CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 77 YEARS
No. 385 December 2023/January 2024
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $8.95
BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A
9 418979 000012
1925 LAGONDA DRIVEN BY A VISION SCOTT O’DONNELL
TRAVERSÉE
DU PARIS DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Messrs HJS Mitchell and I Wintringham after a trip through Tophouse, St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes, in the early days in an Allday & Onion car. Photo supplied by VCC Archivist Don Muller. 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 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 George R. Kear 027 221 4332
president@vcc.org.nz
CLUB CAPTAIN SOUTHERN REGION Mark Wilkinson 021 168 6068 sicc@vcc.org.nz REGISTRAR Neil Beckenham 021 588 536 registrar@vcc.org.nz
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 027 333 1329 pastpresident@vcc.org.nz
SPEED STEWARD Ray Sanders 021 632 563 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz
SECRETARY/ TREASURER Vacant
EDITOR, BEADED WHEELS Kevin Clarkson 021 0270 6525 kevinclarkson@vcc.org.nz
Andy Fox 03 314 3763
mgmt1@vcc.org.nz
Murray Trounson 03 339 8830 mgmt3@vcc.org.nz COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING comms@vcc.org.nz ARCHIVIST Don Muller 03 385 6850
archivist@vcc.org.nz
Rebecca George CLUB CAPTAIN NORTHERN REGION 021 293 7714 mgmt2@vcc.org.nz Glyn Clements 021 0833 4081 nicc@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
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
COME AND JOIN US WHATEVER YOUR WHEELS Are you looking for an excuse to get your car out of the garage? We have 36 active branches around New Zealand. Our events range from weekly runs and coffee get togethers, to hill climbs, speed events and touring. For the more intrepid,our infamous off‑road adventures are the stuff of legends.
Photo Graham Bailey
Vehicles, motorcycles or trucks from 1890 to 1993 are club eligible. Or just join us and grab a ride with another member.
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Visit www.vcc.org.nz and get motoring with us today. See opposite page for your nearest branch
VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Is two wheels more fun than four? This group think so as they ready for the off on the Manawatu Branch Motorcycle Rally. Photo Bryan Abraham.
DECEMBER 3 Auckland 3 Canterbury 3 Manawatu
Christmas Picnic Annual Vintage Rally Sunday Jaunt/Christmas Run 3 Marlborough Christmas Outing 3 Nelson Club Run 3 Otago Moped Rally 3 Waikato Motorcycle Run 3 Wellington Children’s Christmas Party 6 Nelson Gordons Mystery Run 6 Wanganui Restoration of the Year 6 Wellsford/Warkworth Midweek Picnic 9 C. Hawke’s Bay Christmas Function 9 Gore Christmas Run 9 Wanganui Christmas Parade 9 Waikato Club Run 10 Auckland Motorcycle Run 10 Central Otago Christmas Function 10 Gisborne Club Captain’s Wing Ding 10 Horowhenua Christmas Dinner 10 Northland Christmas Lunch 10 Otago Christmas BBQ 10 Waikato Motorcycle Run Santa Claus 10 Waimate Christmas Picnic/Run 10 Waitemata Christmas Dinner 10 West Coast Run to Stratford’s Tractor Museum 10 Wellsford/Warkworth Christmas Lunch 13 Bay of Plenty Christmas Retirement Run 14 Auckland Christmas Dinner 15 Canterbury Christmas Social 16 Far North Christmas Lunch 17 Canterbury Old Cars Bikes & Coffee/ Children’s Christmas Party 17 North Shore Car Show 17 Rotorua High Tea Run 19 Wellington Christmas Barbecue 21 North Shore Christmas Function
26 Canterbury
Boxing Day Run
JANUARY 1 Ashburton 1 Auckland 1 Banks Peninsula 1 Manawatu 1 South Canterbury 1 Wanganui 1 Wellington 2 Canterbury 6 Far North 7 Canterbury 7 Waikato 7 Wairarapa 10 Banks Peninsula 10 Wanganui 14 Waikato 17 Auckland 17 Waikato 19 Wellington 20 Far North 20 Gore 20 Nelson 20 Waimate 20-22 Wanganui 21 Canterbury 21 Central Otago 21 North Shore 21 Otago 21 Rotorua 21 Wanganui 21 West Coast 25-29 Otago
New Year’s Day Run New Year’s Day Run New Year’s Day Picnic New Year’s Day Picnic New Year’s Day at Fairlie Gumboot Rally Taihape New Year’s Day Picnic Motorcycle New Year Run Taipa Show & Shine Picnic Run Blue Smoke & Pedals Coastal Run Pomeroy Trophy Club Picnic Club Run Mid Week Tourers Run Wednesday Wander Monte Carlo Rally Saturday Picnic Picnic Run Golden Bay A & P Show Kickstart Motorbike Rally Vintage Weekend OCBC Swap Meet Club Run Jackson Rally Lakefront Car Show Burma Rally Christmas Lunch NATIONAL VETERAN RALLY & 70th Dunedin Brighton Run 27 Ashburton Annual Rally 27 North Otago Moped Run 27 South Canterbury Ladies Run 27-28 Wellington Biennial Motorcycle Rally 28 Marlborough Waihopi Valley Trip 29-31 Otago Prince Henry Tour
FEBRUARY
3-4 Banks Peninsula 3 EBOP 3 Southland 4 Waitemata 5-7 Marlborough
Skope Race Meeting East Coast Rally Southland Rally Stan’s Steam Run National Vintage Only Rally 6 Marlborough Heritage Day, Brayshaw Park (including display from National Vintage Only Rally) 9-11 Banks Peninsula Classic Motor Racing Southern Meeting Levels 10 Auckland Annual Veteran Run 10 Far North Northern Captains Run 10 Waimate Wallaby Rally 11 Ashburton VTNZ/VCC Car Show 11 Manawatu Veteran Rally 11 South Canterbury Chairman’s Run 14 Taupo Club Barbecue 15-17 Hawke’s Bay Art Deco 16-17 Nelson Moutere Hop Weekend 17 Horowhenua Auction 17 Nelson Murchison A & P Show 17 North Otago All British Day 17 West Coast Stockton Mine Tour 18 Ashburton Chairman’s Run 18 Horowhenua Shannon Car Show 18 North Shore Posh Picnic 18 Rotorua Club Run 18 Waikato Club Run 18 Wanganui Sunday Run 18 Canterbury Old Cars Bikes & Coffee 21 Auckland Mid-week Tourer’s Run 21 Waikato Wednesday Wander 25 Taranaki Mini Vin Rally 23-25 Waikato Motorcycle Tour 24 South Canterbury Open Day 24 Waimate Scooter Run
NATIONAL EVENTS 25-29 January 2024 National Veteran Rally 5-7 February 2024 National Vintage Only Rally 29 March –1 April 2024 National SI Easter Rally
This list does not contain all branch events – 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.
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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.
MAILBAG Beaded Wheels reserves the right to publish, edit or refuse publication of any item s ubmitted 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.
from around New Zealand. Still missing for the New Zealand collection is a two cylinder engine, radiator and the gearbox diff combination. What lies out there? Doug Wheeler Eastern Bay of Plenty branch
ID NEEDED
THORNYCROFT
The location of this Thornycroft is a mystery as it appears to be at a park or similar with the stone pillars as for a gateway at the roadside. I have searched hillside parks and cemeteries using Google Earth for similar land forms and stone pillars with no success. Hopefully a reader can assist in identifying the location. The origin of the photo is unclear. It was sent to me from a fellow veteran enthusiast in the UK who, when questioned, said only that it came from New Zealand. The number plate middle symbol, if a dot, would indicate being from the years 1929-30. However it could be a star, making it 1927-28, but those numbers were yellow in colour and one would expect a slightly darker tone to the image. The years 1956-61 also had a star in the central location, but for the age of the truck, it is unlikely to be of this plate period. I have no record of such a vehicle being held in a New Zealand collection at that time. As for the vehicle, it is not in showroom condition, with wear evident on the deck edge. It is also missing the chain cover.
This model of Thornycroft was produced up to the outbreak of WWI when the chain drive incorporating a common diff and gearbox housing was abandoned in favour of a a live axle and diff, with the gearbox being placed closer to the motor. The metal spoked wheels of this pattern would indicate a manufacturing date of 1912 through to 1914. There are not many photos of such chain drive Thornycroft in New Zealand but the cab building style of other photos does not match this photo. Most of the other photos have sign writing as identifiable features about the cab. The bonnet is short so would indicate the 16 hp two cylinder engine, the four cylinder 30 hp engine being more popular in the longer wheelbase trucks. This same four cylinder engine design continued on into WWI production in the early J model lorries, then becoming upgraded to 40hp. There is a complete example in operational condition in Melbourne and the chassis and wheels for another in England. Also the parts from five such vehicles that I have gathered up
I was wondering if anyone had an idea of what car this is. I believe it may be a 6-cylinder Oakland tourer and the photo taken around 1915? My great grandfather Archibald Page had a car such as this and I’m wondering if this photo is the Oakland. Chris Carey Lincoln, Christchurch captain.carefree@gmail.com
MORRIS 8 MEMORIES
The recent article on the Morris 8 Sports and one or two letters later from owners brought back memories of my own first car, a 1938 tourer, similar with a back seat and a near vertical ugly rear end. A motorcycle was my preferred transport back in the ‘50s but a vehicle to tow, yes tow, my pre war 250 BSA to local race meetings was required. I recall the price was £100. The hood bows were badly damaged, as were the side curtains. I think the policeman I bought it from may have had an oops so it was an open model until repairs to the hood hardware were completed. Alan McIndoe, a local upholsterer, replaced the hood and side curtains. He also added a nut and bolt self-made towbar to tow my dad’s home-built wooden trailer. The first out of town event was at Long Beach North of Dunedin. The BSA went well, but locals will recall the steep gravel climb from the beach, which
proved too tough for Morris and trailer. I recall Club member Pat Leopold pulled the trailer up with his V8 coupe. It was 1957 when I entered the same old BSA at Cust, home of the New Zealand Grand Prix back then. Dad’s trailer was no lightweight but the Morris managed the Easter weekend. Sadly my bike didn’t by not finishing the 250 lightweight event – valve problems. Morris 8 problems, well mine anyway: with cork axle seals I needed to avoid parking on steep angles and also ran the diff oil a bit lower to keep the brake linings dry. The doors popped open on a rough road corners. I also had problems with crownwheel bolts breaking, the heads would pop off. I machined new studs,and even all those years back I recall the steel was SD 50. Some sort of axle steel, certainly better than the Mowog ones. Our senior Club members will remember the radiator leak repair Soldrit, fine silver powder in a small cardboard container with a press on tin lid, I think I found it more successful than Bar’s Leaks. Eventually it was time to upgrade, the Morris was a clean swap with a Golden Flash BSA, sold to finance the next tow car, a ‘39 Vauxhall J. Bill Veitch
ERRATA
Article “A Survivor” regarding the 1913 Morris Oxford published in Beaded Wheels 383, August/ September 2023. Unfortunately the car in the photograph was incorrectly identified during Beaded Wheels production. The car on the right is No 192, restored by Norman Findlay in Napier in the early 1960s. The car on the left is number 332.
Beaded Wheels 9
HIN BE
D THE WHE EL
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY – literally!
Words Greg Price, photos John McDonald. Restoration photos Michael Hedgman
12 Beaded Wheels
Michael Hedgman’s 1925 Lagonda 12/24 tourer How many of us can boast now owning what was once their father’s car, and can also confidently claim that at least one of their children may take it on when the time comes? Well, Michael Hedgman can! Until recently, whenever I heard mention of the name Lagonda, I immediately thought of those large English luxury saloons from the Bentley, Alvis and Rolls-Royce stables and the like, so it came as quite a surprise to spot Michael Hedgman’s little gem on the front cover of Canterbury Branch’s November 2023 The Hub, (having taken out the People’s Choice award at the All British Rally!) especially as it was captioned as being a Lagonda. Editor Kevin and I decided that it was a ‘must do’ for a Behind the Wheel. The only problem was that a looming editorial deadline, coupled with Michael’s limited availability at that time for the customary interrogation and photoshoot, necessitated a panic trip out to his place of residence in North Canterbury at very short notice. Fortunately, our own photographer extraordinaire, John McDonald, was able to make himself available at short notice. The whole exercise came together nicely, just like the Westpac merger did back in 1996 – the same year as this car was completed, and also (more importantly) in time for Ian and Michael to compete in the Pan Pacific International hub rally. What is also important to note is that this particular model is most likely one of about only six remaining world-wide, and reportedly the only surviving running example in New Zealand. There was however, an earlier non-runner 11.1 model two-seater roadster at Southward’s Museum but it is not known if it is still there. Thus, it was a special privilege to be able to get up close and personal to such a unique car. But, first up, a bit of the history of the marque.
ever fly-off handbrake, which is on Michael’s car and takes a bit of getting used to! During WWI the Lagonda Company made artillery shells. After the end of the war the 11.1 continued with a larger, 1400 cc, engine and standard electric lighting as the 11.9 until 1923, then the 12/24, with Michael’s car coming off the line in 1925. The first of the company’s sports models (the ones that I remember) were launched in 1925 as the 14/60 with a twin-cam 1,954 cc fourcylinder engine and hemispherical combustion chambers. The car was designed by Arthur Davidson who had come from Lea-Francis. A higher output engine came in 1927 with the two-litre Speed model which could be had supercharged in 1930. A lengthened chassis version, the 16/65, with a six-cylinder 2.4-litre engine, was available from 1926 to 1930. Their final car of the 1920s was the three-litre using a 2,931 cc six-cylinder engine. This continued until 1933 when the engine grew to 3,181 cc and was also available with a complex eight-speed Maybach transmission as the Selector Special. However if you want to learn more about the Lagonda marque, then look it up on the interweb! Suffice to conclude though, that the marque name survives today, having been subsequently acquired by Aston Martin.
HISTORY OF LAGONDA The Lagonda Company is now a British luxury car brand that was founded in 1906 in the UK in Staines, Middlesex, by Americanborn Wilbur Gunn (1859–1920), a former opera singer. He became a British national in 1891 and worked as a speedboat and motorcycle engineer in Staines. He named the company after the Shawnee Indian settlement ‘Lagonda’ in modern-day Springfield, Ohio, the town of his birth. This is a glacially eroded limestone gorge of much beauty. Historically, the area played a major role in the Treaty of Easton and the aligning of the Shawnee tribe with the British during the French and Indian War. (Ian Hedgman visited this place with other Lagonda aficionados after the restoration of his Lagonda.) Wilbur Gunn had built motorcycles on a small scale in the garden of his house in Staines with reasonable success, including a win on the 1905 London–Edinburgh trial. In 1907 he launched his first car, the 20 hp, six-cylinder Torpedo, which he used to win the Moscow–St. Petersburg trial of 1910. This success produced a healthy order for exports to Russia which continued until 1914. In 1913, Lagonda introduced an advanced small car, the 11.1, with a four-cylinder 1,099 cc engine, which, by 1914, featured a panhard rod suspension and a riveted uni-body and the first
Beaded Wheels 13