Motoring pics Vintage cars - early years, events from 1960's 70's and 80's

Shooting the bull on historic motor racing and motorsport history.
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Roger Dowding
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Vintage Special - the Bagnall - Jaguar 1949 - onwards, 1974 the " Phoenix "

Post by Roger Dowding »

Bagnall - Jaguar, Originally built in 1949 according to Allan Dick by Rob Bagnall with a Mercury V8 of 4 litres, later had a Talbot 6, then apparently a Willys 77 motor and finally a Jaguar Twincam Six of 3,442 cc with C Type then D Type mods.
Graham Vercoe has quite a bit of story on the car [ E & OE ...etc ], but no photos. some notes here from Vercoe.

This photo from 1961 - 64 period,based on the Number Plate.
Car would have been with Brian Watson at this time in its life - creator of the " Missator " Ford 10 Special.

Event not known and the bodywork scruffy and looks modified from its 1949 beginnings.
Specials #053 Bagnall - Jaguar Rob Bagnall w Brian Watson 1961 -64 plate 445.748 CAN A Dick.jpg
Any more photos of the car would be appreciated.
The above photo from Allan Dick, and on checking my archive found another copy - from Alexander Turnbull Library archives, which I have noted as 1963 - 64.
Cars #148 Bagnall Jaguar Hillclimb 1963-64 Alexander Turnbull archives .jpg
There is this note at the " Natlib " archives [ National Library ] but the photo cannot be viewed in a good size - It is the same photo, so that is the location of the event - Palmer Road, Wellington.

" A Bagnall-Jaguar car at the Palmer Road Hill Climb, Breaker Bay, Wellington, in 1964. Photograph taken by Bruce Valentine Davis. "

Car was badly crashed by Watson at Houghton Bay Hill Climb, Wellington in the 1967 - 70 period and rebuilt in 1974, being known as the " Phoenix ".

Any more photos of the car would be appreciated.

These extracts from the Jaguar Drivers Club brief History 1950 - 1972

" 1962 was perhaps the heyday of the Mk2 3.8, with four of them racing - Ray Archibald won the NZ Saloon Car Championship in his silver Mk2, and Alistair McBeath was 2nd in his dark green Mk2. Simon Taylor raced the D-Type at Ardmore, Levin, and Wigram, but crashed and overturned at Teretonga, only to be racing again late in the year at Mount Maunganui. There were plenty of other Jaguars racing at various venues – the Gardiner Tojeiro, Cranch’s Maserati 6CM-Jaguar, the Bagnall Jaguar, ‘Mk1’ 2.4 and 3.4, Mk2s, XK120, XK140, and XK150s. "

" At Pukekohe in 1965 there were only four Jaguars racing - Australian Bob Jane drove his Mk2 4.2, Gary Bremner his Mk2 3.8, the Tojeiro was entered, as was Ivan Cranch’s Consul Mk1-Jaguar. The Bagnall Jaguar joined Bremner’s Mk2 4.0 at Levin. At Wigram, Ian Dow and Gary Bremner in their Mk2s were joined by Dave Silcock’s rapid XK120. "

" Beach races at Nelson in early January 1967 saw Bill Harris racing his Ford V8 Coupe fitted with a Jaguar XK engine, and Neil Stuart racing his Stuart Jaguar single seater. At Pukekohe there were only three Jaguar related entries – Lumsden’s Mk2 3.4, Silcock’s XK120 and the Watson Bagnall Jaguar. Only Watson raced at Levin, and only the Stuart Jaguar at Wigram. Noted builder of ‘specials’ in Jamie Aislabie fitted a Jaguar 2.4 XK engine (later a 3.8) to a Cooper sports car body and in his Cooper Jaguar he achieved modest success in hillclimbs and on the track. Ernie Sprague won the Rothmans 30-minute race at Ruapuna in his Mk2 3.8 with Ian Dow also competing in his Mk2 3.8.

By 1968, Jaguar presence on the track had waned significantly. March saw the last event for Brian Watson’s Bagnall Jaguar before the Jaguar XK engine and suspension were saved and the car sent to the dump. "
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Bruce McLaren and McLaren's Service Station

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A photo appeared on the Bruce McLaren Tribute page - with a young Bruce and an Atlantic Attendent - refuelling a Jaguar - the plates are the 1956 - 61 series - picking the photo is around 1960
- any comments please !!
Garage #138 Bruce McLaren and Attendent Atlantic w Jaguar NZ 1956 - 61 plate 1960s B McLaren arc.jpg
The McLaren's Service Station on Remuera Road, Remuera. 1956 -61 plates on the VW - I think..
Garage #141 McLaren Service Station Remuera 1950's 1956-61 plate VW McLaren page archive same pi.jpg
Another version of the same photo - was the refuelling photo at McLaren's ??
Garage #140 McLaren Service Station Remuera 1950's 1956-61 plate VW SIM archives.jpg
Can't see an Atlantic pump ...

The building was being redeveloped in 2017 - 2018 and the McLaren trust moved out and had the "Museum " at Hampton Downs - I am unsure what the current status is - they [ the Trust ] were expected to move the Trust Museum back to the Service Station site later..

27 September 2023.. Understand from Amanda McLaren - Bruce's daughter that the Trust will relocate to the Service Station in the near Future .. It will have all the collection in Museum quality display and a couple of cars - The Austin 7 belonging to the Trust and others cars on loan.
Amanda has posted on the Facebook page " Bruce McLaren Tribute ", regarding the relocation as the display at Hampton Downs is closed and the cars returned to the various owners / donors.
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Lucas Electrics - Electronics ..

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Need help with Classic Lucas wiring - well this should be of assistance.
- from the Archives of Rex Urban and Austin Healey [ Sprites mainly ] and Austin guy from Salem Oregon.
He ran a business " Mini Motors " back in the 1980's when i met him in 1982 with his business partner Paul Lawry.
Rex has had Austin Mini and Morris Mini's as well as Austin A35 and Austin A40 Farina cars over the years.

The Chart ;
Lucas Wiring Colour Codes - arch Rex Urban.jpg
Something associated with Lucas was the unreliable nature of the products - and some humour ..
Logo #107 Lucas wiring smoke - bottle - joke Don Childs (2).jpg
A Metal sign for Lucas ..
Logo #108 Lucas Sign w Union Jack Mainly Nostalgic  (2).jpg
Advertisement for Lucas Accessories , Light etc ..
Unipart cartoon #6 Lucas Advert Christmas .jpg
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Roger Dowding
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Vintage - Tyre Ash Trays ...

Post by Roger Dowding »

Had a Trip to New Plymouth - not a Road Trip as flew from Auckland, but did drive to Auckland and then had a Trip around Mt Egmont, while there - New Plymouth to Inglewood, South Hawera on Highway 3 then along the Coast of #45 through Okato and Oakura, saw the Kapuni Gas Plant at a distance.

While in Hawera had good Coffee and cake at a small Cafe then went to Ethel Anne Antiques - the shop occupies four shops and has connecting doors ..

There was a collection of Vintage Ash Trays - which sparked my interest, however they seemed expensive at between
$115 and $195 .. They were Dunlop Goodyear and others as well as a Blue Reidrubber one.
My sources tell me that pricing around $25 to $50 is more like it when they appear at Swap Meets.

The Hawera collection.
Vintage #161 Vintage Tyre Ashtrays #1 Ethel Anne Antiques Hawera R Dowding (3) (425x319).jpg
Vintage #162 Vintage Tyre Ashtrays #2 Ethel Anne Antiques Hawera R Dowding (3) (425x319).jpg
Vintage #163 Vintage Tyre Ashtrays #3 Ethel Anne Antiques Hawera R Dowding  (3) (425x319).jpg
The Reidrubber Ashtray in the centre of the display - in Blue - the most expensive at $195.
Vintage #164 Vintage Tyre Ashtrays #4 Reidrubber Blue Ethel Anne Antiques Hawera R Dowding (375x.jpg
My own Reidrubber / Ridge Remoulds one - in Red, which I acquired 30 or so years ago.
Vintage #146 Tyre Ashtray Reidrubber Ridge Remoulds R Dowding sml (550).jpg


It sits with a 1920's AA Auckland Badge that has the RAC " Royal Automobile Club Associate " notation.
The Badge was my Great Aunts I believe and would have been on her late 1920's Nash, which she had until the mid/late 1930's.
Vintage #147 Tyre Ashtray Reidrubber Ridge Remoulds 1920's AA Badge NZ R Dowding (411x550) (2).jpg
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Re: Motoring pics Vintage cars - early years, events from 1960's 70's and 80's

Post by Oldfart »

So you missed on the most extensive collection of vintage memerobilia in Kaponga! Shame on you.
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Roger Dowding
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Re: Motoring pics Vintage cars - early years, events from 1960's 70's and 80's

Post by Roger Dowding »

Oldfart wrote:So you missed on the most extensive collection of vintage memorabilia in Kaponga! Shame on you.
Oldfart, sadly, from my and a friends Uncle another car guy, on the trip, we were being taken around by non-car people, didn't know about Kaponga, and just looked at the map we did SH3 and SH45 so missed it all together .. something for next time Rhys,

We were travelling in a Diesel Kia Sportage .. not sporting but went well, 5 people and all our luggage, Auto so didn't need Mr de Normanville's technology ..
AH de Normanville Edgar Joseph - Inventor Overdrive bio. .jpg
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29th July 1979 - A Carless Day ..

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New Registration for the year started 1st July 1979 and the " Carless Day " regime started on 29th July ... may be a day or two out.

The new Registration Sticker with the " C " and a Carless Day sticker being displayed by a lady - no idea who or whether it was part of the Promotion of the scheme ..
NZ Number Plates #083 B 29 July 1979 Lady holding NZ Registration and Carless Day stickers - val.jpg
Sunday - was a " Blue " Sticker ..and the 1979 - 80 Registration sticker was a pale " Blue ".

Posted before - the range of Registration and Carless Days stickers
- Registration from 1965 to 1996
- there has been mention of the 1964 - 65 sticker missing in the image, but possibly as the new plates were issued no sticker was required for the first year.
Commercial Vehicles - Heavy Transport, Buses and Taxis didn't get new plates until July 1965, so presume they did need a sticker - I am unsure.
NZ Number Plates #039 B NZ Rego stickers 1964 - 1996 Carless days stickers 1979 180 kb Ben Hutch.jpg
Stories abound of people getting a Carless Day car - mine was an Austin A35 for " Tuesday " - the Carless Day for the TR4A ...
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Roger Dowding
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" Vintage " cars - current photos. the Pahoia Car Show

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Car Show again at a Farm in Pahoia, last held in 2021 then Covid prevented the 2022, and rain stopped the 2023 show.

About 70 cars, a bit less than in 2021.
AHCC events 2024 #019 Car Show Pahoia BoP 18 Feb 2024 179 kb arch R Dowding.jpg
The Plates say it ;
AHCC 2024 #036 Pahoia Car Show - 1929 Dodge pair 18 Feb 2024 R Dowding.jpg
A Couple of Z cars
AHCC 2024 #030 Pahoia Car Show - Ford Zephyr Mk1 and Zodiac Mk 3 18 Feb 2024 R Dowding .jpg
AHCC 2024 #031 Pahoia Car Show - Ford group w Landrover and Citroen 18 Feb 2024 R Dowding .jpg
Modern MG with an MM trailer - part Morris Minor the bodywork, part BBQ.
AHCC 2024 #027 Pahoia Car Show - Morris Minor MM trailer BBQ behind MG3 18 Feb 2024 R Dowding.jpg
This was part of the Morris Minor Club of Rotorua group with some local MM's.
Photos to follow.
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The Morris Minor group cars at Pahoia

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The Pickup has a Toyota Twin Cam motor, and those Truck pipes are false, has side pipe at the front of the tray.
AHCC 2024 #026 Pahoia Car Show - Morris Minor group w Pick-up Toyota TC Motor 18 Feb 2024 R Dowd.jpg
AHCC 2024 #024 Pahoia Car Show - Morris Minor group w Woody 18 Feb 2024 R Dowding.jpg
AHCC 2024 #023 Pahoia Car Show - Morris Minor yellow 18 Feb 2024 R Dowding.jpg
SOFT54 and DA12
AHCC 2024 #021 Pahoia Car Show - Morris Minor pair w JM 18 Feb 2024 R Dowding.jpg
AHCC 2024 #022 Pahoia Car Show - Morris Minor group with MM trailer MG3 18 Feb 2024 R Dowding.jpg
The Convertible MM was an early-ish one
" 1954
Make: MORRIS
Model: MINOR
Colour: GREY
Body Style: Convertible
VIN:
Plate: SOFT54
Engine No: 90UL77004
Chassis: FCH53251567
CC rating:ⓘ 998cc " not the original cc - sidevalve was 918 cc then the first MM OHV were 803cc .
Not known when first in NZ - Plate appears to have been issued in 1994. Carjam records are not always correct as we know.

DA12 the car beside it is NZ New in 1957.
" DA12
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 20-Mar-1957 "
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An unusual McLaren Vehicle

Post by Roger Dowding »

Part Racing Car - Part Workshop Hack " Van ".

These photos appeared on the Bruce McLaren Tribute Fb group with credit " T Alexander ".

Presume that would be Tyler Alexander who was with Bruce from 1963 approx onwards.
In Bruce's book " From the Cockpit, he says.
" recruiting mechanics for the tour. Wally [ Wilmot ] Harry Pearce and Timmy's [ Mayer ] American mechanic Tyler Alexander " in the end Harry couldn't go.
The " tour " was the NZ Australian season in 1963 - before the time of the photos.
The book published originally in 1964

The photos; at the McLaren Factory at Colnbrook in 1969
: " Testing the rear wing - High Wing - design for the M8B
McLaren #069 Mini Van with Wing test bed McLaren M8B Colnbrook 1969 arch Tyler Alexander.jpg
McLaren #070 Mini Van with Wing test bed McLaren M8B Colnbrook 1969 front arch Tyler Alexander.jpg
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McLaren Service Station - Remuera - and another McLaren image

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This would be 1960's [ late 1960's ] looking at the Pumps - rather squat compared with the pumps of the 1950's and earlier.
Looks like 83 Octane on the standard pump - Boron - was it a bit more.
Cortina seems to have the Black base number plate so at least 1964 on and the model came out in originally around 1962.
McLaren #055 McLaren Service Station Remuera - Caltex 83 Boron Marfak 1960's arch Barry Murray .jpg
An Advert / Article on McLaren [ Elva ] - from the Can-Am era - 1968.
McLaren #098 McLaren Elva advert 1968 arch Clarke Walker.jpg
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