Bucklers!

[Roger Dowding]

From Classic Autonews archives - Allan Dick collection.

Hillclimb in Northland - Number Plates are the 1956 - 61 issue.
Northland Car Clubs main Hillclimb venue was Puhipuhi Road, :" North " of Whangarei - near SH1.
Was this there ? - Thanks " Oldfart " for clarification of directions and venue - had my compass upside down - now corrected above " North ";

Pre June 1956 - At Dunedin in 1955 for the Festival Road Races.
from a magazine article. On two wheels

An old print of the same photo ;

At Levin in 1956

[Oldfart]

The top photo I think looks like Puhi puhi which is actually North of Whangarei, a bit beyond Whakapara where the road to Russell branches off.
Jim Boyd did have the use of both of the Mk 6 cars in succeeding years.

[Milan Fistonic]

The top photo I think looks like Puhi puhi which is actually North of Whangarei, a bit beyond Whakapara where the road to Russell branches off.
Jim Boyd did have the use of both of the Mk 6 cars in succeeding years.

I believe Puhi Puhi was Northland Car Club's first hill climb venue. Jim Boyd drove a Buckler there on September 16, 1956 and October 28, 1956.

[Oldfart]

I believe Puhi Puhi was Northland Car Club's first hill climb venue. Jim Boyd drove a Buckler there on September 16, 1956 and October 28, 1956.

It went on for several years, the Northland Special competed there under many of its' names and drivers.

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of photos of the Vic Simkin Buckler from the period 1960 -

Levin in 1960 - thought to be the November 26th 1960 meeting.

The car had the ex Lionel Bulcraig Humber 80 motor that was modified and a Sunbeam Rapier gearbox.
The bonnet scoop was wide and quite distinctive for a Buckler.

Lewis Townsend photo - as processed by Ross Cammick.

Another photo of the car from Kelvin Brown archives - event not detailed - on the 1956 - 1961 Number Plate
" 487*119 ". Looks like a Hill Climb event with the chock at the back wheel.

See note from " Oldfart " - believed to be at the Muriwai Hill Climb, which was an Auckland Car Club venue for a number of years in the 1950's - 60's ..

[Oldfart]

I was told by a family member that the bottom photo above was perhaps Muriwai, but didn't pursue that to concur. Time for Milan?

[Paul B]

The Vic Simpkin Buckler 90 (from post #280) still lives and is fully intact, I hope to view it soon. Great pic Roger.

[bry3500]

[video=youtube;r2cp6xRhbjI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2cp6xRhbjI&ab_channel=abarthnz1[/video]

[bry3500]

[video=youtube;7SC9yylNcss]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SC9yylNcss&ab_channel=abarthnz1[/video]

[Roger Dowding]

Posted on Buckler Cars and Karts facebook page - these images of the Ivy Stephenson, Bruce Sutcliffe and others Buckler. Well known in New Zealand with its De Joux body.

Photos from Bart Jonkers Richard Bauz and Malcolm Bee..
- Paul Steed driving

The Madgwick Cup - just after the start.
Having a big spin which apparently caused the De Dion rear end to cause problems and its racing was over.

[Roger Dowding]

Car Registration papers for a Buckler .. seems to be a name we all know !! Cheers

No doubt "someone "can tell us more about the car ??

[ATTACH=CONFIG]51862[/ATTACH]

A South Island car through the period -

More information;

Peter Preston raced this car in the 1960's in the South Island and I note that it was owned by an
- " Ivy Alice Preston " from 20 July 1961 to 29 July 1964.
Would have had the 1961 - 64 plates 759.025 when purchased and the permanent plates A!6477 - just issued when sold 29 July 1964.

The car currently has the plate " GHH417 " under the ownership of Mark Garmey, Mark and his father Ian Garmey [ RIP Ian recently ] have the car in excellent condition and it features in a New Zealand Classic Driver - Special Edition Magazine published in late 2021.
The story of the car in the magazine has some anomalies, if these papers are to be believed.
They were issued in 1975, and would appear to be a re-issue.

The car as featured with others in the Magazine - posted later n the thread also.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]74119[/ATTACH]

Will scan the page on the Harris now Garmey car..

Here are the Registration details as on Carjam today.

" 1957
Make: BUCKLER
Model: 90
Colour: RED
Second Colour: White
Body Style: Sports Car
VIN: 7AT01X00X12704381
Plate: GHH417
Engine No: COVERED
Chassis: 90-0003
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 2
CC rating: 1,340cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Assembly Type: NZ Assembled/Built
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Vehicle Equipment Class: MA
Industry Class: PRIVATE "

Plate History ..

" Plates History

Plate Effective Date
GHH417 30-Apr-2012

�� Registration ℹ
Registration Status: Get CARJAM Report
Plate: GHH417
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: Re-Registered
NZ First Registration: 01-Jan-1957
NZ Last Registration: Get CARJAM Report
Was Registered Overseas? No
Registered previously in: New Zealand "

" Odometer Readings

As of 26-Feb-2017 Check latest odometer readings.

2017-Feb-04 WOF Inspection
198 Miles/year
72,908 Miles

2015-Nov-10 WOF Inspection
165 Miles/year
72,662 Miles

2015-Mar-14 WOF Inspection
65 Miles/year
72,553 Miles

2014-Aug-23 WOF Inspection
150 Miles/year
72,517 Miles

2013-Dec-23 WOF Inspection
56 Miles/year
72,417 Miles

2013-Apr-20 WOF Inspection
206 Miles/year
72,379 Miles

2012-Apr-30 WOF Inspection
72,178 Miles

2012-Apr-30 Pre-registration Check
72,178 Miles ".

Hard reading as do not copy and paste well.

Recent photo of the car.

Have information from Mark Garmey around its story early 1990s to 2007.

" Mark Garmey writes ; 31st January 2023

“ Gary Dixon from Christchurch rescued the car from a paddock in the early 90’s.
At this time it had a Ford crossflow in it. Gary did a bit of the restoration but succumbed to cancer prior to finishing it.
The car then went to Snow van den Broek from Matamata.
I got the car from him in 2007 basically in the same state as he had received it from Gary.
Snow was killed in a car crash in 2017. “
"

[nigel watts]

[Roger Dowding]

The Paul Greaney car 441.091 Race #128, looking very smart,
thanks Nigel.

[Oldfart]

The car Mark Garmey has, when owned by me in 1970, sold so that I could buy a ticket to Europe, bought from John Money had a 1340 block, was supposed to have a steel crank and 85 mm pistons. The rear suspension had Woodhead Munroe shocks with coil over springs, top links going forward and a Lotus style A frame to the bottom of the diff. That was attached with a tie rod end, which let go on SH1 at some pace outside the Burnham Army base. Later reported that it had been "crashed by a school teacher from Dunsandel". That was me. There was no crash, but it was a fairly interesting ride before I brought it to a halt with rear steering.

[GregT]

Met Gary Dixon at a funeral not long before his death. My wife worked with his and from memory it was someone from their work's funeral
Anyway, got talking to him as he'd seen the Mk2 jag we'd come in. Both of them were upfront about his prognosis. He said he wasn't far off finishing the Buckler but didn't think he'd have the time to finish it. There was a function to go to other side of town so I asked him if he'd ever driven a good Mk2. He said no he hadn't so I tossed him the keys and said see you there. His eyes lit up and a huge grin on his face. Very nice guy who deserved longer. And yes, we got the Jag back unmarked.

[Roger Dowding]

The car Mark Garmey has, when owned by me in 1970, sold so that I could buy a ticket to Europe, bought from John Money had a 1340 block, was supposed to have a steel crank and 85 mm pistons. The rear suspension had Woodhead Munroe shocks with coil over springs, top links going forward and a Lotus style A frame to the bottom of the diff. That was attached with a tie rod end, which let go on SH1 at some pace outside the Burnham Army base. Later reported that it had been "crashed by a school teacher from Dunsandel". That was me. There was no crash, but it was a fairly interesting ride before I brought it to a halt with rear steering.

Brave Man, Rhys ..

Have found another photo of the car - very poor image and trying to identify the number plate - it should be 759.025 - the 1961 - 64 plate Black letters on Yellow. a couple of the numbers can be read just - especially the last the " 5 ".

Colour image as found.
Is that Peter Preston in the driving seat.

in Monochrome

Have a note which I wrote some time ago about a plate "352.325 " which I thought was on the car - the original 1956 - 61 issue, White numbers on Deep Red with a star " * "..
Can anyone / Does anyone have anything to confirm this - a photo perhaps.

The " 759.025 " plates 1961 - 1964/65 are seen on several of the photos from Peter Preston's time with the car, racing at Teretonga and Renwick around 1963.

The story continues.

[Oldfart]

"Brave Man, Rhys .." Roger, why do you say that? It was my only car, and breakages can happen.
The bonnet bulge/scoop was not on the car when I had it. Nor were there louvres as it has now, the scoop over the downdraft Weber was "primitive". I'm guessing that many of the changes emanated from John Money. Photo to come. FWIW the car suffered no other damage apart from a bent radius rod, certainly no bodywork.

[Roger Dowding]

Rhys, perhaps I should have said " well handled ", having turned a Mini into a 3 wheeler in Titirangi, - it was a front wheel that broke too !!
Skidded to a halt to see the wheel disappear over the bank, early Mini's had weak wheels for a young fellow with more bravado than skill at the time. learnt from that and got a new pair of wheels -modified
- " Jolly Wide " wheels actually..

Look forward to seeing the photo and thanks for the info on the car.
Just been going through the Brown / Nolan spreadsheet on the NZ Bucklers that you sent me some time ago -good to have with all the other Buckler stuff in my archive..

[Roger Dowding]

Sent these photos recently of the Buckler that Mid Beckett [ M M Beckett ] had in 1961 - 1962.
Mentioned as being in Lower Hutt and at Levin in 1962, in Rhys Nolan's notes.

Four photos of the car - The photos are from Mid Beckett himself in 1961

Does anyone have more information on the car ??
Adrian Krzyzewski asked about the car as he is trying to help Mid Beckett who now has a Lotus Seven that raced at Ahuriri [ Napier ] races in 1964.

He notes, from the Graham Vercoe book, which mentions a Buckler that was a " blown " - supercharged Mark VI - the Arthur Harris car then went to Wally Bower then Groves and then Beckett, it went to David Crewdsen and was written off. Is this the same car.
There is also mention by Adrian of the Dewar car and the car that Peter Benbrook owns -
Did Dewar rebuild the Beckett car ?

- It seems that information is incorrect, or details of one car being applied to another.

Any information, please post here or PM me.

The bonnett on the car is quite distinctive, but have not seen other photos of a Buckler with the nose as pictured.

[Oldfart]

The Arthur Harris car is not the "Blue Brick". Remember what I have frequently said about that quoted resource.
Pete Benbrook's car is a recent creation using a new unused chassis. (By Dewar)