Out with the old in with the older at Super Southern Swap Meet

15 March, 2016

A vast array of new and used automotive parts were up for grabs at the Super Southern Swap Meet, held at Kustoms Clubrooms in Christchurch on Sunday, March 13. The swap meet was open to automotive items only with everything from tyres, wheels, lights, and the usual unwanted hoardings available for a price.  Several complete cars were even amongst the items with a price tag on them. There was an Mk3 Zephyr that looked like it was pulled out from under some trees, and a 1930 Willys, which had a $10K price tag on it.

For those who arrived early and needed their caffeine fix, coffee and snacks were available. After looking around at the parts and parting with some money, it was time to have a look around the car display, which had a great selection of vehicles on show. Even though there was the threat of Cyclone Pam hitting, it was great to see that the weather remained clear and warm, with plenty of people making the most of it.

How to switch to an alternator

Car electrics can be daunting, but upgrading from a generator to an alternator need not be complicated if you know what pitfalls to avoid.
The challenges you may face when converting a 12-volt generating system to an alternator are:
• Finding brackets to mount the alternator to your engine
• Determining the wiring you want to use for your particular set-up
• Deciding whether you want to use an ammeter, an idiot light, or a voltmeter to monitor your classic’s charging system.

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

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.”