CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 77 YEARS
Beaded Wheels
No. 380 February/March 2023
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $8.95
9 418979 000012
FIAT RESTORATION MARKETPLACE
VEHICLES FOR SALE AND WANTED
BEHIND THE WHEEL RILEY KESTREL DRIVING OUR HISTORY
This image is one of many from glass plate negatives that were found by Barry Stephens some time in the late 1970s. Barry used to do maintenance work on the buildings that the McFarlane’s owned around the vicinity of the Christchurch Square. Any further information available would be 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 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
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 Neil Beckenham 09 426 5831 registrar@vcc.org.nz SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz EDITOR, BEADED WHEELS 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 3144 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/- 448 Tukituki Road, RD1, Takapau 4286 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/– PO Box 312 Kaitaia 0441 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/- 923 Taringamotu Road, Taumarunui 3994 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/- 125 Forbury Road, Saint Clair, Dunedin 9012 otago@vcc.org.nz ROTORUA PO Box 2014, Rotorua 3040 rotorua@vcc.org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY 19 Redruth St, 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/- 7 Leatham Ave, Strandon, New Plymouth 4312 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 5840 wairarapa@vcc.org.nz WAITEMATA C/- 8 Jean Place, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparoa 0932 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Whanganui 4541 wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON PO Box 38418, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045 wellington@vcc.org.nz WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.nz WEST COAST C/- 143 Ward Street, Cobden Greymouth 7802, 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 LXXIV No. 380
Issue 380 February/March 2023
Typesetting and Design:
RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch
FEATURES
Editor: Kevin Clarkson Sub Editors:
Judith Bain Rosalie Brown John Coomber Mark Dawber John McDonald Greg Price Charles Rushbrook
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. 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
10
1922 Fiat 510 S Torpedo Restoration
16
Banks Peninsula Branch Little River New Year’s Day Picnic
18
Behind The Wheel – 1937 Riley Kestrel Sprite
24 27 30 32 36
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) $52* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$112* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$185* Digital subscription (6 issues) NZ$39 available from vcc.org.nz or issuu.com. *Payment by credit card incurs additional bank fee processing charge of 3%
Closing Date for April/May: Editorial Copy Advertisements
28 February 2023 10 March 2023
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
Postal Address: PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch,
Fiat 510 S Restoration
10
Success on Two Wheels Part 2 of Ashley Blair’s research into the origins of New Zealand developed motorcycles. Electric Cars Thoughts from the UK Aston Martin Owners Club
1937 Riley Kestrel
18
Success on Two Wheels
24
1955 XK140 SE
32
Market Place
44
Lost Treasure A Special Jaguar Phil Benvin’s 1955 XK140 SE Rally Snippets 36 Dead End Tour – Wellington Branch Members 37 50th Taieri Tour – Otago Branch 39 Annual Motorcycle Rally – Auckland Branch 40 Arrowtown Run – Southland Branch 41 Matakohe 2022 - Wellsford/Warkworth Branch
COLUMNS 4
President’s Message
43
Archivist News
4
From the Editor
51
Awards
5
VCC Branch Events
44
Marketplace
6
National Office
49
Swap Meets & Rallies
7
Mailbag
52
Trade Directory
9
Timelines
53
Branch News
23
Book Reviews
66
Passing Lane
42
The Way We Were
COVER
New Zealand.
Website: www.vcc.org.nz Copyright Information
The contents are copyright. Articles may be reproduced complete or in part provided that acknowledgement is made to “Beaded Wheels, the magazine of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc)” as the source. 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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Phil Jeeves has spent 10 years restoring this incredibly rare 1922 Fiat, see page 10. Together with wife Marietta the Fiat turned heads at this year’s Banks Peninsula Branch New Year’s Day picnic at Little River. Photo John McDonald.
10 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
1922 FIAT 510 S TORPEDO OWNED BY PHILIP AND MARIETTA JEEVES Words Kevin Clarkson, Photos John McDonald, Kevin Clarkson, Marietta Jeeves.
“Nihil Melius“* The highest examples of mechanical skill, careful construction, power, speed, silence, and elegance, are found in the model 510 standard and sport six-cylinder car, the last word in modern large car production” Quote from FIAT Model 510 S handbook.
*Nothing Better 10 Beaded Wheels
The first FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili Torino) plant opened for production in Italy in 1900 and in that first year they made 24 cars with staff numbering 35. By 1910 they were the largest car manufacturer in Italy. Over the years the company has endured many changes to its structure and ownership, including being seized by the workers at one stage, but Fiat vehicles are still being made today. To answer the unasked question I can advise that Fiat have changed the way they use the name. In the early years the FIAT name was all capitalised and later they used Fiat as it is at the present time. The FIAT 510 and the 510 S (sports model) were made between 1921 and 1926 and they produced some 14,000 examples, most of which were the standard model with only 414 examples of the 510 S models ever made. They were regarded as the top-of-the-line gentleman’s carriage in their day. There are now very few 510 S models left and only this one in New Zealand. There is another with the original type body, similar to this one, in Central Europe and there are a very small number of 510 S with different bodies dotted around the world. Some cars are merely a pile of bits – yet to be restored. The customers had the option, at the time of purchase, to order the car complete with FIAT torpedo body or order a running chassis with motor, gearbox and running gear with the body to be completed from the scuttle rearward by a bespoke body builder to the owner’s taste. I believe that one chassis even had a saloon body built on it when new. The S model could be easily distinguished by its huge and very imposing V shaped radiator with nickelled surround. Running boards were replaced with single foot treads for the three doors and the motor was given greater horsepower by using an increased compression ratio and a higher performance camshaft. There were other visible changes also, including a shorter chassis and wheelbase. RESTORATION
Philip purchased this car as a collection of parts from the estate of the late Paul Gieseler in 2012 and he started the restoration process immediately. Incidentally, Paul was a member of the Beaded Wheels committee for 30 years between 1971 and 2002. Paul had been accumulating parts for the 510 S over the previous four decades but had done very little work on the components during his ownership. He did have the motor overhauled some years ago but to be on the safe side Philip recently stripped the motor and reassembled it to be sure it was sound as it had been sitting around for many years. As it happens this was a valuable
Beaded Wheels 11
A SPECIAL JAGUAR
With 2022 marking 100 years of Jaguar, it is appropriate to take a look at my very special Jaguar which an has an extensive racing history. It is a 1955 Jaguar XK140 Special Equipment (SE) Fixed Head Coupe (FHC), sold new in Christchurch, New Zealand. Words Phil Benvin, photos various sources.
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The car left the factory on 2 November 1955 finished in Pastel Blue, the colour it still wears today. The first owners were Frank and Elizabeth Cantwell of Christchurch, owners of the ladies fashion business Cantwell Creations. The Cantwells made regular trips to England, and while there would attend Jaguar Drivers Club meetings in London. At one of these meetings they were introduced to Sir William Lyons, the owner of Jaguar Cars, who invited them to visit the factory in Coventry. At the factory they were given a tour and while there they ordered their new Jaguar XK140 with Special Equipment options. Frank intended to race the car, a step up from the Jaguar Mk VII saloon he began racing with. The fixed head coupe was chosen so that he could enter both saloon and sports car races. This XK140 is chassis number S 804481, and is a Special Equipment model and following Jaguar’s success at Le Mans, the factory offered the C-Type engine with the Special Equipment package. This engine included the C-Type cylinder head with
2021 Hawkswood Sprint,
larger valves and revised porting, higher lift camshafts, lightened flywheel, high speed crankshaft damper, and the larger two inch sand-cast carburettors. It is one of 843 right hand drive FHC cars built of which only 199 were SE models, and very few of these left the factory fitted with the two inch carburettors which were generally only fitted if the car was intended for racing. Apparently only five XK140 FHCs were imported new into New Zealand. They were also introduced to Lofty England, the Jaguar Competitions Manager, and a friendship developed which was very helpful to Frank’s Jaguar racing career. With the new sports car, Frank embarked on an extensive racing programme which included major national meetings at Ardmore, Levin, Wigram, Ryal Bush (near Invercargill), and Dunedin. In addition to these events were local Canterbury meetings at Mairehau, Lake Bryndwr and Southbridge. He was quite successful at some of these events. With a top speed of 130 mph, this was a very fast car in its day, and very few cars at the time could go faster.
Frank wrote several magazine articles detailing his racing exploits, and spoke of being overtaken by Ross Jensen in the Monza Ferrari at Ryal Bush, then getting a tow in the Ferrari’s slipstream. I have visited Ryal Bush and driven the XK around the roads which formed the circuit, and it beggars belief what it must have been like to race at those speeds on the narrow undulating country roads. An Archibalds’ mechanic, Arthur Praed, attended the race meetings with Frank and looked after the car. Mrs Cantwell said to me when I visited her with the car in 2003 that after a race meeting she would not see the car for a couple of days as it would be in at Archibalds having the brakes rebuilt. I have heard that at the Dunedin Road Race, Frank tipped the car onto its side. There is still a little crease in the roof which I attribute to this incident. Late in 1957 the Cantwells imported the fearsome Tojeiro Jaguar sports racing car from England, and the XK140 was passed on to its next owner, Mr David Owen of Christchurch. Even though
Beaded Wheels 33