Five sports cars you can park in your garage now

13 May, 2015

They say that the best time to buy a convertible is during the colder, wetter months — most buyers are looking for something cozier, increasing the chances of you picking up a rag-top bargain

How about Triumph’s TR6? For many, the last of the traditional TRs before the controversial, wedge-shaped TR7 turned up. A real hair-chested British sports car, the TR6 comes with a beefy six-cylinder motor, a four-speed manual transmission with overdrive, and a well-appointed cockpit — and with plenty of specialists out there, owning and maintaining one of these charismatic sports cars should be a pleasure.

Down in Canterbury we found this smart-looking 1971 TR6 in Pimento Red with a black interior. It looks like plenty of work has been done on this good-looking Triumph, and it boasts a new soft-top and is fitted with wire wheels — a rare option on these cars.

Want loads of grunt at your disposal? If you really want to burn up some rubber, you really can’t go wrong with something like an AC Cobra. Of course, genuine cars are a tad expensive these days — but there are plenty of replicas around. We spotted this Kiwi Race Cars–built AC Cobra 427SC — it looks the bee’s knees despite the fact that, rather than the more usual Ford V8, this example has been fitted with a 383ci Chevrolet. With 460bhp on tap you just know that this Cobra will be a barrel of fun out on the road or racetrack. And, just in case you didn’t know, Kiwi Race Cars are a New Zealand firm based in Wellington.

If style is your thing, there’s not much that can compete with a ’30s classic sports car. However, unless you’re a skilled home mechanic running a pre-war car, they can be a bit of a mission. A good alternative would be to go for a car with all the style, but featuring more modern running gear. If that’s the path you choose then you’ll be taken with this gorgeous 2007-built Suffolk Jaguar SS100 — a handsome recreation of the renowned 1938 SS100. Powered by a 4.2-litre Jaguar XK engine you can be assured of good performance, with confident on-road abilities provided by all-independent suspension and servo-assisted disc brakes. Style, of course, is paramount — so wire wheels, Connolly leather upholstery, and deep pile Wilton carpets are all on the menu.

For those looking for a genuinely classic British roadster, you really can’t go past the MGB — reliable, good-looking, and supported by a massive worldwide network of clubs and specialists, you can’t wrong with one of these Abingdon-built classics. We looked around and found this great-looking 1972 MGB for you — its been subjected to loads of work, including a fresh 1798cc engine and differential, plus it has just been repainted. As a bonus, this car is one of the sought-after chrome-bumper models — get in quick!

If you want a sports car that really turns heads, and you have a penchant for V8-powered US rag-top cruisers, we found this bargain-priced C4 Chevrolet Corvette down in Christchurch. Looking mean in black, you’ll either love or hate this car’s bright-red interior — we think it looks the biz! Low mileage as well!

NZ Classic Car magazine, July August 2025 issue 400, on sale now

Good for the soul, a dose of Hemi Orange – Chrysler’s champion Charger
The Australian-developed Chrysler Charger was a game changer for the company in 1971, as it faced a faltering start introducing its new VH range. The stylish big coupe signalled a massive change of direction and emphasis for Chrysler.
Auckland racing driver Rod Coppins raced successfully in Australia and New Zealand. Rod found success behind the wheel of a couple of Chargers, and it is a special E49 R/T in the custody of Mike Todd for some years, that is our feature car.
A full restoration of this car has been completed at Auto Restorations (AR) in Christchurch. We recently sampled the car, ready to be shipped back to Mike and spoke to AR’s Harry Dawber, leading the team who completed the superb restoration of this rare piece of NZ motor racing history.
I mentioned that Chrysler Chargers were never built to this standard as we walked around the gleaming Charger in its Hemi Orange colour scheme.
“We took a lot of time getting those shut lines exactly right. It’s been a great car to work on, and the paint and trim have been very well done by the team here.”

Britannia rules the roads – Royal Tour Cars – part 2

Royal rollers and fancy Fords
Ford Zodiacs had transported the Queen Mother during her tour in 1958 but five years on, their glitz had perhaps faded a bit too much for an actual monarch. As there was no longer a convertible version of Britain’s Zephyr or Zodiac on offer, Ford looked to their American arm for a replacement, finding it in the huge Ford Galaxie. The Public Service Garage purchased the car at around £3000 for royal tour work and VIP transport.