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The winning issue of New Zealand Classic Car

7 April, 2016

 


New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 304 gives you an in-depth look at the individual, survivor, and team winners at the 2016 New Zealand Classic Car show held in February. We drive the new Ford Mustangs, and we introduce our newest feature ‘Classic Marketplace’ covering the world of classic car auctions and investments with James Nicholls Sotheby’s Australia. Don’t miss all of our regular features from Cars for Sale (including two gems from down south in the Editor’s Pick section), and a full round-up of all the classic motorsport action from around the country.

2016 New Zealand Classic Car Show

Individual Winner: 1961 E-Type Roadster

Follow the journey of Simon Crispe’s immaculate E-Type from Scotland to Dubai, to these fair shores and see what goes into building a winning car.

Teams Winner: Team Porsche

Dean Huston was service manager at Continental Porsche for many years so naturally, his 1970 911 is something special. A story of true camaraderie and passion.

David and Michelle Mackrell’s 356A is a gorgeous piece of machinery treated to the best by the best. Their passion for the brand knows no limits.

Survivor Winner: MGTF

This fantastic little MG has a wonderful history and story that begins 80 years ago.

Grab your copy of New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 304 to check out the stories behind all of these beautiful cars. The magazine is in store now, or you can buy a copy below:




Buy a print copy of the magazine for NZ$10


Buy a digital copy of the magazine for NZ$6.99

NZ Classic Car magazine, July/August 2026 issue 406, on sale now

21 June, 2026

Rebirth of a brilliant Grand Tourer –1973 Datsun 240Z
How often do we long for that ultimate dream sports car, and that dream comes true? This is about one of the most influential Japanese cars of all time, a car that changed the sports car market.
This is about much more than the restoration of an iconic classic sports car, the 240Z. It’s about the culmination of a dream over many years and the friendships made. It’s about the people who helped and the professionals whose approach ensured that the dream became a reality, an attitude typical of the industry we call ‘classic restoration experts’.
It is no surprise that the outcome after a lengthy search by Conrad Van der Geest for the right Datsun 240Z culminated in a trophy for the best Japanese car at this year’s Caroline Bay Beach, Rock N’ Hop at Timaru.
Originally a roadworthy car in running order, it was left-hand-drive and had been driven for several years by its Timaru owner, as Conrad explains.
“A neighbour, Dave Barron, knew I was looking for one and introduced me to the owner. I had seen the car being driven around Timaru. It was unusual for one of these coming originally from California, so it was a really clean car instead of rusty, as they are prone to rust. The story goes that the grandfather passed it onto his grandson, who decided to sell it, and that’s when it came over here.”
Every issue comes with our FREE huge wall poster; this issue, it’s our cover car for this edition, a 1973 Datsun 240Z

The butterfly effect

18 June, 2026

The man on the mountain bike pedalled over, taking it all in. Gazing in wonderment at this small Japanese coupe with butterfly doors, he said, “Wow, I have never seen one of these before. What is it?” When I told him it was a Toyota, he nearly fell off his bike.
The Toyota Sera is unique amongst ’90s Japanese coupes. The Sera, which is Italian for ‘evening’, can trace its roots back to Toyota’s AXV-II concept car. Launched as part of a trio of Toyota concept cars at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show, it shared its underpinnings with the P70 Toyota Starlet. The similarities ended there, thanks to the AXV-II’s low-slung and rounded coupe styling with butterfly doors. These doors were held upright by gas struts when fully open. Glass covered the upper section of the doors and the rear hatchback.
These features, much to everyone’s surprise, were carried over to the production Sera in 1990. Toyota marketed the Sera, which means ‘will be’ in Spanish and ‘princess’ in Hebrew, as a funky alternative to the much-loved MR2.