Holden
August 6th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
After a three-year absence Targa NZ has returned to it’s roots, completing a media deal with Parkside Media. The agreement will see offical pre- and post-event Targa NZ coverage delivered across Parkside’s three niche motoring magazines — NZ Classic Car, NZ Performance Car and NZV8 — to a combined readership of 550,000* readers. Targa NZ events will also feature on Parkside Media’s popular NZ Performance Car TV and NZV8 TV television shows.
Peter Martin, Event Director of Targa NZ said, “It’s time to break down the boundaries of the stereotypical Targa competitor. The addition of magazines targeting the younger driver and the V8 driver broadens our marketing scope. Let’s encourage the younger driver to participate and create a competition within, between those Ford and Holden V8 owners. It’s not all about winning, it’s about having fun in a controlled racing environment.”
Michael White, Parkside Media’s co-owner and Marketing Manager said, “We are delighted to welcome back Targa NZ. Along with the editorial pages we will dedicate the events in our three motoring magazines, our associated websites which now make up a big part of our media scope will play an active role linking to the new Targa NZ website. For the main seven-day Dunlop Targa NZ event we will produce a 28-page program to be bundled with NZ Classic Car magazine that will allow competitors to give exposure to their personal sponsors. That issue will also include an event poster. It’s an exciting prospect for us,” he added.
The Dunlop Targa NZ is less than three months away and competitor spots are filling up fast. International interest is mounting with six overseas entries already recieved. The week-long event, now in its 15th year runs from October 25 to November 1 taking in some of the best driving roads between the start in Auckland and finish in Wellington.
To find out more. Click here to visit the Targa NZ website.
*Nielsen Media Research Results Q3 2008 — Q2 2009 (July 2008 — June 2009)
Photo Credit: Groundsky Photography
August 6th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
While researching for a book on Kiwis’ passion for Holden cars, Tim caught up with two North Taranaki families with shining examples of Holden wagons from the crossover period from Kingswood to Commodore
At the end of the ’70s Holden went through one of the biggest periods of change in product direction. The big Kingswood era of the ’70s, based on the original and popular HQ model dating back to 1971, was gradually phased out in favour of a smaller German Opel-based car, which was to be the original basic Holden Commodore of 1978.
Long favoured by farmers and later by surfers, Kingswood wagons in top condition are now hard to come by, as many of them have led faithful but hard-working lives and no longer exist, or are in shoddy shape. The same goes for many of the earlier Holden Commodore wagons, worked hard and then scrapped or traded up for newer models.
Read the rest of this entry »June 18th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
A 1970 Ford Falcon with a prestigious racing history and an estimated price of $385,000 will be auctioned at the Turners Classic and Collectibles Auction this Saturday.
The restored XW GTHO Phase 2 has sparked interest from classic car collectors and the question on everyone’s lips is just how much will it sell for?¨ ¨Todd Hunter, General Manager Sales and Marketing, is expecting a crowd of car collectors and Ford enthusiasts to see the Falcon as well as 40 other lots. ¨ ¨”The Phase 2 was bought New Zealand-new by the late racing driver Ernie Sprague in 1970 and was raced in the South Island saloon events. He sold it to another racer – Pat Monaghan – and its third owner John Gillard also circuit raced the car” says Todd, ¨ ¨The car spent 25 years idle with an Auckland collector and was purchased in 2001 by its current owner who has restored it meticulously to become a collector’s showpiece.
The Classic and Collectibles Auction also features a 1961 Chrysler 300G — a beautiful and rare example of a 1960s car with full matching set of numbers that has been re-painted and re-chromed. It has optional six-way electric front seats and is estimated to sell for $74,000.¨ ¨Other cars for auction include a 1972 Holden Torana XUI Racecar and a 1974 Ford Falcon XBGT in Tropicano green with black accents, estimated to sell for $65,000 and $50,000 respectively.
Another lot expected to generate a stir is the 1956 Jaguar Mark 7 with just four previous owners and an estimated value of $27,500. ¨¨Todd says there are plenty of opportunities for people looking to purchase their next restoration project. ¨ ¨”We have an old beauty in a 1972 Morris Marina TC Coupe. It’s got about 50k on the clock and has had the classic ‘only careful lady owner’ since 1972. It would be a great do-up job and has an estimated sale price of $3,500.”
The auction is the third of five Classic and Collectable Auctions for 2009 and will be held at Turners Auctions Penrose this Saturday 20 June at 2:30pm. Viewings will take place on Friday 19 June 9am till 6pm and Saturday from 9am.
The full list of vehicles can be found at www.turners.co.nz
May 26th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
The June 09 issue of NZ Classic Car magazine is on the shelves now, so grab your copy today.
In this month’s issue our cover car is a Wellington-based stunning 1974 Holden Monaro GTS, we also feature a Chevrolet Corvair-powered Karmann-Ghia. We have a visitors guide to checking out classic vehicles in Wellington, and we talk to a kiwi rallying ace about his Fiat collection. In our ‘Future Classics’ section we focus on the 6th, 7th and 8th generation Mazda RX-7s and we have a buyers guide for collectable European hot-hatches. Inside you’ll find the second instalment of our three-part series on NZ racing legend Dennis Marwood and our motorsport flashback goes way back to June 1939.
All this a Lotus Elise SC and more articles, news, reviews and technical support to keep you informed on the world of classic motoring.
May 7th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
Dave Sturrock always dreamed of having an Aussie Group C car; the dream came true, but not as he had imagined¦
Introduced in 1967 by GM Australia, the Torana model name was chosen from the aboriginal word meaning ‘to fly’, which in its race-oriented versions it most certainly did. It is surprising that the A9X Torana isn’t an international holy grail for collectors, though one must remember the Torana is indigenous to Australia, and only familiar to the relative few who watched the Australian touring car scene in the 1970s. It is one of the most desirable sports saloons ever, but outside the colonies little is known about this muscle-bound sports sedan.
In Europe and the States the Camaros, Mustangs and Falcons were masters of the big-banger series on the tracks, and only where pure agility came in could the Escorts, Capris and BMWs steal their limelight. Down under the Holden team had already worked out that given sufficient grunt, a small-bodied car could come close to out-manoeuvring the big V8s on every track; and if that was the case, why not put a V8 in there anyway, and finish the job off?
The Torana A9X is to the ’70s what the Cosworth Sierra RS500 was to the ’80s, only much, much rarer. If Ford had fitted a 5.0-litre V8 to a Capri in Europe the car would be a million dollar collector’s piece. Luckily, we have the A9X to ourselves. Sure, a real A9X Torana is highly sought after in Australasia, but it is somewhat of an enigma on the world scene.
Read the rest of this entry »February 17th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
Traditional classics got top dollar at the recent Shannons Sydney Summer auction, showing that keen buyers are still there for the right vehicle.
Strong, period colours were obviously popular with the auction crowd of more than 400, with two collectible Australian muscle cars comfortably exceeding their estimates.
A one owner ‘March the 17th green’ 1972 Holden LJ Torana GT-R XU-1 sedan sold after strong bidding for $70,000 (All amounts in AUS dollars)- well above its $45,000-$55,000 guiding range. The distinctive ‘Bathurst’ sedan in very original, unmolested condition was sold with a complete history, including its original new car documents.
Similar enthusiastic bidding saw a rare ‘Magenta’ three speed manual 1971 Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E37 coupe sell for $62,000 compared with its $45,000-$55,000 pre-auction estimate. One of only 20 E37-optioned Chargers built in this striking colour, the Charger was initially used as a demonstrator. The car’s Magenta paintwork was refreshed in the late 1980s and after spending most of the 1990s in storage, its straight-six engine was rebuilt to near E38 ‘Bathurst’ specification.
A desirable left hand drive 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible recently repainted in the correct period colours of Teal and White with matching upholstery sold strongly on estimate for $51,000.
Another outstanding result at the auction was the $24,000 achieved by an immaculate, fully restored 1964 MGB finished in ‘Buttermilk’ with matching tan trim. The locally built three-bearing car was No 984 off the BMC production line in Sydney and had completed just 7,000 miles since its total nut and bolt rebuild
February 7th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
In Australia the battle for supremacy at Australia’s Great Race continued as Ford and Holden fought tooth and nail for victory
Torana is aboriginal for ‘to fly’, and in 1972 the new SL/R 5000 looked as if it had wings when compared to its rivals. In actual fact, the car looked quite plain with the exception of a rear spoiler, sporty wheel trims and SLR 5000 graphics. Then you opened the bonnet and your perception of this ‘plain Jane’ changed remarkably.
In spite of the hysteria caused by the sheer thought of a V8-engined Torana back in mid 1972, it’s bizarre that the LH V8s attracted so little criticism. The new-fangled cars were indeed bigger and heavier but they were still called Torana, and with V8 engines planned to power Kingswoods, Premiers, Monaros and even Statesmans they looked as if they would live up to the name.
This was the new car that would represent GMH at The Mountain, the successor to the already legendary XU-1. Regardless of their limitations, the LH Toranas were more competent family cars than their predecessors. Appreciated by their new owners, the extra 102mm of interior width and a smoother, quieter ride were attributes much needed for transporting four or five people plus luggage.
Read the rest of this entry »January 23rd, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
If you thought the global economic slowdown currently affecting the automotive world wouldn’t find its way down to NZ, you thought wrong. Luxury American brand Cadillac is no longer coming to New Zealand and Australia as previously planned (click here for news item). GM Holden chairman Mark Reuss made the announcement Thursday, Reuss said it was a “very painful decision” for him to make but he believed it was the right one given the current economic climate.
While not dismissing the proposal completely of the GM Premium Brand coming to NZ and Australia he said it would be indefinitely delayed. Given the current market conditions, he felt the timing was wrong to introduce Caddy, which would be a niche brand here, into our tough market. He said that he had spoken to the three New Zealand dealers who had taken up the Cadillac brand and all had agreed with his decision. That comes as no big surprise, since it’s likely none of them had great interest in seeing shiny, expensive Cadillacs collecting dust on their lots.
General Motors will now turn its attention to strengthening the Holden brand in NZ while it waits and hopes for the market to rebound. As for Cadillac, the door’s been opened now, but clearly only when economic conditions are right
Page 7 of 8« First«...45678» 
