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Celebrating 25 years of Canterbury USA Day

8 November, 2016

 

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“Whether you like Mustangs, Camaros, Impalas, or Cobras, there was a great mix of America’s finest parked up for the viewing public at Canterbury USA Day 2016”

Hundreds of people arrived at Gladstone Park in Woodend, just north of Christchurch, on November 6 for the 25th Anniversary of the Canterbury USA Day. Hosted by the American Classic Car Club of Canterbury, this is a popular event not only for the owners of any vehicle of American origin, but for any petrolhead who loves a great car show. Numbers appeared to be up on previous years with the rugby field almost filled by late morning. 

Vehicles attending numbered around 400, so no matter your taste, there was something for everyone. The newer-model Dodge Challengers appear to be popular at the moment, with a number of sharp-looking cars on display.

One of the first cars to greet you was this cool-looking Dodge Charger R/T. As if it wasn’t tough enough, the owner’s added a blower just for that extra punch

Rangiora locals Owen and Marg Frew are the proud owners of this stunning 1934 Buick Phaeton. Just 587 were built, with 143 being exported around the world. This was the only one to make its way to our shores. Back in the day, this car could be purchased for $1675.

Despite a number of Corvettes being on display, this 1970 Stingray stood out from the others with its bright Prowler Yellow Prizmatique paint. The ’Vette was built in the US by Luscher’s Automotive in New Jersey, before heading out to New Zealand. Powering this beast is a fuel-injected ZZ502 crate motor.

No American car show would be complete without an AC Cobra replica. Even in its unfinished state, this one still looks like it means business.

Golden Bay’s Graham Balck calls himself the custodian of this very cool 1929 Studebaker Commander. Power is from a 250ci eight-cylinder engine. The car was restored prior to a big rally back in 2000.

Mustangs had a large presence at the show, but this one was certainly more interesting. Believed to be one of the oldest Mustangs in the world, possibly the oldest in New Zealand, the car was built on April 6, 1964, 11 days before the launch weekend of April 17–19 when 22,000 Mustangs were sold. This one was sold on April 17 to Denise Monti, who owned the car until 2004, and it is now owned by Garry and Loretta Jackson of Amberley. The car has a 260ci V8, automatic and power steering, and has travelled just 51,000 miles from new.

Restored by Muscle and Classic Restorations in Christchurch, this 1932 Cadillac is simply a styling masterpiece. This V12 Roadster is one of only nine built, is one of only four known to survive today, and is the only example outside of the US. The car has a long list of extras fitted to it and really needs to be viewed in person for the amazing workmanship to be appreciated.

Canterbury USA Day 2016 award winners

  • Moorhouse Muscle Best Pre ’49: ’34 Buick Phaeton, Owen and Marg Frew
  • Albert Street Panel and Paint Rangiora Best ’50s Car: ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air, Graeme Trillo
  • Dean’s Auto Electric Best ’60s Car: ’63 Corvette Stingray, Kevin Sullivan
  • Mustang Centre Best ’70s Car: ’73 Dodge Charger, Wayne Gibson
  • Avon City Ford (Parts) Best ’80s Car: ’85 Excalibur Phaeton Mk2, Trevor Mitchell
  • County Cars Woodend Best ’90s Car: ’98 Chevrolet Camaro
  • Avon City Ford Rangiora Best 2000 and Newer Car: ’06 Shelby CS8, Dean Stavreff
  • Burkes Metalworks Best Hot Rod: ’32 Coupe, Maurie Barrington
  • Moorhouse Muscle Best Original: ’30 Model A Truck, Dean Inwood
  • Dean’s Auto Electric Best Commercial: ’53 Ford F100, Kevin Jellyman
  • Trevor Ian Armstrong Memorial Trophy: ’78 Pontiac Trans Am, Brendan Wright
  • Men at Work Peoples’ Choice Award: ’32 Cadillac Roadster, Ivan Harris
  • Men at Work Best in Show: ’68 Dodge Charger, Chris Blackmore

Top 10

  • ’32 Cadillac Roadster, Ivan Harris
  • ’47 Ford Coupe, Kerry Walsh
  • ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air – Allan McDowell
  • ’58 Ford Thunderbird, Neil Hawker
  • ’66 Ford Mustang, Glenn & Kathryn Martin
  • ’67 Ford Fairlane, Andy Hurst
  • ’68 Dodge Charger, Chris Blackmore
  • ’68 Chevrolet Camaro, Gary Miller
  • ’76 Dodge Monaco, Scott Blackadder
  • ’16 Ford Mustang Backdraft Cobra

NZ Classic Car magazine, November/December 2026 issue 408, on sale now

18 October, 2026

Star status for classic Porsche
A long search ends: finding the right car
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, the Porsche 911 heralded an iconic lineage of sports cars, known for their exceptional performance, remarkable racing reliability, and adaptability, second to none.
New Zealand Classic Car, in conjunction with Star Insure, recently conducted a photo competition to find 13 suitably impressive classics to grace the pages of the magazine’s 2027 calendar. A flood of entries showed that Kiwis recognise eye-catching designs and restorations. Many are handy with a camera, too, and have entered some outstanding results.
The choice was not straightforward, with multiple stunning entries, and Geoff Long’s immaculate 1990 Porsche 911 (964 Factory designation) took top honours. Fortunately, Geoff had Ethan Hanlon handy to take the accompanying photos while working in his office.
“I’ve got a young employee who is doing work experience in my office at the moment, and he’s a very avid photographer. So, I said, I’ll buy you breakfast and then why don’t we go and take some photos. He found the right spot, and he spent over an hour photographing.”
Originally sold new in Japan, hence the right-hand drive, the Porsche was resident there for four years before being exported to New Zealand, as Geoff recalls.
“I bought it two-and-a-half years ago, but I looked for it for over two years, because it’s just the colour scheme, interior and exterior I was after. The service file that came with it is extensive; I mean, it’s been beautifully looked after, which is what I wanted to continue, as it does get driven. It doesn’t sit in the garage.”

Classics on the green

16 October, 2026

Many pretenders vie for the title, but the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance gets my vote as the biggest thing since sliced bread.
The 71st edition of the world’s pre-eminent and best-known concours event featured 28 classes, judged by a 180-strong jury, which also chose the recipients of 26 special awards.
The size of the event, the number of visitors, and, most mind-numbingly, the sheer number of amazing cars, is almost overwhelming. There are so many quality cars to gaze upon, and so many people gazing at those cars, that it is almost impossible to cover everything.
Notable among the many attractions were the centenary celebrations of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an elegant Talbot-Lago Grand Sport, Hermann Graber’s Swiss-bodied cabriolets and coupés, the jewels of Otto Vu Italian V8s, early Alfa Romeos, Lincoln and its centenary, and cars with unorthodox propulsion systems.