Enthusiast Essentials: what we’ve been checking out this month

3 October, 2016

With the diverse range of vehicles covered by our motoring titles, New Zealand Classic Car, NZV8, and NZ Performance Car, it’s clear that the car enthusiast demographic is incredibly varied. So how do you curate a shopping basket to cater for a car person, whether they’re into imports, V8s, or classics? Our editors have discovered a heap of products this month, and there’s sure to be something that every car enthusiast will want to add to their collection.

Braking power

These Project Mu two-piece SCR-Pro rotors have all the features you will find in a race option, packaged to fit onto standard cars. Perfect for all the weekend warriors, the cast-iron design has high levels of carbon and alloy, incorporating eight straight slots and an advanced core-vane design to improve heat dissipation — the included anodized, billet-alloy disc hats also make them lighter than OEM rotors.

To get your hands on the SCR-Pro rotors contact the North Shore Toyota team on 09 444 8825, or visit facebook.com/NSToyotaParts.

Glass galore

Whether you’ve got a street machine, a classic cruiser or a dedicated track car, Sandbrooks has just the windscreen you need. Standard windscreens can be sourced for most car makes and models, and they also offer a range of Rennenglas road-legal heated laminated glass windscreens — remove your heavy heater and install a heated windscreen to reduce on-track weight.

Prices vary depending on application and requirements, so contact the team on 09 278 9816, email [email protected] for more information, or visit sandbrooks.co.nz.

Drop in stock

Drop spindles are the best way to lower your car’s front end without adversely affecting suspension geometry — great for improving both stance and handling. Rods by Reid now has stock of its high-quality LVVTA-approved two-inch drop spindles to suit Holden front ends and its own LVVTA type-approved front suspension systems.

A pair goes for $975 (excl. GST), but get in quick — these drop spindles are very popular! Give the team a call on 07 552 5977, or visit online at rodsbyreid.co.nz or facebook.com/rodsbyreid.

The sound of power

If you’re after a quality muffler or resonator for your build, it’s hard to look past the range of AdrenalinR items manufactured right here in New Zealand. They’re made in-house from T304-grade stainless steel, so quality is assured, and they include patented spiral louvre baffles which disrupt and disperse sound waves, resulting in a lower decibel reading while increasing gas flow through the spiral scavenging effect. The louvre baffles have a 4.5-inch body diameter, and can be made to a range of inlet sizes — from two-inch to 3.5-inch. Need to know more? For more information visit adrenalinr.com or call 06 870 3526.

Charge to go

No garage is complete without a jump starter, so make yours a Jumpspower AMG15. Suitable for jump-starting up to 12-cylinder petrol or diesel engines under seven litres, the AMG15 also doubles as a portable power bank for smaller electrical devices. Its rugged case is resistant to both water and dust ingress, making it a perfect all-rounder suitable even for marine and heavy-duty workshop applications.

It’s priced at $259, and you can find more information by visiting jumpspower.co.nz.

Cool coolers

Start pinching the pennies, offer to vacuum for the rest of the year, or just beg the other half, because you’ve got to get yourself a Beerbowser. Beerbowser fridges are hand-crafted in New Zealand to replicate old-school petrol bowsers from the ’50s and ’60s, and they don’t just look the part — built around a Haier fridge, they’re brand new and come with a 12-month warranty. Priced from $2499 (incl. GST) and with a range of options available, visit beerbowser.co.nz or phone 09 971 8191 to complete your man cave!

Heritage Collection

The legend of the XKSS lives on through the Jaguar Heritage Collection — a celebration of this truly iconic vehicle. Inspired by the car’s rebellious personality and the personalities who’ve loved it, this exclusive range of luxury accessories and collectables is injected with the classic, understated style of the era. View the collection online at jaguar.co.nz/collection, or enquire with your nearest Jaguar retailer.

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.”