Bucklers!

[Allan]

According to my recollection the AX69 plate would have been issued in or around Christchurch

[Waznot]

Have just watched the video of the Austins Rd Hillclimb on YouTube, the car 21seconds in looks like the blue car in the photo including the white bonnet scoop. The video says 1959 or 60 but in a history of Australian and NZ hillclimbs says Austins Rd only used 1962 - 65. Does anyone know where Austins Rd is as that may help in where the car is from, North or South Island.

[Oldfart]

Austin's Rd is North Island. It was a Northland Car Club event. If you note a bit further on from the 21 second spot you will see a Buckler with no front, that is Stan Benbrook, photos he posted appear in the first few pages of this thread. He had that car in 72 and it's registered DG, and he got it in Dargaville. Shows my memory of North to South isn't totally correct!
My memory differs from Allan's, as I went and collected the 2 number plates from the Post Office for our 2 cars. My memory says they were alphabetical from the top of North to foot of South in 1964. Matamata was BP, ours being 2089 and 2090.
.I don't see why 2 cars would not have AX if they were done at the same post office, but who knows. When I enlarge the photo I think, but very unsure, that the first number is 4.
As I said a post or two back, there were several de Joux bodied cars in and around Whangarei, at least 4 I know of.

That video can't be 59/60. A number of post 64 number plates, and Stan didn't own the car then.

[Oldfart]

I have gone back through some old emails to clarify a few things.
From Brian Skudder; "The car at Pukekohe (with the Healey alongside) is Owen Cullen, beneath picture is Vic Simkin scoop on the bonnet proving Humber 80 motor".
Still no further ahead with the "mystery" car, it's a few years since I spoke with Brian so have asked if he can help.

[Spgeti]

Austins Road is heading out of Whangarei on the road to Dargaville.
It was one of the roads the Northland Car Club used for hill climbs along with Doctors Road out at Ruakaka.

[nigel watts]

[nigel watts]

[nigel watts]

[Oldfart]

As normal, more answers have resulted in more questions!
Waznot, can you tell what gearbox your car has, and if there is any rod system coming from the diff to act as torque reaction?
The Billington car, according to my contact who was close to the Northland Club and took many photos had an "Elfo" overhead valve conversion. The chassis didn't ring any bells, but for lack of knowing rather than anything else. Number plate position is right, but most cars had them in a similar place. For me , right now, your car is still possible Billington, depending on the answers to the questions above, as that car has disappeared. Engine change is always possible, for me that doesn't exclude it.
The pale blue car with the bonnet scoop is still a mystery, as is the venue. He has said the Northland Club didn't put out haybales at any event he knew of.

[Oldfart]

Back to my contact who has supplied a good number of the old photos has resulted in not much more. He can't confirm or deny the chassis Waznot, as he said he hadn't seen it without body panels.
The "mystery" pale blue car remains just that. He has said he doesn't recognise the venue. (And he had taken photos at every Northland event.)

[Roger Dowding]

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Nigel, Do you know if the Vintage Car Club still run this event, or one somewhere in the Western Bay of Plenty, would love to attend..??

[nigel watts]

Unfortunately Roger they stopped running it several years ago. Not sure why.

[Oldfart]

I was told that the lack of club volunteers to help caused the event to not be run any more.

[Waznot]

Thanks for the ongoing research, I am more inclined to think that it is more likely the mystery car than the Billington car. These images are from a video on YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDOV6MjSOXM ) of Austins Rd hillclimb which even though the video says 59/60 only ran at Austins Rd 1961,63,64,65 according to records of Au/NZ hillclimb events. I also have footage that includes this car that says Puhipuhi early 1960s, worse quality but same wheels and white on the bonnet. This is clearly the mystery car because of the small white bonnet scoop and the painted nose as per the better photo.

My rear end when purchased

here is also a photo of the rear suspension when I picked it up, obviously like everything else it has a coat of red oxide paint no doubt to protect it at some point..

I am currently away from home but hope to pull out some stored items so I can get access to the car when I get home and look for finer details.

[Oldfart]

I am now very confident that your car is not the Billington car. Rear suspension, and a photo of a beautifully finished dashboard would suggest that it's unlikely to have been altered totally. The jury is still out on the "mystery" car, more searching is being done.
The source you quote for Austin's Rd dates can't be accurate, as in that film you posted there is a car which didn't get into that state, nor with that driver until 7th January 1971 (I have a copy of the registration document).

[Waznot]

http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/ausnzhc.html

Austins Road Used from 1962-1965.

I claim no personnel knowledge and can only go on the info I/we find. The windscreen for the car was gone so unfortunately no Wof sticker to indicate when last rego'd. I'm actually glad it's not the Billington car as that would in some ways affect what I can/would do with the car.
The video might not even be Austins Rd, that is what the title says but it may be as inaccurate as the year on the header.
At the moment it is an intriguing discussion trying to figure out what it is. . Thanks for your interest and support.

[Oldfart]

I understand your reference, just that if it is Austin's Rd, as one of the competitors who appears in the clip has said, your reference isn't correct. As with all historical research, until I find first hand info, then it is treated with suspicion. Perhaps the silhouet.com site has not included what might be almost a club event, rather than more open (just giving them an out). Records from Austins Rd have been found with my contact, who found the venue. He says first time run was 26th Feb 1961 and last Feb 1967, he has the results of all the events, so clearly silhouet.com doesn't stand up as a reference.
The car at 33 secs in is the one which did not get into the state shown (no front) until 1971 (mentioned in post #190). Most of the number plates in the You tube clip which show are the post 65 plates too.
I am waiting for him to tell me what road he believes it to be, as that may confirm or deny Austin's Rd. As soon as I have anything, it will be here.

We do know with certainty that your car was used post 1965, otherwise you wouldn't have the number plate, and certainly not in the stone chipped state.

[Waznot]

A lovely higher res photo of the mystery car that shows the number plate would be lovely because that would at least confirm one way or the other if it is my car. I'm happy if it is post 71 as I have no particular need for it to be earlier, pre 74 is great as that keeps it pre Australian design rules which will make it much easier to road register here, also 70s gives me permission to upgrade the restoration to a more 60s running gear which will make it more road friendly for what I want to use it for but still to keep it as a Ford special.

Looking forward to getting home and getting access to the bonnet to remove the indicators to see what colour is underneath and then gently strip the nose cone to see if any 2 tone present.

[Oldfart]

As with most, if not all, of the period photos, resolution was not something that was a factor. When I bought my first digital camera I went as good as I could afford and bought 1 kb! I'm not sure where that photo came from so getting a better copy isn't easy. I know Bart found it somewhere.
From the pics you posted when the car was being steam cleaned Waznot there doesn't seem to be any evidence of a scoop having been removed from the bonnet. I can't imagine it being just decoration, and the inside looks as though no holes have been repaired.

[Paul B]

This has been an interesting search, I like your car waznot. I hope you will be able to shed some light on its history as time goes by.
It would be a nice car to restore.
Cheers