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Don’t miss out on grabbing a copy of New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 295

23 June, 2015

You better grab the July issue of New Zealand Classic Car (Issue No. 295) while it’s still available in stores.

In this issue we celebrate the historic Kiwi one–two finish at this year’s famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. We also take a look back in time to 50 years ago, when a jet-powered Rover made its second and final race appearance at Le Mans.

Ford’s Deluxe series of flathead V8-powered pre-war coupes and convertibles have always been a favourite amongst classic car enthusiasts and hot rodders alike, such as our featured 1939 Ford Coupé convertible.

We go searching, but without much success, for Suzanne Somers or Halle Berry while road- testing Ford’s final Thunderbird.

We get up close and personal with the Ferrari 458 Speciale, the fastest version of the prancing horse’s jaw-dropping 458 Italia. Read our verdict.

If it’s bling you’re after, then read all about our in-depth look at the shiny art of chrome plating.    

Motorman – The saga of the Temple Buell Maseratis

30 January, 2026

Swiss-born Hans Tanner and American Temple Buell were apparently among the many overseas visitors who arrived in New Zealand for the Ardmore Grand Prix and Lady Wigram trophy in January 1959. Unlike Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Ron Flockhart, Harry Schell and Carroll Shelby who lined up for the sixth New Zealand Grand Prix that year, Tanner and Buell were not racing drivers but they were key players in international motor sport.
Neither the rotund and cheery Buell nor the multi-faceted Tanner were keen on being photographed and the word ‘apparently’ is used in the absence of hard evidence that Buell actually arrived in this country 64 years ago.

Luxury by design

15 January, 2026

How do you define luxury? To some it is being blinded with all manner of technological wizardry, from massaging heated seats to being able to activate everything with your voice, be it the driver’s side window or the next track on Spotify. To others, the most exorbitant price tag will dictate how luxurious a car is.
For me, true automotive luxury comes from being transported in unparalleled comfort, refinement, and smoothness of power under complete control. Forget millions of technological toys; if one can be transported here and there without the sensation of moving at all, that is luxury — something that is perfectly encapsulated by the original Lexus LS400. It was the first truly global luxury car from Toyota, and one that made the big luxury brands take notice.