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Get an ex-Moss C-Type in your garage

19 November, 2015

 

In 2016, specialist auction house Bonhams will return to Monaco to  present an exclusive sale of 40 exceptional cars in a sale timed to coincide with the Grand Prix de Moncao Historique 2016.

The highlight of the sale — scheduled to take place on May 13, 2016 — will undoubtedly be XKC 011 — the works 1952 Jaguar C-Type once raced by Stirling Moss.

Built new for Jaguar’s racing team early in 1952, this C-Type had its on-track debut at Silverstone and was driven by Peter Walker. Fitted with special long-nose/long-tail aerodynamic bodywork, the car was then entered for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, but even with a driving team of Stirling Moss and Peter Walker, the Jaguar failed to finish.

Subsequently reverting to standard-body form, XKC 011 would make racing appearances at the 1952 Goodwood Nine Hours race, and set FTDs at Shelsley Walsh and Prescott hill climbs. In 1953, Moss took on the Mille Miglia in the C-Type, while Tommy Wisdom used it for that year’s Targa Florio. The Jaguar was later loaned to the Belgian race team Ecurie Francorchamps. and finally sold on. In later years, XKC 011 would become one of the best-known C-Types on the British club and, later, classic racing scene.

NZ Classic Car magazine, July/August 2026 issue 406, on sale now

21 June, 2026

Rebirth of a brilliant Grand Tourer –1973 Datsun 240Z
How often do we long for that ultimate dream sports car, and that dream comes true? This is about one of the most influential Japanese cars of all time, a car that changed the sports car market.
This is about much more than the restoration of an iconic classic sports car, the 240Z. It’s about the culmination of a dream over many years and the friendships made. It’s about the people who helped and the professionals whose approach ensured that the dream became a reality, an attitude typical of the industry we call ‘classic restoration experts’.
It is no surprise that the outcome after a lengthy search by Conrad Van der Geest for the right Datsun 240Z culminated in a trophy for the best Japanese car at this year’s Caroline Bay Beach, Rock N’ Hop at Timaru.
Originally a roadworthy car in running order, it was left-hand-drive and had been driven for several years by its Timaru owner, as Conrad explains.
“A neighbour, Dave Barron, knew I was looking for one and introduced me to the owner. I had seen the car being driven around Timaru. It was unusual for one of these coming originally from California, so it was a really clean car instead of rusty, as they are prone to rust. The story goes that the grandfather passed it onto his grandson, who decided to sell it, and that’s when it came over here.”
Every issue comes with our FREE huge wall poster; this issue, it’s our cover car for this edition, a 1973 Datsun 240Z

The butterfly effect

18 June, 2026

The man on the mountain bike pedalled over, taking it all in. Gazing in wonderment at this small Japanese coupe with butterfly doors, he said, “Wow, I have never seen one of these before. What is it?” When I told him it was a Toyota, he nearly fell off his bike.
The Toyota Sera is unique amongst ’90s Japanese coupes. The Sera, which is Italian for ‘evening’, can trace its roots back to Toyota’s AXV-II concept car. Launched as part of a trio of Toyota concept cars at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show, it shared its underpinnings with the P70 Toyota Starlet. The similarities ended there, thanks to the AXV-II’s low-slung and rounded coupe styling with butterfly doors. These doors were held upright by gas struts when fully open. Glass covered the upper section of the doors and the rear hatchback.
These features, much to everyone’s surprise, were carried over to the production Sera in 1990. Toyota marketed the Sera, which means ‘will be’ in Spanish and ‘princess’ in Hebrew, as a funky alternative to the much-loved MR2.