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Full classic diversity in New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 305

1 May, 2016

In our May issue, we feature one of the finest American muscle cars  we’ve ever seen, plus an iconic Japanese classic. Also in this issue, we road-test the latest Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Coupe, Donn Anderson shares his romantic attachment with the Alfa Romeo Guili. Also, in Kits and Pieces, Patrick checks out an unusual Tri-Magnum, plus you’ll receive a free Targa Rotorua programme.        

Sandalwood fever

We explore the rich history of the SS396 Chevelle, and find out why this car has become an icon of what is arguably Chevy’s most defining era. We follow Glenn Ripley’s journey to owning one of these stunning beasts and find out how the car made it to our fair shores via a true American history.

Next generation

The newest Porsche 911 — the 991 Generation II — is here and we were lucky enough to get out for a drive. With a brand-new twin-turbocharger set-up, we look into whether Porsche have messed with a winning formula or enhanced the 911 enough to make it feel and drive like a 911 should.

Classic GTO

Trevor Stanley-Joblin’s prophecy of Japanese cars becoming classic has been proven true, and he’s found one for the books (or the magazine, as it were). John Glass tells the story of how he came to own his dream GTO, how he restored it to a class-winning car, and his future-proofed plan to keep it in the family.

The jewel that is New Zealand

We hitch a ride with Jonathon Lyons, the Chairman of Jewel Events, as he takes a group of wonderful cars, and their fabulous drivers, for a driving experience like no other from the bottom to the top of the country, experiencing the best that New Zealand has to offer along the way.

Like what you see? Grab New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 305 in stores now, or buy it online below, and have it delivered straight to your door.

 




Buy a print copy of the magazine for NZ$10

Grand Routier — in the french tradition

10 July, 2025

Sitting in Paddy and Patsy Williams’ Dunedin garage is a stunning example of one of these rare French grand routier sedans. It is a 1949 four-door Lago-Record Factory Berline sedan, to give its full name. Daughter Cath let us know how proud she was of her dad, who had been tinkering away in his garage on this car for so many years.
Without exaggeration, it has been a mammoth task. I first saw this Talbot-Lago in mid 2019. The long-nosed, sweeping, curved four-door saloon, clothed in its misty green metallic paint, was quite breathtaking. There’s more than a little English influence in it, too, harking back to company owner Tony Lago’s involvement in the Clement-Talbot-Darracq era. The long front wings and bonnet, usually multi-louvred, highlighted with artful touches of chrome bling, are typical of the era, but these were indeed luxury length. Interiors provided leather-clad, armchair-style seating and ample legroom, with touches of wood and surprising details such as dainty childproof interior locks — a far cry from today’s lozenge boxes.
Paddy, a retired civil and structural engineer, knows his way around a lathe. He has a well-equipped garage-workshop to assist in any machining tasks along with his other passion for restoring classic motorcycles.

The Great River Road

4 July, 2025

A few years ago my family, knowing my fondness for driving, gave me the book Unforgettable Road Trips: Thirty-Six Drives of a Lifetime by Martin Derrick. Most of the road trips listed take less than a day in places like Scotland, Monaco, and Australia, plus one in New Zealand. Most of these places were too far to go just for a short drive but four of them would take several days. My interest was piqued, and those four drives were added to the bucket list. To date, I have done three of them: ‘Route 66’ (USA 21 days), ‘State Highway 6’ (NZ 10 days) and ‘The Great River Road’ (USA 22 days). You can drive all of them in less time, but you could also fly over them. We wanted a decent immersion in their charms.
The great river referred to is the Mississippi. While the name conjures the deep south, the river actually starts at the bottom of the great lakes, before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico about 3800km later. The great road is more of a concept than a specific strip of tarmac, as you can drive down either side of the river on various routes. Regardless of which side you drive, time should be kept aside for detours to places such as Nashville, which is famous for something or other.