carmagreviews

the 318 V8 Installation was new to me - according Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Cresta

but no details - was not aware of that

Yep De Luxe was here as so was the Viscount (In the UK found evidence that a Estate version of the Viscount was made - one turned up for sale in 1982 issue of practical Classic) it may off course been a good conversion?

as for Wagon models avail here locally - Never seen one of any of the nz magazines i have documented during the 1960s.

There of cause a Vauxhall PC Cresta that is a drag car Reg 2TURBO (NZ) raced by Graeme Bates - BIG block Chev powered I Believe and I think a Chev 350 conversion is quite a common conversion in the UK - a few have turned up for sale over there.

Not first time a rivial manufacturer - Chrysler took over Rootes - for while to much embarrasment Sunbeam Tiger continued for short time with the Ford Engine - I understand they tried to re-power it with Chrysler power but it was unsuccessful

Austin made a number of 3L (1967-1971) cars as prototypes with 3.5 Rover Power - all were later scrapped , told the managers liked this conversion - ran pretty smoothy

Most amazing story concerned Daimler and Vauxhall getting together to produce a car based on the PA! - Daimler powered

Of cause there Roll Royce and Farnia development based on originally a Wolseley 110 but project died but not completely- spin off of this was a Commercial RR engine 4.0 going into Vanden Plas 4.0R 1964-1968 where NZ got around 100-200 NZ new!

And Bentley and Austin got together - Austin Sheerline - There was a proposal to make a cheaper Bentley called the Sterling of 1947 as one turned up for sale in Switzerland in 1978

Opps ..Sorry ....did not Release you dealt with Nik -and know about 2000 16v he is the son of one of senior salesmen at Karamu who sold most of the Opels in the North Island 1985-1991-so he have a wealth of info (I Used to run an Opel Club in CHCH) I did not realise this blue car had accident damage when i used to see it in Lower Hutt and later in Thorndon it was owned by owner of Software company and mint in condition - Nik reckons 100 were brought in to NZ - I remember arguing with him years ago one time i Reckon myself around 50 and could almost name were at least 15 were at any one time

seem to come only in 4 colours - Maroon metallic (more brown looking - like mine there another in better condition in Wainuiomata -ones of Parts Managers of Brendan Foote owns it!) ; Blue metallic ; Light silver metallic and dark silver metallic all were manuals

there was one private imported 4x4 Turbo version in Hawkes Bay

and you could not get a 1990-1991 Opel 2000 16v from Japan as a used import as only later A version (Facelifted A opel badge on grill not bonnet) mainly i seen CD 8v versions

each Gm dealer I believe had 1-2 2000 16v to sell and usually used as demos to sell the cheaper Vectras rather like Jensen build 300 odd Interceptor FF to sell the Interceptor

They were very expensive cost new 1990 $53000 vs next below it the 2000GLS 8v at $37000

Some Reality the 2000 16v do not rust as much - They are German built - more quality job - the 2000GLS; GL ; 1800 L and 2000GT Liftback were made in England and were Vauxhalls - at the wharfs the logos changed to Opel! quality was not as good

GM brought cars in batches of 50,100 and 150

I have a Manta 2.0GSI liftback 1 of 100 NZ new 1986-1988 - mines the 2nd to last imported although built 1987 registered as a 1988 car

Interesting to note a Tony Haycock who was a travel agent then based in Fielding (seems to be same guy who writes for Classic Driver and Beaded Wheels) owned a white one and his kept breaking down - he used to ring me for advice! - Years later i found out his car was the Opel Manta GM Staff thrashed prior to it becoming available here!

There are not many of these left - Here in NZ there is probaby more left then in the UK - as Banger racers have destroyed most of them - it will be a pity to see it customised - Buick V6 as I stand it was a pretty good motor but I never head of PC Viscount been re-powered by one. Around 6 Humber Super Snipes were Chrysler V8 Powered as Prototypes 1 or 2 is in Australia and common re-power was a 245/6 Valiant engine into a Humber

Cheers Julian

Wouldn t it be cheaper to find a real Opel Vectra A 2000 16v I have a 1990 car as my daily driver - I had it now for 6 years and its been a terrific car - after all the BTTC cars were based on that! It uses the same engine as in the 16v Calibra and I heard Lotus had a hand in develop the motor

- the problem with these cars compared to lesser Vectras is they have independent rear suspension - a completely different rack and pinion - My got rebuilt late 2010 via Mendoza Mechanical here in Upper Hutt - there are not new ones!; Fog lamps at front there are 2 different types so you got to be careful what you order I use Andy Clears a Vauxhal Dealer in the UK - the car was fitted with ABS other A's were not and only 100 or so were NZ new 1990-1991 - mine is PP registered built 1990 but 1st registered 1991 and does appear to be a pre-production evaluation model and it was once owned by a GM manager as its first owner as its fitted with air conditioning unit from Dagerville..yee gods (thats never worked in 6 years i owned it)

There was a Blue metallic one that was originally from the Hutt here and I heard around 2008 it was stripped for Dunlop Targa - It will be interesting to know where its gone? - maybe Kamaru the GM Dealer in Hawkes Bay may know

There are probably less then Dozen Opel Vectra A 2000 16v's left and heard of 2 that were squashed in cube 3 months back!!

Even rarer car is 6 or so pre -production cars called Vauxhall Opel Lotus Carltons - offically they were scrapped - 2 are in a CHCH lockup waiting for 20 years to be up and 1 is in Tasmania Australia

Cheers Julian

Hi all been a while...

Shock horror - Told a few days ago that Historic Race Driver is no More Jack Quinn has sold 100% of it to guy that owns the rights to Coventry Climax and Kieft sportscars and also owns his own private museum

The magazine was just too good ie too expensive to produce

Later issues will based from Chicester near Goodwoofd and will no longer have retail element to the public - Instead it only be sold to British and European Elite car Club members Example Bentley Drivers Club, Aston Martin Owners Club - so we little people miss out

see for more -Profile of the publication http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/NonCMS/M ... spx?Mag=75

Nov 2011 NZ Performance Car with Mazda 929 Wagon NZ New? converted to RX4 re-power

http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/NonCMS/R ... eview=1018

Had bit of a backlog at present NZ Classic Driver Oct-November 2011 (its taken a while) Special Chev 100 year Issue; Facel Vega HK500 FHC 1961 RHD ex GB here!!

http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/NonCMS/R ... eview=1024

There great Track test of 1977 Renault RS01 Formula 1 in latest Nov 2011 NZ Autocar

http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/NonCMS/R ... eview=1026

now to deal with NZ Classic Car ...

Cheers Julian

2 more additional reviews fellow enthusists may find interesting

June 2011 NZ Classic Car

Issue 246: Garry Pederson -Part 2 The Gemco years; Jag E Types in NZ 50th anniversary;Moretti 1500 Spider RHD 1 of 3 NZ new 1965 (this really surprised me!!) ; TACCOC Autumn Classic -Pukekohe Trabant 601-H sedan 1979; Volvo 1800E 1971 LHD ex Japan;

http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/NonCMS/R ... Review=970

& June-July 2011 Beaded Wheels Issue #310

Highlights-

Sunbeam -Aero Special 1924 2 seater Reg XR7379 -engine is a 1917c 12 litre V12 Maori (thats whats it called) aero engine 1 /997 made of this type - fitted to 1924 Sunbeam 24/60 chassis

1978 Reliant Robin 3 wheeler GB Special brought ex UK from ebay is this last GB Special left ( I looked I never heard of a GB Special ..maybe it is the remaining one!) Colin Sweetman is the owner - despite BBC Top Gear tipping one over in a recent TV programme - Colin says its fun to drive

http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/NonCMS/R ... Review=969

Yes The LE was unique to NZ ..the Sunshine was based on version they had in the UK.

In webbos book he mentions there was one time when there was not enough Mini bodies available or some key parts (it might have been result of the rolling strikes in the UK across the board for example Autocar UK was not published for 6-8 weeks ..huge gap in my index and National library collection) and number of our Mini particurly 1275 versions were in fact 1100cc Australian assembled and some respects better speced ...thats why quite a few of them are here - identified by more modern outside door handels

I think i too have got original 1 page pamflet like brochures lying around somewhere of both Mini LE and Mini Sunshine...

From my database

Mini LE were later Minis assembled here in Nelson of the NZ Assembled Minis which built in limited batches

Filed under Leyland (NZ) on my database (I see what I got under Austin, Morris or Mini later..)

there is brief preview feature -Industry News; front & rear views 2cars shown one is IL9041 launched by the NZ Motor Corporation (That firm is still around is now distributes Renaults!)

See the very Last Motorman magazine ever made which is Motorman No 2 1977 page 8 (I indexed most of the Motormans since 1960c)

Later car was Mini Anniversary last year of Mini Production here a preview feature see December 1980-January 1981 AA Motor World Issue Page 4

There was a Buying second hand article on Clubman 1275GT which may have other information on other Minis See March 2000 NZ Classic Car Page 14-15 Vol 10 #3

I would recommend you read Donn Anderson book on Minis published a few years back its not perfect ..and my review is probably a bit harsh there is a mention of the cars however

I wrote this on my site Sept 2009

http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/default.aspx?page=126

------------------------

Donn Anderson -"Mini Down Under' -50 Years of Mini in New Zealand

I was looking forward to reading this book (as it been reviewed by a number of car magazines and I have been documenting Donn's work since NZ Motorman days) I was looking forward to a good read with particular discussion on some of of the unique Minis and the specials made here - I stand somewhat disappointed . The McLaren Mini story was interesting as I have not seen any information on Bruce McLaren's old Minis and some early background of mini development but 1 page mention on the NZ built Mini Specials is pathetic!! - Donny you can do better then this!

Mini LE etc are mentioned

Otherwise Webbos book more on NZ Assembly industry is a rushed job put together in 9 months (Could have been hell lot better) ...lot errors in it but I think NZMC side was pretty good; GM & Mitsubishi side was crap..problem with Webbo was he only interviewed people too high in the food chain (ie MD in their Ivory towers) or too low in the food chain ..I under stand lot of Engineers and factory floor staff in many of former car assembly plants turned him down for an interview in fact one of them was a friend of mine..

Another I discovered in my off line index

a Cadillac Eld conv 1976 Aurora Schuck so loved her car instructed her husband to burry her casket with her cae she died of 62 her husband Ray buried her car cementry in Aurora ind

See

Cars & Parts (US) 1990 FEB page 71 Vol 33 Issue # 2 brief news feature and small photo 1990 Aurora Schuck Aurora Schuck buried herself and car at Aurora; Indiana Cementry!

(I Indexed Cars and Parts Mid 1984-1990) still to do 1991-1992

2 Entombed cars - The one of you said was a Chrysler is almost right - it was a new Plymouth Belvedere Coupe 57 as a time capsule for a local town and unfornately when it was time to open the package -the package was not as airtight and water had seeped in and the car was largely a complete wreck ..I think Unique Cars (Aus) had an article on this - when i used to review them on my site

2nd one was a Person who loved his Chev Corvette so much that on his death the car was entombed with him and years later -this persons family decided to remove the car!

Those references from the UK -

Vauxhall VIVA HB RACERS see 20th December 1969 Motor (GB) Page 34-35, 37 discussed Gerry Marshall racing team

Wellington National LIbrary got it

feature on the man himself June 1999 Classic & Sportscar (GB) Page 119-122

Auckland Public & ChcH Public may have it

Probably can get magazine direct from the publisher or even on trademe

As for those from NZ - Mainly HB GT - most of mine are Tests when new with some British articles

There was the little known Lotus TC version

and a Crayford Convertible version!

Those old Photos and brief history Hino in NZ via my website reviews

NZ Trucking including Truck Trader - 1-Oct-2009

Looking Back

Early Hinos in New Zealand 2 photos from old photo collection of ex Pat Kiwi in Aussie Peter Collins one is particulartly old with long snout cab as logging truck and other late 70s -80s cabover for NZ Post (I sure RFL ran some of oldest in 70s) "Early Hinos" by Bryce Baird ..bit brief ..?

http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/NonCMS/R ... Review=724

and

http://www.carmagreviews.co.nz/NonCMS/R ... Review=753

Looking Back by Bryce Baird

NZ Trucking including Truck Trader - 1-Jan-2010

More early Hino photos have come to hand follow up Oct 2009 issue additional Photos of Hino (long Nose) Logging trucks and more information on truck featured Oct 2009 Vehicle bought new 1965 by CS Shallinass ..more

There is a Guy that being mentioned a few times as one main truck historians on trucks here - whose material is often featured for NZ Trucking

Cheers Julian

Looked on my website -missed out the contact details - i be adding them tonight

Editor -John Murphy tel 09 634 1800 or mobile 027 492 5601

e mail john.murphy@nztrucking.co.nz

"What's the deal though...can I order copies from the Welly library to my local?"

Sorry to say most of our librarians are not really customer or business focused

they mainly serve each other but not the public - I tried for years to get themselved geared to market their services to the public... Taking on the blue rinse bridcade etc with not much luck

If i ran the library system ..boy there be some changes...

You could try Inter-loan scheme but they will charge like a wounded bull

Usually with National Libraries - you have to be Johnny on the Spot ie you have to come down to the ground floor - get registered to use one of their network computers and place and order (this is supposed to be more efficent..

like hell it is ..its much slower now!

.god knows what librarians actually do to earn their $70,000 plus a year - same number there when i started documenting - i know fair chunk of them by face and name most look bored searching the web all today.) and orders are place every 1.5 hours - if you between times -you may have to wait 3 hours as it happened to me last year! What a bugger!! Library open 9am to 5pm - regiously chunk your out via a heavy security guard

They let you photocopy articles for 20c a page but they will not you physically take the magazine out!

2 years ago it was much easier and quicker you went to the counter got an actual librarian he rang up placed an order and withing 1/2 a hour you got the magazines - I usually there 2-3 times (getting 3 months worth) a year going through Autocar Weeklys So far I am up to 25 April 1975 !

Good Luck!

Otherwiseyou could try the mag ..they may have photocopies on file for their own use.

go to my site www.carmagreviews.co.nz - click 'magazines' click nz to find the NZ profile and contact details of NZ Trucking

Of the Hino badged Trucks of similar vintage - Here are tests

N1017 1987 NZ Trucking 1986 SEP Pages 28-29

Preview feature Shares body with Ford

Wellington National Library & Wellington Alexander Turbull Library

N1017 -Hydrasweep NZ Trucking 1987 APR Pages 40-41

Preview feature

Wellington National Library & Wellington Alexander Turbull Library

Tidd designed; Tarunga Street Sweeper; for Hydrasweep

Reg NC 4575

Cheers Julian

Further to Hino Discussion

As regard to trucks Ford Badged Hinos - of the ones I have indexed not n0915?

however

I have:

but this Preview discussion of N Series Release in 1987

Of the Ford Badged Hinos

N Series of 1987 Preview feature is discussed for the NZ market Sept 1986 NZ Trucking page 31 and a copy is available from Wellington National Library & Wellington Alexander Turnbull Library which is in the same building on Victoria Wellington but next floor up

The oldest Ford Badged Hino Test I have done

N1420 June 1986 NZ Trucking Test in NZ - Light heavy truck

and copy is in Wellington Alexander Turnbull Library -NZ Collection

I doubt if NZ Trucking still has back copies

Can you give me n0915 as Hino badged model - I see what i got from those Commercial Motor UK magazines I have documented

I think only Ford Badged in NZ and Australia Later models particularly the smaller Hinos were badged Ford in the UK and the US.

Follow up LHD early Hino Contessa 4 door 1963

and one was discovered in write up by Trevor Stanley but it was a LHD 4 door Reg EW6279 see July 1998 NZ Classic Car Page 32 Vol 8 Issue 7

I about to do June NZ Classic Car at on page 90 in the Stewart Collection of CHCH under the title Roadside relics - the cars surives in poor condition there

Cheers Julian

Yep ..you can give me a go ..

I have not discovered Hino history on its Trucks yet on my off line database ..however on the website I think NZ Trucking Magazine did do an article on finding the earliest Hino Truck in NZ (Which I think had a long nose cab!) which includes a brief history on Hino trucks here and Brief history of the firm itself.

One first major buyers of Hino Trucks was RFL LTD of Hawera and i used to see them regularly past my school in Wanganui as went past Grey St - RFL had a lot of Early Japanese trucks of the 70s from Hino, Fuso and Isuzu

I have indexed

I done Commercial Motor (GB)1990-2001

NZ Trucking since 1987-1995

and many vintage magazines like Beaded Wheels and The Automobile often had history features on unusual marques of the Veteran and Vintage period .

Interesting on Papers Past Newspaper website which all scanned 1901-1910 has articles on early Straker -Squire Trucks that were extensively used by the local authories here

Thats a really good price - I used to get this myself !

I indexed in depth most of them from cover to cover 1981-1998 - Currently doing July 1998 as we speak...

Great for DIY stuff ..does get bit boring with MGB, Morris Minors and Triumphs all the time

Far better then local offering NZ Classic Car - I getting sick of the cheque book restorations in NZ Classic car (one a year ago Ferrari 250 Lusso and I sure colour used was non original..)where with Practical Classics home built without fancy equipment but still doing as good a job

I have wonder however about some of their professional restoration garages over there - when you read the Project Restorations over 12 to 20 weeks intensive work with 5-6 professional garages or doing their bit - (these cars have often had nut and bolt restorations) and these some cars become part of Running Reports and you here of mechanical problem after another is just general driving...??

Yep they are not snobby like Team of Classic & Sportscar or Classic Cars I think you got to have gone to Oxford or Cambridge...

In my opinion its not as good as it once was ...

Rust in Peace can be bit hint and miss - they rave about finding another rusty MGB or Morris Minor or Rover P4 Aunty where in the background there are very rare non English Vehicle . There id of vehicles even British ones is a bit of a joke.,..

Memory Lane Photos are great -on one old scene i identified a Crayford Ford Capri convertible in the distance - Crayford made only around 7

Otherwise apart from these minor issues - Its is a bloody good read and worth collecting (ones I currently working through are ex Weltec gave me theirs 1996-2006)

Cheers Julian

$500 is a bargin - a lot of car for the money!

They are real drivers cars -very under-rated ; the suspension is firm none of this cream puff suspension stuff that magazine road testers like Dave Moore of NZ Autocar want in modern cars these days (They would complain that the ride is too firm!)

When I ran the The Opel Car Club of Canterbury 1990-1992 I used to keep a register of them - a Black one in Blenheim does not ring a bell?

Although there was a Black 1.8 Berlina owned by a ex Brit - History Professor of Victoria University who toured Europe with his before coming to Wellington - it was in pristine condition.

2 Coupes ie with convention boot they were ordered by Dealers for their wifes both were red - Robertson Motors of Palmerston North dealer got one ; and one of those 2 was last heard in hamilton restored and later Vecta B V6 power installed

2 Opel Manta 400s Rally Cars were in NZ during the Group B phase ; both later were exported back - one has returned imported by its original owner and another enthusist is building a replica! (quite a common after market kit is fitting 2.4 from Isuzu) and another installation is fitting 3.5 Rover V8 as originally cars were to be sold with Opel 6s but fuel crisis of 1973-1975 put paid to that - In Holland 2.8 or 3.0 6 cylinder Opel Commodore were fitted

Surivors seem to be more down South - A local GM Dealer in Blenheim and Blackwells of CHCH sold most of them in the South.

In the North it was Kamaru in Hawkes Bay - one the senior salesmen at Kamaru is a local expert of Mantas and early 1990s Opels as most were sold from there . Waggs in Masterton were another and in fact handled all the cars that were used initially by GM Staff in Trentham

After 1987 Share market crash - a number of Opels were not easy to sale (remember prior to Vectra A TV promotion with the Plastic key fiasco there no TV. Film or radio promotion for earlier Opels) and many were brought by GM and sold by staff at 1/2 price new! The Pricing og Opels here was bit of joke in short they were over priced and Marketing arm of GM has always being a bit of a joke ..most of their guys have no clues..

A family friend of mine John was one of managers charged with selling cars to Friends and family - He sold 2 Opel Mantas 2.0 GSi (one to my brother a 2.0GSi Liftback) the other to Rear Admiral Thorn of Karori

A Ascona GT Liftback (basically a 5 door hatch version and better built and faster of the Holden Camira) to Retired Navy Commander Terry Arthurs and several Kadett 2.0Gsi to others (most Kadetts were 5 door Hatch but John used as his company car a rare 3 door version)

I got my car 2 years later it was originally the Supply Managers former car and it came ex Karumu finished in Dolphin Grey - Weird feature cars here all the European tinted glass and aero mirrors were removed and inferior often non tinted glass apart from the green band windscreen was installed ; air controlling controls on the heater but no air conditioning installed! all the liftbacks particularly later 2.0 GSi were all manual 5 speed , Recareo seats ; front anmd rear spoilers, side skirts - factory lowered with low profile 195 SR14 tyres - most had steel manual sliding sunroofs which are a bugger to fix ; Limited Slips diffs - Strangely no 4 wheel discs and no power steering (4 wheel disc kits can be brought as after market)

Handling wise and performance - Great cars they grip the road and often on runs with Ford Capri Club i would catch up the to the larger 2.8i on the corners but the 2.8i had me on the straights!

Best unoffical race I had was myself in my Manta in 1990 vs Lancia Delta Turbo in White (Lancia is still around) and Porsche 944 down from Picton (in fact all 3 were on same Picton Ferry and we bvegan to rev!) to Cheviot in wet conditions (waves crashing over the road) ...what a ride that was ..when you are young you do stupid things there was no radar cops in those days..

Parts wise - Some parts of diff is Vauxhall Chevette ; Water Pump Bedford CF otherwise nothing else interchanges! Parts can be brought via Andy Clears at Drive Vauxhall UK - he promt and quick and often can get you stuff sent here via Federated Express quicker then a local Toyota dealer could supply you similar older stuff

Opel Manta Club UK I also recommend

If its a Hatch Liftback it would be either a 1.8 or 2.0

GM NZ did not actively promote them NZ New the first 20-25 were 1.8s later models were 2.0

Not many of these coupes are around now probably less then 10 left - as they were imported fully built up from the UK while sedans were assembled here

$2000 does not seem that bad..

One of these took part in 1972 Heatway Rally and in 1993 was for sale for $10000 ono Heatway Rally Car driven by Jim Richards in the 1972 event $see August 1993 NZ Classic Car Page 82 Vol 3 Issue 8

another one was rallied

see October 1973 Motorman Page 30-31 this was Judy Hantry Rally car who had it Heatway Rally 1973 or was it 1974 - Which I believe stil surives

Road Test new

Dec 1972-Jan 1973 AA Motor World Page 54-55 Reg FY1131 does it still surive?

The Aussies made one with 2.6/6 from P76 engine ..I believe that was a handful to drive

The Weirdest thing in my research - of documenting articles from car magazines - There is no Road Test of a Mitsubishi Galant 1850GL Coupe when it was new and hardly any infomation of its introduction - I thinK i have only found Sep 1975 Service Side (Produced by the the former MOTI) as write up of the car that i have in my own collection -the bw publicity photo comes from the same brochure as the posted photos - no reg is given

Very few of these attractive Coupes are left although there was one down a year ago in Clyma Street Upper Hutt that was original a part from 2.0 Galant re-power

The 1850GL was unique to NZ (ofen wondered why we got that cc not the 2.0?) -in Japan they had 1600cc and 2000cc ; In Australia they got only 2000cc version and the GB the 2000cc version; in the US it too was 2000cc often under Dodge name plate- There used to be in Wellington a red 2000cc US LHD coupe that was brought in by an American who worked at the US Embassy in Wellington

Interesting I often wondered what happened to the 2 LHD US Spec ultra Rare Mazdas brought US new they were a Mazda RX3 Estate in lime (I know there is a RHD version in Lime up North) and a RX4 Estate in dark grey or black (the RX4 wagon was last seen by me in 1990 outside a house On The Terrace road in Wellington City ..clearly not moving for serveral years which had residents permit on its windscreen)

The Hino Contessa 4 door was assembled here by Campbell Motors in the mid 1960s.

Road Test Sep 1965 Motorman page 8-10 Registration CZ7519 here in NZ

Australia also sold the car there new

Test October 1965 Australian Motor Manual Page 14-15 Issue 276 (Wellington Public library has biggest collection of these now rare magazines I have indexed them 1958-1978 although collection goes to 1981)

Test October 1965 Wheels magazine Page 42+ (not pleasure of Indexing Wheels strangly in this country the Oldest Wheels in NZ Library here is 1974 for magazine thats being around since May 1953!)

and one was discovered in write up by Trevor Stanley but it was a LHD 4 door Reg EW6279 see July 1998 NZ Classic Car Page 32 Vol 8 Issue 7 and reply with corrections to Trevors article was from Mr Hans Compter; Kamo ; Northland a international but based in Whangarei Collector/Classic Dealer outling the history of different models see November 1998 NZ Classic Car Page 152 Volume 8 Issue 11

and 3 Hino Contessa 2 door Coupes were brought in NZ new fully built up from Japan these were the square shape ones not the later Fiat 850/BMW 700 like coupe shown in that you tube show

Incidently Hino started making cars when they assembled under license the Renault 750

I have to contact the publishers and i review it on my website - I heard good things about it

Real Cool Photos - What was the CD?-Bill starting his racing career racing a Borgward Isabella 2 door sedan in the 60s (The original car was totalled and years later he became Honourable member of local Borgward car club offering a modifying kit to owners in fact Borgward themselves were impressed with it of how he could extract extra power from the 1.5 litre engine) - Its True Bill seemed to be modifying vehicles of mainly GM Cars from Vauxhall HB to Chevettes - He also did some Opels particularly Vauxhall verson of Opel Manta B ; - Did he have a hand in Vauxhall HP Fireza Little Bertha Coupe? ; He also did work on the 1984 Nissan 240RS Rally car which I believe here in NZ there is one here! ; The later part of life he offered in kit in 1990s for a Ford Fiesta

I happy to give you all further references to some of these cars

On another note 2 Vauxhall Chevette HS 2300 'were made here' with the full support of General Motors NZ - A family friend of mine John Marchal a former Production Engineer (now retired in his 70s) at GM Trentham invited me to go and see 2 Vauxhall Chevette HS being built - What happened was 2 brand new fully complete Vauxhall Chevette 1300GL RTS hatch were stripped on the spot at a workshop in Paraparumu - around the 1978 or 1979 and sitting on the bench was 2 glorious Lotus over head engines (what a sight to see!) these would be later installed there! Pity I did not take photos

John's Job at GM's was the main guy in 2-3 days had to work out how to CKD a car - He was one who used to design the Tooling in order to do so - around 1 month before the Vauxhall Chevette was debuted at the Earls Court Show in London in 1975 - John showed me one they had one weekend a fully built up yellow pre production prototype of a Chevette Hatch which i think was later sold to the public.

Also John was involved in number of special secret projects (That has wrongly reported in Webbos book on the NZ Assemby Industry as not occuring the guy they approached who said this did not happen had not a clue at the time and was humble apprentice who made the engineers their tea! and therefore not party to secret work often done in the engineers weekends at the plant.) John said they were working on a Chevette Hatch with a Straight 6 as a potential Rally weapon - Do you remember those paint Job Holdens and Vauxhalls of the 70s they were going to be production modified cars - eg The Holden Torana Plus 4 and Vauxhall HC Score 7 2 door saloon but the bean counters heard about it and the mods were canned!

A pre-production prototype of Vauxhall Chevette rally weapon escaped and years ago i took photos of it (I try to locate the photos) where the private owner a retired gent had outside a local Kapiti bowling green - However the 6 was long since removed and when it was sold its actually a Chevette 3 door with Vauxhall 1.3 engine and a Isuzu Gemini Front in white

Cheers Julian