CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 75 YEARS
9 418979 000012
No. 372 October/November 2021
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $7.95
BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CHRYSLER COUPE 1942 WL HARLEY-DAVIDSON MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
Alastair Jones has supplied this image of three vehicles on Paekakariki Hill. Any further information gratefully received. 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 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 03 339 8830 mgmt3@vcc.org.nz
Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until the next AGM
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
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/- 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. 372
Issue 372 October/November 2021
Editorial Committee
Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, Bevars Binnie, Rosalie Brown, John Coomber, Mark Dawber, Greg Price.
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.
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions
Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz
FEATURES 9 That Ox on the Morris Badge 11 Vintage Motoring for Senior Citizens 14 17
Production
24
Behind The Wheel 1930 Chrysler 77 Royal Coupe
28
A Tale of Two Veterans
30
AGM Weekend 2021
34
The Origins of a Car Making Obsession
37 41 43
Betteridge’s Basement Upcycling for my dotage den
4
President’s Message
4
As We See It
5
VCC Events
6
National Office
National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
7 Mailbag
Postal Address: PO Box 2546,
12
10 Timelines The Way We Were
Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch,
33 Award
New Zealand.
40
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. Reproduction of articles must be at least 12 months after original Beaded Wheels publication date. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to digitally store all published material for archival purposes.
Like us on facebook Beaded Wheels
1942 Harley-Davidson
20
Provenance is everything
COLUMNS
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
9
Rally Snippets 37 Milling Around - Central Otago Branch 38 Balcairn Trial– Banks Peninsula Branch
Closing Date for December/January:
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.)
Rover 12 (1912-1915)
Design: RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch Print: PMP Ltd, Christchurch. Editorial Copy 25 October 2021 Advertisements 10 November 2021
Morris
20 1942 WL Harley-Davidson
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%
You Never Forget The First Ones A Story of a Braddy and A Huddy
Archivist News
1930 Chrysler
42
Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring Update
44
Book Reviews
24
45 Marketplace 51
Swap Meets & Rallies
53
Trade Directory
55
Idle Torque
66
Passing Lane
Marketplace
44
COVER A Covid 2020 lockdown lash-up, George and Fraser Kear in the MG Ford compete with gusto at this year’s Banks Peninsula Branch Balcairn Trial. For more photos and reports see page 32. Photo John McDonald
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 Here we are again in the throes of Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown, we’ve done this before and we will get through it this time.
approved an amendment to the Club Bylaws to facilitate the introduction of online membership applications.
It was so disappointing that our National Day Daffodil Rally could not go ahead as planned due to the lockdown. Although some branches have reluctantly decided to cancel, other branches have decided to postpone the event to another date later in the year.
I also had a meeting on 17 August with the Minister of Transport, Michael Wood, along with Harry Duynhoven from the Federation of Motoring Clubs (FOMC), Tony Robinson, who is the President of the NZ Hot Rod Association, and Nicole Botherway, who is the Senior Manager Safer Vehicles from NZTA. Topics covered included 12 month WoFs, CoFs for historic military and heavy commercial vehicles, parade permits, biofuels, and WoFs for veteran vehicles. I was able to show Minister Wood some examples of our VIC card and he was very receptive to our representations with the result that there will be ongoing collaborative meetings between our group and NZTA.
I have recently attended meetings with both the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Minister of Transport. George Kear and I, along with Rod Brayshaw who attended audio visually, met with four representatives from the Vehicle Standards Division of NZTA. This was a very productive meeting in which we were able to clear up some misunderstandings and there was agreement to put together a memorandum of understanding which will sit in the background as a base document. Members of the Vehicle Standards Division of NZTA intend to visit National Office to have a look at our VIC system, as do the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Authority (LVVTA).
The Club’s Executive and AGM meetings were held recently in Christchurch, hosted by Canterbury Branch. A big thank you to the organisers Marilyn McKinlay and Katryna Shaw. At the AGM I acknowledged the special occasion as we celebrated the Vintage Car Club’s 75th anniversary. The Club has grown from that small group who started it in 1946 into a multifaceted organisation with 8,500 members, 36 branches and 26,000 vehicles in our database. I am pleased to advise that the Notice of Motion to change the constitution to allow on-line membership applications was passed with 93.64% in favour. Disappointingly, only 16.79% of the membership voted. Subsequently the Executive
Looking back over the last 75 years, the Club has achieved a huge amount in terms of what we provide to our members. I firmly believe that our strength is our diversity of vehicles and interests which in turn has allowed us to grow our membership base and be financially sound. It also means that branches have the necessary members to provide, operate and maintain clubrooms and facilities. That large membership base also allows us to get a “foot in the door” in dealing with government agencies and regulations so that we continue to have a say in determining our future.
This is obviously written along the same lines as the one Barry has done. He has sold all the ones he had printed so was unable to provide a review copy, probably no point anyway as it is already out of print! Denis’s point in ringing me though, was more to advise me that he had done this exercise, and he felt that this is something that maybe should be done for every branch in New Zealand. After all, it is part of our early motoring history. I agree with him and think that it would be very worthwhile for
any budding historian in each of our branches to put together the early motoring history of their area. Should a member embark upon such an exercise then don’t forget to lodge a copy of the completed work with the VCC National Archive. Don Muller will look after it there and it will always be available to any member wishing to do some research.
I am pleased to advise that we have reached the minimum entry numbers for the Vero Festival of Historic Motoring so it is full steam ahead. Should the Festival have to be cancelled because of Covid-19, entrants will receive a full refund.
At the meeting I was delighted to award the John L Goddard Trophy to Kevin Casey and a special Presidential Award to Ron Hasell. As was to be expected, there was vigorous debate on the proposed new logo. The end result was that it was felt that members had not had enough time to view and discuss the logo presentation. The vote was therefore postponed until the March 2022 Executive meeting to allow for some tweaking to the design and more consultation to take place.
However – the next 10 to 20 years will likely see huge changes
in the makeup our members. Of our current membership base of 8500, nearly 17% are over 80 years of age. That means in the next 5-10 years we will realistically lose 1400 members. A further 38% of our members are aged 70 to 79 which means we could lose another 3000 members over the next 10 to 20 years. 27% of our members are aged between 60 and 69 and only 19% of our members are under 59. The sobering figure is that 80% of our members are over 60. Our current rate of recruitment of new members will not be enough to ensure that we keep our membership base at a sufficient level to maintain the Club and branches viability. We have to consider the big picture and the possible implications of any decisions made. To be a coherent force we must have the same name across the whole Club. While we are an historic club, we can’t be historic in our thinking. We must look forward – not back. Like the dinosaur – if we don’t adapt the Club will become extinct. Keep safe out there and be kind.
Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President
AS WE SEE IT You will see in this issue a review of Auckland branch member, Barry Brchall’s book about early Auckland and the vehicles, garages and personalities involved in the motor trade back then. A great read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The review copy now resides in the VCC National Archive at Christchurch. Coincidentally I had a call a few weeks ago from Denis LeCren, a member of the Nelson Branch. Denis informed me that he had recently written a book titled Early Nelson Motor Businesses.
4 Beaded Wheels
Lest those who have been writing letters about 12 month WoF to mailBag get too excited, I can advise that the ongoing
discussions with the appropriate government departments, as mentioned in the President’s message above, did NOT happen as a result of their letters, but because we have been hammering away at this and other issues for some time!
Kevin Clarkson Chairman Beaded Wheels
VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS
This Mustang attracted plenty of attention during the Wellsford/ Warkworth Winter Woollies Wander in early July.Photo Chris Harvey
OCTOBER
3 7 9 9 10 10 10
Northland Northland Far North Nelson Northland Waikato Wairarapa
Motorcycle Run Afternoon Run Open Day Run to Maitai Dam Club Run Kairangi Hill Climb New Members/Daffodil Rally 12 Gore Auction Night 13 Bay of Plenty Mid-week Run 13-16 Ctrl Hawke’s Bay Extended Midweek Run (Central NI Run ) 16 Nelson Posh Picnic & Restoration of the Year 16 Waikato Motorcycle Run 16-17 Canterbury Girder Fork MC Rally 16-17 Banks Peninsula Peninsula Hillclimb 17 Gore P60 Run 17 North Otago Tea Pot Rally 17 North Shore Club Run 17 Rotorua Club Run 17 Taupo Club Run 17 Wanganui Sunday Run 17 Waikato Road Runners 20 Auckland Midweek Tourers 20 Northland Midweek Run 23-25 Sth Canterbury Mt Cook Rally 24 Auckland Hunua 100 Rally 24 Canterbury Grasskhana 24 Manawatu Sunday Run 27 Rotorua Midweek Run 28 Otago Midweek Run 29-31 Central Otago National Veteran Rally 29-4 Rotorua Spring Tour 30 King Country Journey through Time 30-31 Banks Peninsula Wigram Revival 31 Bay of Plenty End of Month Run 31 Horowhenua Club Run 31 Wellsford/Wkwth Rotorua Branch Visit 31 Gisborne Club Run
NOVEMBER
25 Otago 26-28 Canterbury
3 5-6 5-7
27 27 28 28
28 Gore 28 Wairarapa
1-3 Central Otago
5-7 5-7 6 6-7 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 10 12-14 12-14 13 13-14 13-14 14 14 14 17 17 20 20 20 20 20-21 21 21
21 21 21 21 21
Founders Prince Henry Tour Wanganui Club Night Trial Wellington Annual Rally E. Bay of Plenty Ohiwa Campout with Gisborne Branch Nelson Biennial Rally Northland Far North Tour Canterbury Annual Vintage Rally Sth Canterbury Safari Weekend Waikato Veteran Rally Otago Taieri Tour Southland Commercial Rally Banks Peninsula Hawkswood Sprint Bay of Plenty Swap Meet Gore Ladies Run Northland Motorcycle Run Bay of Plenty Mid Month Run Banks Peninsula Monte Carlo Rallye Canterbury Show Weekend Tour South Otago Annual Clutha Rally & 50th Celebrations Southland Arrowtown Motorcycle Rally South Canterbury All American Weekend Auckland Ladies Rally Rotorua Club Run Waikato Gypsy Rose Club Run Auckland Mid Week Tourers Northland Dargaville Midweek Run Auckland Annual Motorcycle Rally Canterbury Annual Motorycle Rally Ctrl Hawke’s Bay Veteran Rally North Otago Swap Meet West Coast Art Deco themed weekend Central Hawke’s Bay Sunday Run Gisborne Run to Tahaenui Fete, Nuhaka Manawatu Sunday Run North Shore Club Run Otago Commercial/Veteran Rally Wanganui Sunday Run Sth Canterbury Vintage/Veteran/ Commercial Run
Sth Canterbury Wairarapa Bay of Plenty Gisborne
28 Waimate
Midweek Run Swap Meet (Rescheduled due to Covid) Christmas Party Gold Medal M/C Rally End of Month Run Navigator’s Trophy Run Josephville Hill Climb Mangatainoka Vintage Car Day Mystery Run
DECEMBER
1 Wanganui 2 Northland 4 Northland 4 North Otago 5 Waikato 7-9 Ashburton 8 Northland
Restoration of the Year M/C Run A&P Show Display Windsor Rally Venturers Club Run Oakley Pre Christmas Tour Dargaville Christmas dinner 8 Central Otago Christmas Dinner 11 Ctrl Hawke’s Bay Christmas Party 12 Gore Christmas Run 12 Northland Christmas Lunch – clubrooms 12 Waikato Motorcycle run 15 Waikato Wednesday Wander
JANUARY
1 Ashburton New Year’s Day Run & BBQ 1 Banks Peninsula Little River Picnic 1 Manawatu Len Haycock New Year Day Run 1 Sth Canterbury New Year’s Day Fairlie 1 Wanganui Gumboot Rally, Taihape
NATIONAL EVENTS
29-31 October - National Veteran Rally 16-21 January 2022 Vero International festival of Historic Motoring 3-6 February 2023 National Motorcycle Rally www.sporty.co.nz/nationalmotorcyclerally
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.
21 Waikato Swap Meet 22 Ctrl Hawke’s Bay Veteran Rally 24 Rotorua Midweekers Run
8 Far North for any A valid Vehicle ID card (VIC) is required Kickback Picnic vehicle entered in a Kerikeri National VCC event. Visit9 www.vcc.org.nz Gore Picnic Run for more information on 9 how North Tour Kauri Museum to Shore obtain a VIC fortoyour vehicle. 13 Waimate Orienteering Run
29 Ashburton Annual Rally Beaded Wheels 5 30 South Canterbury Ladies Run
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.
Payment may be made directly into the Club’s bank account, or via credit card using a link in the email you will receive with your emailed invoice. As you already know, cheques are no longer accepted. For those who still do not have an email address we will send a paper copy, but expect this to take much longer to get to some of you, due to postal delays being experienced with Covid lockdown levels and the backlogs that have built up. You must use your full membership number as the payment reference for web banking and credit card payments, as it is set out on the subscription invoice.
Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140
NATIONAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING/ BRANCH OFFICERS AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AGM minutes, executive meeting minutes, branch officer details and calendar of events – a copy of these will be distributed with our December issue.
NOTICE TO VIC APPLICANTS National Office is currently catching up on a backlog of applications created during the Covid-19 Level 4 and Level 3 periods, and the loss of a staff member. Do not leave it to the last minute to apply for a Vehicle ID Card, as things will take longer than usual due to this backlog and other unusually high demands on National Office staff at present.
VCC VERO INSURANCE SCHEME
CLASSIC,
AND VINTAGE
VETERAN
G FOR 75 MOTORIN
YEARS
Beaded Wheels Beaded Wheels CLASSIC, VINTAG E
No. 368
No. 358 June/July
To transfer between branches please complete a transfer form. This can be obtained from your branch secretary.
Telephone 03 366 4461 email admin@vcc.org.nz www.vcc.org.nz Office Hours Mon – Fri 9.30-3.30pm
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
FOR OVER 70
YEARS
2019
NEW ZEALAND’S
CHANGE OF ADDWRESS
BRANCH TRANSFER
N MOTORING
March 2021 February/
BAY HAWKE’S ACTION IN IDSON VETERAN LEY-DAV • 1920 HAR Rally Action From Around
ER P6 V8 1972 ROV
Please advise the National Office if you have changed address, phone number, email address or vehicle ownership.
AND VETERA
E $7.95 G MAGAZIN L MOTORIN T HISTORICA S FOREMOS NEW ZEALAND’
A reminder that financial membership of the Vintage Car Club of NZ Incorporated is a requirement to be insured under the VCC/Vero Insurance Scheme.
VCCNZ ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Invoices have now been emailed (or posted) to all members contact your branch secretary if you have not yet received your invoice. 6 Beaded Wheels
Always enclose the expiring/expired ID card, and if the vehicle’s appearance has changed, send two identical photos of the vehicle as it looks now, as per the specifications on the application form (Colour, 3R, 9cm x 13cm). Make sure the photographs conform to the required specifications, or else the application may be rejected and returned. Photographs of cars or commercial vehicles should be a three-quarter view.
MAGAZINE
FOREMOST HISTORICAL
MOTORING MAGAZINE
$7.95
MEGA MOTOR ING
GE CAR CLUB OF THE VINTA 9 418979 000012
If you intend to resign it would be appreciated if you could notify National Office by 30 September 2021.
We now have a new system for sending bulk emails such as subscription invoices and newsletters from National Office. These emails will be from nationaloffice@vccnz.nz Please do not delete them, if possible add this address to your safe senders or address book. Our day to day administration email remains: admin@vcc.org.nz
000012
At the end of September VCC members will have received an annual account for membership from the period 1 November 2021 to 31 October 2022. If you have not received your invoice by early October, please contact National Office on admin@vcc.org.nz as soon as possible. Membership cards will be printed and forwarded to financial members in November.
NEW BULK EMAIL
National Office sends out a renewal notice advice three months before the Vehicle ID Card (VIC) is due to expire. These will be emailed in the future. If the vehicle’s appearance has not changed from the photograph on the original ID Card previously issued, then forward the expiring/expired original ID Card and the signed renewal form to your Branch Vehicle ID Card Signatory for processing.
9 418979
SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW DUE
IS YOUR VEHICLE IDENTITY CARD (VIC) CURRENT?
OF NEW
ZEALAND
New Zealand
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.
Print or Digital subscriptions for Beaded Wheels ar now available online - visit vcc.org.nz/beadedwheels to organise a gift subscription today.
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.
1927 HUDSON SUPER 6 ROADSTER PLATE EG2861
This is a shot in the dark. Many years ago my father purchased a car that had been forgotten about and was found in a building that was being demolished in Auckland, not far from the ferry terminal. Over a number of years he restored it. The car was the only one of its type in New Zealand. (My father had started work in the early 1930s as a mechanic and was very clever.) I did the odd bit of machining of some parts. In 1982 the car was sold at Turners Car Auctions. My father had offered the car to me, and I would have liked it, but to avoid family problems I suggested that he sell it and take my mum on an overseas trip. I have some photographs of the car as it was found, plus some others and the newspaper cuttings about the actual sale. I don’t know if it is still in New Zealand but if it is, there is a possibility that someone in one of the 36 branches around the country knows of it. I would be pleased to make contact and share the items that I have. Alan Skinner alandavids@xtra.co.nz (preferred) phone 09 4471466
CAMBRIDGE SERVICE STATION
Full marks to Greg for inflating the pro’s and con’s of white wall tyres. They certainly look great on the most elaborate American models from the ‘30s and ‘40s. For the rest though I agree with Mr Lucas. I thoroughly enjoyed Bob Hayton’s tale of two Caddies, so interesting is a story that combines old vehicles, people and locations in equal measure. Of particular interest was the durability of the model 341A seven seat Cadillac, not only did it provide family transport and
then later tow a horse float to some considerable destinations. Then to become a tow truck with the Cambridge service station and then probably the hardest work driving between Cambridge and Auckland. I own a 1938 Packard Eight that was bought new by Prevost & Co Ltd Wellington. Edward Brown purchased it from them in July 1947. Its use while there is unknown. In 1958 the Packard was sold to a Mr Marimus C Welten of Victoria Rd Cambridge. My Dad bought the Packard in 1961 from Arthur Waters Ltd, Manurewa. Nigel Coghlan coghlans@orcon.net.nz
POST AGM THOUGHTS
As I was driving home after attending the AGM weekend some thoughts occurred to me. Online membership will be so much easier than the paperbased system, particularly as it will no longer be necessary to be sponsored by two existing members. I wondered what the next online initiative might be. It occurred to me that emailing VIC applications should be fairly simple to arrange, and sending in a digital photo of the car would solve the problem of getting prints of the correct size as the photo could simply be dropped into the correct place on the form and sized appropriately. I was also musing on the discussion over the proposed new logo, the complaints that the tag line “driving our history” does not apply to motorcyclists and the explanation from the Management Committee that the stylised wheel was intended to cover all the types of vehicle members might drive (or ride!). Then it came to me in a flash, this “inclusivity” does not extend
s Gordon Taylor is looking for advice to get this 1967 Morris back on the road.
to the name of the Club. It is, after all, the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand. Perhaps, after all, in the quest for inclusivity, the name does need to be changed.
Congratulations again on a great magazine.
David North Member Gore Branch
AT A LOSS
GREAT MAGAZINE
Reading the latest Beaded Wheels 371 reminded me that I had meant to congratulate you and the team on the latest tweaks to layout and typography. The magazine is now much easier on the eye and the text much easier to read than was the case a few issues ago. In particular, the Timelines column is now laid out in a much more logical and easy to follow way. Well done everybody! I very much enjoyed the article by Brian Stewart about his Ford GT40 replica. I have seen the car and met, and talked to Brian about it several times. The car is a great credit to him, David Brown and his team and everybody who has contributed to the car’s construction. It is certainly a fabulous looking car and sounds glorious. However I was not aware of how protracted and difficult a gestation it had. When the Authentic Reproduction Vehicle (ARV) category was introduced I was very sceptical that anybody would be able to meet the requirements for a road-legal vehicle but I imagine that this car is just what the originators of the category had in mind. I hope that this article will stimulate other owners of ARVs to share their stories with your readers.
David North Member Gore Branch
I am desperately seeking help in getting my 1967 Morris FG K30 truck back on the road. Although it was the smallest model made in the FG range, with a carrying capacity of 30 cwt (1.5 tons) VTNZ have it on their records as having a gross weight of 3501 kg, 1 kg over 3,500 making it a heavy goods. This is the problem. If it was classed as a light goods I could get it complianced and a WoF but to go down the heavy goods requires specialist welding for brake testing and other costs before I even go back to the testing station - estimated at $2k! The guys at the testing station have been very helpful, strongly advising me not to go down that route, but their hands are tied. They also suggested I may be able to get it assessed by an authorised engineer to re-designate the GVM. I have tried all the local ones and no one can help. I have contacted LTNZ but they are intransigent. They said I should contact the manufacturer to see if they can provide a written statement of a lower GVM. Morris of course are no longer with us. I have also contacted the Morris Commercial Club but they cannot help - this is not a problem owners experience in Britain. So I am at a loss. All I want is to get this lovely little old truck back on the road but
Beaded Wheels 7
MAILBAG
the bureaucrats have won. Any help would be very much appreciated. Gordon Taylor gordonandpenny@gmail.com or 022 432 8113, Nelson
It is always great to read Beaded Wheels especially when the President’s Message includes mention of a very healthy profit. Ken Braddon (Abridged)
MYSTERY SOLVED
CAN YOU ID THIS?
The cover of Beaded Wheels 371 solved a problem I have had identifying the black limousine used in the dvd copies of the Downton Abbey television series. The badge on the radiator was difficult to read but I now realise it was a Sunbeam. I am still stumped identifying the bluey green two-tone car that often follows the lovely black Sunbeam in Downton films. My guess is a Bentley?
This photo is of a motor that has turned up here in Hawke’s Bay. We are hoping by publishing this in Beaded Wheels somebody will identify it, and then a home can be found. I have more photos if required, contact me directly via email for more information.
WHERE IS IT NOW?
in the future he would let me know as I would possibly wish to buy it back. I had previously restored a Sunbeam 500 motorcycle and that same friend purchased it and looked after it well. Its present whereabouts is unknown but would also be of interest to me. Its last known registration was 97.649.
SEARCH FOR MG TD REG 815.909 / AF1122
I am searching for a 1952/3 MG TD I owned and restored in the early 1960s. The car was in average condition when purchased but ran well enough. However soon after purchase a crankshaft web broke and that prompted the full reconditioning of the engine along with meticulous restoration of bodywork, upholstery, paintwork, electrics and fittings. Some three or four years later, in what now can only be described as a period of mental aberration, I sold the car to buy a Ford Anglia 105E. The only mitigating excuse I can offer is that after a number of skiing trips to Queenstown, including one when the absolute lack of accommodation resulted in two of us sleeping overnight in the car, I concluded the Anglia would be a more practical means of transport. In 1964, I think, I sold the car to a friend, Murray Campbell, who spent many miles with me going to and from ski fields and golf courses in the MG. We both lived in Wellington at the time and with the sale was the verbal agreement that should he ever come to sell the car
8 Beaded Wheels
Digby Young digbyyoung52@gmail.com
I left New Zealand in 1966 to work in Wales. On returning in 1969 I looked my mate up and found that he had not used the car for some time. To my dismay it had not been under cover and had a good crop of long grass surrounding it. I offered to buy it but he declined on the basis that he hoped to restore it at some stage. That never happened and my friend subsequently died of cancer. I have been unable to trace or find out what happened to the MGTD or the Sunbeam 500. When I purchased the MG it had the registration number 815.909 on the pressed steel yellow number plates. In 1964 registration plates changed and the MG registration became AF1122, on black aluminium plates. There are one or two aspects that are unique to the Sunbeam and the MG TD and would help in their identification.
CADILLAC SPARKS INTEREST
I was very interested to read about the Caddies and Mrs Kay, whom I met. Leonard (Len) was coach for our footie team at Korakonui School during WWII when our family was domiciled there while Dad was in the desert and Italy. We stayed in Jim’s (Len’s uncle) farm cottage for free. Old Jim also provided free manuka for Mum’s coal range on which she cooked while it heated the one room.
A non-standard carburettor on the Sunbeam, while the MG has a number of nonstandard features, with one in particular that will no doubt disturb MG purists. As part of the reconditioning the dashboard was replaced with figured timber and the central instrument panel was replaced with a rectangular matt black chrome edged panel. The rear brake lights and the front parking lights were rewired to act as turning indicators controlled by a three way lever switch on the dash board adjacent to the horn button. As for the structural and bodywork components of the vehicle, every member was stripped back and repainted. The bodywork colour was as close to British Racing Green as the shop could manage.
Len’s two boys were at Koro’ and Brian played footy. Len gave us oranges at half time break and on gymkhana days on his farm put down a free hangi. Old Jim had a decent ‘29 Graham-Paige to take Mum to town once a week to shop for necessities such as Bycrofts crackers, and butter. I still recall Dad walking up the path with his kitbag in 1945. Bob Rout Invercargill
The engine reconditioning was carried out by Trevor Dunning, a skilled mechanic and a doyen of Dunedin’s motoring world at the time. The car was still in my friend’s possession in Wellington around 1970/71. I am uncertain when or if he sold it or if it simply became part of his estate. The car’s registration at that time would have been AF1122 unless it had been allowed to lapse. So there it is. The sad tale of a poor decision made over half a century ago. Any assistance from your readers in finding out the fate of MG TD AF1122 or indeed Sunbeam 97.649, would be much appreciated. Errol Chave Phone: 03 4738 260, 027 652 6633 Email: chave@xtra.co.nz
THAT OX ON THE MORRIS BADGE By Alan Gulleford As I understand it, the Morris badge depicts an ox crossing the River Isis in Oxford. The Coat of Arms for the City of Oxford includes this badge at its centre. This gives us a hint about the various names of Morris models such as Cowley, (presumably from Cowley Road in Oxford), Isis from the river, Oxford from the city, but not the Minor or Major. Apparently most heraldic badges use Bulls but Oxford is happy with its ox. There are of course differences between oxen and bulls, where oxen are just a little less complete than bulls. (There’s a hint in there phonetically.) The ox on the Morris badge is not necessarily as happy as it once was though. The badge on Morris cars changed when the Bullnose was replaced by the Flatnose in 1927. On reading Early MG by PL Jennings I came across the following comment; “Like the Morris
Garages, the ox on the Morris radiator badge seemed to resent the change in radiator shape. In the Bullnose days it was usually a happy-looking animal, placidly standing with its tail hanging down. When the radiator was changed, the ox became an angry, charging animal, with its tail curved over its back.” The authors understand that the real reason for the change was that in the mid ‘20s it became common practice for Morris Motors to depict their badges in bold silhouette instead of bright colours or half tone in their advertisements and other material. This resulted in a certain loss of definition and it was no longer clear that it was the tail that was hanging down between the ox’s legs. So there you have it, PC was alive and well 94 years ago too.
½
–
Beaded Wheels 9
http://momentcar.com/
TIMELINES
Subaru FF-1
1901
120 YEARS AGO
1921
100 YEARS AGO
VETERAN VEHICLES
The progressive Doctor Volkman of Oxford purchased a car from the Star Cycle Company in Rangiora. After getting driving lessons he assured his patients he would be able to travel at speeds up to 30mph and get to them at lightning speed. The machine, made by the Eadie Manufacturing Company, Redditch, England, was described as based on a Benz pattern and powered by a 2¾hp De Dion engine of the latest, water cooled, type.
VINTAGE VEHICLES
A 288ci (4720cc) 76bhp Hudson car, purchased by the Commonwealth government for the Prince of Wales visit in April 1920, cost over £2,000, was later sold to a private buyer for £2,500. A tidy profit of £500. Lavishly finished with gold mountings, the car was soon sold again, this time for £4,300 – a record for a second-hand car, according to the reporter.
1946
75 YEARS AGO
1971
50 YEARS AGO
PW VEHICLES
Riley’s elegant and rapid RMB 2½ litre sports saloon was introduced in October 1946 with the 16hp, twin SU, four-cylinder engine which would eventually get enough urge to reach 100mph. Sitting on a new chassis with a 9 ft 11 inch wheelbase, seven inches longer than the RMA 1½ litre, both cars had the torsionic independent front suspension.
P60 VEHICLES
Subaru launched their new Leone with three equipment levels – DL, GL and GSR. With the longitudinally mounted flat four motor sitting above the front wheels conversion to a fourwheel drive was a straightforward matter. The four-wheel drive FF-1 which, in 1972 was offered as a station wagon completely turned the four-wheel drive market on its head. Initially there wasn’t a Hi-Lo option, but it was a great all road vehicle and a genuine mould-breaker.
1991
30 YEARS AGO
10 Beaded Wheels
WHATEVER YOUR PASSION Award Winning Restorations Mechanical repair and rebuilding. Panel repair and creation. Premium Spray Painting. Precision Engineering. Vehicle Servicing WOF. Vintage/Classic Cars and Motor Cycles.
P80 VEHICLES
Twenty years later, 4WD Subarus were almost dominating the ski-field car parks, performing admirably in the rally circuits and building a competitive image. Christchurch racing driver Trevor Crowe marketed the Crowe Sport 2.2 litre Legacys. For $42,000 you got a full body kit, leather trimmed sports seats, Momo steering wheel, lower stiffer suspension and a tuned extractor exhaust, all sitting on Michelin 60 tyres. Graeme Rice’s compilation of developments in the motoring world this month in history.
F ROM BENTLEYS T O BMWS
Contact George Kear: +64 3 366 9988 e: george@autorestorations.co.nz w: www.autorestorations.co.nz 52 Stewart Street, Christchurch, New Zealand.
VINTAGE MOTORING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WORDS AND PHOTOS JOHN HENDERSON
I guess the older members of the club may castigate me about this article but at 82, I probably qualify as an older member myself. Having been in the club over 50 years and owning a lot of old vehicles I am at the stage in life where my reaction is not as good as it was, but I still want to go out on the odd rally so what to do? Unfortunately most of my previous vehicles needed a lot of patience and anticipation as regards stopping and travelling in modern traffic. Many years ago I started with a beltdrive Baby Triumph which was followed by a model P Triumph. I made a move into cars with a 1921 Oldsmobile tourer. Over subsequent years the list grew to include a lowlight Minor, Jowett Javelin, Morris 8 sports and two Morris series E. I was told about the Oldsmobile location by the late Maurice Cross in Timaru, who informed me this vehicle had been lying behind the Mayfield Garage for many years. The body had been taken off and disposed of and the car used as a tow truck. I purchased it for $25 then restored it completely, including building a new body. My wife Ann and I took it to the International Rally in 1980 at Rotorua, which turned out to be a great motoring event. So on to the present day where I decided it was time to upgrade to something more modern but within the Vintage Car Club eligibility rules. Something less stressful
and I did say to Ann no buying any more cars until the ‘52 Morris Minor sold. Yeah right! This 323 Mazda came on the market, I looked at it, loved it and, bought it. It is a 1986 1500cc 4 cyl Limited model with basically two owners, no rust and original throughout. These vehicles were stock standard around-town cars with a top speed of 160kph and capable of 0-100 in 12 seconds. Of course the modern grunt cars do this a lot quicker. At least we can stop in a hurry with disc brakes on the front. The only minus is no power steering, but with the front tyres at max pressure it is not too bad. Good arm exercise.
There were a couple of jobs needed initially. It had an oil leak from the base of the distributor which required a new O-ring, a new distributor cap, and no doubt there will be other little things over the months ahead. All par for the course in old motoring. Of course then we had to sell the Morrie. Ann did not approve of three cars in the garage. So if you see us on a rally just realize it is a new start for us so say kon’nichiwa not sayonara.
I have been in the Canterbury branch forever. To find a photo of me with a car is not easy but here I am with our Morrie sports after it was finished. This one I completely restored, building a new wooden body also bought an old treadle sewing machine to do the hood. It’s a begger when you are hard up. John Henderson
Beaded Wheels 11
HIN BE
D THE WHE
EL
IAN & LINDSAY LAMB’S 1930 CHRYSLER 77 ROYAL COUPE
A GRAND OLD ROYAL LADY FROM DETROIT WORDS AND PHOTOS GREG PRICE
Looking at recent pictures of Detroit City, particularly the derelict eastern areas and the former Chrysler factory, it would be fair to say that this magnificent old girl has lasted far better than much of the old industrial city in which it was manufactured all those years ago – 91 years ago in fact. A REAL BARN FIND?
Anyone who has watched that YouTube programme Barn Find by Haggarty, will have seen his many excursions into the outback of America where the host seems to unearth (for the car aficionados et al amongst us) a treasure trove of classic cars, very often many that have been lying dormant for years and years. Very often too the usually aged owner is not willing to part with any of their treasures and what is particularly sad is the fact 24 Beaded Wheels
that most of those cars will never see the highways again. On the other hand, some similar programmes like Fast N’ Loud’s Gas Monkey Garage will (pre-filming, usually) tempt an owner to part company with their once pride and joy and the vehicle is then trailered back to the workshop for a restoration, or a brief facelift. In recent times, host Richard Rawlings unearthed a 1930 Chrysler Royal coupe but opted to simply put it through an auction,
s Free flow exhaust headers. ▼ Modern indicators.
as is where is. Apparently their filming schedule precluded any additional work being done pre-purchase. I am a big fan of Fast N’ Loud, particularly the episodes when some gem vehicle from the past is located and salvaged to once again grace the highways. But I digress. Ian and Lindsay’s Majestic Chrysler Coupe also languished somewhere unnoticed for some 63 years before being purchased in 2004 by Roger Berry from New Zealand – who just happened to be a friend of the Lambs. THE EARLY DAYS
When the 1930 Chrysler 77 Royal coupe was first produced it featured hydraulic internal brakes and a floor-mounted gearshift for the four-speed transmission. Part of Chrysler’s success was their racing pedigree. Their cars appeared at Le Mans, Spa and in the Mille Miglia since 1924. In 1930, two model 77 roadsters raced at Spa in Belgium. A Chrysler driven by Stoffel and De Costier finished 5th behind three Alfas and a Bugatti. The Chrysler 77 series was named because Chrysler guaranteed a cruising speed of 77 miles per hour and a top speed of 90 miles per hour! Power was supplied by a 100 horsepower six-cylinder motor. The Chrysler Building in New York City was completed in 1930, and the Art Deco styling
▼ Left hook, of course.
is shared with this 1930 Royal coupe. Sadly the original factory is now derelict, unlike this classic. Ian and Lindsay’s coupe started its life as the personal car of J F Oates, a dealer principal of Chrysler Motor Cars in Birmingham, Alabama, and racing-car driver. He clocked up 3,500 miles in it before selling it on to Eugene Winkler on 24 April 1930. As an aside, Eugene Winkler is no relation to Henry Winkler of The Fonz – Happy Days fame, as that Winkler family (Fonzie’s mum and dad) did not arrive from Germany until 1939. Eugene was obviously a Chrysler fan as he traded in his 1926 Chrysler F58 and got US$610 off the price of the 77, the cost of which was $2,100 before the trade in was taken into account. According to an original receipt, Mr Winkler had the car repainted in 1937, along with fitting two new running boards, a new top, and something else (couldn’t read the bad handwriting) and the all-up cost was US$127.80. Possibly it was being kept outside hence the need for a repaint and new roof perhaps? Mr Winkler last registered the car in 1941. The history from then on in is pretty much unknown save for it being shipped from California (according to the pink slip) in October 2004. There is speculation that Eugene enlisted for WWII, but was killed and never returned home. This would Beaded Wheels 25