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.

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Super affordable supercar

9 April, 2026

The owner of this 1978 GTV, Stephen Perry, with only a skerrick of wishful thinking, says through half-closed eyes, “It is not dissimilar to the Maserati Khamsin”.
The nose is particularly trim and elegant from all angles, featuring cut-outs for the headlights echoing Alfa’s own exotic Montreal. The body is unfussy, lean with lots of glass, and the roofline shows a faint family resemblance — although on a much more angular car — to the curved waistline of the earlier 105s. The slightly hunched rear means there’s much more space in the rear seats than in the cramped rear of 105s — very much a 2+2 — and a generous boot. These more severe lines are not quite as endearing as the 105’s but they are still classy and clearly European.

Ford Vs Holden car show – April 12

2 April, 2026

The Cord found up in the rafters

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