JAGUAR ELEGANCE Three of the four mid-century Jaguars found new owners. An elegant 1947 Mark IV Jaguar four-door sedan, estimated between $35K and $45K, sold for $40,250. Registered new in Australia, the 3.5-litre-engined example moved to New Zealand…

Michael and his daughter Alannah have both caught the bug. Grant and Michael currently race a pair of 1965 Ford Anglias with the Historic Muscle & Saloon Cars (HMSC) group to get Alannah behind the wheel of her own car. An avid Ford fan, Grant started his car collection as soon as he had his licence at 15 and began racing in his early 20s. With an interest in following motorsport, the Tauranga local started entering hill climbs and local car club meetings. “I enjoyed hooning around in cars, and getting on a racetrack seemed like a good idea.” Grant also frequented Bay Park Raceway ‘back in the day’ when it was a terribly run-down facility. THE ANGLIA APPROACH Grant’s early approach to club meetings looked like this: after a…

Holden’s follow-up to the FJ was always going to be a challenge, but from 1956 to 1959, the Holden FE and its facelifted FC took the Aussie Lion into new territory, one which blended the style and details of mid-century American automotive modernity with a distinctly Australian flair. “The FE was a car that was so important to Holden,” says renowned FE/FC expert and custom car builder Andrew Clatworthy, “to go from the FX and FJ and suddenly produce a car which looked quite modern by comparison. It was so successful in Australia that during 1958 and 1959, around 52 per cent of all Australian new car sales were Holdens,” says Andrew. NEW ZEALAND ASSEMBLY The FE was also the first Holden model to be assembled in New Zealand, with…

Ayrburn Classic 2026 is done and dusted for another year, and we bring you all the highlights and the fun. We have comments from Ayrburn CEO Chris Meehan, any potential plans for next year, and feedback from category winners. We also look at what the tradespeople thought of the event. There is an in-depth feature on a very special, superb Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, 4 years under restoration, our current poster car. There is also a very nicely restored Holden ute. Our cover car will also be a little different from what’s expected, but it has a long history in New Zealand. Sedan Deliveries are rare these days, and this example from Christchurch ticks a lot of boxes, and it’s a big American. We also add another iconic German to the…