Motoring Books - including your bookshelf.

[Roger Dowding]

Have had the 1967 Edition since it was first published, and in 2022 I was given the 1963 - 1967 Editions by a friend of the Family.
Actually my Cousin John Dowding's real Brother. Peter Webb.

More recently my Cousins Neighbour Rex Corbett gave me the full set 1963 - 1972, and I have the 1973 Edition which was in a different format.

If anyone on TRS would like the now spare set of the 1963 to 1967 Books please PM me or comment on here.
Available for the cost of the Postage / Courier of around $10.00.

Not the best of images as done on my phone back in January this year.

Both sets came to me via the Family House in Moore Street where the MX5 lived until last Friday - as noted on the Mazda MX5 thread.

[Roger Dowding]

Not on the Shelf but in a plastic bag with the Shell Books and others.

Another gift from the families neighbour in Hillcrest, Auckland.

.

A bit of interest in the Jim Richards Marina, GC2 - one of two - the other driven by Dauntsey Teagle GC1 and the two Mini Clubman of Andrew Cowan GC3 - the winner and Angus Hyslop GC4. The NZ Motor Corp Team.

More to come but on which thread ??

[Roger Dowding]

An addition to my collection, a story by Richard Pape a World War 11 - hero, who wrote the book " Boldness be my Friend " about his POW and Escape episodes
- A true story ! - well, with great embellishment.

That style of writing is in this book too! According to reviews at the time.
So taken with a grain of salt - a big adventure in a 1955 Austin A90 - Six, using the same basic motor as an Austin Healey 100 Six.

The car, well a version of it, he crashed the first UK supplied A90 in Norway and the Norwegian Austin dealers supplied a second car hence the Norwegian number plates, that car was also badly damaged at times in the adventure.

This is what is represented as the " Cape Cold to Cape Hot " Austin A 90 - 6 ".
As displayed in the British Motor Museum.

More photos of the car are on the Austin Healey thread

[Roger Dowding]

Have now read the book, quite an adventure - the story a bit hard to follow at times - great details of certain events and then he seems to be in a hurry to finish a chapter and skips over portions of the drive, especially when in Southern Africa, Rhodesia down to South Africa itself.

As shown in other photos the car is now restored and sits in a Museum alongside other BMC Austin cars.

[Roger Dowding]

Sir Stirling Moss, 17th September 1929 to 12th April 2020.

On my Bookshelf is a copy of the Authorised " Moss " Biography that my Late Uncle Ed [ Eddie ] Dowding of NSCC fame had.
It is in my Library as " Custodian " for his son my Cousin.

Recently there was a Service in London [ 8th May ] for Sir Stirling Moss.

The Book ;

The Commemoration of the great Man.

Was too young to see Mr S Moss race in New Zealand as didn't get to a motor race until October 1965.
Did he race at the Grand Prix in January 1966 - would need to check ? Do not have the Programme for that event.
However, did get to see him at he Ardmore Reunion Meeting in January 1989.

This little Gem has just appeared, a photo of S Moss with wife Katie in 1958 [ 17th September ], just a big kid.

[Roger Dowding]

Prompted to get into the " Archives " - a.k.a the Boxes in the garage as their was some photos of an Apollo GT and American car - styled in Italy with an American V8 engine - stated to be from the 1960s'

The images came from Pieter Nauta - it is on one image ;

Remembered the name and that in my Collection is the November 1963 issue of Road and Track that had an article on the Reventlow Scarab and a Road Test of an Apollo GT - Buick engined Coupe.
The Buick Motor is the 215 ci - 3524 cc Alloy V8. well known in the UK - as noted below.
A very different Car from around the same time ;

The Cover - with the Scarab.

The article - four pages, including the Road and Track Specification and Performance page - a layout which I like.

The Data page;

The engine is the one adopted/adapted by Rover in the mid 1960's to go into the Rover P5 B and the later P6 B and SD1, as well as the Range Rover, Land Rover V8 and even into the Morgan Plus Eight.

The only other " Road and Track " I still have is the August 1980 issue - which has a Road Test of the Morgan Plus Eight - with Turbo - using the same 215 ci 3522 [ 3528 in some notes ] V8 engine that came from Buick.

[Roger Dowding]

A couple more items for the archives arrived today - unexpectedly - had a note from Allan [ Allan Cameron ] on TRS that some " stuff " was in the post - it arrived later in the day.

" The Motor " Road Test Annual from 1962
- includes an Austin A40 Farina - Saloon,
I had the same in the Countryman version lift up back window and separate boot lid, the Saloon only had the boot lid.
- test for the MG Midget - had the AH Sprite - two of them from 1965 and 1966 similar car except for 1098cc Motor and Windup Windows.
- test for a Triumph TR4 had the later model the TR4A a 1967 model - last in the 4 cylinder series.

The list of cars tested;

Also included in the Post was the Programme for the 1981 Benson and Hedges Saloon Car Classic at Pukekohe Nov 14 1981.
Has details of the Baypark 25th October and Manfield 1st November events, a 3 race series

John Windelburn and Shayne were in the Holden Statesman De Ville - 5004 cc - probably the biggest car body wise in the event although a Ford Fairmont Ghia - 4983 cc - was entered by Steve Midgely of Dargaville and Sid Going of Maromaku.

Also entered was Derek Armitage and Allan Cameron.
in a Fiat 131R.

There were also a couple of DVD's " Grand Prix " the James Garner movie and " Peter Brock the Legend - 35 years on the Mountain.

Thanks " Allan ".

[Allan]

Unfortunately the deal for the B & H drive fell through so the car was withdrawn.

[Roger Dowding]

Unfortunately the deal for the B & H drive fell through so the car was withdrawn.

That is a pity, but you are still in the Programme !.

Thanks again Allan.

PS, must take better photos / scans of the Book Programme and some pages - the above Post #106 done on my phone.

[Roger Dowding]

English papers the " Daily Mail " and the " Daily Express " used to produce a Book large booklet style at the time of the London Motor Show at Earls Court and I used to collect one or the other in the 1960's - gave them all away.
John Vevers who is an Austin Man, Austin 3 Litre and MG Man too MGC recently scored a few from the 1960's at the VCC gathering at Rotorua, the big Swapmeet.

This is the cover of one which brought back memories,
He also got a couple of Motor and Autocar Road Test Annuals form the mid 1960's a bit like the one posted recently.

Here is the " Motor Show " Booklet, - one of the ones acquired.

[jellywrestler]

I didn't get to that swapmeet, it's about 6 hours from home and weather dependant sadly, and with the current cost of motion lotion just a bit too far.

[Roger Dowding]

Back in 1971 Sanitarium [ Weetbix for me ] issued a set of 12 New Zealand Hot Rod Cards - the photos were apparently taken at " Autorama " in Christchurch in 1970.

Recently a copy of a card that I do not have appeared on the " Autorama 1968 - 69 - 70 " Facebook group.

These are the 9 cars I have ;

Have filled the gaps with the details of some of the cars shown. They are in order of issue 1 to 12.

Have 5 in duplicate - these ones [ and one I have 3 of ].

Wondering if any one wants to either swap or just post the image - front and back of cards number 5, 7, and 11

One of the missing cards but which one of the 3.

[Roger Dowding]

Had several of these from the early mid 1960's 1963 to about 1967.
Digby Paape - one of Godfrey Paape's Motoring sons has several - For Sale on Trade Me.

Remember the one with the Big Healey painting on the Cover.

His selection ;

Image of a Record Breaking Triumph TR2 - think this was on Jabbeke Highway in Belgium - used by many British Car makes including Donald Healey, and Norman Dewis from Jaguar Around the time - early 1950's

A New Zealand connection in one of his books - a Castrol one. The ' Stanton " Cropduster " Special ' with the modified locally made " Mistral " body.

Aston Martins with history ;

got my " e " before my " i " on the photos - oops. Just noticed.

[Allan]

I'm sorry to hijack your thread Roger but can somebody tell me if this is the last post on here. Seems a long time to me.
Regards
Allan

[928]

as far as I can tell roger's post is the most up to date one. shame good forum with lots of good info

[Roger Dowding]

I'm sorry to hijack your thread Roger but can somebody tell me if this is the last post on here. Seems a long time to me.
Regards
Allan

Allan, the Forum is quiet at the moment, and on 30 July ERC, Ray, wrote this " Last post for a while. ", he is in England, apparently.

Need a few guys to put up some stuff !.

Just reading he latest " New Zealand Memories " Magazine, from our local Library - Issue 169 Aug-Sep 2024 and there is an article by a John Grant who was into Car Trialling in the 1950's and 1960' in cars such as a Standard 10 - he had an MG TC at one time, a Peugeot 203 and later a " PUG " 403 - Attending Trials in the Hawkes Bay - the Blossom Rally, the South Island and Auckland Car Club events in Auckland. - worth a read.
Am looking at some of the details to see if I have " collected - borrowed " any photos.

John Grant mentions some top crews " Doug Benefield - navigator, Blair Robson - driver and Neil Kennedy - timekeeper ", also " Another top crew were John Rolfe and his two brothers in a Standard 10 "- indeed, John Rolfe with his mate Rhys Thompson and their wives won the NSCC 1965 Castrol Trial, that had several staring points [ according to Motorman ] and finished at Pukekohe Circuit.

The Castrol Advert - after the trial [ is on the NSCC thread ].

928 , yes things are quiet, just hoping that Steve renews the licence from " vBulletin " next year too ! He nearly let it lapse this year.

[ERC]

For any message board to survive, it does need contributors, not just viewers. I think Steve was almost reluctant to renew the hosting fees this year and I got the impression that he might not renew it next year. So 'Be Prepared'.

I haven't added many books to my own collection recently and I'm at an age where I seriously need to declutter, just to make life easier for those who will have to deal with my passing.

I really do need to shift, preferably sell, a massive collection of mainly classic car magazines, some going back 50 years. 'Thoroughbred & Classic' started September 1973 and I have most issues. 'Classic & Sports Car' and 'Octane' plus 'Practical Classics', form the bulk, but I dropped off 'T & C' a year or two ago and have just let my 'Octane' subscription lapse. I'm still a year behind with the reading!

I dumped the NZ Classic Car magazines on Roger as I didn't consider them worth keeping.

At Goodwood in a few weeks' time, I may succumb to a purchase, but maybe not. We'll see.

The car books I've listed on a spreadsheet and put on an approximate value as I know that whoever clears my stuff will have no idea of values. Tony Brooks 'Poetry in Motion' for example, a fairly recent book, is selling for way above its original price.

Some of the UK magazines seem to be featuring a smaller proportion of Brit cars, and I'm not too keen on most foreign makes.

[Roger Dowding]

Mentioned on this thread a while ago that I had been given the Books, and have two of the 1963 - 67 ones and one of each of 1968 - 72.

The Covers - Front and Back of the first 3 -

1963; The price was 5/- [ 5 shillings / bob ] blanked on this copy but shows on the other one I have.

1964;

1965;

The Books were written by Peter Greenslade with Photos by Euan Sarginson. published by Pegausus Press for Shell Oil New Zealand Limited.
Forward in the First Edition was by R.W.A. Frost President, Association of New Zealand Car Clubs.
The first one cost 5/- and they went to 50 cents in 1967 and by 1972 cost 95 cents

[Roger Dowding]

1966 - 1967 and 1968.
The Magazines / Booklets are in Portrait format, which lasted until 1969 - for the last 3 issues it was published in Landscape.
Must have been a Seventies thing as the " Heatway Rally " 1972 booklet, in an earlier Post, is the same format and size.

1966;

1967;

1968;

The next few years to follow
One of the front cover images go over to the back cover - will have to scan to get the full image - the 1966 Edition.

Names on the images - Peter Webb, my cousin John Dowding's real brother, and Rex Corbett is the neighbour of my late Uncle Eddie Dowding, and cousin John still has the house in Hillcrest, North Shore, where the NZ Classic Car books of ERC lived for several years. They are now with another " collector " John Vevers of Austin 3 litre and MGC fame in Helensville - John was a regular at " Caffeine and Classics " at Smales Farm, Takapuna until they stopped a couple of years ago.

[Roger Dowding]

1969 in Portrait, with 1970 and 1971 in Landscape format.

1969;

1970;

1971;

To follow 1972 [ the last one by Shell in this format - and a couple of images from the 1966 Edition.