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.

Merry Christmas from NZ Classic Car magazine

The Classic Car magazine team is taking a few weeks’ holiday from the work computer and heading to the beach for some kickback time.
Merry Christmas, and have a wonderful summer holiday to all our readers, followers, and fans. Enjoy this special extra time with the family. We will be posting archive articles again in mid to late January.
Have fun, be good and be careful out there.

Two engines instead of one?

Popping two motors into a car is not only complicated, it doesn’t always end well. Donn Anderson recalls early attempts, including John Cooper’s ill-fated original Twini Mini built 58 years ago

For a boost in performance, better traction, and perhaps improved handling to some, two motors seems an obvious solution. It would also eliminate the need to develop a larger engine replacement from scratch, but would that outweigh the not inconsiderable technical difficulties?
The idea of using a pair of engines dates back at least 86 years to the Alfa Romeo Bimotor single seater racing car that was officially timed at 335km/h, or 208mph. Taking a lengthened Alfa P3 chassis, the Italians fitted two supercharged straight eight 2.9-litre and 3.2-litre engines, one in front of the cockpit, and the other behind the cockpit.