The Cord found up in the rafters

17 October, 2016

In 1987, whilst visiting a friend, Graham Gibson happened to glance up into the rafters of the large shed and noticed a pair of front mudguards that belonged to a Cord. He recognized them straight away because of the distinctive retractable headlights.

The Cord was purchased and taken back to Sydney and completely restored. Apparently it was in so many pieces that there were no two pieces bolted together. After a few months of scratching his head, wondering where to begin, Graham worked on the philosophy that the more parts he bolted together, the fewer there were to worry about — the final result speaks for itself.

We’ve included a few additional photos that didn’t make it into the November issue of New Zealand Classic Car — grab your copy below to read the full story.

Grab your copy of the November issue of New Zealand Classic Car (Issue No. 311), now!

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Escort services – 1968 Escort 1100 Restomod

19 September, 2024

The Escort started off as a 1968 1100 cc two-door sold-new in Britain. At some point it was retired from daily duty and set aside as a pet project for someone. When that project began is unclear, but much of the work was completed in 2014 including a complete rotisserie restoration.
By the end of 2014, it was finished but not completed. Its Wellingtonian owner bought it sight unseen from the UK and it landed here in early 2020. It was soon dispatched to Macbilt in Grenada North, Wellington for them to work their magic.
Macbilt had two instructions: to get the car through compliance for use on the road; and to improve the vehicle and finish the project so it drove as well as it looked. Looking at the car now, it has an amazing presence and stance. It can’t help but attract attention and a bevy of admirers.

Lunch with … Cary Taylor

11 September, 2024

Many years ago — in June 1995 to be more precise — I was being wowed with yet another terrific tale from Geoff Manning who had worked spanners on all types of racing cars. We were chatting at Bruce McLaren Intermediate school on the 25th anniversary of the death of the extraordinary Kiwi for whom the school was named. Geoff, who had been part of Ford’s Le Mans programme in the ’60s, and also Graham Hill’s chief mechanic — clearly realising that he had me in the palm of his hand — offered a piece of advice that I’ve never forgotten: “If you want the really good stories, talk to the mechanics.”
Without doubt the top mechanics, those involved in the highest echelons of motor racing, have stories galore — after all, they had relationships with their drivers so intimate that, to quote Geoff all those years ago, “Mechanics know what really happened.”

The Cord found up in the rafters

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