CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 75 YEARS
No. 370 June/July 2021
NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95
‘66 MUSTANG 9 418979 000012
MANANUI COASTAL HILLCLIMB 1922 ESSEX FOUR ROADSTER RESTORATION MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
Photo taken in Stratford in 1914. The car is a 1913 Morris Oxford, serial number 192, purchased new by A W Reid from the first shipment to arrive in New Zealand. He is seated in the car beside one of his sons, Robert Reid. The registration number is SD1, which stands for Stratford District 1, a number he allocated himself. This car was found derelict on a Hawke’s Bay farm in 1960 by Norman Findlay who painstakingly restored it. A photograph of the car in its current immaculate condition was submitted to Beaded Wheels 367 by Norman’s son Glynn Findlay. Photo courtesy of the Puke Ariki Collection - New Plymouth Museum. IAN: PHO2009-290. Photographs Required: Submissions of suitable prints and information are welcome. Post or email original photographs or high resolution digital files of historical interest with any available information to: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz or Beaded Wheels, PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Laserprints/photocopies are not suitable. Photos will be returned as soon as practicable.
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 LIFE MEMBERS Andrew Anderson Roger White Norm Dewhurst Rod Brayshaw John Coomber
VCCNZ MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 06 876 4009 president@vcc.org.nz SECRETARY/ TREASURER Christopher Leith 03 358 5378 hon.sec@vcc.org.nz 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 SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz BEADED WHEELS CHAIRMAN Kevin Clarkson 021 0270 6525 kevin@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
Murray Trounson mgmt3@vcc.org.nz
Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until October 2021
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/- 73 Porangahau Road, 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/– 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/- 53 Huia Street, 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 C/- 21 Mornington Road, Balaclava, Dunedin 9011 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/- PO Box 39029, Egmont Village 4361 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/- 9 Marlborough Ave, Glenfield, Auckland 0629 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Whanganui 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/- 1999 Kumara Junction Highway, RD 2, Hokitika 7882 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 LXXII No. 370
Issue 370 June/July 2021
Editorial Committee
Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, Bevars Binnie, Rosalie Brown, John Coomber, Mark Dawber.
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.
Back Issues Available on request to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.
FEATURES 12 A Cunning Tale
Greg Terrill catches a Mustang
14 18
The Daimlers and the Duke
24
1937 Packard 115-C Junior Sports Coupe
28 32 38
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.
Closing Date for August/September: Editorial Copy Advertisements
25 June 2021 9 July 2021
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
Postal Address: PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch, New Zealand.
From Conception to Completion 1922 Essex Four Roadster
42 44
14
1922 Essex
The Racing Sunbeams in New Zealand - No 2 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Car 1914 The Longest Time 1938 Ford V8 restoration Rally Snippets 38 Country Roads Rally– Taupo Branch 39 Irish Womans Rally – Waikato Branch 39 38th Castrol Motorcycle Trial –Wanganui 40 Mooloo Meander 2021 – Waikato Branch 41 Central Otago Wanderings
24
1937 Packard
Stirring the Seven Senses The Manunui Coastal Hill Climb Easy Riders Taking the scenic route to the National Veteran Rally Irish Woman’s Rally
COLUMNS 4
President’s Message
4
As We See It
5
VCC Events
6
National Office
7 Mailbag 8 Awards 10 Timelines 31
Book Reviews
35
Archivist News
36
39
Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring Update
47 Marketplace 52
Swap Meets & Rallies
54
Trade Directory
56
Idle Torque
68
Passing Lane
69
Notice of Motion
Marketplace
48
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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COVER 2022 Vero International Historic Festival of Motoring Rally Director, Greg Terrill, is knee deep in preparations for next January’s motoring extravaganza. Last month he headed to New Plymouth in his Mustang (pictured outside the Len Lye Centre) which he will have at the festival. More information about the car on page 12. Photo Bruce Hutton, QSM FPSNZ.
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.
Beaded Wheels 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE It’s that time of the year when the Club’s financial statements are being prepared for reporting to all members. There is still some final work to do, but I can advise that there is a small operating surplus of approximately $8,000 this year, favourably compared with a budgeted deficit of $36,000 and the actual deficit last year of $19,000. Revenue from investments and Vero profit-share added to the bottom line for a final surplus of approximately $63,000. To say the recent introduction of a new computer system for National Office has widely exceeded our expectations is not an over-statement. Like anything, it is a work-in-progress and there is still more to do however Stage 1 of the 4 stage implementation plan has now been completed. As I have mentioned before, we are so lucky to have Murray Trounson driving the process. The countdown to our National Day is on with three months to go. It was so disappointing not to be able to hold this event in 2020 but this year it will be bigger with more branches participating. The organisation is full steam ahead under the direction of Kaaren Smylie and all branches have received information and art-work for the event. Kaaren is
on hand to offer assistance and advice to get the branch events up and running. A new initiative this year is that participating branches will be given an allowance of $300 towards any advertising in local community newspapers. Remember – as well as donating to the Cancer Society, our National Day plays a huge role in publicising our Club nationally and locally. Please get behind the event with enthusiasm – branches will reap the rewards, both in terms of their donation to the Cancer Society and increased public awareness which leads to new members. At the March Executive Meeting the proposed logo was presented and received with enthusiasm by the delegates present. Some tweaking has been made to the design and a presentation will now be emailed out to branches so that members can have a look at the proposed logo and provide feedback. Entries are now flooding in for the Vero Festival of Historic Motoring in New Plymouth. The team are also receiving enquiries from overseas but whether any will be able to attend (excepting Australians) is too early to say at this stage. Wherever I travel throughout New Zealand I am
told by members that they are really looking forward to the event. In July Members will be posted the Club financial statement and reports and will be asked to vote on the Notice of Motion for online membership (which is also published in this edition of Beaded Wheels). This is an important step in our Club’s evolution and is endorsed by the Executive and Management Committee and I urge members to take the time to complete this postal vote. Incidentally, our new integrated database system means that we can now look at the possibility of introducing on-line voting in the future. With regard to the work around the VCC accommodating special interest groups, a draft Notice of Motion was discussed by the Executive in March. Both Tony Bartlett and I (who have been undertaking this task), feel that it needs more work and is not ready to go forward for voting at this coming AGM. Geoff and I recently participated in the inaugural Highland Fling based in Taihape. Organised on behalf of the Bay of Plenty Branch by Kaaren Smylie and Alistair Jones, it was a superb event and well received by all
who participated in it. We are constantly being told that our older members don’t drive their vintage cars anymore. I would estimate that out of the 115 drivers, around half were in their 60s, 70s and 80s. They had a ball – telling me it was like it used to be in the early days of the VCC. The Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary this coming August in Christchurch in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting. The normal two-day event has been expanded to include a rally day on the Friday. Members are encouraged to drive their club eligible vehicles to Christchurch to make this a special event. For those that want to attend but need to fly in, Canterbury Branch are organising rides so that members don’t miss out. More information and the registration form will be coming out soon. I look forward to seeing you at the AGM but in the meantime take care out there.
Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President
AS WE SEE IT Recently I attended a Ride Forever motorcycle course provided by Ornsby Motorcycle Training. This course was designed for experienced riders and in this case was organised by Canterbury Branch member, Peter Barnett, and was attended by eight Canterbury Branch members. The Ride Forever courses are an ACC initiative and the statistics show that taking such a course can lessen the likelihood of having an accident. We started at 9am and finished about 6pm. There was a couple of hours of classroom stuff and the rest was riding, mainly rural roads, while being observed by the instructors. We had two instructors so a ratio of four
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riders per instructor. It seemed as if it was pretty much one on one as we were wired for sound so were getting constant feedback from our instructor. In my case I have over 60 years of experience riding motorcycles and some of the others were as long, or nearly as long, in years of experience. All were seasoned riders who were no strangers to motorcycling. In my case I had assumed that, while I possibly may learn something, I really knew quite a lot about riding …. or so I thought! At the end of the course I was surprised to have to admit that I had learned a great deal about safe riding from the instructors (who were younger than me!). The course was great
value and it was a very enjoyable day. I thoroughly recommend the course and would encourage others in the club to take the offer up should it arise in the future. I believe that Peter has plans to arrange this some time and I’ll even go again myself! It is a pity that there isn’t, as far as I know, a similar course for car drivers because if there was then I would recommend that all of our members take such a course with the objective of improving their driving habits. In particular teaching them; not to follow the car in front so close so that cars behind are unable to pass and get between our cars, rather than having to pass a great long
queue of vintage cars, about travelling too slowly in cars that quite obviously can travel at or close to the speed limit without any issues, about failing to pull over to let the vehicle behind pass rather than impeding their progress by steadfastly hogging the road at a speed slower than the tempo of the traffic around them. If we could fix those three issues then the regard the VCC is held in would be immeasurably improved.
Kevin Clarkson Chairman Beaded Wheels
VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS
The club calendar just got a whole lot more colourful with the successful running of the Inaugural Highland Fling. Congraulations to organisers Kaaren Smylie and Alistair Jones - a full report will follow in our August issue.
JUNE
2 Wanganui AGM 3 Sth Canterbury AGM 3 Waitemata AGM 4-6 Canterbury Irishman Rally 5 Gore End of Season Run 5-7 Waikato Double 50 Rally 6 Northland Motorcycle Run 6 Sth Canterbury All British Rally 6 Wanganui Annual Rally 8 Gore AGM 9 Hawke’s Bay AGM 9 North Otago AGM 9 Waikato AGM 10 Sth Canterbury Midweek Run 12-13 Otago Coast to Coast Tour 12 Nelson Club Run 12 Wairarapa Winter Wander 13 Auckland Motorcycle Run 13 Canterbury Restoration of the Year 13 Central Otago AGM 13 Marlborough Visit to Joanna Scott Art Gallery 13 Rotorua Prizegiving Run 13 Northland AGM 13 West Coast AGM 14 Bay of Plenty AGM 14 Wairarapa AGM 15 Bay of Plenty Midweek Run 15 Central Hawke’s Bay AGM 16 Auckland Mid Week Tourers 16 Gisborne AGM 16 Northland Dargaville Midweek Run 16 North Shore AGM 16 Waikato Wednesday Wander
17 Ashburton AGM 19 Banks Peninsula Night Trial 19 Manawatu Twilight Rally 19 Wellington Mid winter night trial 20 Canterbury AGM 20 Marlborough Motorcycle Run with Nelson 20 Nelson AGM & Restoration of the Year 20 North Shore Club Run 20 Otago AGM 20 Taupo Club Run 20 Waikato Club Run 20 Wellington Colonial Cup Rally 20 West Coast Rosco Sporting Trials 24 Otago Midweek Run 26 Auckland AGM 26 Far North Molloy Trophy Run 26 Sth Canterbury Night Trial 27 Ashburton Solstice Run 27 Auckland Club Run 27 Bay of Plenty End of Month Run 27 Gisborne Club Run 27 Horowhenua Mid winter Club Dinner 27 Nelson AGM & Restoration of the Year 27 North Shore Joint Club Run with Auckland 27 Wairarapa Mid-winter Lunch 30 Rotorua Midweekers Run
JULY
3-4 Wellsford/Wkwth Winter Woolies Wander 4 Northland Motorcycle Run 10 Waitemata R’oil Can 11 Nelson Club Run 11 Northland Club Run
11 Rotorua
11 17 18 18 18 21 21
Central North Island Swap Meet Wairarapa Gravel Challenge Otago Annual Dinner North Otago Mid-Winter Dinner Waikato Club Run Wanganui Sunday Run Auckland Mid Week Tourers Northland Dargaville midweek run
Waikato Wednesday Wander Nelson Mid Winter Dinner Auckland Club Run Banks Peninsula Balcairn Trials Gisborne Club Run Wairarapa Garage Raid Rotorua Midweekers Run Otago Midweek Run
21 24 25 25 25 25 28 29
AUGUST
1 Northland Motorcycle Run 8 Northland Club Run 14 Nelson Club Run 18 Northland Dargaville midweek run 25 Rotorua Midweekers Run 26 Otago Midweek Run 28 Rotorua Sulphur City Rally 29 Banks Peninsula Mid Year Lunch
NATIONAL EVENTS
22 August National Day - Daffodil Rally for Cancer 16-21 January 2022 Vero International festival of Historic Motoring
This list does not contain all branch events (eg midweek or small club runs) Check branch newsletters for up-to-date details of smaller events. 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.
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.
Beaded Wheels 5
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.
There is one notice of motion a copy of which appears on page 69 of this magazine. JOHN L GODDARD TROPHY NOMINATIONS Nominations are now open for this prestigious trophy. Please give some thought to placing a nomination to a worthy member. Full details in Beaded Wheels 369
CHEQUES NO LONGER ACCEPTED Please note as of 1 May 2021 we are unable to accept payment by cheque for VCC or Beaded Wheels invoices. USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER When corresponding with National Office please quote your membership number. CLUB WEBSITE
VCC ID CARD/AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS See your branch secretary about these and lighting endorsements. A VIC change of ownership form can be processed by the National Office. All applications must include photos. VERO INSURANCE Don’t forget the VCC Vero Insurance Scheme for discounted premiums.
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. Copies of the Branch Manual and Vehicle Identification Folder are also available.
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
CLASSIC,
6 Beaded Wheels
VETERAN
G FOR 75 MOTORIN
YEARS
CLASSIC, VINTAG E
AND VETERA
N MOTORING
Beaded Wheels Beaded Wheels No. 358 June/July
Telephone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 email admin@vcc.org.nz www.vcc.org.nz Office Hours Mon – Fri 9-5pm
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
MAGAZINE
GE CAR CLUB OF THE VINTA
OF NEW
YEARS
2019
FOREMOST HISTORICAL
MOTORING MAGAZINE
BAY HAWKE’S ACTION IN IDSON VETERAN LEY-DAV • 1920 HAR
ER P6 V8 1972 ROV
000012
The Club has 100-year vehicle badges 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.
FOR OVER 70
March 2021 February/
NEW ZEALAND’S
TRANSFER BETWEEN BRANCHES Complete a transfer form available from your branch secretary.
Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140
No. 368
9 418979
COOK STRAIT FERRY Members of the VCC can obtain a discount with Interislander and BlueBridge. Full information on how to book is on the Club’s website www.vcc. org.nz
AND VINTAGE
E $7.95 G MAGAZIN L MOTORIN T HISTORICA S FOREMOS NEW ZEALAND’
100 YEAR VEHICLE BADGES CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please advise the National Office if you have changed address or vehicle ownership.
ENGLISH AMERICAN CONTINENTAL AUSTRALIAN JAPANESE
Stockists of new AUTOMOTIVE PARTS CAR, TRUCK & TRACTOR 1912–1997 (85 year span)
9 418979 000012
NOTICE OF MOTION
Mechanical Restorations Vintage & Classic Spares (1980)
MEGA MOTOR ING
ZEALAND
Rally Action From
Around New Zealan d
1966 NISSAN PRINCE SKYLINE MAGNETOS AND , MORE… MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE
CAR CLUB OF
NEW ZEALAND
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 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.
$7.95
MAILBAG
LOOKING BACK
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.
SUGGESTIONS
HISTORY SOUGHT
I always look forward to receiving my copy of Beaded Wheels, which I have been getting for the last 45 years. I have to say that, over time, it just keeps getting better both in content and the format. The only downside, if you could call it that, would be it has cost me a fortune reading the marketplace section and buying cars over that period of time.
In October 1997 my late husband, Stan Matthews, bought a 1957 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire, registration ON985, photo attached from Tony and Anne Mason. Tony accepted Stan’s offer over the phone, and drove down from Auckland to Gisborne the next day. He and Anne stayed over while we learnt the intricacies of the new car.
However, I do have a small gripe. I have just finished reading the latest April/May edition, and the article Graham Taylor has written re workshop trucks, which I enjoyed. What I would have liked to have known is what his family did, what business do they, and his family own, where does he live and how long he has been a member? A footnote at the end of the article with this info would have been helpful. Maybe also one on Dave Richardson’s motorcycle. In direct contrast, you did a great job with the Citroën article by Alastair Jones, telling us all about him. Also with mailbag letters, what region the writers are from? Keep up the good work. Steve Roy, Otago
Tony had been based in Gisborne for his Air Force training during WWII, and although Grummans played a part in his training, he became a navigator on Catalinas in the Pacific. As I recall, there were two occasions when he was shot down and managed to extricate himself from the plane. Tony and Stan were both aware that Sir Keith Park had owned an Armstrong Siddeley, and of the many other links the marque had with aviation. Stan passed away in 2012 leaving the car to me. I am now in the process of preparing to sell the car. I had hoped to provide a detailed history of its ownership since 1957. For privacy reasons, the NZTA are unable to give me names of previous owners. They tell me they have a record of
s Stan Matthews, bought a 1957 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire, registration ON985, in October 1997.
Photo taken in Wanganui 1942 of my father Joe Thomas with his first car, 1923 Essex. Bruce Thomas four owners. Stan, Tony and I are presumably three of those. I would be very interested in finding the original owner if possible, and look forward to any information Beaded Wheels readers may have. Karen Matthews, Gisborne email jaks1@xtra.co.nz M 0274 713 998
OP SHOP TREASURE
I am a VCC member, am about to get an Austin 7 special on the road, and am building a replica 1930 Riley Brooklands. We recently moved house from Wellington to Kapiti so I am busy setting up a new shed to work in. Part of moving was a giant clean out so we took a lot of things to the op shop. Of course you can never visit an op shop without leaving with something new so I came away with an old Specto 8mm projector. In the box with it were two old film reels.
and tried the first film. It seemed to be someone’s home movie of the 1957 and 1958 Ardmore New Zealand Grand Prix. Kind of amusing seeing as I was doing this in my new shed I am using to build old cars! I made a film about it and put it on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Mq-m5nMI3ng There are some people visible in the film with a child and at the end it features the Huka falls (I think?) and what looks like a geothermal area so possibly shot on their way home? I was wondering if someone might recognise the people in the film at all Simon Jansen, Kapiti email jansens@asciimation.co.nz
I fixed and cleaned the projector,
s Taken from the film, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq-m5nMI3ng
Beaded Wheels 7
Photo: John Bissett, Timaru Herald
FROM CONCEPTION TO COMPLETION
1922 ESSEX FOUR ROADSTER WORDS AND PHOTOS PHIL KIDD
Those who know me will be aware that I have an attachment to Essex motor vehicles. In 1958, on my way down to the sea scout boatshed in Petone I spotted a man with his head under the bonnet of an old car. I cheekily parked my pushbike against his fence, walked in (dressed in my scout uniform) and asked if I could watch. This gentleman (who I later learned was Jack Hargreaves) was tuning his recently restored car, and was doing stuff under the bonnet that was incomprehensible to me then. He explained what he was doing to this nosey young stranger, and it made a lasting impression on me. Not long after that, in November 1958, I heard about a whole lot of these old cars that had arrived and were parked on High Street, Lower Hutt, following what I later learned was the inaugural run from Upper Hutt of the recently formed Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Vintage Car Club – of which co-incidentally I am currently Chairman. Jack’s son Ron married one of my wife’s friends and he later delivered to me part of the book of notes Jack had made when he restored the car. I also subsequently learned that the windscreen to complete the restoration was supplied by a fellow VCC member, Gavin Croft. Cutting a long story short, my friend Bob Douglas and I embarked on many trips around the country looking for Essex Six parts to restore my 1928 Essex Super Six coach and his 1928 Essex Super Six coupe (which I subsequently bought from him many years later). We came across other parts not suitable (Essex fours) and donated these to Peter Tucker. When Peter and his wife Elizabeth (who was a neighbour and classmate from Lower Hutt) planned on moving to Hawke’s Bay he called to say his collection of Essex Four parts including a completely stripped down tourer, and literature,
14 Beaded Wheels
were for sale. Around 1996 we completed the transaction and he delivered said items to be stored on the mezzanine floor in the barn – ready for later?
s Woodbury car – note side lights.
s Whew – got back home. Almost all there.
s After much head scratching we concluded that the picture shows the very first of the sixes and from here on it will be about getting the proportions right according to the eye-o-meter.
s Then work started on the rear tub which is constructed from 20mm box section. The seat rear was moved back 100mm to provide a more comfortable riding position.
s First cut.
s Body and tub ready for assembly.
s Second cut.
s Panel welded to guard and side frame.
In the meantime the ’28 coach was sold (after 36 years) to make way for the 1919 Essex Four and this was restored and on the road in 1998. In 2012 Coral and I received an offer we could not refuse on our home, and embarked on planning for a new home on the vacant lot right next door. First priority (naturally) was to construct a proper workshop and shed prior to building the house. Boxes and boxes of parts were moved in and stored while constructing the new house. In 2014 we moved in and started landscaping. Later the same year I got a call from John Southward suggesting it would be worthwhile to call into the museum to view a possible project which turned out to be the restoration of the 1922 tourer (Jed) now in the proud ownership of my brother-in-law and sister Peter and Barbara Stubbs. The refurbishment of Jed was completed and it debuted in time for the 2015 Hudson Essex Terraplane Club AGM in Dannevirke. The time had come to properly sort out all the boxes of parts, both Essex Six and Four, and catalogue them. During this process, at the next AGM at New Plymouth, Bruce Leask announced he was selling his very nice black 1919 roadster and spares. Suffice to say the sister car to my phaeton became a stablemate. All the parts collected over the years were now relatively organised and stored on pallet racking ex Coral’s work, including the chassis that came with all the parts from Peter Tucker.
The problem with storing the chassis is that it was hooked up sideways on the pallet racks and was a visible reminder every time you entered the shed that here was a car in the making. An idea started to take shape. Perusing one of the trusty collection of auto memorabilia, the American Motor Family Album, I kept coming back to a picture on page 136 and so the journey began. To fund the project I reluctantly decided to sell the roadster I had bought from Bruce. This went to a very good home in Auckland. The advertisement got an interesting response from a person in the South Island who said he wasn’t ringing about the car but had a complete car that could be used for parts if that was of interest. He was clearing out his father-in-law’s property and had removed the shed that had collapsed over it and another vehicle (a Hudson I think). Subsequent emailing of photos resulted in bringing back from Woodbury (just north of Geraldine) the car depicted above. On the trip back Pete Stubbs and I picked up the five newly-made 24 inch wheels and rim keepers from Gary Morton at Christchurch. It was a very long trip after the Kaikoura earthquake, having to make 27 stops for roadworks each way from Christchurch via Springs Junction to Picton. We stopped north of Springs Junction to allow traffic to pass and checked the load to find that quite a bit of the rotten woodwork and some of the body had disappeared.
Beaded Wheels 15