SUBSCRIBE TO THE
MAGAZINE NOW
Facebook-f Instagram

Sheer beauty and exceptional performance in the latest New Zealand Classic Car

13 March, 2016

There is absolutely no doubt that for sheer beauty combined with exceptional performance, nothing compares with the elegant Mercedes-Benz 500K and 540K supercars of the 1930s. Chief among these is the 540K Roadster penned by Hermann Ahrens, epitomizing the company’s masterwork.

 

This month we take a look at a fabulous 540K Roadster. This massive, handcrafted, art deco sculpture was the absolute pinnacle of automotive desirability from the moment it was launched in Paris back in 1936.

We also take a look at a vehicle that was owned since new, then left unloved for many years — our featured Rover SD1 was lovingly resurrected by the grandson of the original owner. Read his story as he and other family members rally together to create something very special indeed.

We also buckle ourselves into the latest monster from across the ditch — the latest HSV Clubsport LSA R8 — and put it through its paces. Read our final verdict.  

It’s Targa time once again, so be sure to check out the Special Stage maps, itinerary, and competitor listing for this year’s Targa Bambina.

For those of you who were not able to attend the NZFMR Porsche Festival at Hampton Downs, we bring you all the action, thrills and spills in a full report plus coverage of Leadfoot Festival, the New Zealand Classic Car Show, and other events from around the country.

Plus our usual full complement of news items, along with other features such as Behind the Garage Door, Club Corner, and Editor’s Pick to keep you reading.  

Grab a print copy or a digital copy of New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 303 below:




Buy a print copy of the magazine for NZ$10


Buy a digital copy of the magazine for NZ$6.99

The motor car as an art form

12 March, 2026

We have certainly come a long way since the exhibition entitled 8 Automobiles, shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in the autumn of 1951, the first exhibition concerned with the aesthetics of motor car design.
It was here that the often-used term ‘rolling sculpture’ was coined by curator Philip C Johnson, director of the department of architecture and design, when he said, “An automobile is a familiar 20th century artefact, and is no less worthy of being judged for its visual appeal than a building or a chair. Automobiles are hollow, rolling sculptures, and their design refinements are fascinating. We have selected cars whose details and basic design suggest that automobiles, besides being America’s most useful objects, could be a source of visual experience more enjoyable than they now are.”

More to the point

6 March, 2026

This Daimler SP252 is so rare, few people know it exists. It’s one of a kind. It’s the only surviving, in fact the only SP252 ever completed; the would-be successor to the SP250 Daimler Dart. It is also the last sports car to have been designed by Jaguar’s legendary founder, Sir William Lyons.
Perhaps one of the original Dart’s biggest problems was it’s somewhat-divisive looks. It certainly went well enough to win fans, although Sir William wasn’t among them. It crushed the opposition in the Bathurst six-hour race, finishing five laps ahead of anyone else, and it was snapped up by police forces in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, as it was the fastest thing on the road.
So you’d think a stunning new body with the magic Lyons touch would have been a surefire success. Why this car never made it into production is still something of a mystery, as the official explanations barely stack up.