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What awaits within New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 298

15 October, 2015

October’s issue of New Zealand Classic Car (Issue No. 298) is now on sale, and, as always, it’s packed from cover to cover with some of the country’s finest motors.

On the front cover sits a photograph quite rare and difficult to replicate — a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 paired with its older, similarly coloured friend, a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302. We compare, contrast, and celebrate two of the best to bestow the blue oval, and we also delve into the history of the Boss. If you’re into Mustangs, you’re going to love this.

New Zealand Classic Car regular Gerard Richards recently spent a solid chunk of time trekking across Mexico and Cuba, and — perhaps unsurprisingly — in his travels he stumbled upon stacks and stacks of amazing vehicles. Certain areas in South America can have the fascinating appearance of being frozen in time, with old Fairlanes, Datsuns, De Sotos, and Bel Airs roaming the streets as if it were still the swinging ’60s.

Ford enthusiasts will further rejoice when they find our comprehensive article on one of the true icons of the international Group A touring-car formula — this Eggenburger Ford Sierra RS500. Spearheaded by Ruedi Eggenburger, his famously liveried gang of Texaco Sierras took over the formula, winning races and championships the world over. While the history of this car, which now resides in New Zealand, is somewhat blighted by one particularly wet day on Mount Panorama, it’s still an incredible monument to a memorable era in motorsport.

If new cars are more your style, Issue No. 298 also sees us take on the strenuous task of reviewing the new Bentley Mulsanne Speed. With a price tag of $635,000, you can expect something more than just four wheels, four doors, an engine, and some seats — and more is what you get. Under the bonnet is a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8, capable of wafting one along in both comfort and brisk speed. And while you’re on the move, there is a plethora of toys and gizmos for you to play with (strenuous, remember?).

Along with all of that quality glossy goodness, Issue No. 298 features all of the latest in classic car news, from the unveiling of Omaka Cars’ latest restoration, to some of New Zealand’s more interesting restorations in progress, and Donn Anderson’s words on the late and quite great Frank Matich. For your latest 112-page serving of classic cars, check out your local, or even grab a copy below!

Last Tango in the Fast Lane

30 April, 2026

In the mid ’80s, I locked into a serious Nissan/Datsun performance obsession. It could have kicked off with my ’82 Datsun Sunny, though this would have been a bit of a stretch of the imagination, given its normally aspirated 1.2-litre motor — not the sort of thing to unleash radical road warrior dreams. But it did plant a seed, and it was a sweet little machine and surprisingly quick, in contrast to all the diabolical English offerings I had endured.
I was living in South Auckland at the time and was an unrepentant petrolhead. Motor racing was my drug of choice, and I followed the scene slavishly. Saloon car racing, with the arrival of the international Group A formula, was having a serious renaissance here and in Australia and Europe. There was suddenly an exotic air in local racing that had been absent for 15 years.
I was transfixed by this new frontier of motor racing that had hit our tracks in 1985–87 and the new array of machinery on display. In 1986, the Nissan Skyline RS DR30 made a blinding impression on me. The Australian Fred Gibson-run, Peter Jackson-sponsored team of George Fury and Glenn Seton were the fastest crew of the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship. But Kiwi legend Robbie Francevic snuck through to win the Aussie Championship in his Volvo 240T after a strong start and consistent finishes.

NZ Classic Car magazine, May/June 2026 issue 405, on sale now

26 April, 2026

Reincarnation of the snake
We are captivated by a top-quality sports car
The Shelby NZ build team at Matamata Panelworks has endured a long and challenging journey, culminating with the highly anticipated public unveiling of the 427SC and firing up of its sonorous V8 at the 2026 Ayrburn Classic Festival of Motoring in Queenstown on February 20. This is a New Zealand-built car with loads of character and potential.
The car is now back in Matamata, and I finally have an opportunity to get up close and personal with it. But before then, the question that must be asked is, “Why would ya?”
The first answer is easy, as mentioned in the last issue of New Zealand Classic Car (#404). It was a great way to use up all the surplus Mustang parts acquired while converting brand-new Mustangs into Shelbys. The unused new Mustang parts would be great in any kit car, but the 427SC in front of me cannot be classified as one.
This is not a kit car. The reality is that it is a high-quality, factory-made production car.
Possibly the second answer is because the CEO of Matamata Panelworks, Malcolm Sankey, wanted to build a replica of the car that is a distant relation to the Shelby Mustangs scattered around his showroom floor, a car created long before the first Mustang was even thought of, and the brainchild of Carroll Shelby back in the early ‘60s.