Issuu

CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 80 YEARS

No. 401 August/September 2026 New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine

BEHIND THE WHEEL

1952 VANGUARD A GO KART ON STEROIDS? 9 418979 000012

DE JOUX

MARKET PLACE

1914 MAXWELL TOURER 1920 MARCOS COOPER

$9.95

From NZ Motor World, March 1963, the text accompanying the photo alludes to an editorial, which is headed “Old Cars and Young Drivers”. It describes this car as “mobile self-propelled junk” (which maybe someone saved and restored, then joined the VCC?). There was a campaign going on to get unroadworthy vehicles off the road. The 16-year-old driver owner of this “rickety, hoodless and bonnetless wreck” was warned by police not to use the car, but three hours later “the teenager was abroad once more in the junk heap”. A week later “the vehicle, unlighted at midnight, nearly collided with a patrol car forced to take evasive action”. In court, the police asked the magistrate to order the car’s destruction, but he was not empowered to issue such an order. “ So, we have the police unable to get, and magistrates unable to give, permission for such vehicles to be destroyed in the interests of public safety. Supplied to Beaded Wheels by John Stokes, Wellington Branch member.

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.

Extract from NZ Motor World, March 1963.

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. 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, 9 Saddle Vale Rise, Halswell, Christchurch 8025. 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/- 376 Kopua Road, RD11 Norsewood 4974 centralHawke’sbay@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

Hawke’sbay@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 146 Queen Victoria Street, Motueka, 7120. 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 FAR NORTH WAIKATO NORTHLAND C/- 7 Pirongia Roaad, WELLSFORD/ NORTH SHORE Te Awamutu 3876 WARKWORTH waikato@vcc.org.nz AUCKLAND WAIMATE WAITEMATA 4 Harris St, Waimate 7924 BAY OF PLENTY WAIKATO waimate@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY WAIRARAPA OF PLENTY ROTORUA 24B Nikau Heights,Lansdowne, SOUTH WAIKATO Masterton 5810 TAUPO GISBORNE KING COUNTRY wairarapa@vcc.org.nz TARANAKI HAWKE’S BAY WAITEMATA WANGANUI C/- 8 Jean Place, Stanmore Bay, CENTRAL MANAWATU Whangaparoa 0932 HAWKE’S BAY waitemata@vcc.org.nz HOROWHENUA WANGANUI WAIRARAPA PO Box 726, Whanganui 4541 NELSON wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON WELLINGTON MARLBOROUGH PO Box 38418, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045 WEST COAST wellington@vcc.org.nz WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH CANTERBURY BANKS PENINSULA PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 wellsfordwarkworth@vcc. ASHBURTON org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY WAIMATE WEST COAST C/- Shantytown, NORTH OTAGO CENTRAL OTAGO 316 Rutherglen Road, Rutherglen GORE OTAGO Greymouth 7805, SOUTHLAND westcoast@vcc. SOUTH OTAGO org.nz

Motoring for more than just cars! We have 36 active branches around New Zealand. Our events range from weekly runs and coffee get togethers, to hill climbs, speed events and touring. For the more intrepid, our infamous off‑road adventures are the stuff of legends.

DRIVING OUR HISTORY

GRAEME DUTHIE, DUNEDIN, OTAGO BRANCH MEMBER, IN HIS 1917 FORD T TRUCK. 2024 VCCNZ NATIONAL VETERAN RALLY ARMSTRONGPHOTOS.CO.NZ

Visit www.vcc.org.nz and get motoring with us today. See opposite page for your nearest branch

Cars, trucks and motorcycles from 1890 to 30 years old are club eligible. No car — no problem! Just join up and grab a ride with another member.

CONTENTS Issue 401 August/September 2026

FEATURES

Can you help trace this Morris

Irishman

Marketplace

Meals on Wheels – North Shore Style

De Joux Mini GT

Acetylene, Ignition and Ingenuity

Plugging a Gap in New Zealand’s Social History

Can You Help Trace This Morris?

Behind The Wheel – Where have all the Vanguards gone?

Random Recollections

30 32

VCC Branch Events

Mailbag

National Support Office News

Timelines

Branch News

Book Review

Passing Lane

Marketplace Swap Meets & Rallies

Trade Directory

President’s Message

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Incorporated

Annual Rally — Wanganui

Irishman — Canterbury and Banks Peninsula

Weathering the Dunedin Brighton — Otago

Southern Back Road Adventure — Otago

Maunga Moana — Taranaki

John Benn’s 1952 Phase 1 Standard Vanguard. See page 20. Photo Graham Pauley

52 Awards

10 47

COVER

COLUMNS From the Editor

Rally Snippets

Southern Back Road Adventure – Otago

Dodge — From Surplus to Service

National Support 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.

AI GENERATED IMAGE

FROM THE

EDITOR As far as I can tell most VCC members seem to be good down-to-earth people who generally favour plain language without too much fancy embellishment. Much like the vehicles we drive, which differ from the flashy mediocrity that a modern vehicle offers with its digital devices and gizmos everywhere to “help the driver.” One example is that on our old cars we can change the radio station or volume without taking our eyes of the road. I do agree that modern cars are much safer with seat belts, air bags (no, not the navigator!) and ABS for example. It is hard though to see the 2020s modern car as anything other than an appliance, complete with the limited life span that that implies. When we talk about our old vehicles, usually knowledgably, (although there is always the odd exception) we mostly use plain language although some vehicle parts have tricky names that, naturally enough, not everybody is familiar with unless mechanical knowledge is held. There are some areas of human endeavour where such restraint of language

Beaded Wheels Publisher

The Vintage Car Club of NZ Incorporated The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 (Print) ISSN 3142-0788 (Online) Vol LXXVII No. 400

Typesetting and Design

RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch

Editor: Kevin Clarkson Sub Editors: Judith Bain, Rosalie Brown,

Mark Dawber, John McDonald, Graham Pauley, Bruce Rickard, Charles Rushbrook

is uncommon, and I find it quite remarkable that some activities require those who burst into print about them, turn to such flowery prose to describe what they see and do. I’m talking here about specific things — wine and art for example. Wine I can be less critical about because sometimes you can actually taste the gooseberries. For example, I recently tasted a wine that proudly claimed on the label that the wine “offers intense fresh gooseberry and stone fruit flavours, ripe tropical notes and a zingy acidity”. I didn’t hear the tropical notes, but I did observe that it was a very nice wine with just the merest hint of arrogance coming through with the stone fruit! We probably wouldn’t use that style of language to describe a car, although I have heard some owners justly wax lyrical when describing their muchloved vehicle — sometimes their car would even have a name. I don’t, however, recall any motorcyclist naming their bike, but maybe some have. Art, on the other hand is another story entirely. To avoid offending, this tale has had to

Correspondence & Editorial Contributions Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531, PO Box 76063, Northwood, Christchurch 8548.

Advertising Enquiries

Classified and Display Advertising to: Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Postal: Attn Beaded Wheels Marketplace PO Box 76063, Northwood, Christchurch 8548. Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.

wait for a number of years until the artist and those close to him have passed away. Years ago, I attended the art exhibition of a celebrated painter acquaintance of mine, who was well known overseas but perhaps less famous here in New Zealand. His work was good and in demand — you could buy a good car for the price of one of his paintings. While at the exhibition I picked up the sales brochure commonly found at such venues and found much to interest me in there. In particular the description the artist gave us of how he saw art and his work. I have kept the sales brochure, and I think the prose he uses is worth sharing, if for no other reason than to show contributors to the magazine the writing style that we definitely do not want to see in Beaded Wheels! This, straight from the sales brochure. “It is (the artist’s) firm belief that the completed work of art must show that its existence owes as much to the forces of nature as it does to human intelligence. It should convey much more than just the results of human cerebral decision-making and expertise

Back Issues

Available for purchase from admin@vcc.org.nz

Subscriptions

Beaded Wheels subscribers change of address to: PO Box 76063 Northwood Christchurch 8548. Phone 03 366 4461, Email admin@vcc.org.nz Annual subscription (6 issues) $52* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$112* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$185* Digital subscription (6 issues) NZ$39 available from issuu.com. *Payment by credit card incurs additional bank fee processing charge of 2%

and, through its vitality, impart a greater force than only the summation of human application. Through its specificity it should speak in universals thus evoking a greater awareness of the mystery of existence itself, within its presence of “now” it should echo time past and yet hold promise of time future and stimulate enquiry beyond the boundaries of contemporary intelligence. “ There is more, but you get the idea. I presume art acolytes may be able to work out how all that relates to an abstract painting — or at least they may say they do even while not understanding a word! Is that being pretentious? A definition of down-to earth is being practical, reasonable and friendly without being pretentious. I think Beaded Wheels will stick with the down-to-earth style we have been used to!

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 25 August 2026 Advertisements 10 September 2026

Beaded Wheels 5

VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS

Banks Peninsula: Working hard for top honours at the Banks Peninsula Autumn Gyhkhana was Geoff Henry MGB GT. Photo John McDonald

AUGUST

1 Northland 2 Canterbury 1-2 South Canterbury

2 Manawatu 2 Northland 6 Ashburton 8 South Canterbury 9 Banks Peninsula 9 Canterbury 9 Gisborne 12 Bay of Plenty 13 North Otago 13 South Canterbury 14-16 Manawatu 16 Canterbury 16 Central Otago 16 Waikato 19 Auckland 19 Northland 19 Waikato 22 North Otago 22 Wellington 23 National Day 25 Waikato 26 North Otago 27 Ashburton 27 Central Otago 27 Otago 28 Hawke’s Bay 29 Canterbury 30 Auckland 30 Marlborough 30 South Canterbury

DRIVING OUR HISTORY

Club Run Around Town Rally Trials and Young Driver Day Sunday Jaunt Motorcycle Run QUIZCO at Timaru Garage Raid Awards Luncheon AGM Club Run Mid Month Run Mid Month Run Midweek Run National AGM OCBC* Sunday Run Sunday Run Mid Week Tourer’s Run Dargaville Midweek Run Wednesday Wander Waimate Cancer Car Show Daffodil Motor Show Daffodil Rally for Cancer Motorcycle Run Motorcycle Run Midweek Run Thursday Muster Midweek Run Mix n’ Mingle Motorcycle Around the Bays Daffodil Display Marlborough Trials Daffodil Rally

NATIONAL EVENTS 12–14 February 2027 VCC National Motorcycle Rally 26–29 March 2027 South Island National Easter Rally

2 Wanganui 5 Waimate 6 Canterbury

6 Far North 6 Gisborne 6 Manawatu 7 Bay of Plenty 10 South Canterbury 12 Banks Peninsula 12 Manawatu 13 Ashburton 13 Banks Peninsula 13 South Canterbury 13 Wairarapa 16 Auckland 16 Bay of Plenty 16 Manawatu 16 Waikato 17–18 Canterbury 17 North Otago 18-21 North Shore 18-19 Taranaki 18-21 Wellington 19 Canterbury 20 Canterbury 20 Otago 20 Taupo 20 Waikato 20 Wanganui 24 Ashburton 24 Otago

Shiny Parts Auction Swap Meet Women and Young Drivers Rally Father’s Day Run Club Run Sunday Jaunt Coast to Coast Tour Midweek Run Brooklands Race Meeting Combined Vintage Rally Opening Run with South Canterbury Hadstock Field Tests Opening Run Spring Rally Mid-week Tourer’s Run Mid Month Run Inter-Branch Quiz with CHB members Wednesday Wander Girder Ford Motorcycle Rally Mid-Month Run Northern Spring Tour Rubber Duckie Motorcycle Rally Hawera Run Awards Dinner OCBC* and Motorcycle Trials PWV/P60/P80 Club Run Sunday Club Run Sunday Run Midweek Run Midweek Run

A valid Vehicle ID card (VIC) is required for any vehicle entered in a National VCC event. Visit www. vcc.org.nz for more information on how to obtain a VIC for your vehicle.

*OCBC: “Old Cars, Bikes , and Coffee,” all welcome.

6 Beaded Wheels

SEPTEMBER

25 Hawke’s Bay 25-27 South Canterbury 26 Manawatu 26 North Otago 27 Ashburton 27 Auckland 27 Banks Peninsula 27 Bay of Plenty 27 Canterbury 27 Wairarapa 29 Waikato 30 North Otago

OCTOBER

2–3 Central Otago 2-4 Otago 3 Southland

3 Waikato 3 Wairarapa 4 Gisborne 4 Manawatu 9-11 Canterbury 10 King Country 10 Manawatu 17 Ashburton 17 Far North 17 South Canterbury 17-18 Auckland 17-18 Marlborough 18 Canterbury 18 Waikato

Mix n’ Mingle Mount Cook Rally Swap Meet Moped Rally Spring Rally Annual Ladies Run Opening Run End of Month Run Vintage Annual Rally Distinguished Gentlemen’s Drive Motorcycle Run Motorcycle Run

VCC 80th Anniversary Rally: Queenstown • Cromwell • St Bathans Dunvegan Motorcycle Rally Post Vintage/Post War Rally Motorcycle Run Tin Can Rally Club Run Sunday Jaunt Swap Meet Scenic Tour Annual Motorcycle Rally Commercial Run Dunny Run Continental Rally Hunua Spring Tour Marlborough Biennial Rally Kaikoura OCBC* Sunday Club Run

This column is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and events as listed in each branch newsletter. It does not contain all branch activities. While Beaded Wheels makes every attempt to check the accuracy of the dates published in this column we advise readers to confirm all dates with the individual branch concerned.

MAILBAG Beaded Wheels reserves the right to p ublish, edit or refuse publication of any item s ubmitted as comment. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the policy or views of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Incorporated) or the publishers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

PHOTO CAPTION QUESTION

In his letter to Mailbag (Beaded Wheels 400, page 7), Phil Murphy asks for details of four photos he believes he took in 1969 at the National Motorcycle Rally in Wanganui. Phil must have either the wrong date or the wrong venue. The first National Motorcycle rally was in 1967 held at Masterton. The second National Motorcycle rally was in February 1971 in Wanganui at which I was a participant. If the photos were taken at the 1971 rally, the red tank motorcycle (middle right photo) is a 1912 Endurance entered by B. Anderson, Napier, and the King Dick motorcycle (top left photo) could be one of two entered, a 1911 model entered by R O Clark, Te Awamutu or a 1912 model entered by I Barnes, Palmerston North. However, there is no 1920s HRD motorcycle (middle left photo) in the official programme entrants list. It may have been a late entry of which there were several, or the photos are not of the national motorcycle rally. Ian Bade

MORE ON FORD VS CHEV DURING THE EARLY DEPRESSION YEARS.

Just to clarify, during the development of the Ford V8, production of the Model A had ceased in late 1931. The Model B engine (an improved Model A) was largely ready at this time as were the new bodies, but crafty old Henry Ford held back on releasing it for fear that it would dilute the impact of the V8 when it was released. He was probably right, as both cars were identical except for the two different

engines, and the V8 badges on the Model 18. It is quite likely that the last of the Model As were ‘force fed’ to dealers who didn’t want them, similar to what was done during the Model T era. But times were a lot different then. Small wonder it took so long for them to be cleared. On the other hand, in some areas of the country there were some Ford dealers who had nothing at all to sell for months. Chev introduced its Confederate model on 5 December 1931. Fords V8 and Model B were not released until 31 March 1932. This gave Chev (and Plymouth’s model PA) a good head start, nearly four months production with no Fords competing. Now, once Ford’s deuce was on the market and when production got into full swing, things changed dramatically. From about mid 1932 until the end of the year, Ford’s monthly production outstripped Chevs at an increasing rate. We can argue forever that had the V8 been ready at the beginning of the model year, it could have outstripped Chev’s sales completely. But it wasn’t, and it didn’t. The final production figures for the year say it all: 323,100 Chevs vs 298,647 Ford V8s and Model Bs. This is always an interesting topic, I could go on but will quit here. Neil Lucas

INFORMATION WANTED ON SOME MINI MOKES?

I owned an Australian small wheeler EC6213 in my younger days. It was regularly thrashed, including at the Nelson Beach Races. It would have had a

sE C6213 at the Ruapuna hairpin many decades ago.

pocket in the bulkhead for a side draught Weber and was last seen in Christchurch. Does anyone know what happened to it? NAC airlines used Mokes for tarmac and engineering duties. Does anyone have pictures or memories of them? I donated a display Moke to Ferrymead Aeronautical Society but we have no information regarding colours and signage used. I am restoring an early Moke that was owned by the Wellington A&P Association (or maybe Wellington and Hutt Valley Association?). Reg CV4564? I got it many years ago from a deceased estate and have no history. Can anyone help? Andy Wilson Mem Auckland Ph 027 683 9947 AndrewFWilson@outlook.com

IDENTITY CONFIRMATION

were acquired by Wayne Nicoll some years ago. Wayne is the owner of a restored 1927 ArrolJohnston, a make closely linked with Arrol-Aster. It is probably more correct to say that ArrolAster was closely linked to the much longer established ArrolJohnston company. Barry Barnes

WELL DONE ANNEMARIE

The Rallye des Princesses looked fantastic (Beaded Wheels 400). And to have the superb and very rare DS convertible. (The D S was from day one nicknamed ‘The Goddess’). My father (a country GP) had one from new. Driving, it coped well with the gravel roads of South Otago but mechanically a lot went wrong! We have been fortunate to be able to do a lot of touring in France over recent years, it is a wonderful country to holiday

In response to Richard Bain’s letter in issue 400, I can categorically confirm that the David McIvor pictured beside the Arrol-Aster car is not the late Southland Branch member David McIvor. David’s brother Russell sent the photo to me earlier in the year and at that point we determined the car make and, as I recall, that the photo was taken in Wyndham in Southland, and of course that was not his brother in the photo. There was some speculation that it may have been the chassis and axles of this car that

and tour in. I bought the T Shirt (above) in a market near St Tropez recently. It is of course a play on words “And God Created the Godess”. Brigitte Bardot’s film “Et Dieu Crea la Femme” (And God Created Woman) came out at the same time. Both were hits. She spent most of her life in

Beaded Wheels 7