CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR OVER 70 YEARS
No. 359 August/September 2019
NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95
WINTER MOTORING 9 418979 000012
Rally Action From Around New Zealand
1940 LA SALLE | 1934 CHRYSLER CA TARGA DREAMS MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
The Canterbury Automobile Association’s Motor Reliability Run from Christchurch to Duvauchelles, Banks Peninsula. Vehicles were divided into two sections. Pictured here are the small cars leaving from the corner of St Asaph Street and Lincoln Road (Now Hagley Avenue). Picture Beaded Wheels Archives.
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/-114 Shortcut Road, Luggate, RD2, Wanaka 9382 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
2 Beaded Wheels
FAR NORTH C/– 50 Davis Strongman Place, RD3, Kerikeri 0293 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. 359
Issue 359 August/September 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 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.
FEATURES 14 A Wheel and a Hubcap Ollie Hurst’s lifetime obession with 1932 Fords 16 20 24 30
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
Design: RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch Print: PMP Ltd, Christchurch.
1940 La Salle Series 50
1934 Chrysler CA Rally Snippets 30 Whanganui Annual Rally – Wanganui Branch 30 Gerald Lynch-Blosse Memorial Motorcycle Rally – North Otago Branch 32 Hadstock Driving Tests – Banks Peninsula Branch 34 Pristine Pursuits Down South – Canterbury Branch 35 Queen’s Birthday Weekend Fox Glacier – Central Otago Branch 36 Veteran & Vintage Tour 37 Scenicland Gold Trail Rally
40
KM Ford – Waikato Branch Community Project
42
Targa Dreams - looking back at the inaugural VCC Targa
COLUMNS 4
President’s Message
Editorial Copy 24 August 2019 Advertisements 10 September 2019
4
As We See It
44
5
VCC Events
46 Marketplace
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.)
6
National Office
53
Swap Meets & Rallies
7 Mailbag
56
Idle Torque
10 Timelines
66
Passing Lane
Closing Date for October/November:
National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
Postal Address: PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
12
The Way We Were
22
Mutterings of a Mature Motorcyclist
22
50/60 Year Awards
Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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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Steed Comes Home Frank Metcalfe supplies possibly the final chapter in the story of his 500cc AJS
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Brass Notes
COVER Tackling the water during this year’s Irishman, David Oakley in his 1930 Model A Ford Tudor with navigator Bruce Luskie. See article page 34. Photo Carolyn Elcock.
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 Members will have received the Club’s annual accounts by now and you will see that there is a small operating surplus of $22,884.00 which, when added to the Vero share and interest on investments, records a healthy profit of $100,786.00. Management Committee members have been returned unopposed except for the three committee positions for which there will be an election as four nominations have been received. If you haven’t already, please get your votes in. In my annual report I thanked my fellow Management Committee members whose level of understanding and experience of the workings of the Club and related statutory and governmental bodies is wide-ranging. I also acknowledged the members of the Beaded Wheels Committee, the Vehicle Technical Committee and Diane White for her work with the 25/35/50 membership badges. I also flagged that this coming year we will continue to keep a watching brief on future trends which could impact negatively on our hobby as well as taking every opportunity to
ensure that the authorities take the historic movement into consideration during their legislation deliberations. We need to convey to them the important role that our members and their vehicles serve in preserving New Zealand’s motoring past. We will also be focusing on updating the VCC’s image so that it reflects our “New Zealandness”, who we are, what we do, and where we are going in the future We will continue developing the on-line membership application process and I am pleased to advise that Murray Trounson, a Chartered Accountant and Canterbury Branch member, has taken on this task. The Club’s five year Strategic Plan was approved at the 2015 AGM. The first strategic intent in the document is “Enhancing public image and awareness” and one of the ways the plan talks about how we do that is to “Ensure Branch involvement in the community is visible”. Our Club’s National Day is coming up on Sunday 25 August. In the last two years it has raised $100,000 for the Cancer Society.
While some branches have enthusiastically seized this concept others seem to see it as a chore to be endured. I was disappointed to read in a branch magazine that “members decided at the June branch meeting not to hold a Daffodil Day rally, thus leaving a space for another branch event”. I fully understand that it can be a struggle for some of our smaller branches to find an organiser, however, at its very bare minimum all we are asking is for a branch to put on a run on the same day as the rest of the Club. By doing so you will be part of our National Day and the small entry fee gathered will go to our chosen charity – the Cancer Society. The un-named branch mentioned above has decided not to participate in the National Day but will put on another event to replace it. I believe that our National Day should be one of the most important events on branch calendars for the reason that if done well, the concept works. This has been proven by those branches that have enthusiastically embraced the day and reaped the rewards in terms of raising the Club’s profile in their area, gaining new members and of course,
raising funds for a welldeserved charity. We all know that while member numbers are holding steady at the moment (8657 as at going to print), this will not always be the case. We are constantly being told that the Club must do more to encourage new members. It is disappointing that some branches are not seizing this opportunity to raise the profile of their local branch in their area and the Club as a whole. When the Executive agreed to proceed with the concept of the National Day, with the proceeds going to local Cancer Societies, it was also decided that this would be reviewed in three years. It is therefore due to come up for review at the March Executive Meeting in 2020. I will also be raising it at the forthcoming AGM at Greymouth in August to get feedback from our members as to the direction they want this to go, or whether in fact they want to continue with it at all. Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President
AS WE SEE IT On page five of Beaded Wheels we include forthcoming branch and national events so you can keep up to speed with happenings around the branches. We usually have space to include at least the next two months comprehensively plus major events in the ensuing month or months. How far we go depends on the space we have available. The entries are checked and approved by branch secretaries prior to going to print in an attempt to be as accurate as possible. Recently this page has been the subject of letters and complaints/compliments to us about what we print. 4 Beaded Wheels
Seems that some want less information and only want to know what events branches are running that other branches are invited to. Others want more information and want us to include the branch meeting night information. Our thoughts were that by publishing branch events we were giving information to those who wish to attend events run by other branches, when travelling for instance, or any other reason. We don’t really want to publish branch meeting nights as that would potentially be another 70 or so entries and we don’t have the room. By the same token we don’t really wish to reduce
what we currently print as we think the good outweighs the bad. Remember we are one club with 35 branches. Any member is entitled to attend any event run by any branch. Just send in the entry form and fill your boots. Happy for you to let us know what you think. Regrettably this issue marks the final contribution to Brass Notes by Diane Ross. After 11 years and almost 70 issues of providing us with veteran information she has decided to retire. We acknowledge her dedication and are very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her over many years. She never
missed an issue from 293 in August 2008 to this issue, 359. What this means, of course, is that we have a vacancy for a new reporter for matters veteran. The pay is crap but the personal flush of joy at completing your column for the next issue can be reward enough. Those interested may wish to give Diane a ring to see what is involved. She is happy to pass on any information she has to the new reporter.
Kevin Clarkson Chairman Beaded Wheels
VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS NATIONAL EVENTS
August 17 National AGM hosted by West Coast Branch 25 Daffodil Day Rallies around New Zealand October 19–20 National Veteran Rally hosted by South Canterbury Branch
Banks Peninsula Branch 2019 Hadstock, photo John McDonald.
AUGUST 4 4 4 4 7 7 8 10 11 11 16-17 17-18
Auckland Northland Waikato Wellington Hawke’s Bay Sth Otago Sth Cant Ashburton Nelson Northland West Coast Combined
Wet Leg Motorcycle Tour Motorcycle Run Shed Raid to BOP Sunday Run Midweek Run Wednesday Run Mid Week Run Garage Raid Club Run Club Run National AGM Combined rally - Gore, Southland, Sth Otago and Central Otago Branches 18 Marlborough Events Trial and Mud Plug 18 Taupo Club Captain Run Overnighter 20 West Coast Morning Tea Shantytown 21 Auckland Midweek Tour 21 Waikato Wednesday Wander 24 Rotorua Sulphur City Rally 25 Gisborne Club Run 25 National Daffodil Rally - check your branch for local event details. 25 Taranaki Inglewood Shed Raid 28 Rotorua Midweekers Run 28 Wellington Midweek Run 29 Otago Midweek Run 31 Banks Peninsula Brooklands Levels Raceway
SEPTEMBER 1 1 1 7 8
Banks Peninsula Garage Raid Far North Father’s Day Rally Northland Motorcycle Run Waimate Swap Meet Auckland PV/PWV/P60/P80 Annual Rally 8 Northland Club 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.
8 8 13-15 14 14 14 15 15 15 17 18 18 21
Sth Cant Opening Run Wairarapa Peter Smith Memorial Rally E Bay of Plenty Run to Paeroa Canterbury Awards Dinner Manawatu Vintage Rally Wellington Spring Festival Rotorua Club Run Wanganui Club Run Taupo Club Run West Coast Morning Tea - Shantytown Auckland Mid Week Tourers Waikato Wednesday Wander Taranaki Rubber Duckie Motorcycle Rally 21-22 Wellington Tom’s Tour 22 E Bay of Plenty Club Run 22 Waikato PV Rally 22 West Coast Club Run 24-9 North Shore North Cape to Bluff Tour 25 Rotorua Midweekers Run 26 Otago Midweek Run 28 Central Otago Blossom Rally 28 Nelson Blind Run 28 North Shore Spring Tour 29 Banks Peninsula Opening Run 29 Auckland Club Run 29 Sth Cant Continental Vehicle Day
OCTOBER 2 5 5 6 6 11-13 12 13 13 13 13-17
Southland Manawatu Otago Canterbury Waikato Canterbury Far North Rotorua Wairarapa Wellington Otago
Vintage/Post Vintage Rally Swap Meet Dunvegan Motorcycle Rally Veteran Rally Kairangi Hill Climb Swap Meet Working Bee Club Run New Members Rally Heritage Rally Prince Henry 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.
14 Taranaki Potters Paddock Gymkhana 15 West Coast Morning Tea Shantytown 19-20 Canterbury Girder Fork Rally 19-20 Sth Cant National Veteran Rally 20 North Shore Club Run 20 Wanganui Club Run 23 Rotorua Midweekers Run 25-28 E Bay of Plenty Trip to Gisborne 26-27 Auckland Hunua 100 26-27 Banks Peninsula Waimate 50 – 60th 26-28 Sth Cant Mt Cook Rally 27 Canterbury Grasskhana (New Event)
NOVEMBER
1-3 Gisborne Biennial Visit to EBOP 2 Canterbury Motorcycle Annual Rally 2 Northland Far North Tour 2 Otago Taieri Tour 2-3 Wellington Annual Rally 3 Bay of Plenty Car Show & Swap Meet 3 Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival Run 6 Southland Commercial Rally 6 Wanganui Night Trial 8-10 Nelson Biennial Run 9 Canterbury Vintage Annual Rally 9-10 Sth Cant Safari Weekend 10 Banks Peninsula Hawkswood Sprint 10 Waikato Veteran Rally 13 Southland Arrowtown Rally 16 C. Hawke’s Bay Veteran Rally 16 Nth Otago Swap Meet 16-17 Sth Cant All American Weekend 17 C. Hawke’s Bay Homestead Run 17 Horowhenua Tararua Trundle 17 North Shore Garage Raid 17 Waikato Waikato Swap Meet 17 Wanganui Ladies Run 19 West Coast Morning Tea Shantytown 23-24 Wairarapa Gold Medal Motorcycle Rally 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.
Beaded Wheels 5
NATIONAL OFFICE
SUBSCRIPTION TIME
Renewal invoices will be sent out to all members in late August early September 2019 for the period 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020. To receive the discount of $11.50 payment must be received by National Office no later than 20 October 2019. If you don’t receive your invoice, then let your branch secretary know before the end of September. Membership cards will be forwarded to financial members in November.
Members who have not paid by 1 November 2018 will show as unfinancial. One reminder notice will be forwarded and the $11.50 will be payable. Members whose invoice is unpaid by the March Executive Meeting will be required to re-join and lose any previous continuous membership. Please advise National Office if you have changed your address or sold/purchased any vehicles. It is also appreciated if you notify the office that you wish to resign, by 31 October 2018.
CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP 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.
You can also pay directly into the Club’s bank account. Please remember, you must put your membership number as the reference for the payment. This is very important. THE HISTORIC VEHICLE AUTHORITY OF NZ
Did you know that the Management Committee has a very good working relationship with NZTA and they officially recognise The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) as the Historic Vehicle Authority of NZ? Rod Brayshaw has been the Club’s Registrar for 23 years and is often called upon by both NZTA and our members to assist with issues that arise. NATIONAL VETERAN RALLY
If you are entering this event you MUST have a valid Vehicle Identity Card (VIC). Please get your VIC application, renewal application, or change of ownership submitted to your branch well in advance of the registration close off for the event. Do not risk disappointment by leaving it to the last minute. NATIONAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Club’s Executive Meeting and Annual General Meeting will take place in Greymouth on 17 August 2019. The Executive also meet on 16 August. The Executive is made up of one
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
6 Beaded Wheels
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
delegate from each branch plus the Management Committee members. Your delegate will report on the proceedings. The minutes for the Executive Meeting are distributed to each branch secretary and all members will receive minutes of the AGM, branch office details and a calendar of events as an insert in the October/November issue of Beaded Wheels. BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
Branches around the country have held their annual general meetings and as a result there are a number of new committee members. I would like to welcome all the new committees and thank all those who stood down for their assistance over the past years. The work that the committees put in to running the Club and assisting with the work undertaken by National Office is greatly appreciated. VEHICLE IDENTITY CARD (VIC)/AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Applications for a Vehicle Identity Card / Authenticity Statement must be submitted to your branch. The only exception is a straight 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 National Office.
CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR OVER 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. 358 June/July 2019
NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95
MEGA MOTORING
Rally Action From Around New Zealand
9 418979 000012
Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, logbooks, historic race licences, registration of vehicles, lighting endorsement, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events.
1966 NISSAN PRINCE SKYLINE, MAGNETOS AND MORE… MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
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. WHAT MAKE OF VEHICLE IS THIS? CLUB WEBSITE
On our club website (www.vcc.org.nz) you can obtain the latest information on the Club ferry discounts for Cook Strait, download forms for Vehicle Identity Cards, Historic Race Licenses, VCC membership, and Beaded Wheels subscriptions. A copy of the Branch Manual and Vehicle Identification folder are also available. 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 and Lighting Endorsement form and return these to your branch secretary for processing. VCC ID CARD RENEWALS
Please note that all VCC ID Cards expire upon change of ownership, or 10 years after the issue date (whichever comes first). The VCC National Office will send a renewal advice out to owners of vehicles who have VICs about to expire. 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 (Inc.).
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
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Please advise National Office in writing if you have changed address, including phone numbers and email address, or vehicle ownership. BRANCH TRANSFER
To transfer between branches complete a transfer form. This can be obtained through your branch secretary.
My father (Nelson Price of Invercargill, died 1993) bought an old NZR bus about 1948. He lifted the roof, welded up some of the kerb-side doors, and converted it into a mobilecaravan. An old photo from about 1950/3 shows the plate number H40283 with a small plate “C” added before the H. Another photo, maybe 1954/55 shows the last four letters on the plate 3-531. A third photo shows the camper in total with the unusual shaped front. What breed of vehicle is it? I have no paperwork for it and the NZTA registration has no info. Can you help me complete this piece of my family history? Trevor Price, Auckland
CHRYSLER HELP NEEDED
What an excellent magazine and great articles. I wear the print off each copy. I am a VCC member 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 assistance in getting this car back to its original former glory. Keep up the good work. Dave Kendall 0223 156 001 dave@qttrading.co.nz
NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE RALLY
May I through this column thank the Executive for unanimously agreeing to waive the VCCNZ rules and allow the biennial National Motorcycle rally to be
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 have turned 100 years old and have a valid VCC ID Card approving the vehicles age as more than 100 years since the date of manufacture. For further details, please refer to the Branch Manual, section 40G, or contact National Office.
Julie Cairns-Gee National Office Manager
Beaded Wheels 7
held in 2021 as per tradition. March 2021 is important for me personally as it will be 50 years to the day that I first rode my LMC at a national motorcycle rally and, physical health permitting, I will be at the rally in Masterton with the bike to achieve its anniversary. Ian Bade Horowhenua Branch Ed Note: For the record, the
motion was passed but not unanimously. TRIUMPH 3HW UPDATE
This is just a footnote to the article in last month’s Beaded Wheels about my trials and tribulations with the 3HW. In February 2016 I set off with two friends for the National Rally in Cromwell. Leaving Blenheim we headed to Westport, down the coast, through the Gates of Haast to Cromwell via The Crown Range. After the rally I came home up the east coast, covering approximately 2000km in eight days. The only issue was at St Arnaud when I pushed the bike off the rear stand, a spring shot past the back wheel and the stand dropped to the floor. The
anchor point for the rear stand spring had been ripped off the rear down-tube due to some more fine Indian welding. With the help of a bungee band the problem was cured. Barry Newman
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Re: Beaded Wheels 355, The Way We Were. My name is Francis Blandford (Frank). It was I who drove the OM that day. I pulled out of the race just as I was on the cusp of winning because of a dead cylinder. I couldn’t carry on not knowing what caused the miss. It might be a catastrophic disaster about to ruin my lovely Italian motor-car. It turned out to be merely the owner’s amateurish mechanical inabilities to correctly torsion-up 12 tappet screw lock nuts. I could have carried on. But that’s life. I don’t know where Andy Anderson got that big-end story from but I’d just like to correct his memory error. As an aside for your readers: I was under the OM preparing for that Wigram curtain raiser, when a VCC bloke (Colin Keith)
INFORMATION WANTED
We have owned our 1939 Chevrolet Master 85 since 2014 when we purchased it from a Christchurch car dealer. We have no history of the vehicle apart from the fact that it has a Vintage Car Club badge on it so we hope/believe that the car has history with the club. We have a receipt for motor work done by Ideal Mechanical in Hornby (this company appears to no longer exist) in 1997 and the name on the receipt is Carl Todd. We are hoping that members of the club might remember the car or know someone who has knowledge of our car. Any information would be much appreciated. Roger Thomas 021 221 6530 roger@twohoots.co.nz
brought his girlfriend round to see the preparations. I looked up from my horizontal position, sighted Colin’s girlfriend and immediately fell in love with her. We were married on 20 December 1952 Francis Blandford Reply from Andrew Anderson:
Great to hear from you again and my apologies for my mistake. It wasn’t any direct memory quote but just an overall impression of everyone at the time, not so much directly after the event as when you didn’t show up at the Kiwi hill climb that April, especially as Spud Jackson was there in the 14/40 Sunbeam to do battle with you in the 2 litre class.
VINTAGE AUSTIN IN UK EX-NEW ZEALAND
My wife June is currently in the UK for their summer. She was visiting a property in the county where our house is to see about getting a Victorian sofa recovered. When the upholsterer opened his workshop doors was surprised to see this vintage Austin tourer which the owner said she had come from New Zealand. It looks to me to be a Sports 20 but I feel that our ‘Austineers’ will know of the car and its history. The owner was also rebuilding a front wheel drive BSA sports car. Judging from the photo the Austin looks to be in splendid order. William Hearne North Otago Branch
8 Beaded Wheels
Again my apologies but great to hear direct from one of the truest Founding Fathers of the Club. RADIATOR CAP
Since my Dad's passing in February 2018 ownership of our 1914 HA32 Hupmobile has moved to the third generation of our family. Being the only mechanically minded child of
a deceased collector (some might say hoarder) and restorer of veteran, vintage and classic cars hasn't come without its challenges. What this has presented was a lack of knowledge on not only how to fix and drive the cars but also how to source parts... there are no Hupmobile dealerships left anywhere in the world now. So when we noticed a coolant leak coming from a badly cracked radiator cap, we had to just sit back and hope it never got any worse. That was until last night. My cousin who is part of a metal detector group contacted me when a friend of hers dug up a part with Hupmobile stamped on it. He was wondering what it was, and it was in fact a Hupmobile radiator cap. And it was the right one for our Hupmobile. I believe there were thousands of these cars brought into New Zealand. We are sure there has been some intervention from Dad and Grandad to find this part. Obviously we are astounded by this find and thought readers might be too. Kelly Pierce (nee Brass)
½
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TIMELINES PHOTO: ROLLS-ROYCEMOTORCARS.COM
Mechanical Restorations Vintage & Classic Spares (1980)
The Rolls-Royce Springfield factory in Massachusetts, USA.
Historical snippets of motoring interest from years gone compiled by Graeme Rice
100 YEARS AGO AUGUST SEPTEMBER 1919
American tariffs still cause headaches for European car makers trying to import into the USA 100 years after RollsRoyce decided the only way to sell cars competitively in the States was to build them there. Setting up shop in Springfield, Massachusetts the enterprise only lasted until 1931, a victim of manufacturing duplication, the great depression and an absence of mystique as the great British car wasn’t in fact, truly British. 50 YEARS AGO AUGUST SEPTEMBER 1969
Big changes in the way we motored in 1969. We could go faster but drink less and serve ourselves petrol. The first self service petrol pumps were installed in 1969. Speed limits were raised to 55mph from the 50mph limit introduced during WWII to conserve roads and tyres. In 1969 we could do a heady 60mph on suitable stretches of road. Quite challenging with gravel roads, cross ply tyres and fading brakes.
Graeme Rice
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75 YEARS AGO AUGUST SEPTEMBER 1944
Louis Renault, imperious, hugely wealthy, and practically sole owner of his huge conglomerate, became the target of a Paris divided against itself. Other industrialists hadn’t sacked 20,000 workers in 1938, hadn’t built vehicles for the Germans and were surrounded by influential boards of directors or business partners. Isolated, Renault was vulnerable, and on 22 September he was imprisoned in spite of not being charged with any crime. Beatings, torture and a lack of medical aid ensured he died a month later. 30 YEARS AGO AUGUST SEPTEMBER 1989
Suddenly, after years of deprivation and spartan CKD* cars, used cars started arriving in their thousands from keep left, right hand drive Japan. In 1985 there had been just 3000 cars imported and imports made up 4.5% of our new registrations. By 1989 the number had grown to over 85,000 and made up over 50% of new registrations.
*CKD - Completely knockeddown: a kit of the parts to assemble a vehicle. More usually this was a bulk-packed supply of the parts required for vehicle assembly in a specialised plant.
Stockists of new AUTOMOTIVE PARTS CAR, TRUCK & TRACTOR 1912–1997 (85 year span)
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THE WAY WE WERE
▲ Left to right: Sybil Lupp, Andrew Anderson, Bill Cope, Pat Hoare, Neil McDuff, Pat Hoare’s secretary, Reg Grierson, ‘Fordy’ Farland, P Tucker, Geoff EasterbrookSmith, Jack Brewer.
1950 ANZCC NELSON CONFERENCE Two very historically important photos, not for the actual events concerned but for the personnel in one case and the location in the other. The Association of New Zealand Car Clubs (ANZCC) Christchurch contingent; Pat Hoare, Jack Brewer, Bill Cope and I drove up in a brand new Vauxhall Velox just acquired by which of the others I’ve forgotten. We went over the Lewis Pass route and got me very car sick so they made me drive. I can vividly recall what a horrible car it was compared to the Rugby with which Mitch and I had done the trip previously. I got our Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (VCC) championship status for the 1951 Governor’s Bay hill ok but this must be a pretty unique group of founding fathers of New Zealand post war motorsport, so worth some further biographic.
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From Left to Right: SYBIL LUPP Delegate for Otago, concoctor of the Blackburn cut-and-shut 4½ Bentley in her youth in Blenheim, married to Percy Lupp of Dunedin, founding father of the Otago Car Club and pilot of a McCullough blown V8 Ford coupe. Sybil herself was a very competitive driver of MGs and then XK Jags. She finally shifted to Wellington as the ultimate “go to” for Jaguars. ANDREW ANDERSON Delegate for VCC, yours truly, of whom you’ve already heard too much via these pages and by far the youngest of the group. BILL COPE in his capacity as Hon. Secretary of the ANZCC. By now he was a VCC member with the Ulster Austin as seen at the Vintage Wigram. He was a post war arrival in New Zealand from the UK, first to Hawke’s Bay,
where he was ANZCC delegate to the second ANZCC meeting where he moved the adoption of Cowan’s offer to produce Sportscar which I seconded. He then came to Christchurch and was active with us in our speed events but had disappeared during my OE. PAT HOARE Chairman from the beginning of ANZCC and represented the Vintage Vehicles Association (forerunner to the VCC) at its foundation meeting. A very senior executive of Europa Oil, and of some independent means, Pat was a very early client of Hec Green’s racing car manufacturing. The Singer engined RA1, seen in Halsey Logan’s hands at that beach racing scene in issue 351 April/May 2018, was built for him and raced for a while until he commissioned RA2, a Vauxhall engined car of considerably more power. He
appears to have had a good personal relationship with Enzo Ferrari, and later campaigned a range of Ferraris. He was an excellent chairman, keeping meetings well on track but with everyone having his or her say and strong debate encouraged. A very approachable bloke even to kids like me, as I was to fully appreciate when elected to the ANZCC Executive committee at the 1951 conference. During my absence overseas 1952/53 we resigned from the ANZCC. On my return it was well into its Ron Frost/Arnold Stafford regime and Pat was a prominent competitor only. NEIL MCDUFF Delegate for Nelson, next youngest to me and owner of the now Newell 30/98 which he sold to Tony Bruges as earlier told. Kept a low profile apart from pushing for the beach racing series for the calendar.
PAT HOARE’S PERSONAL SECRETARY who kept the minutes and generally managed Pat’s very busy life for him and whose name totally escapes me! REG GRIERSON Delegate for Auckland and the only administrative survivor from their golden age of Muriwai beach racing and Henning’s speedway. Reg first appears on the scene trying to buy the Indy Stutz from Tim Bell in 1926 – but can’t raise the £200 required, which Bob Wilson managed to do. However on 4 Feb 1928 Bob Wilson with the Stutz wins the NZ Motor Cup outright (three wins in a row) for 50 miles and 11 turns in 35 minutes and 54 seconds with Billy Hamilton in IOM 2 Sunbeam second in 36 min, 28 sec. Riding mechanic to Bob Wilson was none other than Reg Grierson. This same year NZMRDA (NZ Motor Racing Drivers Assoc.) is formed with Dick Messenger in the chair and Reg Grierson on its committee. 1929 saw the opening of Henning’s Mangere Speedway with Reg driving Austin 7s in first and second meetings. At the third meeting in December he’s driving the Stutz for Wilson and also a Seabrook Fowlds Austin 7 and sets a new lap record in the Stutz. For 1930, with Bob Wilson’s health deteriorating, Reg has the Stutz again at Muriwai and sets another lap record at Henning’s. He also had the odd drive in Seabrook Fowlds supercharged Ulster Austin and at the December meeting he was driving the Brooklands Riley just imported by Harry Butcher. This was later sold to the younger R A Dexter. By 1932 he was on the staff of Seabrook Fowlds and drove their supercharged Austin at Henning’s and two Muriwai meetings and on into 1932, winning the New Zealand Beach Championship there in the Austin. Even after the car was sold to Ron Roycroft’s father, Reg drove it for him at Henning’s for a first and second
place in two races and in July in the so called Prosperity Grand Prix being a genuine road race in Orakei suburb. In 1934 he is in the Seabrook Relay Race Team at the final meeting at Henning’s and at the opening meeting at Gloucester Park. In February 1935 he and Tom Cooper win Class 3 in the three-day Wanganui Rally with a Morris 8 and Feb 1938 sees him at Muriwai again in a Hudson Terraplane. Ten years of serious and generally successful motor sport in a huge range of cars. With George Smith he revived the NZMRDA after the war to become another founder of ANZCC. “FORDY” FARLAND Delegate for Manawatu and the driving force behind the Ohakea series of races. He was a true post war enthusiast, starting the NZ Sportscar Club which failed to produce a branch structure thus sprouted powerful and independent clubs in Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu. Why the name “Fordy” is lost in the mists of time as he regularly and very purposefully campaigned a Buick 8 powered special of fearsome aspect and alarming performance. P TUCKER Delegate for Hawke’s Bay whose blown V8 special was shown in my Nelson beach race article and which sadly killed him just a bit after this. GEOFF EASTERBROOK-SMITH Delegate for Wellington. One of the founding fathers of the late lamented NZ Sportscar Club and extensive contributor to Sportscar magazine. He and his brother Toby built, and for years campaigned, a vintage special of very diverse parentage; Sunbeam-engined with various Ansaldo, Alvis and many other bits with somewhat variable results. Toby later joined the VCC while Geoff went on to a stratospheric career in the senior ranks of the civil service. During his time on the ANZCC Executive he was constantly
▲ Bob Blackburn and Ron Green in the 4½ Bentley on the Jonathon Track.
helpful in all our vintage problems and disagreements. JACK BREWER Delegate for Canterbury was the business brains behind Hec Green’s Grenley Engineering and the driving force behind our motor racing club joint venture. He competed vigorously in Hec’s cars and later, the Lord Howe Alfa Romeo. Remembered primarily as a great organiser and thus a great back up to Hoare’s chairmanship. –– Our time as part of motorsport in general was drawing to a close. Plenty of brash youngsters were amongst the growing numbers of clubs involved and we decided that our role lay with the purely veteran and vintage fields wherein regulation of modern motorsport seemed irrelevant or actually counterproductive! The other photograph of Bob’s ex Sybil Lupp 4½ is notable for its location, the long forgotten Jonathon Track. Now one of the VVA’s earliest non-university members was Barry Jonathon, son of Stan Jonathon, proprietor of Caravan Specialists in that block of shops on the corner of Victoria Street and Bealey Avenue in Christchurch. Barry was on our VVA committee and actively campaigned a Wolseley Hornet, all of which seemed to really enthuse his father to the extent that he proceeded to build a fully sealed track round a small lake on his big block on the south side of Wairakei Road,
approximately where the funeral outfit now stands, but well back from the road. Resources and location somewhat limited its possibilities, as it proved very narrow for passing and was only approximately half mile to the lap. In the absence of any alternative, it proved to be very popular, and Stan held a good number of meetings there during 1950/51. I had the honour of manning the PA system for quite a few of these where our people were having a go. Hence the photo. On my return from my OE in late 1953, Jonathon Track was no longer operating and I never heard the whys and wherefores of its demise, being too busy reviving the VCC and getting back to grips with engineering.
ANDREW ANDERSON
VCCNZ FOUNDING MEMBER
Beaded Wheels 13
A WHEEL AND A HUBCAP Words and photos Andy Hurst
For Ollie Hurst cars were always going to be part of his life. From having his first car before he was old enough to hold a driver’s licence (which he obtained in 1949 driving his Model T at a cost of five bob) to driving his restored cars to most parts of the South Island. He is a man who has a desire and vision for his collection. Recovering from a back injury in the 1970s he had time to think about what to do in the future. Having read a lot of car related magazines that friends had dropped off he decided that restoring cars was a good fit. In the same magazines he realised the overseas clubs were having swapmeets for like-minded people to buy, sell and swap parts (and stories). So Ollie and Heather, (Ollie’s late wife) set off to organise the first swapmeet for the Ashburton Branch. Between them they made flyers and put them anywhere they could when out and about all over the countryside. It was a great success and other branches soon got the idea and held their own on staggered dates. In between making caravans and trailers a 1926 Chev 2 door sedan, complete with a tree growing out of the roof, came up for sale. It was duly purchase and restored. Once it was completed the kids named it Fred and they went on many adventures in it. Fred is still going today, a tribute to the thoroughness of its restoration. Next was a 1930 Model A roadster, a great family car for kids Wendy and Andrew in the dickey seat and mum and dad up front. They did many many miles in this and it had to be
14 Beaded Wheels
really bad weather before the whole family would squeeze in the front. This car is also still going strong for its new owner. The restoration bug had got hold of Ollie and he couldn’t slow down. Part of the excitement was finding parts while holidaying with the family. There was always something found, or at least a good lead to follow up. Ollie and the late John Copland were on one such an adventure when Ollie found a complete 1936 Ford sedan in a pit. He said to John that it was too modern for them so they left it there but what he did find was an 18 inch wire wheel with the hubcap on it. He knew it belonged to a 1932 B4 Ford. Turning to John he said “I’m going to turn this into a complete car”. John having the same visionary mind completely understood that he was serious. As time went on people thought that there was no way that he could make that happen, which made him even more enthusiastic about it. When parts of a B4 roadster came up for sale he mustered up some mates and off they went. When they got there it was just a pile of rusty bits but that was better than nothing so on the trailer it went. The running gear came from Symes the beekeepers at Staveley. He
had to let go of a 1933 coupe as a swap for these parts. Once completed the roadster went on to do more than 80,000 miles all over the South Island and far off the beaten track as well. There was a four door sedan that was hauled out of the Bannockburn dam in Cromwell. This was almost completed when sold to a guy in Leeston. Next up a three window coupe was located. It was an old stock car from McPhail’s car wreckers in Christchurch. After getting the daylights thrashed out of it a hot rodder rescued it and started to put
it back on the road. The project stalled and along came Ollie with the trailer, ready to restore another to its original condition. Thoughts turned to a B4 truck. Unable to find a cab in New Zealand a nice cab was bought in from the USA. A deck was folded up and presto another one was complete. Things were going well with no end in sight (and piles of spare parts) when a lead came about a 1932 Cabriolet. Only two of these came to New Zealand. Ollie actually did some work on the other one, only to find out later it had been sold with the provision of it not leaving the country.
Well money talks and it was shipped back to the USA. It didn’t end there though as a lead turned up the other one. During its life parts of this rare car became separated but miraculously it all came back together, so she’s one original old girl. Into the production line it went, needless to say it came up beautifully. What a nice car, everything on it is original 1932 Ford including the 21 stud flathead V8 engine. Having lots of parts Ollie decided that a roadster pickup would be nice. He had a few running flathead V8 engines lying around so another project got underway. Running out of body styles he remembered talking with John Copland one day and he said we need a 4 door phaeton (tourer). Gathering up some more parts he quietly worked away at creating the panels; driveline parts, engines, gearboxes, diffs, and front axles were always in stock. Back in the day John would fly around Ashburton in his Tiger Moth and check out what everyone was doing in their backyards. Ollie would hear a plane coming and cover up the phaeton so John couldn’t make out what he was up to. Sadly John never got to even know Ollie was making this car which is the latest one to be finished. One day in 1959 he bought a 1932 coupe for £80 from the local Ford dealer, Gluyas Ford. Ollie took the opportunity to use the coupe for a truck as well by removing the boot lid and fitting a deck in its place which came in handy while moving house from Lauriston to Methven. In those days there were different number plates for cars or trucks. One day the local cop questioned Ollie about which type of vehicle it was and asked him to take the deck out. This meant he had to come into town in the dark whenever he needed to use the truck.
When sold it got turned into Ashburton’s first hot rod, a 1932 five window coupe. After many years he found it was again up for sale, but sadly missed out on buying it back. It has recently been put back on the market but it is worth a whole lot more than £80 now. Various cars came and went. At one stage he had a model of every year from 1926 to 1936. He can remember owning at least 14 different styles of 1932 Fords over the years. On 30 December 2018 Ollie mustered daughter Wendy, daughter-in-law Liz, son Andy, brothers Keith, Tony, Boyd and Struan to drive the fleet of six 1932s for a photoshoot and get together out to a little place called Barrhill on the south bank of the Rakaia River where he grew up. A photo was recreated of some the Hurst boys and their cars parked between the two original trees which are still there. An original photo taken in the early 1950s was on hand to compare. Not far from that was a large tree that was about opposite the house that he and his 12 brothers and sisters grew up in. This tree was famous for being used to haul engines out of cars with an endless chain. With a little help from a local Barrhill resident and Ollie’s son and grandson, nephew and Andy’s brotherin-law (tall Dean) a rope was thrown over the very same branch the endless chain was attached to. The Hurst’s T Ford truck driven under it, bonnet off, complete with tools, stories and an old beer flagon and another photoshoot was completed. This, and the opportunity for all to drive or be driven around Barrhill in these cars made for a great day which will be remembered forever and one that might turn out to be the start of an annual event.
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HIN BE
D THE WHE
EL
4 DOOR CONVERTIBLE SEDAN
1940 LA SALLE SERIES 50 Words and photos Alastair Jones
The year is 1940. Only a few short months before, on Sunday 3 September 1939, an unprepared England had told Hitler he had crossed the line in the sand. That very same Sunday afternoon, many of the biggest English motor manufacturers had gathered to plan support to build or repair the envisaged materiel required for the war effort. ”From Ploughshares to Swords”. Thus ended vehicle manufacture in England virtually overnight.
16 Beaded Wheels
However it was a different matter in the US. Although Roosevelt could see the inevitable, the politicians feared a voter backlash if they joined the fray, so it was just another day at the factories for the auto industry. It must be noted though that Packard did sign a huge contract with Rolls-Royce in September 1940 to manufacture Merlin engines, so they did have a tenuous connection to the conflict up to the time auto production ceased in February 1942. Kevin Casey covered this particular subject in his excellent companion marque article in Beaded Wheels 317, but not everyone saves their copies like me, so, here’s a quick refresher from my perspective on the conception and birth of La Salle. After WWI Cadillac had the luxury car market sewn up but lost the lead to Packard in 1925, however all was still going well for General Motors from Chevrolet through to the upmarket Buick. From there though, there was a big price gap to the cheapest Cadillac, and Packard had introduced the bargain priced SingleSix to the luxury market with great effect. Additionally, Cadillac planned to introduce the V-16 engine in 1930 which would have left the bean counters worried that a lesser Cadillac with a V-8 engine might take the shine off big brother. Therefore, the answer was to use the name of another famous explorer and create a marque to provide the stepping stone from Buick to Cadillac, and it started rolling off the production line in 1927.
In the early years La Salle was virtually a small Cadillac, and although many have called it a cheaper version this is not fair comment, as they enjoyed the same level of engineering and shared many components with its more expensive stable-mate, although the engine was a completely new design. Gone were the fork and blade conrods, replaced with two conrods on a common crankshaft journal. It was a stroke of genius to use the talented designer/stylist Harley Earl who created a rather flamboyant car in contrast to the somewhat staid Cadillac offerings and the buyers loved it resulting in excellent sales figures. From 1934 its design changed to become what in reality was a more expensive Oldsmobile to compete against the cheapest Packards and perhaps also the Lincoln Zephyr. Although sales in 1940 reached some 25,000, this was seen to be insufficient and it was lined up for axing. The final nail in the coffin was hammered home when Cadillac increased their range to include V8 La Salle engined models, and the funeral was held the year this particular car was manufactured in 1940. Murray Toms is a discerning motorist as evidenced by the vehicles he owns and he is prepared to use them, with a recent 4800 mile journey in his veteran Dodge around the South Island as proof. For some time he had harboured the desire to acquire a retro caravan and had his eye on a tandem axle 20 foot Concorde model which would need some serious torque to move it. In 2014 he used eBay to find this La Salle, it was listed for US$75,000 but Murray considered that was too much. Not to be discouraged he kept track of it and was delighted to see it remained unsold and had dropped to $45,000 by the end of the year. With years of bargaining skills honed to perfection Murray did some hard talking with Texas Classic Cars who were selling on behalf. They had received instructions to “get rid of it by looking at all offers”, and he subsequently made a much lower one, buying it in January 2015, but didn’t collect it until six months later. The
deal was conditional many little things being rectified before pickup, but they weren’t attended to and on seeing the calibre of the mechanics in the workshop he opted for a full set of tyres as recompense. As the temperature was hovering around 109 F, it seemed prudent to forgo driving it to California and it ended up freighted in a container instead. After arrival in Tauranga, the windscreen wiper motor was fixed, shock-absorbers were topped up, sway-bay bushes replaced, brakes overhauled, gear change linkage was reset, new front exhaust pipe and left dipping headlights were fitted. Not a lot is known about the history of the car other than one Paolo Siciliano, a restaurateur, was the last owner. He was obviously a successful man judging by his estate which impressed Murray when he visited it for the auction. It had a long driveway flanked with wooden post-and-rail fences, a lake and a magnificent stone home. How long Paolo owned the La Salle isn’t certain, but possibly from around 1959 until his death about 2013. Interestingly it wasn’t part of a bigger collection. And the Concorde caravan? Something was lost in translation in the lead-up to clinching this deal, and the reason for buying the La Salle was sold to someone else. “The best laid plans of mice and men …” I have admired this car on many occasions and thought the way to get up close and personal was to suggest a road test, so here I was inviting Murray to back it out of his garage and line it up with his gateway. First impressions are of a very imposing vehicle from any angle and I was surprised to learn the wheelbase wasn’t overly long at 123 inches. Easing myself behind the very large diameter steering wheel I noted the pedals sensibly spaced, suitable even for a pair of cowboy boots. Not so on the passenger side though as the box for the radio is fairly intrusive in the footwell. There was nice array of every instrument needed to monitor all the engine functions, and after I located the starter button, Beaded Wheels 17