Enthusiast Essentials: what we’re drooling over this month

24 August, 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.

Earl knows

Quality fittings can make or break the performance of any motorsport–oriented vehicle. Earl’s has the most complete line on the market, and is renowned as the world’s number-one motorsport hose and fittings source — if you want it done right, you buy Earl’s. Segedins Auto Spares now carries a large range of Earl’s fittings and hoses to suit all your performance and motorsport demands.

For further information, contact the team at Segedins Auto Spares on 09 638 6439, or head to holley.com/brands/earls/.

The ICE advantage

The thing about power is that you can never have too much, and a capable ignition system is one of the most important ways of getting there. Upgrade your system with an ICE 7051 Extreme Duty 6AL — a direct replacement for the MSD 6425 box — featuring an adjustable rev limiter, from 1000–10,900rpm, in 100rpm increments, via push-button switches. ICE’s unique digital inductive spark (DIS) technology also delivers a more powerful spark with longer duration across the rev range, when compared with conventional CDI ignition systems.

The ICE 7051 Extreme Duty 6AL is available for $450 (incl. GST) from myautomotive.co.nz.

Big red

Spruce up the man cave with a Teng Tools tool box. This particular model features six drawers on ball-bearing slides, with a lockable front cover and built-in combination lock — that’s right, no more worrying about losing the key! The drawers are load-rated at 20kg, with ample room to fit the bulk of your most used hand tools. And, if you’re the type who favours organization, each drawer has been designed to fit four Teng Tools TC trays (sold separately), giving each and every tool its own place — never lose that 9/16-inch socket again!

Grab one for $490.37 (incl. GST) from myautomotive.co.nz, and enjoy free shipping anywhere in mainland New Zealand.

Vintage style

Now these would look cool in your garage! Road-Relics stocks a range of reproduction parts for Australasian petrol pumps, with clock faces, decals, pump parts, visibowls, nozzles, and more, all to cover early electric and manual pumps.

Large decals have an RRP of $30, globes have an RRP of $395, and there’s a special RRP of $35 for an oil-bottle spout, cap, and decal of choice. All prices include GST. Call 027 9377 177, email [email protected], or visit road-relics.co.nz for more information.

Low loader

If your show car or race car sits at the right height, you’re probably no stranger to trailer-loading hassles. Futura Trailers has just the solution, with its new aluminium Low Loader. Lower it to the ground with just one press of a button, simply push or drive your car onto the deck, raise the trailer, tie the load down, and you’re off.

The trailers are built in Auckland from lightweight high-strength precision-machined 6005 aluminium, and simple lifting technology allows for safe and easy loading. Pricing starts at $7800 for the single axle or $10,900 for the tandem.

For more information or to order, email [email protected], phone 021 918 800, or visit futuratrailers.com.

Bagged out

Fortune Auto is a name that needs no introduction in these pages, and its all-new Air Cup Lift System is pioneering the way into a new form of air suspension. Offering the convenience of a conventional airbag system without the loss in performance, the Air Cup simply slips on the shaft of Fortune Auto coilover assemblies and extends it to lift a lowered vehicle 25mm to 50mm.

The Air Piston Lift System add-on kit for Fortune Auto coilovers starts at $2350, excluding the coilovers. Check out fortune-auto-newzealand.com for further information.

Get a grip

Not all clutches are created equal, and, unlike some off-the-shelf options, the Mantic Stage Clutch System is designed, engineered, and manufactured with one thing in mind: performance. The five stages of the range suit everything from street-performance to track weapons, and feature upgraded cover assemblies, multiple clutch-plate options, and patented ER2 Technology. With 200 vehicle applications in the range, there’ll be a clutch system to suit your build.

Visit clutchindustries.com.au, or call the team on 09 636 5428 for further information.

The Pininfarina 230 SL

It’s October 1964, and imagine you’re an automotive journalist covering that year’s Paris Auto Show (Mondial de l’Automobile). As you approach the Pininfarina booth, you come across a car that looks a bit like the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL introduced the previous year at the Geneva Auto Show, a car then arriving at Mercedes-Benz dealerships around the world.
But looking closely, its styling and proportions seem to be a bit different. And it has a fixed roof, unlike the Pagoda-style greenhouse of the removable hardtop seen on the production 230 SL. While today, the styling of the W113, under the supervision of Head of Styling Friedrich Geiger, with lead designers Paul Bracq and Bela Barenyi, is considered a mid-century modern masterpiece, acceptance in-period was not universal. Some critics called out the concave design of its removable roof, which ultimately gave the car its “Pagoda” nickname.

Ford Falcon display: Bill Richardson Transport World

Ford Falcon enthusiasts from around Southland have made their pride and joy, Australian Ford Falcons, available for the extensive display now on at Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill.
Avid local Ford Falcon GT collectors, Roger and Diane Whyte have made a number of their cars available for display, while a
real rarity is Robin MacDonald’s factory original 1971 Ford Falcon Phase II GTHO.
From the very first to the very last Ford Falcon, this is a great opportunity to view these Australian icons under one roof.
The exhibition is on until early June. Don’t miss it!