The greatest love of all: New Zealand Classic Car Show 2016

11 February, 2016

‘A Classic Love Story’ is the theme for this year’s New Zealand Classic Car Show, which is being held on Sunday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day) at the picturesque Ellerslie Racecourse. New Zealand Classic Car magazine is again the major sponsor, and we are proud to be associated with a show that is recognized as the country’s premier classic car event — now in its 43rd year.

The New Zealand Classic Car Show not only provides the opportunity for over 75 classic car clubs to show off their best classics to the public, but it also awards excellence in the highly coveted Masters’ Class and Team Event along with the Survivors’ Class.

The highly prized Team Event Shield is awarded to the club presenting the finest pair of same-marque restorations — you’ll find them on display in the Parade Ring, next to the Members’ Stand.

The original event, over four decades ago, was a Concours d’Elegance competition between the marques of various participating clubs. Today, clubs still compete for the same prestigious club shield.

The two-car teams are judged for presentation and originality by a team of skilled and experienced judges — the winning team then hosts the following year’s event. This year’s host club is the Porsche Club of New Zealand.

Seven teams are vying for this year’s Team Event, one of which has been entered by the Auckland Mustang Owners Club. The two award-winning 1969 Mach 1 Mustangs seen above have been lovingly restored to original condition and have been meticulously prepared especially for this event — be sure to stop by and check them out.  

If elegance and style takes your fancy then you’ll need to head over to the Newmarket Room, where New Zealand Classic Car will have the amazing 1938 Mercedes Benz 540K Roadster on display. This massive, handcrafted, art deco sculpture was the absolute pinnacle of automotive desirability from the moment it was launched in Paris back in 1936  — and it is a must-see.

Head along to the New Zealand Classic Car Show 2016 at Ellerslie Racecourse between 10am and 4pm on Sunday, February 14 to share in the greatest love of all — incredible, immaculate classic cars!

Lunch with… Jim Palmer

In the 1960s, Hamilton’s Jim Palmer won the prestigious ‘Gold Star’ four times and was the first resident New Zealander home in the New Zealand Grand Prix on five consecutive occasions. He shared the podium with Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart, and Chris Amon. The extent of his domination of the open-wheeler scene in New Zealand will probably never be matched or exceeded. Yet he’s always been modest about his achievements.

NZ Classic Car magazine, May/June 2025 issue 399, on sale now

Who would have thought it would become such a worldwide motorsport star when Ford introduced the humble Escort in 1967?
Its popularity, particularly in Mark 1 form, is now of iconic status. Our cover story for this issue is on a 1968 Ford Escort Mark 1, Alan Mann Racing Tribute. We talked with the owner of this very special Escort, finished in tribute also to the owner’s father.
“Most children love speed, and motorsport typically comes courtesy of a parent, and Elliott is no different. His engineer father, Mark, had a love for motorcycles and going fast; however, when children came along, he swapped two wheels for four, in the form of two Ford Escorts.
Little did Mark know it at the time, but the humble Escort was about to weave its way into the family fabric once and for all.
After emigrating from London to New Zealand, Elliott recalled one evening when he was 14 being invited to tag along by his father, helping a friend convert an Escort road car into a racing car. This was the pivotal moment when Elliott remembers the motorsport bug taking over. He knew he had to have his own one.”