Enthusiast Essentials: get your hands on our must-have products

5 July, 2016

With the diverse range of vehicles covered by our motoring titles, New Zealand Classic Car, NZV8, and NZ Performance Car, it’s clear that the car enthusiast demographic is incredibly varied. So how do you curate a shopping basket to cater for a car person, whether they’re into imports, V8s, or classics? Our editors have discovered a heap of products this month, and there’s sure to be something that every car enthusiast will want to add to their collection.

Flexible options

Building your own exhaust or plumbing in your wastegate? The AdrenalinR range of flexi joints is manufactured with stainless-steel pressed ends, which provides a major advantage when running high-octane fuel, as the joint won’t rust like aluminized steel versions. Featuring a short-length design to allow fitment in the tightest places, the flexi joints can be purchased in range of sizes starting at $39 for a 51mm (two-inch), up to $119 for a 102mm (four-inch).

Contact the team at AdrenalinR on 06 870 3526, or head to adrenalinr.com for the finer details.

Four to six

Used in professional motor sport the world over, the Cusco Japan four- and six-point racing harnesses give you the peace of mind that you won’t be going anywhere — unless you hit the cam-lock rotary buckle for a quick exit. Manufactured to meet strict FIA regulations, the four-point option is perfect for grassroots events, priced at $415 — while the six-point is suitable for all MotorSport NZ categories at $505.

To purchase, contact [email protected] or head to facebook.com/NSToyotaParts

Simplicity at its best

The Philips CEM2220BT is a single-DIN head unit incorporating some of the latest technology for the ultimate in sound, connectivity, and user-friendliness. The high-contrast black-and-white LCD incorporates Bluetooth capability that allows you to pump whatever music you want through the audio system without being restricted to FM radio. In short, it has everything you need and nothing you don’t, and at $229 you can’t go wrong.

If you are after the finer details, jump onto philipscaraudio.co.nz.

Fresh tech

Straight from the shores of Europe, the Focal ES 165 K two-way component kit offers two 6.5-inch woofers and two 20mm TKM tweeters, and features a compact overall design, with K2 Power Kevlar cones delivering dynamic sound performance and perfect definition. Originally developed for Sopra high-fidelity loudspeakers, the new TMD suspension design removes unwanted resonances, and also reduces the effects of distortion.

For the finer details, jump onto focalnz.co.nz, or contact the team on [email protected].

Work Seeker FX

Finish: MSP
Size: 16×6–16×9-inch; 17×7–17×9.5-inch; 18×7.5–18×11.5-inch
PCD: Various
Offset: Various
work-wheels.co.nz

Nexen N’FERA SUR4

Size: 235/35R19
Tread wear: 200
Speed rating: Y (300kph)
dtm.co.nz/nexen

Keeping current

We’re heading into the time of year that’s particularly hard on cars, so ensure you stay charged with a Century Ultra Hi Performance battery. With specialized internal components, unique design features, and industry-leading technology, these batteries have been designed to combat battery failure and keep you going for longer. Maintenance-free, with superior starting power and reserve capacity, and corrosion-resistant calcium/calcium technology — they are just the ticket.

For more information, phone 0800 93 93 93, or visit centurybatteries.co.nz.

Fan fantastic

Prevention is better than cure, as the old adage says, and that certainly applies beneath your classic car’s bonnet. If your engine is running a viscous clutch-type fan, EAL Viscous Fan Clutch Oil is one of those products you probably think you’ll never need — until it’s too late. Just remove your fan, open the hub, clean it up, and replace the oil — that’s all that’s needed to keep you off the motorway shoulder with a buggered cooling system.

EAL Viscous Fan Clutch Oil is available in a 50ml bottle from Engineering Adhesives and Lubricants. Contact Mike on 09 627 1153 to find out more.

Real-deal steering wheel

Drive it like you mean it — upgrade your classic’s driving dynamics and interior aesthetics with a proper, Mountney steering wheel. As Mountney specializes in aftermarket items for UK-produced cars of the ’70s and ’80s, it’s likely to have just the ticket for your pride and joy. These are high-quality steering wheels made in the UK, available with a leather-bound or genuine riveted-wood rim, and boss kits are available to adapt the aftermarket steering wheel to most factory steering columns.

Get in touch with the team at Classic Car Mirrors and Accessories, on 021 598 774, to find out more.

Kill the noise

If you drive an older car, you’ll be amazed at the difference proper sound insulation can provide to the driving experience. The Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pak contains nine sheets of 18×32-inch Dynamat Xtreme, for coverage of 3.3 square metres (36 square feet), and will help to dampen vibrations, reduce road noise, and enhance stereo sound quality. No plans for the car this winter? Now you do — turn her into something you can drive anywhere, any time. Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pak is available  from myautomotive.co.nz.

Boom sticks

The Kelford Cams range of camshafts for the Ford four-litre Barra engine has been developed, tested, and proven to return eye-watering results. The intake 218-A and 218-B camshafts, along with matching PAC Racing beehive valve springs, suit mild street performance through to full drag racing applications. Designed with a slight difference in lobe duration and phasing to further promote swirl and tumble for proven cylinder filling, the 218-A cams can turn the mainstay Aussie BA-FG engine into a 500hp tiger at 15psi of boost.

Contact the team to find out what’s right for you by heading to kelfordcams.com.

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

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

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.