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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

“Gotcha!’’ The continuing tale of a Nissan/Datsun tragic – part two

8 May, 2026

In 1996, I was on a mission to buy a suitable pavement scorcher and visited the now-defunct Manukau City Car Fair. Unbelievably, among the sea of four-door utilitarian Japanese compacts was the absolute jewel in the crown, my automobile wet dream — a 1985 two-door R30 RS Nissan Skyline FJ20 Turbo five-speed manual in nice condition. The owner wanted $10,000 — a great deal.
But what did I do? I bailed out, paralysed by indecision. The money would have been a stretch, but it was the worst automotive choice I ever made. Instead, I went for a rusty Toyota Sprinter 8 Valve Twin Cam Coupé, which was pretty terminal from the get-go. I know. We’ve all done it, but there was really no excuse for passing up the Skyline, and I was haunted by that for years.

Last Tango in the Fast Lane

30 April, 2026

In the mid ’80s, I locked into a serious Nissan/Datsun performance obsession. It could have kicked off with my ’82 Datsun Sunny, though this would have been a bit of a stretch of the imagination, given its normally aspirated 1.2-litre motor — not the sort of thing to unleash radical road warrior dreams. But it did plant a seed, and it was a sweet little machine and surprisingly quick, in contrast to all the diabolical English offerings I had endured.
I was living in South Auckland at the time and was an unrepentant petrolhead. Motor racing was my drug of choice, and I followed the scene slavishly. Saloon car racing, with the arrival of the international Group A formula, was having a serious renaissance here and in Australia and Europe. There was suddenly an exotic air in local racing that had been absent for 15 years.
I was transfixed by this new frontier of motor racing that had hit our tracks in 1985–87 and the new array of machinery on display. In 1986, the Nissan Skyline RS DR30 made a blinding impression on me. The Australian Fred Gibson-run, Peter Jackson-sponsored team of George Fury and Glenn Seton were the fastest crew of the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship. But Kiwi legend Robbie Francevic snuck through to win the Aussie Championship in his Volvo 240T after a strong start and consistent finishes.