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Do you know about the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant?

14 July, 2016

Founded in 1899, Packard was an American automotive marque that produced a suite of luxury automobiles, including the Packard 120, Packard Clipper, Packard Hawk, and many more — until the company shut its doors in 1958. 

Even though it’s been closed down for more than 50 years, the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant still stands, although looking rather sad these days. The giant 3,500,000-square-foot plant now acts as a canvas for graffiti artists, a hunting ground for paintballers, and is also known to act as a home for some (see the video below about Allan Hill). Check out these videos that explore the abandoned plant, and read more about Packard in the August issue of New Zealand Classic Car.

Lancia Stratos – building a winner

12 March, 2025

On his own, and later with his wife Suzie, Craig Tickle has built and raced many rally cars. Starting in 1988, Craig went half shares in a Mk1 Escort and took it rallying. Apart from a few years in the US studying how to be a nuclear engineer, he has always had a rally car in the garage. When he is not playing with cars, he works as an engineer for his design consulting company.
Naturally, anybody interested in rallying has heard of the Lancia Stratos, the poster child and winner of the World Rally circuit in 1974, ’75, and ’76. Just as the Lamborghini Countach rebranded the world of supercars, so, too, did the Lancia Stratos when it came to getting down and dirty in the rally world.

This could be good news for restoring cars and bikes – but we must be quick!

5 March, 2025

Our parliament is currently considering a member’s Bill, drawn by ballot, called the ‘Right to Repair’ Bill.
It’s due to go a Select Committee for consideration, and we can make submissions ie say what we think of it, before 3 April this year. It’s important because it will make spare parts and information for doing repairs far more readily available and this should slow the rate at which appliances, toys and so on get sent to landfill.