CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 79 YEARS
9 418979 000012
No. 395 August/September 2025
SUNDAY MUDDY SUNDAY MARKETPLACE VEHICLES FOR SALE INCLUDING 1936 CORD WESTCHESTER
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $8.95
BEHIND THE WHEEL 1953 LEA FRANCIS SPORTS
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Photograph supplied by Russell Barnard. Unfortunately no other information is available but we were equally impressed by the scenic backdrop and the running repairs by the two intrepid travellers.
PHOTOGRAPHS REQUIRED: Submissions of suitable prints and information are welcome. Post or email original photographs or high resolution digital files of
historical interest with any available information to: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz or Beaded Wheels, PO Box 76063, Northwood Christchurch 8548. Laserprints/photocopies are not suitable. Photos will be returned as soon as practicable.
Beaded Wheels
The official club magazine of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Incorporated).
To find out more about the club visit www.vcc.org.nz or contact your nearest branch.
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
VCCNZ BRANCHES A full list of branch addresses and contact details can also be found on the VCCNZ website at www.vcc.org.nz ASHBURTON PO Box 382, Ashburton 7740 ashburton@vcc.org.nz AUCKLAND 39 Fairfax Ave, Penrose, Auckland 1061 auckland@vcc.org.nz BANKS PENINSULA C/O, 722 Waterholds Road, RD8 Christchurch 7678 bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz BAY OF PLENTY 11 Ridgemount Terrace, Welcome Bay, Tauranga 3112 bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz CANTERBURY PO Box 11-082, Sockburn Christchurch 8443 canterbury@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL OTAGO C/-114 Shortcut Road, Luggate, RD2, Wanaka 9382 centralotago@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 448 Tukituki Road, RD1, Takapau 4286 centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz FAR NORTH C/– PO Box 312 Kaitaia 0441 farnorth@vcc.org.nz GISBORNE PO Box 307, Gisborne 4040 gisborne@vcc.org.nz GORE PO Box 329, Gore 9740 gore@vcc.org.nz HAWKE’S BAY PO Box 3406, Napier 4142 hawkesbay@vcc.org.nz
HOROWHENUA PO Box 458, Levin 5540 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz KING COUNTRY C/- 923 Taringamotu Road, Taumarunui 3994 kingcountry@vcc.org.nz MANAWATU PO Box 385 Palmerston North 4440 manawatu@vcc.org.nz MARLBOROUGH PO Box 422, Blenheim 7240 marlborough@vcc.org.nz NELSON PO Box 3531, Richmond 7050 nelson@vcc.org.nz NORTHLAND PO Box 17, Whangarei 0140 northland@vcc.org.nz NORTH OTAGO PO Box 360, Oamaru 9444 northotago@vcc.org.nz NORTH SHORE C/- 7 Godwit Place, Lynfield Auckland 1042 northshore@vcc.org.nz OTAGO C/- 125 Forbury Road, Saint Clair, Dunedin 9012 otago@vcc.org.nz ROTORUA PO Box 2014, Rotorua 3040 rotorua@vcc.org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY 19 Redruth St, Timaru 7910 southcanterbury@vcc.org.nz SOUTHLAND PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840 southand@vcc.org.nz SOUTH OTAGO C/- 1931 Breakneck Rd, RD 4, Balclutha 9274 southotago@vcc.org.nz
SOUTH WAIKATO PO Box 403 Tokoroa 3420 southwaikato@vcc.org.nz TARANAKI C/- 7 Leatham Ave, Strandon, New Plymouth 4312 taranaki@vcc.org.nz TAUPO 33 AC Baths Ave, Taupo 5530 taupo@vcc.org.nz WAIKATO PO Box 924, Hamilton 3240 FAR NORTH waikato@vcc.org.nz NORTHLAND WAIMATE WELLSFORD/ NORTH SHORE 4 Harris St, Waimate 7924 WARKWORTH waimate@vcc.org.nz AUCKLAND WAIRARAPA WAITEMATA 24B Nikau Heights,Lansdowne, BAY OF PLENTY WAIKATO Masterton 5810 EASTERN BAY wairarapa@vcc.org.nz OF PLENTY ROTORUA WAITEMATA SOUTH WAIKATO C/- 8 Jean Place, Stanmore Bay, TAUPO GISBORNE KING COUNTRY Whangaparoa 0932 TARANAKI waitemata@vcc.org.nz HAWKE’S BAY WANGANUI WANGANUI CENTRAL MANAWATU PO Box 726, Whanganui 4541 HAWKE’S BAY wanganui@vcc.org.nz HOROWHENUA WELLINGTON WAIRARAPA PO Box 38418, Wellington Mail Centre, NELSON Lower Hutt 5045 WELLINGTON wellington@vcc.org.nz MARLBOROUGH WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 WEST COAST wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.nz WEST COAST CANTERBURY BANKS PENINSULA C/- Shantytown, 316 Rutherglen Road, ASHBURTON Rutherglen SOUTH CANTERBURY WAIMATE Greymouth 7805, westcoast@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL OTAGO
SOUTHLAND
GORE
NORTH OTAGO
OTAGO
SOUTH OTAGO
CONTENTS Issue 395 August/September 2025
FEATURES 10 10
Lea–Francis
18
16
Tracing the tracks of a Chrysler 77
18
A tale of two Nortons
20 22
A tale of two Nortons
Marketplace
31
Balcairn Trial
Behind The Wheel – Last of the line This stunning Lea–Francis catches John McDonald’s eye.
Making the dream a reality Paul Elwell-Sutton’s 1926 Renault MT Doctor’s coupé An origin story Leigh Craythorne uncovered a wee gem in the Canterbury Branch library
25
Rally Snippets 25
Wanganui Annual Rally – Wanganui Branch
26
Balcairn Trial – Sunday Muddy Sunday – Banks Peninsula Branch
28
National South Island Easter Rally – Canterbury Branch
29
South Island Club Captain’s Tour – Otago Branch
26 COVER
COLUMNS 5
From the Editor
40
Trade Directory
6
VCC Branch Events
41
President’s Message
7
Mailbag
42
National Office News
9
Timelines
43
Branch News
30
Archivist News
58
Passing Lane
31
Marketplace
38
Swap Meets & Rallies
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Incorporated
Jason Roberts, winner of the Standard Short Wheelbase class by one point from car owner and co-driver Brad Govan at this year’s Banks Peninsula Branch Balcairn Trial. See report page 26. Photo: John McDonald
National Office
Phone 03 366 4461 (9.30am–1.30pm) Email admin@vcc.org.nz
Postal Address PO Box 76063, Northwood, Christchurch 8548, New Zealand.
Address 4 Meadow Street, Papanui, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Website: www.vcc.org.nz
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
4 Beaded Wheels
Find us on facebook Vintage Car Club of New Zealand
The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) is the worldwide organisation dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of historic vehicles and related culture. The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Incorporated) is a founding member of FIVA. VCC Life Member Rod Brayshaw is the New Zealand delegate to FIVA and also a member of the FIVA Technical Commission.
FROM THE
EDITOR
A thirsty beast; 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II.
When I write about EVs some members seem to assume that I have something against these. That is far from the truth. In fact, I encourage all those who desire one to get one. The favourite choice of buyers currently would appear to be plug-in hybrids, and I can see why. They appear to be the best of both worlds. Let’s look at history. In the beginning when people wanted to go somewhere they walked or rode an animal such as a horse and shipping depended on sails. Then, in the early 19th century, it was steam powered trains and shipping that moved people and stuff around. In the late 1800s the internal combustion engine (ICE) came on the scene and for the next 125 years or so became, and still is, the dominant means of propulsion when people or stuff needed to go from one place to another. Development of the ICE engine over that time was rapid and these motors were being used in all forms of human activity from tiny motors on model airplanes to gigantic motors such as used in shipping
Beaded Wheels
today. The internal combustion engine is everywhere. As a result, the motor industry as a whole is the largest industry in the world today. There has always been electric (battery) propulsion of course. For example, those early cars, which never really got established in any meaningful way. We have always had battery operated forklifts and milk was often delivered in a battery– operated milk float. However, it’s not until recently that battery performance has meant that battery operated cars trucks and motorcycles, and even racing cars, could be a viable option to the internal combustion engine. But — there are clouds on the horizon. An electric car has no exhaust emissions while it is being used so can be regarded as good for the planet but the emissions during the battery manufacture are horrendous. With current battery content and technology a huge amount of dirt has to be dug up to get enough of the lithium, copper and other products for just
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions
The Vintage Car Club of NZ Incorporated The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol LXXVI No. 395
Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531, PO Box 76063, Northwood, Christchurch 8548.
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Editor: Kevin Clarkson Sub Editors: Judith Bain, Rosalie Brown, Mark Dawber, John McDonald, Charles Rushbrook
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one car. This, plus the battery manufacture process, results in pollution - it just happens to be somewhere else from where the battery powered vehicle is being used. NIMBY syndrome anyone? I hear about the fire risk, and with many more battery– operated cars out there the fire risk has increased greatly. Apartment living increases the risk as more cars are parked in the buildings. Shipping these cars is also problematic as we hear about shipping fires. I don’t think it is an issue yet, but insurance availability and premium problems may arise in the future. Claims about fast five–minute–charging and high mileages are dubious to say the least. Plus, the extra electrical grid power needed to recharge batteries will eventually be an issue. I am also perplexed about why we taxpayers have to stump up for the EV charging stations that will need to be built. After all the petrol service station in the past, and currently, have never had any taxpayer subsidy and they seem to be doing okay.
The good news is that necessity is the mother of invention and new technologies will likely solve these problems at some point in the future. Just don’t talk about subsidised hydrogen, wind farms and solar farms - unless you have done your homework.
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Again, do not assume that I am against electric cars — I am not. I think a car that can work for you and needs no petrol is a great thing — for at least two reasons. Firstly, it must be good not to have to gas up the tank at great cost every week. Secondly, the more electric vehicles there are means that there is more petrol/diesel left out there for me to burn up in my ICE vehicles! That’s a win/win! Go on, go out and buy one!
Kevin Clarkson Editor Beaded Wheels
The contents are copyright. Articles may be reproduced complete or in part provided that acknowledgement is made to “Beaded Wheels, the magazine of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Incorporated” as the source. Reproduction of articles must be at least 12 months after original Beaded Wheels publication date. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to digitally store all published material for archival purposes.
CLOSING DATES FOR OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER Editorial Copy 26 August 2025 • Advertisements 10 September 2025
Beaded Wheels 5
Last of the line
IMPRESSIONS OF A LEA-FRANCIS SPORTS Text and photos John McDonald
HIN BE
D THE WH EE L
Management at Anglo Motors, Wellington, would surely regard 25 March 1953 as a better than average workday. As the importer of our featured car there would be some jubilation that the Lea-Francis 2½ litre Sports built in 1952 had finally sold. Not to a local purchaser, but to Aucklander Bob Keely who, with his mother, had travelled to Wellington by the NZR overnight express to collect it.
10 Beaded Wheels
In a fit of unswerving confidence they then drove the 450 miles back home the long way, via the west coast. Post-war roads left a lot to be desired, with copious shingle sections, and Bob is quoted as recalling the Lea-Francis was not particularly suited to New Zealand country roads with their sharp corners, poor banking and corrugations. Many roads in the United Kingdom some 58 years prior to 1953 were of a similar standard, though that is not our present interest. August 1895 was significant for both Richard Lea and Graham Francis, who entered partnership as Lea & Francis Ltd. Like others of the period, such as Rover and Singer, their intention was to manufacture bicycles, be it of the advanced and relatively expensive
Bob recalled the Lea-Francis was not particularly suited to New Zealand country roads of the 1950s with their sharp corners, poor banking and corrugations.
type. Niche market or not, their product gained a reputation for quality and reliability, propelling their decision to engage in the construction of motor cars in 1903. Disappointing sales of their three cylinder upstart (no doubt hastened by its oddest feature of three foot long connecting rods), led to more promising results with the production of motor cycles from 1911 until 1920. Cars were also manufactured by Singer Cycles under licence for Lea-Francis using the Singer name, the Singer connection rooted in Richard Lea having been an employee before leaving to branch out on his own. Another attempt making their own light car in late 1922 was more successful, with a 10 hp ohv Meadows engine, being lively,
dependable and popular. Some good competition results were achieved, such as in the 1924 RAC Small Car Trials with a win in the Best Overall Performance category. The firm’s first serious sports car, the 12/40 L Type for 1925 and produced until 1935, had wider appeal than the previous light cars. 1931 saw the introduction of their own six cylinder ohc model, the Ace of Spades, and from 1928 the heavily developed sporting Hyper. Inclusion of a supercharger for this market being a first for a British production car. Putting Lea-Francis and the Hyper on the sporting stage was the major race win by Kaye Don in the Ulster TT of 1928.
Beaded Wheels 11