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This or that: semi-final showdown — wildcard edition

24 April, 2015

We’d love to know which one of these cars you like the best, so let us know in the comments below, and you’ll go in the draw to win a hardcover copy of our NZV8 Top 100 Cars — The Editor’s Pick book! The winner will be drawn on Wednesday morning New Zealand time, and contacted via Facebook.

2013–2014: ’57 Heaven (Issue No. 107). Back issue available here
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air (Cameron)

For a large number of people, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is ‘the’ dream car. The example you see here is the pinnacle of that dream — arguably the best presented ‘57 in New Zealand. Designed to look “just like a nice ‘57 with a set of wheels on it,” the Bel Air has more than achieved that — from the deep, black cherry paintwork, perfect chroming, and leather-clad interior, right down to the polished and detailed undercarriage. It’s powered by a 572ci big block crate motor, sitting on a full Art Morrison chassis — nothing but the best has been used on this car, and it sure shows.

2015: One step ahead (Issue No. 120). Back issue available here
1969 Plymouth Road Runner (Johnny Burkart)

It was good enough to grace the cover of our 10th birthday issue, and win the wildcard entry into the semi-finals of this very competition. Johnny Burkart’s 1969 Road Runner screams tough. From the Procharged 550ci Hemi under the hood to the Hoosier shod beadlock rims out back, and slammed stance. Is there a tougher street car in the country? If so, we’d love to see it!

Travelling companion

It’s easy to see why the Morris Minor Traveller was one of the best-loved variants of the Morris Minor. Introduced in 1953, it was equipped with the same independent torsion bar front suspension, drum brakes, and rack and pinion steering as its saloon sibling but, with their foldable rear seat increasing versatility, many Travellers were used as trade vehicles, says Derek Goddard. Derek and Gail Goddard, the owners of this superbly restored example, have run Morris Minors since before they were married in 1974.
“Our honeymoon vehicle was a blue Morris Minor van — it was a rust bucket,” says Derek.

Super Leicht Gullwing

It’s fair to say that nothing much in the classic Mercedes world gets past Mercedes-Benz Club stalwart Garry Boyce so it wasn’t surprising to learn that around 15 years ago he had sniffed out an extremely rare 300SL lightweight Gullwing as well as a 1958 300SL Roadster hiding away in the Waikato. The cars were not for sale but Garry eventually managed to persuade the owner to allow him and his restoration team to take a look at the Roadster. They discovered a very distressed but largely unmolested car. The car was so original that the body had never been off the chassis, meaning most of the parts and fittings were still present and correct, as they had been fitted by the factory.