CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 76 YEARS
No. 375 April/May 2022
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $7.95
SUMMER MOTORING
9 418979 000012
LOCHINVER RALLY 2022 • OLDSMOBILE AFFAIR
ROAD TESTING A ROVER P5 DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Two photographs supplied by Gerry Spencer of Wanaka. Gerry writes: I presume that the group photo was taken between the wars. My grandparents would have been in the shot somewhere. They lived in Oamaru and later In Dunedin, so it would be the hills around the area somewhere. The second photo is of my grandfather Ralph Malcolm who, when living in Oamaru, was employed as outside manager by the Otago Motor Club, precursor to the AA distributing and/or putting road signs out in this 1926‑27 Studebaker. I guess the government didn’t do it back then. This would have been in the period 1926-1928. 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 2546, Christchurch 8140. 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 027 221 4332
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
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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 LXXIII No. 375
Issue 375 April/May 2022
Editorial Committee
Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, 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 2546, Christchurch 8140, 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 2546, Christchurch 8140. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.
Back Issues Available on request to PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140.
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions
Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. 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 June/July: Editorial Copy Advertisements
26 April 2022 10 May 2022
FEATURES 9 14 18 22 24 26 30 33 34 36 38 41
A Minor Makeover My Sports Car Obsession Roger White’s reminices (and rates) the sports cars of his life. My Passionate Oldsmobile Affair
The Model 62 – one of the rarest of all Fords Behind The Wheel Michael Wolfe’s 1970 P5 Rover 3.5 saloon LMC – Ian Bade’s 1913 Lloyd Motor Engineering Company bike A Compliance Experience
Rally Snippets 41 Auckland Veteran Run – Auckland 41 Wee Wheelie Wander – North Otago 42 Three Rivers Rally - Gisborne 43 Pre Christmas Run 2021 – Ashburton 44 Catching the tail end of the cyclone – Northland 44 A Trio of Austins 45 Manawatu Branch Veteran Rally – Manawatu
12
The Way We Were Book Reviews
5
VCC Events
46
Archivist News
6
National Office
47
Marketplace
Postal Address: PO Box 2546,
7
Mailbag
52
Swap Meets & Rallies
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
8
Notice of AGM
53
Trade Directory
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.
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38
Ashburton Pre-Christmas Run
43
COLUMNS 35
Website: www.vcc.org.nz Copyright Information
Lochinver 2022
Lochinver 2022
As We See It
New Zealand.
30
Looking Back at the Vero Festival of Historic Motoring
President’s Message
Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch,
LMC
Robert Harding’s Wolseleys
4
National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
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Land Rover – Blue Eagle Express
4
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.)
Oldsmobile Affair
10
Soapbox
55
Idle Torque
11
Timelines
66
Passing Lane
COVER Once again Waitemata Branch organised a group of intrepid enthusiasts who enjoyed their annual run up through Lochinver Station. Gavin Welch and Sophia are seen here in the 1912 Model T pickup. Full report on page 38. Photo Elisabeth Cato.
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.
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
The Oakland at the 1972 International Rally. Photo Bob Mansbridge Collection NZVCC Archive
MY SPORTS CAR OBSESSION Part II
Words and Photos Roger White
Roger White continues his recollections of a passion that was rapidly gathering speed. In 1970 Roger, now accompanied by wife Diane, prepared to introduce their young family to the joy of sports car motoring.
1915 OAKLAND SPEEDSTER
s Oaky entering the gates at Richmond Nelson during the 1972 International Rally. Roger Driving, Diane navigating to the second. ▼ Oaky now lives in Rhode Island USA where it is appreciated for its style and performance
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By 1970, we finally had our house, complete with single car garage, so it was time for another sports car. I had a lovely coloured print on my wall of a Mercer 35J Raceabout, my ideal pre-WWI sports car. How I would like to own something similar. Club member Bob Mansbridge had acquired the remains of a 1915 Oakland and he harboured the same ambition. Bob decided that the task was too difficult for him and, as he was contemplating a shift to Christchurch, he decided to pass the project to me. I had seen several veterans that had been converted to ‘speedsters’ but I had not seen one with proportions of the Mercer. All the converted ones that I had seen were too high and dumpy and usually had the steering in the wrong place. I made a couple of simple modifications to the chassis (no certification required in those days) which made the difference. One was the ¾ elliptic rear spring which I mounted on top of the frame instead of below. This had the effect of lowering the rear. The second was to rotate the rear front spring hanger which incorporated the steering box mount. This moved the box back about six inches and enabled a suitable rake to the column. I made Mercer-style mudguards and fuel tank at the Poly Tech classes that were run for VCC members, and made up bucket seats and a monocle windscreen. The Oakland had a central gearshift and handbrake, of course to look correct these had to be shifted to the outside. This was
done with sliding tubes running in self aligning bearings and worked superbly well. A boat builder friend built the rear body while I completed the cowl and bonnet. Dad attended to the mechanics, and we were ready for the 1972 International Rally in Nelson. That is until I ran the big ends on a test drive up to the Southward Museum with just two weeks to go. I never really did understand the drip feed to the big end troughs. Sir Len was a tower of strength and would not let me to get despondent. “Take the engine out and bring it back to me on Monday and we will sort it – go go.” So, we towed it back and did just that. On Friday we had it back along with a lesson in oiling systems. Diane and I had a wonderful rally in Oaky especially the 24-hour relay race at Renwick, where I was able to pass several Ford Model As on the long straight. Light weight and minimal frontal area produced a very lively veteran indeed. We had many enjoyable rallies in Oaky including one memorable June event in Wanganui where we found a new meaning of cold. By 1974 we had our family on the way and the Oakland was definitely not suitable, although I do remember strapping the carry cot onto the floor in front of Diane for a short trip – Holy hell Roger, today you would be jailed for that action! So the car was sold and it passed through a couple of hands until it was purchased by a US serviceman returning from a spell in Antarctica and was flown to the USA in style inside a US Air Force Hercules. We of course lost contact with Oaky until we spotted an advert in Beaded Wheels in 2013 from the owner asking for information which we happily supplied. FIT FOR PURPOSE RATING
FUN
10 – 10
RESTORED COST $5,000
PRACTICALITY
–2 10
VALUE 2021 US$30,000
SUMMARY: A rewarding project. Great fun on a warm day.
1932 MG MAGNA F3 While our kids were small, we needed something practical to continue our active vintage car life. So, we purchased a Chrysler 66 sedan (Walter) which turned out to be a fantastic car (for a sedan) and soon became part of our lives. We used this car to win the large Vintage Class of the 1980 International Rally. But the urge for a sports car continued to burn. Once again Dale Conlon came to the rescue; he knew Bernie Byers in Nelson who had the remains of an early ‘30s MG for sale. A quick trip to Nelson and I had purchased a pile of bits that with the optimism of youth I thought I could restore. With Dale’s help we crated up the parts and strapped the chassis on top and took the assemblage down to Nelson Airport where Strait Air operated Bristol Freighters, and were happy to fly my stuff (and me) across the strait. What a fun trip. The F type was a 6-cylinder version of the previously mentioned M type. There were some important differences such as twin carburettors, 4 speed gearbox, knock off wire wheels and a low underslung chassis. All the things that I had been looking for 20 years earlier.
Roger and Diane White and family in their 1932 MG Magna on the Summit Road Christchurch during the 1986 Pan Pacific Rally.
All aboard the 1932 MG Magna F3.
Although the engine was a 6 cylinder, (derived from the Wolseley Hornet) it was just 1271 cc with 37bhp, not a great leap forward, but it was silky smooth. The body was rough, so I made many new panels, except for the rear, and renewed the woodwork. Mechanically it was pretty straight forward as it was similar to the M Type. The legendary oil leak from the OHC which dripped down to the generator quickly rendering it useless, was cured with an oil seal kit from UK. Unfortunately, the engine reconditioner failed to cut the oil groove into the centre main bearing resulting in failure of number three and four big end bearings; shades of the Oakland. I remember my father telling me off “never put an engine together until you understand the oil system.” Good advice. Fortunately, the four speed ENV constant mesh gearbox was in superb condition. I painted the car myself, in the now double garage, in Dulon lacquer and was happy with the result. The restoration took about three years and was completed in 1980. The F type (we christened it Kimber) was a delight to drive, (once the ENV was mastered) it was surprisingly nippy and handled well despite the very narrow track of 3'6". We drove Kimber in many rallies with three small kids squashed into the back. The most memorable was the 1986 International in Christchurch. We won’t forget the trip over the hills and down the steepest descent into Akaroa with brakes smoking. The whole event was great fun.
FIT FOR PURPOSE RATING
–7 10
RESTORATION COST approx $12,000
VALUE
2021 UK£40,000
SUMMARY: A neat little car but fragile. The next model (L type) had a
much-improved crossflow engine.
Beaded Wheels 15
Words and photos Dave Bang
Like many a schoolboy of the 1960s I was mad keen on cars. As a farmer my Dad had fixed and repaired all manner of machinery in the post war years when it was all about ‘make-do and mend’. Dad had done his time as a mechanic in a small rural garage, before marriage, children, and better paying jobs came along. Consequently my own mechanical tinkering was encouraged and frequently coached. So it was no surprise that on a summer day in 1971 Chris, my girlfriend’s little brother, and I were on push bikes making our way to an abandoned, and soon to be bulldozed, berry farm on the outskirts of our home town in search of something special.
Always with an ear for opportunities and good deals, Chris had heard of a bunch of old cars there that were destined for scrap, and he was keen for us to have a project to do up together. We found several old 1930s cars lying about in various states of disrepair. After a couple of hours of clambering, fiddling and dreaming, we had discarded the Fords, Austins, a Chev or two and even the Graham-Paige. A large green American sedan had taken our eye, the big chrome grill had the letters O L D S M O B I L E cast into the top. Neither of us had heard of this brand before, but it was complete, almost tidy, with just the head and manifold removed. But they, along with numerous other parts were sitting in the boot. Chris knew the scrap man and negotiated a purchase price of $20, so we quickly paid our half shares before he changed his mind. Chris’ Dad agreed to give us a tow back to their house with his old Bedford truck and put the Oldsmobile in the shed for us to work on over the next few months. Not a spanner was ever lifted as we both had other teenage social priorities, but the Oldsmobile still moved house with the family, twice, managing to take up valuable garage space. My, by now, father-in-law was something of a collector so covered space was always at a premium. My motherin-law ‘suggested’ that it might be a good idea if that old car went elsewhere. Ten dollars bought out my brother-in-law, who had by now lost all interest, and Lynda and I towed the never started project to my parent’s home. After the car served as an obstacle in their driveway for some 18 months it was again expelled and I accepted an offer to have it tucked away in a shed on a family friend’s old chook farm where it was promptly forgotten. Meanwhile Lynda and I had moved to Wellington and I was still mad keen on cars. An abandoned 1936 Pontiac was spotted down the end of our road on the coast at Owhiro Bay. Enquiries about purchase revealed the owner to be lodging elsewhere at Her Majesty’s expense, but I managed to buy it through his ‘friend’ – $50 from memory. I have always wondered if he actually got the money.
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MY PASSIONATE
OLDSMOBILE It started and ran, so I drove it back to our flat, complete with wasp nest and brake on only one wheel (both of these qualities being found at the same moment) with the absent exhaust attracting some attention. It sat on the side of the road opposite our flat gathering unpaid parking tickets, with our downstairs Traffic Officer neighbour pleading ignorance of said paperwork. I had great intentions, but as I had no garage, no tools and no money the project was doomed. I sold it three times before my pending transfer to Auckland, nobody seemed bothered enough to come and pick it up. I spotted it in an Evening Post article sometime later, all restored and mentioned by new owner as being purchased from the city abandoned cars pound. A lot of our leisure time in Wellington was spent exploring and looking out for a parked up vintage car treasure. On one such adventure we stumbled upon a familiar model, an Oldsmobile, same year as my 1938 sedan (hopefully still stored in the chook
AFFAIR shed), in similar condition, but a two door coupe version. Little did I know that I would be investing some 10 years of persistence and patience before I could own it. Our move to Auckland was financed by my employer, so the Oldsmobile sedan would be extracted from its rural chook shed and make the all-expenses paid trip north by rail, but my new recently discovered treasure never left my thoughts. Time flew by and we bought another 1938 Oldsmobile sedan, in such good condition that it was used as our daily drive car. My job often sent me to Wellington, so I was able to develop a friendly relationship with the Oldsmobile coupe owner. I was devastated on one visit to find he had moved house, taking all with him, so sadly both contact and coupe were lost. Fortunately luck was with me. A visit to my brother-in-law in his Upper Hutt home led to an introduction to the neighbours, who were renting while their new house was being built. It was my lost
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