CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 70 YEARS
No. 343 December 2016/January 2017
NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $6.95
VETERAN AND VINTAGE TOURING
9 418979 000012
DODGE FAST FOUR • 1928 AUSTIN 16/6 RECOMMISSIONING – A REAL OPTION? MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
Trevor Stanley-Joblin has supplied this photograph and a request for information. Above: This photo was given to me by the current Mayor of the Hurunui District (North Canterbury) Mr Winton Dalley. A gentleman of the district gave it to him asking if he could find an appreciative home for it.
Can any reader tell me what year this was taken and which branch of Amuri Motors this would be? I am going to donate the photograph to the Canterbury Branch to be displayed in their McLeans Island, clubrooms. However, before I do it would be nice to put a place and year with the photo. It is still in its original wooden frame and glass measuring 30x14 inches. Replies to: Trevor Stanley-Joblin, email: stancar_nzcc@hotmail.com
This photo is one of a series of racing images supplied to Beaded Wheels by the late David Barker. No other information is known.
management committee Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, logbooks, historic race licences, lighting endorsement, registration of vehicles, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events. The Vintage Car Club Of New Zealand (Inc.) National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
branches ASHBURTON PO Box 382, Ashburton 7740 ashburton@vcc.org.nz AUCKLAND PO Box 12-138, Penrose, Auckland 1642 auckland@vcc.org.nz BANKS PENINSULA 27 Showgate Ave, Riccarton Park, Christchurch 8042 bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 660, Tauranga 3140 bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz CANTERBURY PO Box 11-082, Sockburn Christchurch 8443 canterbury@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL OTAGO C/- 4B Roto Place, Wanaka 9305 centralotago@vcc.org.nz
2 Beaded Wheels
PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 06 876 4009 president@vcc.org.nz
REGISTRAR Rod Brayshaw 07 549 4250 registrar@vcc.org.nz
CLUB CAPTAIN NORTHERN REGION Paul Collins 027 292 2204 nicc@vcc.org.nz
SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz
CLUB CAPTAIN SOUTHERN REGION Alon Mayhew 03 443 7030 sicc@vcc.org.nz
BEADED WHEELS CHAIRMAN Kevin Clarkson 03 385 9821 kevin@vcc.org.nz
SECRETARY/ TREASURER Michael Lavender 03 325 5704 hon.sec@vcc.org.nz
Ed Boyd 06 348 4547 mgmt3@vcc.org.nz Tony Bartlett 06 867 9850 mgmt1@vcc.org.nz David Yorke 06 358 8060 mgmt2@vcc.org.nz COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING OFFICER Ross Holden comms@vcc.org.nz
Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until October 2017. A full list of branch addresses and contact details can also be found on the VCCNZ website at www.vcc.org.nz CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 94 Mt Herbert Road, Waipukurau 4200, centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz FAR NORTH C/- 64 Mangakaretu Road, RD2, Kerikeri 0295 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/- 34 House Ave, Taumarunui 3920 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 PO Box 5352, Dunedin 9058 otago@vcc.org.nz ROTORUA PO Box 2014, Rotorua 3040 rotorua@vcc.org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY PO Box 623, Timaru 7910 southcanterbury@vcc.org.nz SOUTHLAND PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840 southand@vcc.org.nz
SOUTH OTAGO C/- G. Beaumont, Tuapeka Mouth, RD 4, Balcultha 9274 southotago@vcc.org.nz SOUTH WAIKATO PO Box 403 Tokoroa 3420 southwaikato@vcc.org.nz TARANAKI C/- 297 Huatoki st, New Plymouth 4310 taranaki@vcc.org.nz TAUPO PO Box 907, Taupo 3351 taupo@vcc.org.nz WAIKATO PO Box 924, Hamilton 3240 waikato@vcc.org.nz WAIMATE 4 Harris St, Waimate 7924 waimate@vcc.org.nz
Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until October 2017.
WAIRARAPA PO Box 7, Masterton 5810 wairarapa@vcc.org.nz WAITEMATA C/- Embroidme, 23E William Pickering Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Wanganui 4540 wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON PO Box 38-418, Petone, Wellington 5045 wellington@vcc.org.nz WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.nz WEST COAST C/- 17 Loris Place Greymouth 7805 westcoast@vcc.org.nz
Beaded Wheels Publisher THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (INC.) The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol LXVII No. 343
Editorial Committee Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, Bevars Binnie, Rosalie Brown, John Coomber, Mark Dawber, Marilyn McKinlay.
Beaded Wheels Issue 343 December 2016/January 2017
FEATURES
Material for Publication Reports of restorations, events, road tests, historical and technical articles should be submitted to beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz. Email of text and photos is preferred, digital photographs should be high resolution eg 300dpi. Alternatively mail your contribution to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141, typed or neatly printed, double space on one side of paper only. No payment is made to contributors. The opinions or statements expressed in letters or articles in Beaded Wheels are the author’s own views and do not necessarily express the policy or views of The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc).
Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz
Advertising Address Classified and Display Advertising to: PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 Rate schedule available on request.
Paul Hulse discusses a third option for the car enthusiast on a limited budget, see page 28.
Back Issues Available on request to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.
14
Bill Richardson Transport World
16
Built when cars were made to last! 1928 Austin Sixteen Six Burnham Saloon
20
What happened to one abandoned Ford V8
22
A Dodge Phoenix
26
Off the record
28
Recommissioning… the forgotten third option
30
On the road again… Veteran and Vintage Tour 2016
33
Rally Snippets Canterbury – Swap Meet and Display Rotorua – Sulphur City Rally 2016 North Otago – Teapot Rally Auckland – Hunua 100 Banks Peninsula – Peninsula Run Waimate – Waimate 50
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.
Subscriptions Beaded Wheels subscribers change of address to PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Phone 03 366 4461, Fax 03 366 0273 Annual subscription (6 issues) $39* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$80* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$130*. *Payment by credit card will incur additional bank fee processing charge of 3%
Production Typesetting & design by RGBDesign Printed by Spectrum Print Ltd, Christchurch.
Closing Date for February/March Issue Editorial Copy Advertisements
5 January 2017 10 January 2017
COLUMNS Murray and Penny Firth’s 1931 Bedford tackled plenty of metal roads on the recent Veterans and Vintage Tour, see page 30.
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
Postal Address
President’s Message
4
As We See It
5
VCC Events
6
National Office News
6
Captain’s Log
7
Mailbag
9
Book Reveiw
10 Soapbox
PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. Address 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch, New Zealand. Website www.vcc.org.nz Beaded Wheels is the voice of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) and its 35 branches covering the length and breadth of the country. The efforts of our members continue fostering and ever widening the interest in this segment of our country’s history. It is to these people, who appreciate the fascination of age, the individuality and the functional elegance of vehicles from a bygone era, that this magazine is dedicated. Beaded Wheels – A very apt and well-known title however readers may wonder at the origin of the name. By way of explanation beaded edge wheels use beaded edge tyres that are kept in place by reinforced rubber beads, which fit into the rolled edges of the wheel rim. This style of wheel was a distinctive feature of early motoring being used on early bicycles, many pre-1924 cars and most motorcycles until 1927. The VCCNZ adopted the title Beaded Wheels for their quarterly club magazine in March 1955 which was the successor to the monthly Guff Sheet. Copyright Information 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 (Inc)” as the source. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to digitally store all published material for archival purposes.
4
Les and Gail Costar’s MG on swing bridge at Whakahoro, Eastern Bay of Plenty Branch, see page 53.
10
Timelines
12
The Way We Were
36
Mutterings of a Mature Motorcyclist
37
50 Year Awards
38
Brass Notes
40
Marketplace
46
Swap Meets & Rallies
51
Idle Torque
62
Passing Lane
COVER
John and Janet Campbell, Timaru give their 1930 Chev roadster a proper motoring holiday on the 2016 Veteran and Vintage tour. See page 30. Photo: Raewyn Fenn. Beaded Wheels 3
president’s message
To our members who have been affected by the recent earthquake and storms, our thoughts are with you and I hope you are bearing up under the difficult conditions you are facing. At previous Executive meetings it had been suggested branch magazines should be made available on our Vintage Car Club website. Ross, our new Communications & Marketing Officer, has set this up and magazines are now able to be read by going to http://www.vcc.org.nz and clicking on “News from our Branches” on the menu down the left side of the home page. Then click on the magazine you want to read. The soapbox column from Rod McKenzie in this issues poses the opinion that members’ perception of what constitutes a Vintage car needs to change. I am also aware that there may be a notice of motion next year to change the name of the categories we use to define our various classes. The Management Committee has already signalled that it does not support any change to the category names. Aside from the technical and legislative issues, it is my opinion that, human nature being what it is, if we changed the names of the various classes, our members would still refer to them by the old names and the same would happen if we changed the name of the Club, they would still call it the Vintage Car Club. I think that when a non-member is considering buying a vehicle, the VCC category it falls under means nothing to them, nor should it, and doesn’t influence their decision. The next step, i.e. whether to join the Vintage Car Club, is where we need to concentrate our efforts and I come back to my premise that we must promote widely that the VCC accepts any vehicle over 30 years old. In my last Beaded Wheels column I referred to the 2016 Dunedin Rally financial review we had commissioned by Murray Trounson. This has now been completed and presented to the Management Committee. Murray has spent over 70 hours on the review and I thank him for his very thorough report. The Management Committee has taken on board his recommendations which will be implemented with respect to the 2021 Rally. A copy of Murray’s final financial
4 Beaded Wheels
as we see it
statement for the rally is available for members from the National Office. In light of the loss made by the 2016 Rally, questions were asked at the AGM about the processes that the Management Committee have in place to manage the financial running of the Club. The Club’s Auditors, Ainger Tomlin, were themselves audited/reviewed some years previously. As part of that review, they had to choose five businesses to re-audit, the Vintage Car Club being one of them. At the end of that process, the Club was advised that the review team had commented that the systems in place to report the day-today financial running of the Club to the Management Committee, were one of the best they had seen for a small company. That system is still used today. I am pleased to advise that Rod Brayshaw has been elected to a committee position on the FIVA Technical Commission. This highlights the high esteem in which Rod, and indeed our own Club, is held amongst the various member clubs that make up FIVA. Rod’s election will allow the VCC to be instrumental in any changes FIVA is considering within their organisation and around the Northern Hemisphere. You might wonder how this would advantage us. I can assure you that New Zealand authorities (particularly governmental departments) often follow overseas trends which at times may be detrimental to our organisation and the vehicle movement in New Zealand generally. This now creates a situation where Rod’s present Registrar’s position will need to be restructured and some responsibilities re-distributed. Whilst we are pleased for this opportunity for Rod (and for the Vintage Car Club), we don’t want to lose Rod’s valuable input with New Zealand Transport Agency and other government departments. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rod who has now completed 20 years on the Management Committee. Geoff and I wish all our members safe travelling for the holiday season and best wishes for Christmas and the coming year. Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President
While I was attending the VCC AGM in Rotorua Life Member Roger White from Wellington Branch showed me a photograph album that Founding and Life Member Andy Anderson had brought with him to the AGM. The photos, taken from 1946 to 1951, were of the early days of the club, were well captioned and were in good condition even though they were over 60 years old. Roger felt that we should do something in Beaded Wheels with these historic photos and after a quick glance I readily agreed. I have since had time to have a good look at the album and it depicts a wonderful slice of life of those early days. Very enjoyable reading. After discussion with Roger and Andy we have decided to use the photos in Beaded Wheels under The Way We Were column. We scanned the album and commencing this issue will be using the photos and captions plus additional comments from Andy relative to the photos. We have material for a number of forthcoming issues and Andy has advised that he has a second album from 1952 onwards that we may use also. I hope you enjoy looking back at the club’s past through Andy’s eyes as much as I did. The first instalment appears on page 12 of this issue. Beaded Wheels was first was available on subscription or for general sale in August 1969 and the price was a pocket tearing 30 cents! It has increased over the years. By 1979 it was 75 cents and by 1989 it was $3.40. There was a bit of inflation over those two decades. By 2003 it was $5.00 and currently it is $6.95. At the AGM the low price of Beaded Wheels was raised and the suggestion was made that we should up the price. An easy comment to make because, of course, raising the price to subscribers and newsstand sales has no effect on members of the Vintage Car Club at all. Two commercial magazines also publish six copies a year and both have similar pricing with Classic Driver at $9.95 and Classic Car $9.99. We are a club magazine and that remains our reason for being and must necessarily always be our focus. We will be increasing our price to $7.95 an issue from February and we will continue to keep an eye on the pricing. Kevin Clarkson Chairman, Beaded Wheels
VCC Events
This list of events is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and branch events as listed in each branch newsletter. Any deletions, additions, alterations need to be notified to Beaded Wheels by the Branch Secretary before 10th of the month prior to magazine publication
VCC National Events 20-23 January
National Veteran Rally, Wanganui National Motorcycle Rally, Waikato
17-19 February
ECEMBER D 3 Canterbury 3 Gore 3 Nth Otago 4 Ashburton
Grand Ball Diggers Run Windsor Rally Vintage & Veteran only Posh Picnic 4 Auckland Gymnic 4 Sth Otago Moped Run 4 Wairarapa Mauriceville Fair 7 Nelson Midweek Christmas Run 10 Sth Cant Christmas BBQ 10 Sth Otago Tokomairiro Show 11 Canterbury Children’s Christmas Picnic 11 Gisborne Club Captain’s Wing Ding 11 Horowhenua Christmas Party 11 Marlborough Onamalutu Domain BBQ tea 11 Marlborough Pot luck lunch (Motorcycle Section) 11 Nelson Christmas BBQ 11 Otago Christmas BBQ 11 Waikato Combined Christmas Gymkhana & BBQ 11 Wairarapa Christmas Lunch 14-20 Ashburton Pre Christmas Tour 20 West Coast Morning tea Shantytown 18 Canterbury Veteran Picnic Run 18 Central Otago Christmas Party 18 North Shore Christmas Dinner & Gymkhana 18 West Coast Club Run 26 Canterbury Boxing Day Run
JANUARY
1 Ashburton New Years Day Run 1 Banks Peninsula Picnic Little River Domain
1 Horowhenua
Len Haycock’s New Year’s Day Run 1 Sth Cant New Year’s Day Parade 1 Waimate Parade at Fairlie 2 Canterbury Motorcycle New Year Run 2 Marlborough Harris Bach Run 5 Manawatu Veteran rally 6 Canterbury Picnic Run 7 Far North Autospectacular 8 Sth Cant Ladies Rally 8 Wairarapa Coastal Run 16 Sth Cant Night Trial 17 West Coast Morning tea Shantytown 21 Central Otago Swap Meet 21 Sth Cant Open Day 21-22 Wanganui National Veteran Rally 22 Otago Jackson Rally 22 Rotorua Lakefront Car Show 22 Southland Club Open Day Ariki Lodge 22 Waikato Blue Smoke & Pedals 22 Wanganui Burma Rally 22 West Coast New Year Dinner Run 28 Ashburton Annual Rally 28 Otago Dunedin-Brighton Veteran Rally 29 Canterbury Veteran Picnic Run 29-6 North Shore Parliamentary Tour
FEBRUARY 3-5 4 4-5 4-10 5 6 10-12 11 11 11-12 11-12 12 12 12
Banks Peninsula Southland Wellington Sth Cant E Bay of Plenty Marlborough Banks Peninsula Auckland Waimate Canterbury Gisborne Central Otago Nelson Wairarapa
Skope Racing Ruapuna Southland Rally Club Captain’s Safari Haast Tour East Coast Rally Heritage Day Brayshaw Park Enzed Racing Levels Annual Veteran Rally Wallaby Run Annual Rally Three Rivers Rally Wakatipu Club Run Remembrance Day Rally
17-19 Hawke’s Bay 18 Nelson 17-24 Horowhenua
19 19 19
19 19 21 25 25 25 25 26 26 26 26 26
Art Deco Rally Swap Meet 25th National Motorcycle Rally & Hub Tour Ashburton PV / PWV Run Banks Peninsula Veteran Rally Horowhenua Shannon Spectacular Car Show Sth Cant Chairman’s Rally Taupo Picnic Run West Coast Morning tea Shantytown Canterbury Annual Commercial Rally Gore Festival Rally Nth Otago All British Wellsford/Wkwth Swap Meet Gisborne Club Run Otago Vintage /Post Vintage Taranaki Waitara Mini Vin Tour Waikato Open Day West Coast Club Run
MARCH
4 4 4 5 5 5 5 11 11 11 11 12 12 12
Canterbury Manawatu Southland Canterbury Nelson Sth Cant Waikato Canterbury Sth Cant Sth Otago Taupo Auckland Central Otago Gore
12 Wairarapa 15 Manawatu 18 Horowhenua 18 Waikato 18 West Coast 18-19 Canterbury
Moped Run Ruahine Ramble Veteran Rally Rear Wheel Brake Rally Club Run to Lake Rotoiti Mystery Run Ladies Rally Back Country Run Mid Island Rally Motorcycle Rally Annual Lake Taupo Rally Annual Vintage Muster Wanaka Frank Robson & Clearwater Capers Runs Rex Porter Rally AGM Swap Meet Vintage Venture Scenicland Rally 4 Lakes Rally Jim Toohey Motorcycle Run
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.
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Email admin@vcc.org.nz Phone 03 366 4461 Beaded Wheels 5
Julie Cairns-Gee
OVERDUE VCC MEMBERSHIP
National Office Manager VCCNZ Inc National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 ph 03 366 4461 fax 03 366 0273 email admin@vcc.org.nz www.vcc.org.nz Office Hours Mon – Thur 9-5pm
national office news Our thoughts are with all those recently affected by the earthquakes that have hit the country. Those in the thick of things will have a challenging time ahead, repairing properties, businesses and dealing with added stress levels. We are all thinking of you. Discounts on Interislander and Bluebridge Ferry Crossings All financial members of the Club can obtain a discount with Interisland and Blue Bridge ferries. You must show your membership card. Full information on how to book is on our website (www.vcc.org.nz) or can be obtained from your branch secretary. When booking with the Interislander you must book through the Group Bookings option. The codes are as follow: Interislander – WH5465 and Blue Bridge – Antiquecar Vehicle Identity Cards – Renewal Applications Please note that all Vehicle Identity Cards (VIC) have an expiry date. This expiry is upon change of ownership or 10 years from the issue date. Your vehicle must be as described on the VIC. A renewal form personalised for each VIC is distributed by National Office to current financial members approximately three months before expiration. Even if your vehicle has had no changes this form must be checked, signed and forwarded to your branch, along with the VIC (if the photo correctly shows your
Paul Collins North Island Club Captain
captain’s log 6 Beaded Wheels
vehicle in its present state), or three new photos, as stated on the form. Upon receipt at National Office the VIC will be reissued and will be valid for a further 10 years unless there is a change of ownership or major changes to the vehicle during that time. All vehicles entered in National and International VCC Rallies must have a current VIC. If you have sold your vehicle, please notify the National Office. VCC Speed Events It is compulsory for any member entering a VCC Speed Event to hold a current Historic Racing Licence and Log Book for the vehicle they are using. If you currently hold a Historic Racing Licence, please keep an eye on the expiry date and if it needs renewing please complete the Historic Race Licence Renewal Form and forward it, along with $23 and a new one will be issued.
Annual invoices were sent to all members in September. This will be the last Beaded Wheels you receive until your payment has been received. Delivery of branch newsletters will also be stopped. Christmas Hours I wish to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy and safe New Year. National Office will close on Friday 23 December 2016 and reopen on Monday 9 January 2017.
ERRATA Beaded Wheels wrongly attributed the images for the article on page 2 of our October/November 2016 issue to Norm Sisson. The photographs were supplied by Norm Dewhurst.
Find out more about the Vintage Car Club Join our enthusiasts as they motor their classic cars, trucks and motorcycles. Visit vcc.org.nz to download membership application forms or contact your local branch directly for application forms and details. See page 2 for contact details of your nearest branch. When organising a tour or event out of town (especially an overnight or longer tour), give some thought to contacting the local i-site in the area of destination. I have found them to be extremely helpful with contacts for local venues, places to visit (tours etc) and their willingness to organise local promotion/ event advertising on their local sites. This is probably a much overlooked advertising medium we could be using to promote not only our local club event but the VCC as well. Through this medium I was able to obtain a great discount on a local boat trip (almost half price) for one of our club tours which was a great finish to a long day’s motoring.
While group motoring on back country roads does not seem such a major issue, convoying on main highways is often seen as a problem by less patient motorists (and maybe sometimes even due to them too). A little consideration is required for other road users. Simply put, avoid more than two cars together and leave adequate space for moderns to overtake. Keep an eye in the mirror to watch for vehicle build up behind and move over periodically to allow them to pass. Most will appreciate the passing opportunity being offered. Drive safely over summer.
mailbag The editorial committee reserve the right to p ublish, edit or refuse publication of any item submitted 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 (Inc.) or the publishers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
A Hearty Soapbox I just had to raise myself up and make the effort to drop a few words away to heartily congratulate Alastair Jones on his stirring Soapbox contribution regarding the state of various affairs in our wonderful organisation. In particular the National AGM attendance by members. Be assured Alastair your words did not fall on barren ground. I would recommend the membership go to Beaded Wheels no 342 again and read Soapbox thoroughly. His article supports our President Diane Quarrie’s concerns regarding attendances at AGMs and her writings should also be read by the membership. Alastair’s words are no less than I would expect from an officer serving under me on the expedition of ‘95. I was so moved that I addressed the troops here in Marlborough on a recent Wednesday (we get 60 – 70 members out every week) on the pathetic apathy and as next year’s hosts we must put on a good show. I raved on a bit about my happy years as a member, my pride in our organisation and challenged the locals to support next year’s AGM to the hilt. To my surprise my tirade received a rousing ovation and a couple of slaps on the back. So there we are members, we in Marlborough are raring to meet you all at the 2017 National AGM. See you then. Once again, well done Alastair. Cheers Earl Preston aka Major Kochupp O.C. 1995 A.A.A.E. Soapbox Comment I read with interest Alastair Jones’ soapbox article about the attendance at the VCC AGM. At the fear of being killed, may I suggest Skype or teleconferencing, it would bring us all together without leaving our armchairs! Seriously though, attending means travel and sometimes between the North and South Islands, plus accomodation costs. A lot of us, me included, live entirely on the pension, and if we do travel, it is to visit our children and friends for a short break. I think you will find that there are lot of members in the same boat. I am just as passionate about our club as Alastair is, and do a lot for it as a committee member and branch reporter.
mailbag The North Otago Branch has the solution, we sent one member to the AGM, and the branch paid his expenses. If every branch did this, the AGM would be well attended and every branch would be well informed as to what was going on. But as for all members attending, a not so small thing gets in the way of this – money. Clive Blunden Searching for a Springuel I come to you with the hope that you can help in my search for a pre-first-worldwar Belgian manufactured car. A passionate Belgian team is looking to bring back to life a legend of the early 20th century, the Springuel. Jules Springuel drew and built engines and cars in Huy, Belgium from 1906 to 1914. About 400 cars were built in the factory and many of them were exported to England, New Zealand, Argentina and Holland. About 40 Springuel cars were imported to England by F W Berwick & Co (Berkeley St, 18, London). Unfortunately the first world war ended the business because the invading Germans claimed plans, machines, foundry patterns, engines and chassis to export them to Germany. We don’t know more of the Springuel story except that it was linked to Imperia in Liege and was a winner of first Francorchamps races. Our team are looking for one of these cars, even wrecked ones, engines or engine plans. We want to buy or copy anything. We look forward to hearing from any New Zealanders who might have information for us. Jeremy Quaglia Jerequaglia@gmail.com Call all Morris Oxford owners I am trying to find out how many Morris Oxford model MO vehicles are in New Zealand and if all owners could contact me on this email address I will start a database and maybe in the future we could all have a get together. Email would be best but I can also be contacted on 07 887 4949 or 027 312 3041 Maurice Bill morrisoxfordmo51@gmail.com Bedfords K Bedfords appear to be a vehicle of much interest these days and are enjoying quite a bit of exposure. I believe that the Rotorua branch is in possession of one that they are endeavouring to find an enthusiast’s home for. Interestingly there
is one strange feature of these vehicles that not many owners or enthusiast’s are aware of. In fact the manufacturers were probably in ignorance of it so it won’t be mentioned in the handbook or even in workshop manuals, but I was once told, about 60 years ago, that if you were to slap a block of Cadbury chocolate on the front mudguard the chocolate would break into 32 equal squares. I find that interesting. David Mayhew Looking for DAF I have two DAF 44 cars and I would like to know how many DAF cars are there in New Zealand, on the road or in storage. Any information is appreciated Ben Vermeulen 07 323 4292 17 Kirk Cres Kawerau 3127 Help Needed I am trying to trace the previous owner of a 1920 Vauxhall D type. It left the UK for New Zealand around 2010 and then was reimported back to the UK around 2012/13. The dates are approximate. The UK registration was X8538 and it was a maroon open four seater tourer with black wings and beaded edge wheels. I think there are more D types in New Zealand and Australia than the UK. It’s a long shot that you may know of the car…but I thought it worth asking. Peter Russell Sussex, England prussell.sussex@btinternet.com Volvo Query I lived in New Zealand in 2004/05 during which time I owned a white 1971 Volvo 145 estate. I had a great time owning this vehicle but sold it in 2005 when I left New Zealand. I have now started to look for this car again and would very much like to buy it, restore it and export it to London where I am now living. As I still know the registration, GW6041, I got a carjam report from which I can see that the car is still registered and has a current warrant of fitness. If any reader has any information on the whereabouts of this vehicle I would be grateful to hear from them. Jan Hautmann jan.hautmann@web.de The Wolseley 6/80 story The Haynes Car Museum in Cornwall is fantastic. It’s new and the cars are Beaded Wheels 7
mailbag presented in sparkling order. I was showing my wife a Wolseley 6/80 and telling her what a stylish car they were. I pushed a button on a talk stand and we heard the story from the original owners son… In the 1950s his Dad had just bought the car and he took his wife shopping. He told her he needed to charge the car battery up, so he went for a drive. This took longer than anticipated and when he picked his wife up from the shop they had a blazing row. “I can still remember it” said the son… So the poor guy drives his wife home in the new Wolseley with her giving him a ‘right bollocking’ all the way. When they get home the guy says “Ok, I’ll never drive the car again”. And he parked it in the shed. Forty-nine years later he died. The son (now 60) wondered if the car was still in the shed after all that time. So he checked, and it was. A bit dusty, and the battery was flat! He soon got the car running but then he didn’t know what to do with it, “so I thought I would give it to this museum”. The car still hasn’t done enough miles for its first service. Haynes Motor Museum (www.haynesmotormuseum.com). Don’t miss it. Bruce Cossan Magazine Name Change? Few bookshop magazine stand browsers would understand the significance of the name Beaded Wheels unless they had read the recent excellent explanation of the term. Classic Wheels has been suggested, but that was the name of a short-running magazine introduced in 1993. It changed its name to Auto Nostalgia after a year and folded after only 19 issues. If a change is to be made how about Vintage Wheels? That would well cover the subjects of its contents and with
101 Harman St PO Box 9164 Christchurch 8149 New Zealand Phone 03 338 4307 email office@veterancarrims.co.nz 8 Beaded Wheels
Riding Styles and Café Racers Amid your readers there must be dozens of great photographs, it’s a pity there isn’t a way to get them to share them with the rest of us. I know some do but it’s only a small percentage. I have a couple of photographs gifted to me by Hugh Anderson, taken by an English racing photographer, of Hugh racing the G50 in the England Classic Series in the ‘80s. Hugh remarked upon giving them to me that he had not realised until seeing them that his riding style had changed with the times, the colour shot in particular demonstrates this. I always felt if I could ride half as well as Hugh I would be great. As the saying goes “a picture can be worth a thousand words”. There can be exceptions with some that be summed up
in three words or less but I trust the photograph below won’t fall into that category particularly with the performance minded Vintage motorcyclist or former café racers. Don Ammon
the rest of the format unchanged would stand out well next to NZ Classic Car and Classic Driver! Ronald Mayes,
Mihaeljevich 45hp (40CV) is partially documented in this book. Neil Bieleski, Ardmore. nimble@xtra.co.nz
Prestige Renaults An English Renaultphile and author Hector Mackenzie-Wintle, has asked me if anybody has any knowledge of the whereabouts of Renault models PG9 and PG 10 referred to in the book “ Renault des automobiles de prestige” as being extant in New Zealand. The existence of the
Actually Not That Tricky I’ve fouled it up again, my letter in issue 342 stated that it would take a lot of work to establish whether Waitemata County’s registration records still exist. Thanks to Auckland Branch member Neville Olsen’s efforts copies of some of these records came into the possession of branch
Lock ring Heavy and light. Now available
The lovely Norvin Special of Don Waterhouse, Pukekohe, early 1980s.
Beaded edge Wide range 30x3 to 895x135 Split Rims Motor cycle rims
Well base Rolled edge. All sizes
motor, gear lever or inside of cab. The K and M are identical to the back of the cab except the front wheels and hubs and the lack of vacuum servo on the brakes of the K. Looking at Sophie’s collection the one she sits in is an M. It has dished front wheels so is a dual wheeler, there are five plugs visible and the gearlever bends back so it is not an O nor a K. The gearlever indicates also that it one of the earlier ones with a crash box. Syncro went into them some time in 1951 and the gearlever no longer had the finger lever for reverse. The truck on the trailer is a K as indicated by the flat disc front wheel. The one on the truck is an M and looks like a short wheelbase one (MS) and the bonnet shows the three equal length vents where an O has two long and two short ones. There was also a long wheelbase ML produced. L Cross
book review
We Had One Of Those!
By Stephen Barnett Published by Potton & Burton Hard cover, 212 pages, RRP $49.99 Reviewed by Kevin Clarkson
librarian Barry Robert. The records only show names and addresses of owners and the plate they were assigned. There are no records of vehicle makes. What did surface was a copy of Gerald Arthur Jackson’s “Certificate of Competency to Operate A Motor Car” issued by Auckland City Council. There is also a record of the Waitemata County’s registration of a Model T Ford in September 1916. This car was registered in Manukau County because Waitemata County didn’t get government authority to issue its own WA plates until October 1916. John Stokes. Bedfords Like Graham Taylor I too enjoyed Sophie Hammond’s article and wish her and her family enjoyment and success. Unfortunately both articles erroneously refer to these trucks as KMs. They are not. The KM was a late ‘60s model like a TK on steroids with a double bumper and twin headlamps. It could have two, three or four axles. The trucks in question are either Ks or Ms. The series K, M and O (note the comma between K and M)was released in 1939 but very few were produced before the war started and I doubt that we saw any before about 1949. The K was a single wheel 30 cwt truck. The M a dual wheel three tonner. Like the O model I wrote about in issue 341 these are easily identified just by sighting the bonnet and a front wheel or in the absence of a bonnet, the
Looking for a Vestige of my Youth I wonder if you can help me. I’m trying to find a vehicle for my friend. His dad owned it for around 20 years and they grew up in the car and then it came to New Zealand around 15 years ago. My friend’s dad recently died and I think his intentions are to buy the car back and bring it back home. I’ve rung land transport but no luck there. I want to help him as best I can but need to be pointed in the right direction. Hopefully you can help me. Below is the copy of the number plate and VIN number that we have found. It is a 1949 Ford Pilot V8. Lewis Frayne 021 530 010
Given the average age of our members I suspect that many of them will relate very well to many of the cars within the pages of this book. The popularity of Post War cars owned by many members also speaks volumes about how we have taken a shine to these cars of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Stephen gives a commentary about 36 cars and each car description is accompanied by sales brochures and other literature provided by the car manufacturers and distributors of the day. Most of the cars in the book are from Britain, as was the case back then also. There are Vauxhalls, Cortinas, Minis, Morris 1000, and many others. There are Falcons and Holdens and also a touch of European exotic such as the Fiat Bambina and 850 Coupe. There are American examples with their showy chrome and extras. Like the cars it features, this book is a classic and will add interest to any coffee table. A great idea for a Christmas present.
Beaded Wheels 9
HIN BE
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Built when cars were made to last! 1928 Austin Sixteen Six Burnham Saloon Words Greg Price, photos Kevin Clarkson, Greg Price
Greg Price gets the opportunity to relive life in the fast lane (with apologies to those who deal on a daily basis with Auckland traffic woes)
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here was a sense of deja vu when Editor Kevin asked me to pen another article for Behind the Wheel, this time a 1928 Austin Sixteen Six Burnham Saloon. Way back in the day when I resided in Auckland (Shhh. Don’t tell anyone.) I actually owned one of these, and a 1926 Austin Twelve Four, but in each case there was not a happy ending for either me or the cars. First up was the Twelve Four, and at the time of purchase, I had the choice of either a tourer or the sedan. The issue for this (then) cashstrapped youngster was that the tourer was £65, whereas the sedan was only £30, so it was the sedan that I went home in. The first problem was that while driving it home over the top of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the rather decrepit canvas roof blew away and I was left momentarily thinking that I had actually bought the tourer. Fortunately the seller had provided me with a fully reconditioned gearbox – with the instructions “learn to use the 16 Beaded Wheels
crash gearbox with the current one, and then when you are adept, change it to the reconditioned one.” When I wore out the thrust bearing on Khyber Pass Road one Friday night whilst sitting in rush-hour traffic (on my way to go cruising in Queen Street) that presented me with the opportunity to change them over. During my relatively short ownership the Austin proved to be a great ‘party bus’ in that I could squeeze up to 13 teenagers into it at any one time. When the timing chain broke, which was after the battery fell out onto the road in Mt Eden Road one day, it was retired to a workshop for the inevitable restoration – which I never completed. I sold it to a then Auckland VCC member in Howick. To this day I have no idea if it ever saw the light of day again, but presumably it survived to motor on again under a better owner’s stewardship. My Sixteen Six, which we painted yellow and black to look like the Rolls
Royce in the movie of the same name, ended its days left outside the (then) Meola Road rubbish dump with its aluminium bodywork dented all over with a sledge hammer. In my defence I would hasten to add that back then, that was often the unfortunate end for many a classic car. (Apparently aluminium and wood-framed cars did not make good stock cars.) Ian and Marilyn McKinlay’s daily runner / touring saloon / workhorse (sometimes.) So it was a real buzz to see Ian and Marilyn McKinlay’s pretty much original Sixteen Six waiting for me at McLeans Island for the customary interview and test drive. I say ‘pretty much original’ because it was exactly the same colour as my old Twelve Four – and it too had the accursed crash gearbox. Editorial Committee Chairman Kevin had already done the photoshoot, and as he had another engagement he sloped off and left me with Ian for the detailed stuff. What was immediately obvious was that this car is the closest thing to a daily-driver that you could expect to encounter in
an 88 year-old vehicle. You will probably remember the old For Sale advertisements that read “original condition”, and upon inspection in many cases one would have been pretty disappointed. However, the McKinlay’s Sixteen Six is probably one of the best examples of original condition that I have ever come across, and believe me I have viewed hundreds, if not thousands, of cars for sale over the years. Apparently it has never been repainted, and the seats are probably original. Ian believes that the carpets may have been renewed at some time in the past, but I have seen at least one other example with similar coloured carpeting, so to give it a classification, it would be PGR (pretty good, really.). Ian tells me that he will probably never actually restore it, rather he will just keep it running – and I applaud that. Ian and Marilyn intend to continue to use the Six for more Vintage touring – and no doubt, a few more Irishman Rallies to boot. The good thing for me was that the Sixteen Six was a damn sight easier to enter and exit than Michael Lavender’s
Alvis Speed 25. (See Beaded Wheels 342) However once inside I was immediately transported back (figuratively speaking) to the 1960s, with all the familiar smells associated with aged leather-upholstered vehicles, not to mention the famous eight-day clock complete with winding instructions. Those instructions, for example, read ‘do not return clock to the closed position with the winder extended’.
the McKinlay’s Sixteen Six is probably one of the best examples of original condition that I have ever come across…
(Aw, Duuuuh.) That reminded me of the first instruction in a workshop manual for my old 1949 Morris Oxford when replacing the cylinder head gasket, which was, ‘Raise hood’. One can immediately conjure up the image of some hapless mechanic lying underneath while attempting to undo the
cylinder head nuts with arms extended up each side of the engine block. I would have seated myself in the lounge area (read: back seat) of the Sixteen Six, but it was chocka with stuff. However the McKinlay’s younger daughter actually studied for her school certificate exams in that lounge, and believe me, you could probably have fitted a school desk in there, along with a few school chums. I’ll bet you didn’t know that the Sixteen Six was equipped with early forms of many of today’s accessories that we take for granted. For example it has cruise control, air conditioning, an air-extractor system for the cigarette smoker/or sun roof, and an audible device for alerting the driver to the fact that the brakes have been applied. Okay, so these were rather crude prototypes of today’s gadgetry. Cruise control effected by a nice nickled lever on the steering wheel and had to be manually moved, rather than being disconnected by the application of the brake. Air-conditioning is via the air vents on either scuttle, (or opening the front windscreen) the smoke extractor is a tiny opening skylight in the Beaded Wheels 17
A Dodge Phoenix Words and photos Kevin Casey
The last of the four cylinder Dodge cars are commonly known as the Fast Four, not quite what their spin doctors had in mind when, on debut in July 1927, it was rather dubiously advertised as the “Fastest Four”. Good for 60mph they claimed. It may be so, but if this speed was maintained for any length of time vibration would reduce the Dodge to its component parts scattered along the highway. Like politicians, four cylinder cars are inherently unbalanced, not helped by the engine being bolted directly to the chassis.
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he boisterous, roisterous, brawling Dodge brothers had been dead seven years by the time the Fast Four appeared. Pneumonia, often lethal in those days, took John out in January 1920 while Horace succumbed to cirrhosis, and maybe a broken heart (they were that close) six months later. If they had been born a generation or two earlier the hard-drinking Dodge boys would probably have died in a gunfight, in Dodge City of course. In 1925 their widows sold out to a NY bank for $146 million, the largest cash transaction in the history of industrial finance. The Dodge Brothers overall position in the industry had been slipping when W P Chrysler bought it from the
bankers on 30 July 1928 in a $170 million stock transaction. What did Chrysler think of the Dodge 4? Not a lot it seems, halting production before the ink was dry. To be fair Chrysler did not need another four cylinder car. His Plymouth 4 hit the market earlier that month and immediately sold well. Chrysler was never very interested in four cylinder cars, offering them only for two years, four years for the Plymouth. Fast-forward 42 years from that cool autumn day in September 1927 when a certain Dodge phaeton rolled off the assembly line all the way to far-off New Zealand, even today a country still unknown to most Americans. Bob Cook
was travelling in the Danseys Pass area one day in 1969 when he spotted an old Dodge roadster in a farmer’s front yard. He passed this way often enough and that car had definitely not been there the last time. A couple of old codgers, the Brown brothers, told Bob they had recently dragged it out of the shed as a person wanted to buy it but never turned up. Bob offered to buy it which was OK with them but he would have to take all three – this roadster plus a trucked phaeton and a (Dodge-built) Graham Brothers light truck. The deal was done and the three old-timers moved into their retirement home, a large decrepit hen shed just north of Oamaru, and there they perched for a
Lazarus at rest.
Exploded for examination…just have to figure out where it all goes. How hard can it be?
The deck under construction – only five weeks left.
22 Beaded Wheels
The lads are almost lost on the 2015 Irishman, Kermit’s maiden voyage.
few years until they had to be removed as the building was to be demolished, a fact Bob found out by chance on a casual visit. If he had not stopped by that day the cars would have been in the tip the following week. Gavin Ladbrook bought and restored the roadster while the phaeton remains were traded to Steve Roy in exchange for panel work on Bob’s 1916 Dodge. This was in 1974 and, other than the addition of assorted parts from an earlier phaeton, nothing had changed in 40 years. I first saw the Dodge in 2001 on a visit to Steve’s Dunedin panel shop, Clements & Stevens. He showed me this unloved forlorn old Dodge staring blindly into a corner, its carcass mounted by another in a loveless embrace, and I thought ‘Bloody hell, who would ever want to restore this basket case’. An interesting expression is ‘basket case’, originally a slang term for a soldier who had all four limbs amputated, requiring a basket for transport.
Seating courtesy of Austin.
Moving forward again to 2014…for the last few years Steve (son) and Trevor Johnson travelled with me in the Nash on the annual Irishman pilgrimage. Word got to me that Rob (son-in-law) wanted to come along too, requiring another set of wheels, preferably cheap, rustic and ‘uted’. I was inspired, could see that ancient Dodge resurrected; I would raise it up – hallelujah. Money changed hands and the Dodge arrived on Trevor’s big trailer – the basket for the basket case. Winching it on was simple, getting it off more problematic as the tyres had been flat so long the remains wouldn’t roll. This was solved by TJ accelerating his humungous Ford in reverse and slamming on the anchors, ejecting the Dodge in fine style. Just 12 months until the Irishman – where to start? A rollcall revealed there was more present than absent, so that was encouraging. Two motors, gearboxes and back ends, eight wheels and two cowls, one of most other parts and zero for such trivial items as seat, deck and top. An early and easy decision was to get shot of the gangrenous wooden wheels and their rims. From experience I knew steel disc wheels are more reliable, look better and can be balanced. I got very lucky here by picking up four wheels and hubs from TradeMe and Rob Ross had a couple more so the wheel problem was solved. Mag & Turbo balanced them and, thanks to modern technology, no weights can be seen although there is enough lead in behind to down 1,000 ducks.
Apart from totally disassembling the remains, little work was done over the first few months except research and parts search. In fact most of the work was done over a six month period, the last two months uber-intensive; there’s nothing quite like a deadline to get the job done. This sourcing of parts and the necessary research is so much easier with the internet but the traditional swap meet, advertisements and word of mouth all had a part to play in this project. The lighting is a good example. Advertising in Beaded Wheels turned up a pair of headlights in Oamaru. Although Dodge, they were larger, a bit later than ’28, beautifully aged and ready to bolt on. Word of mouth led to Gavin Ladbrook in Timaru and a headlight bar off yet another model Dodge, perhaps Standard 6. At the Canterbury swap meet I found park lights and within minutes, two impressive Yankee tail lights, one restored – well worth $120 and I didn’t have the heart to tell the vendor it would get ‘unrestored’. An excellent set of large park lights and brackets off an unknown American car was found on eBay, the lights used for rear indicators while the brackets were adapted to mount ’29 Nash park lights as front indicators. A traded Australian-made ’37 Nash wiring loom was stripped, the wire reused to make the Dodge loom, with a few extra circuits thrown in, such as indicators, temperature gauge, wiper, headlight dip, alternator and GPS socket. Dodge is not the only make that used a resistor in lieu of two headlight beams. To ‘dip’ his lights, the driver turned a switch on the dash which shunted power through a resistor, dimming the lights and ensuring he would see nothing. A dip switch is now fitted right in the centre of the old light switch, 12V power through quartz halogen bulbs dazzling possums and oncoming traffic alike. The Dodge is still essentially standard apart from the conversion to 12V, courtesy of a Holden alternator, and fitting of telescopic shocks to the rear axle. I would like to have added front wheel brakes but that was one tough nut to crack and, as I wasn’t going to be in it, not that important after all. On the bright side there is no front brake drag and it doesn’t dive unpredictably under braking. Rear brakes are external contracting with an internal handbrake. They are quite exciting if nothing else, markedly improving the lads’ defensive driving skills and can be locked up when the driver Beaded Wheels 23