CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR OVER 70 YEARS
No. 358 June/July 2019
NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95
MEGA MOTORING
9 418979 000012
Rally Action From Around New Zealand
1966 NISSAN PRINCE SKYLINE MAGNETOS TRIUMPH 3HW MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
Auckland member John Stokes has supplied this image which he thinks is of a de Dion. This photo is from a postcard, the back of which reads “Wishing you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year 1908 Dr Douglas and family”.
Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, logbooks, historic race licences, lighting endorsement, registration of vehicles, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events.
NATIONAL OFFICE
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
VCCNZ MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
CLUB CAPTAIN NORTHERN REGION Kaaren Smylie 021 664 341 nicc@vcc.org.nz CLUB CAPTAIN SOUTHERN REGION Alon Mayhew 027 202 9491 sicc@vcc.org.nz REGISTRAR Rod Brayshaw 07 549 4250 registrar@vcc.org.nz
PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 06 876 4009 president@vcc.org.nz
SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz
SECRETARY/ TREASURER Michael Lavender 03 325 5704 hon.sec@vcc.org.nz
BEADED WHEELS CHAIRMAN Kevin Clarkson 021 0270 6525 kevin@vcc.org.nz
Ed Boyd 06 348 4547
mgmt3@vcc.org.nz
Tony Bartlett 06 867 9850
mgmt1@vcc.org.nz
George Kear 03 347 0315
mgmt2@vcc.org.nz
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING comms@vcc.org.nz ARCHIVIST Don Muller 03 385 6850
archivist@vcc.org.nz
Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until October 2019
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 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 CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 3 Fergusson Avenue Waipukurau 4200, centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz
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FAR NORTH C/- 2534 Kaitaia-Awaroa Road, RD 1, Kaitaia 0481, 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/- 1931 Breakneck Rd, RD 4, Balclutha 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 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
CONTENTS
Beaded Wheels Publisher
The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol LXX No. 358
Issue 358 June/July 2019
Editorial Committee
Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, Bevars Binnie, Rosalie Brown, John Coomber, Mark Dawber, Marilyn McKinlay.
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
FEATURES 14 HH Steam Stewart New Zealand’s Doble connection 16
Offerings to The God of Sparks
20
3HW Odyssey
24
North Island Club Captain’s Tour
24
Advertising Enquiries
Classified and Display Advertising to: PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.
Back Issues Available on request to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions
Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz
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) $45* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$76* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$136*. *Payment by credit card incurs additional bank fee processing charge of 3%
Production
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Rally Snippets 26 Vintage Muster – Auckland Branch 26 Clutha Motorcycle Rally – Sth Otago Branch 27 All British Day – North Otago Branch 28 Taupo Rally – Taupo Branch 29 Arrowtown Autumn Festival – Central Otago Branch 29 Wheels Into Wanaka – Central Otago Branch 30 Canterbury Back Country Run – Canterbury Branch 32 Maunga Moana – Taranaki Branch 32 Malvern Run Anzac Day
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Behind the Wheel – 1966 Nissan Prince Skyline A200 GT
38
2019 Easter Rally
42
French Car Driven by Serial Francophile Does Not Win POM
COLUMNS 4
President’s Message
4
As We See It
Closing Date for August/September
5
VCC Events
Issue
6
National Office
Typesetting & design by RGBDesign Printed by Spectrum Print Ltd, Christchurch.
Editorial Copy Advertisements
24 June 2019 10 July 2019
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
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2021 VERO International Festival of Motoring – Rally Update
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Website: www.vcc.org.nz 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.
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Brass Notes
63
46 Marketplace
10 Timelines 11
50 Year Award
12
The Way We Were
23
Mutterings of a Mature
52
Swap Meets & Rallies
56
Idle Torque
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Passing Lane
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. New Zealand.
Motorcyclist
Postal Address: PO Box 2546, Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch,
30
COVER Mike D’Alton drives his Bentley roadster through the vineyards of Martinborough during Wairarapa Branch’s the Rex Porter Memorial Rally. Jim Barr navigated, see Idle Torque page 63. Photo Kevin Ball.
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 (Inc) is a founding member of FIVA. VCCNZ Registrar Rod Brayshaw is the New Zealand delegate to FIVA and also a member of the FIVA Technical Commission.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The Executive, at their March meeting, voted to add a Code of Conduct into the Club’s By-Laws. The Code has been set down after a consultative process lasting more than two years, and sets out guiding principles with regard to what is considered to be acceptable conduct and how we treat our fellow members, organisers, and elected office holders. Branch secretaries will have a copy of the Code of Conduct, however I would like to highlight some of the main points: • Members shall display honesty, courtesy, fairness, respect and sensitivity through their interactions with Members and others, in a manner that is mindful of the differences of opinion that may arise. • Members shall adopt behaviours that are free from harassment, intimidation, exploitation or discrimination. • Members shall recognise and acknowledge the contributions, experience, skills and endeavours of others, many of whom may, for the time being, be serving in elected or appointed roles or offices.
The Club’s Disciplinary Procedure may be invoked for a breach of the Code of Conduct, if this is considered warranted, based on the circumstances, nature and implications of the breach. I acknowledge the work that Tony Bartlett has put into the document. Speed Steward Tony Haycock, Registrar Rod Brayshaw and I attended a meeting of Motorsport New Zealand’s Historic Commission in April. It is apparent that the Commission and the VCC are grappling with many of the same issues. It was very pleasing to note that the relationship between our two organisations is very cordial and collaborative. Geoff and I attended the 2019 South Island Easter Rally based in Ashburton. As mentioned in my previous column South Island Easter Rallies seem to buck the trend of diminishing entries. The event was very relaxed and informal, the local branch members were very welcoming and friendly and there definitely was not a lot of traffic on the roads (except for getting to and from the event). Because there were no silent checks, straight line navigation or questions, we enjoyed being able to look at the scenery. The only competitive element
was a timed section. After lunch entrants were free to depart at their own time to various places of interest that had been arranged by the organisers. What struck me was that everyone stayed at the lunch break for a couple of hours before moving off, taking the chance to look at the vehicles and have a chat to their fellow entrants. I know that some of our members enjoy the competitive side of rallies, and in the past it was considered obligatory that Easter Rallies had a very competitive element to them. However it is clear to me that the majority of our members are now less interested in participating in difficult and over-structured rallies. As President, I hear and read all the time about decisions that “that lot in Christchurch” have made. Firstly, although our National Office is in Christchurch, members of the Management Committee do not necessarily live in Christchurch. In fact currently six live in the North Island. Secondly, and most importantly, the Management Committee are not the ones that make the decisions that set down the rules, guidelines and direction of the Club. It is the Executive (made up of a
delegate from every branch) and directions by members either by vote or at the AGM that govern the running of the Club. The Management Committee’s role is to carry out the directives of the Executive and undertake the day-to-day running of the Club. The position of Branch Delegate is therefore one of the most important roles in the Club. They are a conduit between their branch and the Executive and it is their responsibility to promote feedback to members of discussions and decisions made at the meetings. I believe that a lot of the “misinformation” that crops up, could be considerably reduced if all delegates carry out their responsibility to make accurate and meaningful reports back to their branches. Every few years the question comes up about why the National AGM is not held in just a couple of locations which are easy to get to. Any branch is able to bid to host the AGM which gives them the opportunity to publicise themselves and their locality to delegates and members from all over the country. Small branches have much to offer and their size or geographical isolation should not deter them from hosting
AS WE SEE IT I often get feedback from readers about Beaded Wheels content and, thankfully, most of it is very positive. One section that I know works well for VCCNZ members is the Marketplace. Cars and parts for sale or wanted are being exchanged between members on a regular basis. Many members tell me that this section of Beaded Wheels is their favourite, and is the first section they turn to upon receiving their copy in the post. Furthermore, advertising is free to members so remember
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to make use of this facility. Free advertising is limited to one free advertisement per member per issue. The number of electric vehicles on the road is increasing. In the past five years the number in New Zealand has skyrocketed from just 192 in January 2013 to 9,241 in July 2018. But – problems are starting to appear. I read in The Australian recently about a situation in an affluent area of Melbourne where there are six Tesla cars in one street. When they all try to charge
their batteries at the same time the power goes out in the street because the grid fails. Sometimes it fails when only three or four of them try to charge at the same time. We are not too far behind. This is from the 2018 Annual Report from Vector, New Zealand’s largest distributor of electricity and gas, talking about chargers for electric vehicles. “Next generation EVs will have bigger batteries, which will mean longer charges. By today’s standards, one slow EV charger (7kW)
adds the equivalent of 2.8 houses to the grid. Every fast charger (22kW) adds 8.8 houses and a rapid charger (50kW) adds 20 houses. This level of demand is expected to put unprecedented pressure on the network, which will ultimately require significant technology upgrades.” In a similar vein I recently heard that Ford are pulling back from their autonomous (driverless) car research and experiments. Seems like that’s not going to happen for a while.
VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS a National AGM. It has been my experience that hosting an AGM brings home to local members that they are part of a national organisation, not just their own branch. They gain an appreciation of the extent and complexity of the tasks members of the Management Committee (and other office holders) do on behalf of the Club. This year the AGM will be held in Greymouth on Saturday 17 August. It is your chance to raise your concerns and participate. I urge members, particularly those that live in the surrounding areas, to attend. The Club’s accounts for the last financial year will be mailed out to all members late June. Once again they record a healthy surplus which is indicative of the careful management of the Club’s funds by the Management Committee.
Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President
Changes are coming, and we cannot ignore them, but I think we will still be out and about in our internal combustion powered club eligible vehicles for a while yet.
NATIONAL EVENTS August 17 25
JUNE
1 Central Otago Run to West Coast 1-3 Canterbury Irishman Rally 1-3 Waikato Double 50 Rally 2 Sth Canty All British Run 2 Wellington Sunday Run 5 Hawke’s Bay Mid Week Run 6 Sth Canty AGM 6 Waitemata AGM 8 Gore End of Season Run 9 Marlborough Awatere Valley Run 9 Northland AGM 9 West Coast AGM 10 Wairarapa AGM 11 Gore AGM 12 Central Otago AGM 12 Hawke’s Bay AGM 12 North Otago AGM 12 North Shore AGM 12 Waikato AGM 13 Bay of Plenty AGM 13 Gore Annual Dinner & Trophy Night 13 Nelson Quiz Night 13 Sth Canty Mid Week Run 14 Wairarapa Winter Wander 15 Banks Peninsula Night Trial 16 Hawke’s Bay Club Run 16 Marlborough M/C Annual Garage Ride 16 Nelson AGM 16 Otago AGM & Pot Luck Lunch 16 Rotorua Run & Prizegiving 16 West Coast Rosco Trials 18 Ctrl Hawke’s Bay AGM 18 Wellington AGM 18 West Coast Morning tea Shantytown 19 Auckland Mid Week Tourers 19 Gisborne AGM 19 Waikato Wednesday Wander 20 Ashburton AGM 20 Gisborne AGM 22 E Bay of Plenty Club Run 22 Manawatu Night Trial 22 Nelson Midwinter Christmas Dinner 22 Sth Canty Night Trial 23 Canterbury AGM 23 Marlborough Annual Dinner & Prize Giving 23 Taupo Brass Monkey 23 Waikato Club Run 23 Wellington Colonial Cup Rally 26 Wellington Mid Week Run 27 Otago Midweek Run 27 Rotorua Midweekers Run This column is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and 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.
Kevin Clarkson Chairman Beaded Wheels
October 18–20
National AGM hosted by West Coast Branch Daffodil Day Rallies around New Zealand
National Veteran Rally hosted by South Canterbury Branch
27 Auckland AGM 29 Far North Molloy Trophy Rally 29 Manawatu Sunday Run 30 Auckland/North Shore Combined Rally 30 Gisborne Club Run
JULY
6-7 Wellsford/Wkwth Winter Woollies Weekend 7 Wellington Sunday Run 7 Wairarapa Gravel Road Challenge 13 Waitemata R’Oil Can 14 Horowhenua Night Owl Rally 14 Marlb/Nelson/ Combined Snow run to West Coast St Arnaud 14 Rotorua Swap Meet 16 West Coast Morning Tea Shantytown 17 Auckland Mid Week Tourers 17 Waikato Wednesday Wander 17-18 Central Otago Combined Rally 21 Banks Peninsula Balcairn Trial 21 E Bay of Plenty Club Run 21 Marlborough M/C Annual Mid Winter Ride 21 Waikato Wednesday Wander 21 Wellington Remembrance Rally /Social Country Run 25 Otago Midweek Run 25 Waikato Club Run 26 Otago Midweek Run 27 Gisborne Annual dinner 28 Gisborne Navigators’ Run 28 Canterbury Winter Run 31 Wellington Mid Week Run 31 Banks Peninsula Brooklands at Levels
AUGUST 4 10 16-17 17 18 20 25
Wellington Ashburton West Coast Rotorua Marlborough West Coast National
28 Wellington 29 Otago
SEPTEMBER 7 8 14 14 22 24-9
Waimate Wairarapa Canterbury Manawatu West Coast Auckland
Sunday Run Garage Raid National AGM Midweekers Run Events Trial and Mud Plug Morning Tea Shantytown Daffodil Rally - check your branch for local event details. Mid Week Run Midweek Run
Swap Meet Winter Wander Awards Dinner Vintage Rally Club Run North Cape to Bluff Tour
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.
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.
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NATIONAL OFFICE Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, logbooks, historic race licences, registration of vehicles, lighting endorsement, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events.
JOHN L GODDARD TROPHY
A call for nominations was made in the last issue of Beaded Wheels and nominations are due to close on the 12 July. Is there someone you would like to nominate? CLUB WEBSITE
Remember we have a website. www.vcc.org.nz You can obtain the latest information on Club Discounts for the Cook Strait ferries, and download forms for Vehicle Identity Cards, Historic Race Licenses, VCC Membership, Beaded Wheels Subscriptions to name a few. A copy of the Branch Manual and Vehicle Identification Folder are also available. 100 YEAR VEHICLE BADGES
The Club has 100-year vehicle badges which are available for purchase at $50 each. They are only for vehicles that are 100 years old and have a valid VCC ID Card approving the vehicle’s age as more than 100 years since the date of manufacture. For further details, please refer to the Branch Manual, section 40G, or contact the National Office. VCC VERO INSURANCE SCHEME
Please remember that to be insured under the VCC Vero Insurance Scheme, you must be a fully paid up financial member of the Vintage Car Club of NZ. DISCOUNTS ON INTERISLANDER AND BLUEBRIDGE FERRIES
All financial members of the VCC can obtain a discount with Interisland and Blue Bridge. You must show your membership card. Full information on how to book is on the Club’s website
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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: INTERISLANDER – WH5465 and BLUE BRIDGE – ANTIQUECAR VCC ID CARD/AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Vehicle Identity Card/ Authenticity Statement applications must go to your branch which will deal with them. The only exception is a simple change of ownership with no alterations to a vehicle. In this case, ask your branch secretary for a VIC change of ownership form, complete this and return it to the National Office. All applications for Vehicle Identity Cards and Authenticity Statements MUST include photos of the vehicle. Applications cannot be processed without these. If you require a lighting endorsement for a vehicle, you must complete both the Vehicle Identity Card/Authenticity Statement application form and lighting endorsement form and return these to your branch secretary for processing. CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Please advise the National Office in writing if you have changed address or vehicle ownership.
VCC SPEED EVENTS
If you are entering any VCC speed event you must hold current financial membership, a valid Vehicle ID Card and VCC Log Book for the vehicle you are using and a valid VCC Historic Racing Licence. If your licence has expired, complete a “HRL Renewal Form” - (Section 23S of the Branch Manual) and forward this, along with payment of $23 to the National Office and a new one will be issued. This form is on our Website or you can contact your Branch or the National Office for a copy. ownership or 10 years from the issue date. A renewal form personalised for each VIC is distributed by the National Office to current financial members approximately three months before expiration. Your vehicle must also be as described on the VIC. Even if your vehicle has had no changes this form must be checked, current mileage advised, signed and forwarded to your branch, along with the VIC (if the photo correctly shows your vehicle in its present state), or two new photos, as stated on the form.
Upon receipt at the 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. It is compulsory for all National and International VCC Rallies that vehicles entered have a current VIC. If you have sold your vehicle, please notify the National Office.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR VCCNZ MEMBERS At the March 2018 Executive Meeting, the President highlighted that the Club Constitution stipulates that the Executive approve new members and the cessation of membership. It refers to membership being cancelled by the Executive if it is one month in arrears. As the Executive only meet in March and August, the reports can only be approved at those times. The Constitution must apply. Members are invoiced in early
September for payment by 31 October. If they have not paid by the March Executive Meeting where the approval of the Membership Status report is undertaken, then anyone who wishes to be reinstated after this time will be required to re-join and would lose any continuous service. This still allows late payments up until the March Meeting, which is six months after the initial invoice is distributed, and four months after the payment due date.
BRANCH TRANSFER
To transfer between branches, complete a transfer form. This can be obtained through your branch secretary. VCC ID CARDS RENEWALS
Please note that all VCC Identity Cards (VIC) have an expiry date. This expiry is upon change of
Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Telephone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 email admin@vcc.org.nz www.vcc.org.nz Office Hours Mon – Fri 9-5pm
Julie Cairns-Gee National Office Manager
MAILBAG The editorial committee reserve the right to publish, 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.
While recently sorting my wife's deceased uncle's property we discovered an original Certificate of Registration for a 1945 Harley-Davidson. If any reader recognises the engine number 26T-732 they are welcome to it. Hopefully the motorbike is still around as it would be good to connect the rightful owner with the papers. Original owner: Arthur Desmond Carter 2nd owner: Cyril James Lamb 3rd owner: Robert Eunis Roche Bob Oswald email bev.os@xtra.co.nz
FIAT HISTORY ENQUIRY
I recently bought a Fiat 501 from Hans Compter who delivered it to me here in the UK earlier this year. He bought it about 2010 from a Eugene McNeill in New Zealand. It had apparently been stored under cover for the previous 30 years in a semi assembled state having had a small amount of restoration work undertaken before being left untouched until it came into his possession. The car has chassis number 1322386, engine number 1130749 and an authenticity statement No VV3727PR issued by The Historic Vehicle Authority
of New Zealand in 2015, but the unusual feature of the car is the remaining bodywork. It was found with only the front half of the body intact with the rear missing and, as can be seen from the enclosed photo the front two seater tub has a loop across the car behind the front seats. It was at first thought this was a two seater but inspection revealed rear door hinge cut outs in the rear of the wood frame supporting the loop indicating a four seater body. I have so far been unable to find any other body with a front compartment like this and it has been suggested it was one of the many 501s imported into New Zealand as a rolling chassis and bodied locally. It is my intention to restore the car to the original design and I wondered if you had a section in Beaded Wheels devoted to this type of query which might jog the memory of one of your members familiar with the type of local bodies fitted to Fiat 501s in the 1920s. Any leads or suggestions would be most welcome. John Hebard Ramsnest Cottage Petworth Road, Chiddingfold. Surrey, GU8 4ST, UK. 0044 780 595 6393 johnhebard012@gmail.com
Hebard Fiat
NATIONAL RALLIES
In the April/May issue of Beaded Wheels, Joseph McClintock wrote about National Motorcycle Rallies and commented on the “stupid” ruling that no national rallies would be held in the year of an international rally. Our international rallies are the biggest events the VCC organise, thus the risks, including financial, are also the greatest. Success of these events particularly financially, is dependant on good planning and attendance from our members. The ruling that no national rallies would be held in the year of an international rally was introduced in the early 2000s with the intention to encourage good support from our members and not to detract from the importance of an international event. I think most members would think that this was a sensible commercial decision. Fast forward to the conception of the 2021 Vero International Festival of Motoring and one of the topics discussed was the lack of motorcycle participation
Beaded Wheels Beaded Wheels is the voice of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) and its 36 branches covering the length and breadth of the country. The efforts of our members continue to foster and ever widen 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 – Our long established title may have readers wondering about its origin. 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
at previous international rallies. Right from the very first meeting, attended by the Management Committee, myself and some key members of the Taranaki Branch, it was decided that a National Motorcycle rally would be held in conjunction with the International event to encourage motorcyclists to participate. As the event planning evolved there were a number of things that became apparent: • we wanted to encourage the participation of two particular categories of vehicles, these being motorcycles and veteran vehicles • from an earlier survey results showed there was a definite desire for relaxed motoring • the survey also indicated a shorter event was wanted, so a reduction from two weeks to one week was decided • there needed to be some sort of optional competitive element. So how do we mould this into one event. Well, with a lot of
CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 70 YEARS
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. In March 1955 The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand adopted the title Beaded Wheels for their club magazine which was the successor to the monthly Guff Sheet.
No. 352 June/July 2018
NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95
CLASSIC RACING AND TIME TRIAL ACTION FROM RUAPUNA AND CHELSEA 1960 HARLEY-DAVIDSON KRTT 9 418979 000012
HARLEY REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE
MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
Beaded Wheels 7
thought. The decision was made that Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday would be relaxed, carefree motoring and sightseeing. This left Tuesday free to look towards an innovative approach for an international event. We decided on National Rally days, competitive and optional for all VCC members, and allowing entrants to enter a different vehicle for this day; ie, you could take part in the National Motorcycle Rally and enter a car in events for the rest of the week if you wanted to. All of these rallies are to be plotted to suit each group and plotted by people familiar with the specific requirements of these groups. We thought we were onto a winning idea. However, up until the executive meeting in March this year there had been no bid for the next National Motorcycle Rally. Between the National Motorcycle Rally in February and the March Executive meeting there was obviously a strong lobby group in action to get the ruling changed to allow a National Motorcycle Rally to take place in February 2021, less than one month after National Rallies at the Vero International Festival of Motoring. This resulted in a discussion at the Executive Meeting where the Executive of the club, not the Management Committee, voted for a change. In my position as VCC Management representative on the Festival Committee and as a former National President, I find this to be quite a sad situation, and recognise that while the one day event for motorcycles we were planning may have been different from the traditional motorcycle rally, I wonder if the motorcyclists could have planned an after rally tour and still participated in most of the things they usually do with their events as well as being part of the VCC’s major event? The end result is that because this group decided to organise
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their own National Rally one month later, it would be rather odd to have another National Motorcycle Rally as part of the Vero International Festival of motoring, so we will unfortunately not be offering one. However, motorcycles will still be welcome at the Festival and will be able to compete in the national rallies in their respective other classes. ie vintage, veteran, pwv. On another note, I joined the VCC as a motorcycle owner in 1972 and only sold my last bike about eight years ago, so I do understand the needs of motorcyclists (or so I thought). Greg Terrill
CHRYSLER HISTORY
What an excellent magazine and great articles. I wear the print off each copy. I am a member and seeking some help regarding a 1924 Chrysler 6 car that I own. I would welcome making contact with anyone who may have one of these cars and would welcome some assistance in getting this car back to its original former glory. Keep up the good work. Dave Kendall Member Central Otago dave@qttrading.co.nz Ph 0223 156 001
HUDSON INFORMATION
Last year I brought a 1927 Hudson Super Six roadster, as pictured. Unfortunately before I took delivery of the car all the historic paperwork relating to it and its history was removed from the car. It now appears to be unrecoverable. What I do know is that the car was owned by one Hugh Mountford, and was sold to the previous owner by his estate after he passed away about ten years ago. Apparently this is the only 1927 Hudson Super Six roadster to ever come to New Zealand. I would be interested to speak
Hudson Super Six roadster.
with anyone who has knowledge of this car and its History. If you can help please contact the writer. Trevor Johnson 55 Ellesmere street Ravensbourne, Dunedin 9022 Ph 03 4710632 trevor.dot.johnson@xtra.co.nz
WHERE IS THE VAUXHALL NOW?
Many years ago now (probably about in 2004, but that’s only a guess) I sold a very rare Vauxhall. The 1958-59 Vauxhall Cresta is a 3-piece rear window model. From 1960 to 1963 (NZ) the rear window was a onepiece item extending around the corner to the rear doors. (The 3-piece was a copy of the American Dodge of about the same vintage I think).* I sold this 1958 PA Velox to a gentleman from the NelsonRichmond-Motueka area, if my memory serves me correctly. The body was quite rusty, but certainly repairable. The colour was light blue, as some of them were from new, with I think, a white roof. The buyer picked it up from Amberley, where it was stored on a farm at the time and trailered it up to the top of the South Island. That’s the last I saw of this rare Vauxhall. My request to readers is can anybody help me locate the vehicle please? Has it been restored or was it wrecked for parts? I hope not. Of course it may not necessarily be in the same district. My buyer may have considered the body a bridge-too-far for him to undertake, the consequence being he may have passed it on. This was 15 or so years ago, so I am naturally curious and interested as to what happened to it
after the car left my ownership. I hope it’s fully restored and giving a family a lot of pleasure in the Vintage Car Club and/or the Vauxhall Owners Club. Trevor Stanley-Joblin Amberley stancar_nzcc@hotmail.com
ED NOTE *3 piece rear window The three piece rear window was a one-year-only feature of the 1957 models from the Buick and Oldsmobile divisions of General Motors in the USA. Vauxhall, being the UK GM partner chose to use the idea for the new P series Velox and Cresta models due for introduction at the London Motor Show in late 1957. It remained a Vauxhall feature until the restyle for the 1960 model year. REPLICA BUGATTI
After seeing the picture of the replica Bugatti in Beaded Wheels Feb-March it surely deserves an article about its creation. An intriguing aspect of the original Bugatti, as told to me by an engineer/mechanic, is that all are unique. There are no two the same. I wonder if there are any other makes (perhaps some that went into liquidation) that could claim the same not just limited editions. One aspect that interests me as to brand new ones, badged as Bugattis, is whether they also will be copied in years to come. By saying that I do not suggest in anyway that they are not good cars. They would surely have to be to carry the name Bugatti. Long may the legend continue. Ken Braddon
SWITCH TO ELECTRONIC IGNITION Designed and manufactured in New Zealand our 6V & 12V electronic ignition is available now for your negative earth vintage car, tractor, or motorbike. Our 6V electronic ignition uses a signal from the existing points to more consistently switch the full coil current, giving a better spark & taking the electrical wear away from the points. Just enough current is drawn through the points to keep them clean and provide a reliable signal. Tested locally for five years on an 1930 Essex Super Six. The points life is extended to that of the rubbing block on the cam, typically over 120,000 miles with normal lubrication. With this system the dwell can be extended by up to 20% (smaller points gap) and no adjustment of the points is necessary, once new points, (if used) are bedded in, typically after 4000 miles. For excellent 6V/12V chargers we recommend those at electroproducts.co.nz A 12V version is available upon request. A positive earth (6V or 12V) version is also available.
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Beaded Wheels 9
TIMELINES
Mechanical Restorations Vintage & Classic Spares (1980)
PHOTO: CAROLE LINDSAY
Stockists of new AUTOMOTIVE PARTS CAR, TRUCK & TRACTOR 1912–1997 (85 year span)
Rod Simpson's 1969 Mini Cooper S pictured at the 2012 Trig Road North Waihi Hill Climb.
Historical snippets of motoring interest from years gone compiled by Graeme Rice
100 YEARS AGO JUNE JULY 1919
Ever ambitious, Andre Citroën rattled established French makers with his new 10hp Type A. Critics panned the car for not being a four-seater and Citroën not making 100 a day. Little did they know Citroën was trying to sell General Motors his company. His deal fell through but imagine a world without Tractions, 2CVs, DS and the other great wearers of the double chevron emblem. 50 YEARS AGO JUNE JULY 1969
After 79 years Riley met its end. Bereft of imagination British Leyland announced in The Times of July 9th 1969 they “will stop making Riley cars from today.” The end. But did the marque – touted as being "As old as the industry, as modern as the hour", makers of the great 9hp Monaco saloon and winners of goodness knows how many races, really end when Lord Nuffield took over in 1938? Or was it when the 1953 Riley Pathfinder was re-introduced with the Wolseley 6/90 motor in place of the 2.5 litre high cam motor?
Graeme Rice
10 Beaded Wheels
75 YEARS AGO JUNE JULY 1944
By 1944 the last Excelsior Welbike, the airborne single cylinder 98cc paratroopers’ motor scooter, was seeing action on some Normandy beaches. It was being phased out in favour of Royal Enfield’s WD/RE – the Flying Flea, easily transported in the larger gliders. British makers saw its potential in an austere postwar world. Once civilised it was called the Corgi in England. It was manufactured by Brockhouse Engineering with some 27,000 being made. Many of them were sold in the US between 1947 and 1954 branded as Indian Papooses (the Indian Sales Corp was owned by Brockhouse at this time). They also saw action with the US Air Force as airfield transport in Korea. 30 YEARS AGO JUNE JULY 1989
To celebrate the MINI’S 30th birthday, Which Car pitted the Issigonis masterpiece against ten 1989 1 litre super-minis. Challenging the 1960s icon were – the Citroën AX, Fiat Uno, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Pony, Metro City, Peugeot 205, Renault S Campus, Vauxhall Nova, VW Polo Fox and Yugo GSA GLX. The Mini was summed up as having much that attracts buyers. Cheap, manoeuverable, easy to park, suited to the city. That’s kept the car going for 30 years despite any real mechanical change.
ENGLISH AMERICAN CONTINENTAL AUSTRALIAN JAPANESE
Kingpin sets Rear axles Engine gaskets Water pumps & kits Gearbox gears Clutch plates Suspension parts Clutch covers Steering joints Carburettors Crownwheel & pinions Fuel pumps & kits Spark plugs Brake & clutch cables Electrical fittings Pistons Wiper motors (vac) Steering box parts Engine bearings Valves, springs, guides Shock absorbers Speedo cables Wheel cylinders & kits Ignition parts Master cylinders & kits Timing gears & chains Shackles Lenses (pins & bushes) Engine mounts Ring gears & pinions MECHANICAL RESTORATIONS VINTAGE & CLASSIC SPARES (1980) RD 7 • Fordell • Wanganui • Phone/Fax 06 342 7713
AWARDS Did you know ‌
The VCC is a founding member of the NZ Federation of Motoring Clubs and is the second largest Club in their group? The Vintage Car Club have a Management Committee member who sits on the New Zealand Federation Executive and is their current Vice President.
VINTAGE
Congratulations to the following members who have recently been awarded their 50 and 60 Year Awards.
50 YEAR
Johnston, Colin
Taranaki
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THE WAY WE WERE In our last issue, I told of Jack Adam’s work on Trials and Rally marking and one of its trial runs on a West Canterbury Rally to Springfield. At the same time as this more or less traditional event was being planned, thought was also being given to typical UK style of trial that
CHALLENGE MUD PLUG
no one in New Zealand had
JULY 1950
the possibility of running a
thus far contemplated. This comprises a series of seriously difficult test sections, usually accompanied by surfaces offering a minimum of traction. Obviously a midwinter exercise. We really got carried away with finding and testing suitable terrain and connecting routes, and in June we duly set forth with a good entry of vintage and of invited Canterbury Car Club characters. Unfortunately there had been
ERRATA
Beaded Wheels editorial committee wish to apologise to Mollie and Andrew Anderson and the late Molly Redmond (nee Jackson) for an error published in our April/May issue. Mollie Sharpe, carefully noted as a Dunedin girl in an earlier issue, became Andrew’s wife and integral part of the Vintage Car Club. Our sincerest apologies to all those concerned for this error.
12 Beaded Wheels
▲ Charlie Stanton in Maurice’s BSA.
no rain for yonks and mud was singularly lacking, but the trusty chassis smashing sections of Worsleys Road and the old Motukarara Coach Road (that had required a large pick and shovel working bee the previous weekend to render marginal at all) proved most enjoyable and challenging to everyone, and the whole entry passed the Teddington Hotel en route to the final section in Allandale Valley with no one stopping. No sooner was this event concluded than we received a letter from the Canterbury Car Club issuing a challenge to the VCC to compete in a Mud Plug trial of the type just concluded. In response we suggested some changes to their proposed “Rules of Engagement” in light of our experiences in organising such an event, and, on these being duly accepted, our 3 August meeting nominated our team; Team Captain, Frank Blandford in OM as seen in last article and with modern tyres, Frank invested in a set of second hand ones fitted with lugs by a local retreader. Bob Blackburn equipped the 4½ Bentley with
a set of chains, and Charlie Stanton equipped Maurice’s BSA with reversed lugs too. Gigs Alexander with an Austin 7 Swallow sports also sported chains but Tony Bruges showed up with the 30/98 Vauxhall with absolutely nothing and the car that should have been our star turn didn’t manage to complete a single section. Your’s truly was passenger and ballast to Gigs in the Austin and thus faired about as well as Charlie in the photo, and my appreciation of Mr Austin’s wee peoples car is on a par with that oft expressed by Michael Williams. Canterbury Car Club fielded Ian Archibald with a Bradford, Fred Sharman with a Ford Special, A McDonald in a Hudson, Lou Kerse with a Chrysler and N Compton with a Ford V8. The week prior had seen winter weather and mud everywhere and we all had our work cut out for us and battled manfully with mainly flat farmyard sections and stream crossings as shown. It was a very strong effort by everyone but the Car Club came out winners.
The caption says July but that was the date of the acceptance of the challenge and actual running was well into August. Charlie had, of course, a navigator/ ballast in the person of Dunc Purse, Rob Shand’s future brother-in-law and a printer to have tremendous influence on our future magazine, Beaded Wheels. Page 22 of our Club history “50 Years” has a really evocative photo of Charlie and Dunc literally plastered with mud.
ANDREW ANDERSON
VCCNZ FOUNDING MEMBER
Beaded Wheels 13
NEW ZEALAND'S DOBLE CONNECTION
HH Steam STEWART Words and photos John Stewart
I wish to commend Barry Birchall for his research on A&G Price's involvement in the production of Doble Steam Buses in Thames (BW 357). An interesting article on what is a remarkable episode in New Zealand motoring history, but only a fraction of the full story. My father, H H Steam Stewart (HHS) was responsible for introducing Abner Doble to A&G Price and I have the original contract document where Doble Steam Motors of Emeryville, California contracted to pay HHS US $3600 to arrange a meeting and effect the introduction of the parties. Barry implies some doubt about this but I can assure him the information is correct. My father met Abner in Detroit and later in Los Angeles and Dad’s enthusiasm persuaded Abner to investigate the possibilities of producing steam busses in New Zealand. Otherwise why would he have come? Before meeting HHS. Doble probably didn’t know New Zealand existed. From the early 1900s my father became obsessed with the potential of steam for motor vehicle propulsion. In 1919 he travelled to USA and secured the
14 Beaded Wheels
Stanley Steam Car agency for Australasia. He imported about 12 cars to New Zealand but did not pursue the Australian market. He made a further five trips to USA and the UK in the ҆20s and ҆30s and made contact with virtually every manufacturer of steam cars in the USA and Canada. In 1924 HHS worked for three months at the refinanced Stanley factory as a design consultant on the SV 252, the last model Stanley ever built. He was highly critical of some of the new design features of the SV 252 but in most cases was unable to influence the Stanley people and as we now know the SV 252 was the worst Stanley model ever built. When the Stanley operation finally folded a year or so later he travelled twice to USA within a short period in order to investigate other steam car manufacturers. He also looked at steam buses and inspected and travelled on a double decker Doble bus operated by the Detroit Motor Bus Company. As a result he met Abner Doble and struck up a good relationship which lasted for many years. When Abner Doble and his girlfriend Alene
▲ HH Stewart posing with Doble E 13 Matai Rd Greenlane. ▼ Stanley SV252 Prototype Chassis as worked on by HHS 1924.
came to New Zealand in order to exploit the contract which had been signed with A&G Price they stayed with us in Matai Road, Greenlane for a few days until Abner rented a house in Ladies Mile, Ellerslie. This became his Auckland base for the
months he was involved in the manufacture of the first bus. He travelled between Auckland and Thames in E24 his Doble coupe which he had brought with him.
▲
Abner Doble, Alene his girlfriend, and HHS outside 24 Matai Rd. Greenlane with Doble E24.
About five years ago I was contacted by one Dr Donald Hoke PhD of Dallas Texas. He was doing research for a proposed book about the history of Stanley steam cars in the USA. He came across an article I had written many years previously for a steam car club in Los Angeles about my father’s involvement with Stanley. After about 45 minutes on the phone he clearly became quite excited at having made contact with the son of a person who had had so much involvement with Stanley. We corresponded by email for some time until he finally announced he was going to abandon the book on Stanley USA and instead write a book on HHS’s Stanley history. A couple of months later he and his wife made the first of two trips to New Zealand
in order to do more in depth research for the book. I was able to send him home with a very large suitcase stuffed full of original Stanley and Doble documents from my father’s involvement with the two companies. Donald is the most incredible researcher I have ever met. He will not take anything for granted, and insisted on documentary evidence of every claim I made. On his second visit he investigated shipping records and newspaper articles in order to accurately record the departure and return dates for every trip dad made overseas. Just one example of his attention to detail. His research and producing the first draft of the book took approximately four years. A further year was spent in finalising the copy and getting the book into print. The book Hector Halhead (“Steam”) Stewart. The History of Stanley Steam Cars in New
▲ E13 on Muruwai Beach circa 1931/1932 John Stewart in shot at right front.
Zealand and More was finally published a year or so ago. The volume consist of 636 pages of which 110 pages are devoted to the Doble/Price story in amazing detail with many references from Doble’s diaries of his correspondence with HHS regarding progress and problems with bus manufacture in Thames. It includes a huge number of illustrations, both black and white and colour, the majority of which have not previously been published. The book won the Award of Excellence, First Place in Division
One of the National Association of Automobile Museum’s annual competition. Now, you may well ask, how do I get a copy? Donald is in negotiations to print the book in New Zealand (saving $75 air freight for one copy). If any reader wishes to record their interest with me on joma2@ xtra.co.nz I will keep you informed of progress with the plan. It is a publication that no enthusiast for the motoring history of New Zealand can be without.
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OFFERINGS TO
THE GOD OF SPARKS
16 Beaded Wheels
Words and photos Stuart Francis
▲ Lucas manual advance and retard cable
At the start of most motorcycle rallies there is a select group of riders trying to coax a spark from their machine’s reluctant magneto. Having been there a few times myself I empathised with them. The endless kicking, running and bumping, or being pushed, resulting in a couple of tantalising ignitions, whilst the pints of sweat pour down the inside of your waterproofs, can test the patience of anybody. There are also more subtle problems that might indicate a weak spark; the bike feels like it is running out of petrol (but isn’t), misfires on wide throttle openings, hesitates on sharp throttle openings or refuses to start when hot. There are four main types of motorcycle magnetos: fixed magnet, fixed HT coil and switched magnetic field (eg; Dixie or Splitdorf)
fixed magnet and rotating HT coil (eg. BTH or Lucas)
rotating magnet and fixed HT coil (eg. Lucas SR or PAL)
rotating magnet and fixed separate HT coil (Energy Transfer Systems)
However they all rely on a coil of wire moving through a magnetic field producing an electrical current, the stronger the magnetic field or the faster the coil moves through the magnetic field, the bigger the current, the bigger the eventual spark. I will not go into the detailed theory of how a magneto works, it would bore most people. Motorcycle magnetos produce relatively low voltage and current sparks (12 to 18 thousand volts) compared to a good coil ignition system (20 to 30 thousand volts) or some modern car systems that produce very high voltages and currents (50 thousand volts). High currents and voltages are very useful for burning off spark plug deposits and igniting weak mixtures. Motorcycle magnetos have another handicap. When being kicked over the coils pass through the magnetic field at a relatively slow speed, producing a low initial current. So to produce a spark at slow speed the magneto must be in good condition. The following are some hints and tips, learnt from bitter experience, that might help restore the performance of your wilting magneto, or just get you home.
HT LEAD
Always, always use solid copper HT lead, preferably with the two layers of insulation. Some modern HT leads have a carbon string like core that acts as a suppressor. These can kill a magneto spark stone dead. Have a good look at the routing of the HT cable for rubbing or touching hot bits. I once finished up stranded in the central reservation of a busy British motorway after a HT lead had melted on a cylinder head fin. HT LEAD CONNECTIONS
Lucas, amongst others, used threaded plastic sleeves and an unusual split copper washer to connect the HT lead to the pickup. A rubber boot covers the HT lead and pickup, with a similar arrangement at the spark plug cap. Over time the rubber boots start cracking or go missing, allowing oil and water to accumulate in the pickup, killing the spark. Vibration can also cause the copper wire to work harden, fatigue and break. HT PICK-UPS
I could write a whole article just on the fun I have had with HT pick-ups, but the problems usually fall into three main areas: tracking, contamination and brushes. Over time the hard plastic pick-up bodies can develop small cracks which allow the sparks to leak to the nearest metal fitting, usually the retaining clip or screw. The nose of the pick-up gradually accumulates carbon dust and oil creating a conductive mixture. This can be particularly bad on flange mounted magnetos when their oil seals begin to wear. Give the pick-ups a good clean with brake cleaner. Check that the brush actually slides up and down in the holder. Mis-sized pattern brushes can stick and debris can cause stiction. SLIP RINGS Suffer from tracking and contamination, but have a couple of unique problems; damage and wear. It is not unusual to see chunks of plastic missing from the edge of the slip ring, caused by the safety screw(s) not being removed before the magneto was taken apart. The damage can usually be repaired with araldite or a new slip ring fitted. There are two types of wear, electrical erosion (a small dip in the conductor) or rubbing wear caused by the brush or brush holder nose (if the brush holder fibre washer has not been fitted) both can usually be polished out with emery cloth on a lathe. Always give it a good clean with brake cleaner.
SPARK PLUGS
CONTACT BREAKERS AND CAM RINGS
There are two main issues with modern spark plugs, firstly they come with the gap set for modern ignition systems, usually at around 35 thou, and secondly they can come with built in suppressors (see below). The recommended spark plug gaps for most magnetos (when new), were between 20 to 25 thou. The gap can be closed down even further if you are having problems (I once ran a 10 thou spark plug gap for several weeks on a particularly tired magneto). If you are stuck without a feeler gauge the thickness of your thumbnail is a good start point.
Contact breaker points must be clean flat and square to each other, just running a bit of emery between the points is not good enough. Dress them properly (I use an old diamond faced nail file) and it will make a lot of difference. Check that all the insulating washers are there, and the contact breaker spring is not touching the cam ring at any point. Check that the contact breaker assembly is sitting squarely in the end of the rotor, the alignment tang is in the armature slot and the end bolt is tight. Cam rings on twin cylinder bikes can wear unevenly, producing significant changes to the firing points. Always check the fully advanced position on both cylinders and the points gap is the same for both cylinders. I once built a twin cylinder magdyno for a Scott from bits I had lying around. Although it produced a good spark the engine never felt right. A check
SUPPRESSOR CAPS
Most motorcycle magnetos were not designed to run with suppressors. Spark plug, or plug cap, suppressors are carbon resistors which reduce voltage and current at the spark plug gap, throw them away.
Beaded Wheels 17
HIN BE
D THE WHE
EL
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT Gary & Ruthann’s 1966 Nissan Prince Skyline A200 GT Words and photographs Greg Price It would be fair to say that many a classic car aficionado in days gone by arbitrarily dismissed most, if not all, earlier Japanese cars as not really rating a mention, when compared with the likes of Jaguar (E-Types in particular), Rolls-Royce, Lagonda, or if you had leanings towards the American market, then Cadillac, Auburn and Duesenberg, would have been among the names to get you excited. I will admit to being a late convert to the concept of Japanese classics, in part due to my young fella having an on-going love affair with Mazdas – which resulted in his depriving me of two of mine. However, as a former North Islander, one thing I missed out on was knowing Gary Arps in some of the more important years. Why, I hear you ask. Well, Gary has a penchant for unusual cars and motorcycles, and I could have benefited hugely from observing his previous purchases and learning the reasons for same. Well, maybe not ALL, as the Merkel motorcycle that he restored from practically nothing was not something that I would 34 Beaded Wheels
have been all that keen on, but who else do you know that has a 1932 Ford V8 sedan and a well-known historic 1928 Model A hot rod tucked away in their garages? And if that wasn’t enough, Gary (and Ruthann) has this red 1966 Nissan Prince Skyline A200 GT – which Ruthann uses regularly. A practical classic in fact. Now this is where Gary’s ability to spot a future classic comes into play. But before we get too far into this particular gemsonic* some history of the marque is timely. According to Unique Cars & Parts (Australia) “The Prince Motor Company was in existence from 1947 until 1966 when it was merged with the Nissan Motor Company. Prince created a racing GT Skyline in May 1964. It was based on the S50 and used the larger 6-cylinder G-7 engine from the Gloria S41, though the car needed an 8" extension to the wheelbase (all forward of the cowl/firewall) to provide space in the engine bay for the lankier in-line six. **
When entered the 2nd Japanese Grand Prix they hoped to win the GT-II class. Competitive against the Porsche 904, the Skyline managed 2nd through to 6th places. Largely due to the success of the race vehicle, the Prince Skyline 2000GT (also called GT-A, GT-B, S54A and S54B) was released to the Japanese market. There were two versions produced, the S54A – 1988cc G-7 single-carb L6, 105 hp (78 kW) and the S54B – 1988cc G-7 triple-carb I6, 125 hp (94 kW).* But can you name a road car that could be raced occasionally, was fit for a Prince yet was priced for a pauper, went well thanks to its limited slip differential, was arguably the greatest carburetted car then mass produced, and was Japanese? These days it seems to be long forgotten, but at the time Prince were producing one of the affordable greats – a car that these days would be a worthy contender (and perhaps winner) of any bang-for-your-buck shootout. Nissan didn’t wait long to instil some magic into the GT Prince after its take-over of this smaller Japanese company. The car didn’t lose from the merger – in A200 GT form it had actually gained. The ideas were almost certainly from the competition favoured Prince side of the organisation but the money, the incentive and the backing were equally as attributable to Nissan. Variously known as the Prince A200 GT, GTA 2000 and 2000GT/A, the Prince GT was more than a simple mechanical device – it had a
spirited quality which would never have been envisaged when it was on the drawing board. Or maybe we are selling the Nippon designers short – and they had a genius with feeling for cars. It was not so much the five speed box, the rippy rear raspy roar or the whine of straight-cut gears. Rather a Dennis Denuto would have said, ”It’s the vibe of the thing”. On paper at least, the A200 should not have been the car it was. It used a 102" wheelbase, weighed one ton, and had a concentrated nose bias and scanty 49" track. These attributes did not make for the world’s best handling GT sedan, although it didn’t eliminate it from the ranks of very capable touring machines. There were a few refinements needed before anyone would have described the Prince as a competition-bred machine (which it was) so Nissan marketed this version to shut down the sceptics.” For this story I guess the most important part of the Nissan Prince merger was the face-lifted Skyline for 1966, which is of course our featured car here. I first clapped my eyes on this car at a recent Canterbury Branch noggin at which member Don Muller can be relied on to organise * An interesting video of the Japanese Grand Prix (although rather poor quality) can be viewed on YouTube.
Beaded Wheels 35
MARKET PLACE
JAGUAR MKV DHC 3 position hood. 1951 3½ litre. Registered and WoF. Fully restored and sorted. Upholstery is blue/grey with dark blue trim and dark blue carpets and hood. Genuine New Zealand new. A rare vehicle. $110,000. Ph 07 863 9497, h.hayward@xtra.co.nz. MEM BOP
1952 RILEY RMB. M ileage 42,337 miles. Restored in 1990. WOF and Reg. Ph Barry 03 215 6712, Invercargill MEM SOUTHLAND
1958 MORRIS MINOR CONVERTIBLE Has been restored. 1100 motor, all good condition. Ph 027 231 2938. MEM MARLBOROUGH
1961 TRAVELLER. O riginal woodwork, reconditioned motor, new upholstery. Car in good condition. Ph 027 231 2938. MEM MARLBOROUGH
1924 MORRIS COWLEY Fully restored in 1971 and = no longer being driven by the owner. The Cowley has travelled many enjoyable miles over the years, Invercargill to Palmerston North. Has four new tyres and a new battery. WOF and Reg when sold. Ph 03 349 7568. MEM CANTERBURY
1926 MORRIS COWLEY Totally restored including upholstery. Garage stored. Reg on hold. Some spares. History recorded. Locatation Northland. $25,000. Ph 027 322 4890, 09 434 6511.
1952 PLYMOUTH CRANBROOK 82,000 MILES Reconditioned Engine,receipts available. High Ratio Diff. Certified Power Steering.Just hop in and enjoy.$28,000. Phone Don on 07 870 4115
1930 MODEL A FORDOR SEDAN. B eautiful vehicle. Excellent upholstery and paint. Body completely re-wooded. Location Motueka. $29,995. Finance available. Owner keen to sell. Rushmore Motors. Ph 027 2245 045 any time.
1906 TALBOT. M odel 4 OB, the first model produced on 21 May 1906. 16hp engine #4479. 2.7L. Chassis #2047. Immaculate restoration. Includes tandem trailer with override, 4 wheel disc brakes, 5 near new 14 inch tyres, new loading ramps. All in excellent order. More info and POA. Finance available. Contact Rushmore Motors Ltd. 027 2245 045 any time.
1929 MODEL A FORD ROADSTER. $ 37,995. Approx. $20k spent recently inc. g/box, engine and a new diff. (List can be supplied). New upholstery with a USA kit installed, including side curtains, door panels, seat coverings, hood envelope. Rumble seat with large trunk, finance available. Rushmore Motors. Ph 027 2245 045 any time.
1910 ALLDAYS AND ONIONS. P rice reduced to $54,995. Location New Plymouth, finance available. 2 cylinder 1600cc vehicle, with 4 speed gearbox / gate gears, electric starter fitted. Cruises nicely 35 –49 kph, very comfortable. Includes tipping steel covered trailer. Rushmore Motors. 027 2245 045 anytime.
1936 AUSTIN 6 50,000 miles, original paint and upholstery. Runs well, Price $5000. Phone John 06 751 5554, megandjohnny@xtra.co.nz MEM TARANAKI
50 Beaded Wheels
MEM NORTHLAND
MARKET PLACE
WANTED 1930 CHEV CARBURETTOR WANTED. Carter model RJH08. PH 027 436 9004. MEM CANTERBURY
1923 DARRACQ DC TOURER. C urrent owner for over 40 years. Very reliable with current WOF and Reg. Open to Offers. Ph John. 06 751 5554, megandjohnny@xtra.co.nz MEM TARANAKI
1934 CHEV COUPE OR SEDAN BONNET MOULDINGS w anted in any condition. Fit on the top edges of the air vents on the sides of the bonnet. Six required or any you may have. Ph 021 0285 7500. MEM WELLS/WARKWORTH 1935 STUDEBAKER MOTOR or shortblock wanted. Ph Alan Day 027 495 4256. MEM WAIKATO
ABOUT MID TO LATE ‘30S CAR OR UTE WANTED . General motors, Buick or Chrysler. In need of restoration, repairs okay. South, Mid Canterbury or North Otago okay. Ph 022 636 9961, 03 615 9668. MEM SOUTH CANTERBURY CITROEN L15 WIND WINGS. I have a 1954 beautifully restored L15 only needs two bonnet name badges and two wind wings for the front doors. If you can help, I’d love to hear from you. Please call or preferably email brenstrum@gmail. com, ph 027 44 888 28.
1937 RILEY LYNX SPRITE TOURER. E arls Court show car. Large headlamps, stone guards. Full professional restoration 1987, 2.5 litre Pathfinder engine. 20,000 miles enthusiastic motoring since. A true wolf in sheep’s clothing. $100,000. Ph Wallace McNair 022 488 2883, v12sunbeam@gmail.com MEM WAITEMATA
1939 CHEVROLET DELUXE STEERING WHEEL complete with horn ring OR steering wheel with GOOD ORIGINAL STEERING WHEEL for 1969 FIAT a broken horn ring so long as all the parts are 850 Sport Coupe. (Has two black spokes and there. Ph Alistair on 027 202 5007 or 03 688 6108. woodgrain rim). Ph 06 758 4218 (leave message), S TH CANTERBURY MEM email lloydgleeson@gmail.com MEM TARANAKI 1956 ZUNDAPP COMBINETTE MODEL 412 NORTON 1930 s dirt track frame wanted. Have one speed engine in going condition wanted. genuine motor, hope to rebuild a running bike. Ph Eddie 03 359 9615, 021 891 980. MEM CANTERBURY Also 1953/1954 Norton International parts and photos of Nortons in the 1953/1954 Clubmans in A COPY OF THE NZ PUBLICATION known as “ The the IOM. Ph 027 213 2474, recycledreading@xtra. WATKINS Register” wanted - a yearly pre-war co.nz printed volume that tabulated the nationally registered vehicles. Ph Neil 03 434 9470, PACKARD CLIPPER 1946 – 47 MOTOR WANTED or neil.nonie@xtra.co.nz MEM NORTH OTAGO parts. 6 cylinder. Also interested in gearbox and overdrive. 2 good hubcaps. Ph Barry 027 443 5479 A SET OF 19 INCH WIRE WHEELS to suit late 1920s barryhoff@xtra.co.nz MEM TAUPŌ American General Motors car. Let me know what you have? Ph Brendon Fox 06 362 6564, bdfox@xtra.co.nz. MEM HOROWHENUA
RILEY RMA 1947 1.5 LITRE Fully restored in the 80s. Ash frame and roof in very good condition. 81450 miles on the speedo. Full history available, well maintained, 12 months WOF. $19,999 ono. Contact 021 179 5467
REAR CONVERTIBLE WINDOW FRAME approx, 48 x 13.5 cm and Solex PHH 44 side-draft carburettors wanted. Any condition considered. Gerhard 021 950 745 or email gerhard_heins@hotmail.com MEM CANTERBURY
EXCELSIOR SERIES 20 MOTORCYCLE T hese were built 1920-1924, prefer complete bike, running or not. Also spares for same. Anything considered. Ph: Jon Turney 022 059 7698 jonturney@twoup.nz MEM WAIKATO
GLASS REFLECTORS MADE IN USA. V ariety of round lens, reflectors and prisms. Options include round lens in a variety of colour suitable for license plate mounts, mounts in a 3/16" hole. Prism - a high quality lens with jewel cut surface. Held in stainless frame, mounts in 15/16" hole. Contact Peter Alderdice peter.alderdice@me.com MEMBER AUCKLAND
REFLECTOR TO SUIT A 1934 RIM LESS HEADLAMP 9 inch Diameter as used on Studebaker, Auburn etc. I have the one pictured. Phone any time, Trevor 021 262 4009. MEM NELSON
INDIAN CHIEF 1927 CRANKCASE RH SIDE ( or both) desperately needed to get my 1927 Combo back on the road, due to excessive cracking in the one I have. Also wanted transmission Intermediate gear. I have a few Scout and Chief items for swaps, just ask. Ph 027 480 3171, martyn.seay@gmail.com MEM AUCKLAND Beaded Wheels 51