Found car!

[Oldfart]

Well, seeing as we keep on about lost cars..
I have now in my possession/custody a Buckler 90. Research so far has the following suppositions.
It is an English chassis car, so one of the first 5 90s.
It has a red moulded body, according to Bruce Sutcliffe, "Le Patron" of Buckler, there were only 3 of that color.
It is probably[U][/U] the first car which Ferris de Joux owned.
My request to the membership. Does anyone have any programmes for Ardmore which show Ferris as either owner or driver of a Buckler? Or any other documentation relating?
It is my aim to have this in a useable state by the next Roycroft trophy meeting the week after Easter next year.
I suspect it ran an 1172cc motor in period, so help in finding any of that stuff would be appreciated too.
A rebuild diary will be coming!

[bob homewood]

What year Ardmore roughly to help me look

[Kwaussie]

Had a search through some old cartons of stuff - no details from Ardmore but have found a few details on
Bucklers [NZ] Limited, PO Box 9159 Newmarket, Auckland.
Telephone 26 698 (crossed out) now 54 6698
The specialists in Multi-Tube Sports Car frames and special components for the home constructor.
...... bit more on what they could fabricate...... and then.....

Distributors for
Elva Engineering Limited
Coventry Climax Engines Limited
(Sports/Racing Division)

[Kwaussie]

Thought I should add that the publication of this little 14 page Buckler book was about 1958 so even if you add a 9 to the phone number I doubt if they will still be there!

[David McKinney]

In the Ultimate-Ekco Handicap at the 1958 GP meeting de Joux was entered in a car called the AWM Buckler. As the entrant was the Australasian Motor Works, I suspect it should really have been an AMW Buckler. The same car had been driven by Gordon Brown, with the same entrant, in the sportscar race earlier in the day

I'm not sure that this is your car, as Buckler expert Kelvin Brown says it was a DD2 rather than a 90

In period the de Joux fibreglass bodies were always known as AMWs, though somewhere along the line people have started calling them De Joux bodies

[bob homewood]

Used to go around to the Harris's when I was really young in short pants ,bit hard to remember now but I think they were in a street over by Mt Hobson,brought some cycle guards from them for my project ,and ogled at a chassis they had there

[Kwaussie]

What year Ardmore roughly to help me look

Start at 1954, for sure a Buckler was in the Sports Car race in 1955 so something may show up from 1955.
What a little gem to find. Looking forward to the rebuild diary.

[Kwaussie]

A W Harris Ltd have a mention in the booklet I have - same phone number etc.
A brand new AMW Mk2 Glass/Plastic body $260 circa 1958. (130 quid)
One measurement that you can tell between a Mk90 and a MkDD2 is the cockpit width (seats) 39" for the Mk90 and 41.5" for the DD2.
AIAmSTWillOUpACOBWorms.

What a great find for OF, look forward to reading the rebuild diary. Cheers and hope you have a lot of enjoyment with the rebuild.

[Oldfart]

Thanks for the input guys.
Buckler cars are long gone, as are all their records. Effectively bought by Dennis Marwood for the import licences, and sadly the records were apparently used for scrap paper as no-one realised that silly old buggers like us would be bothered with cars like this some time in the future.
Easy way to tell a DD car from any of the others is that the DD stands for De Dion rear suspension.
David I am guessing re the dates, and it may well be the club meetings that saw the car used, ie no really significant history, but guess says 58 ish?
Kw, any chance of scanning that booklet?

[bob homewood]

I can be corrected on this one ,but I think the "Buckler " name went to Merv Mayo ,then to Performance Developments (Ray Stone) ,and of course then on to Dennis when he became the sole owner of PD ,I am sure I have a copy of some adds which reflect this
I think a lot of the earlier manifold patterns I have which I brought from Dennis,came through the Buckler line of history and once again I could be corected but I think some of the very early patterns were made by Cliff Judd in Thames

[rogered]

i looked at the cliff judd buckler around 10 years ago. complete with ohv engine.
it needed alot of work.
never heard of it again, but assume someone brought it for resto.

[Oldfart]

Roger, I believe the Judd car was sold at one time to a person in Nelson, with a buy back to Cliff. Last known back with Cliff in Thames, but anything you can add would be very welcome by the Buckler group. That car originally had an 833cc (probably Ford 8) engine.

[GeebeeNZ]

Oldfart, I bought my Buckler book off the Judd family. Cliffs car is owned by a previous owner of the Blue Brick who I think resides in TeAroha. I believe it has an Elva Ford in it. I think the right money would buy it.

[Steve Holmes]

How about posting some photos of the car Oldfart?

[ged]

oldfart i do recall a buckler 90 in hands of a guy elwyn cannot recall his last name lived in kaitangata and raced it otago southland area 60 70 s

[David McKinney]

Kerwyn Taylor?

[ged]

yes david and quite a enthusatic chap he was too minstral was another kit car around about the same time along with the berkley a motorcycle powered sports car

[bob homewood]

The Buckler name was with Mayo's by Feb 1964,judging by this add

[Oldfart]

I spoke with Merv Mayo last week, very interesting, but sadly got no further with my car.
It is certain that it's an English built chassis, the body is also a bit different to any other in subtle but distinctive ways. All a bit curious really! It is probably not the car Ferris first had, although that car is still lost.
Does anyone know of an event, possibly the precursor of the Pirelli Mainland, which was known as the "Alpine Run" or something like that? Around 69/70 and I suspect well organised. I am after any info. Organisers, participants, route, anything at all.
Cheers all. Photos are coming!

[bob homewood]

I spoke with Merv Mayo last week, very interesting, but sadly got no further with my car.
It is certain that it's an English built chassis, the body is also a bit different to any other in subtle but distinctive ways. All a bit curious really! It is probably not the car Ferris first had, although that car is still lost.
Does anyone know of an event, possibly the precursor of the Pirelli Mainland, which was known as the "Alpine Run" or something like that? Around 69/70 and I suspect well organised. I am after any info. Organisers, participants, route, anything at all.
Cheers all. Photos are coming!

Carlo you might be able to answer that one