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Easy listening: 1970 McLaren F5000 M10B start up

19 July, 2017

Bruce McLaren knew a thing or two about hill climbing and the first event the then 15-year- old Bruce ever competed in was a hill climb. Bruce won his class on the shingle slope, and his destiny was set.

Fast forward to the mid 1960s, and a short run of cars built specially for hill climbing and sprints. David Good purchased one of those hill climb specials — McLaren’s new M10B — which was essentially the same as the 1969 title-winning M10A, but with the key tweaks being redesigned suspension, a slightly restyled body, a new radiator, and modification to accept a dry sump engine installation. Good never let having no right arm dissuade from getting involved in sporting activities, either, however, he was never able to get a licence to race cars — the next best thing then was to head for the hills. Good had his McLaren fitted with a 5.5-litre Chev pumping out some 335kW at 6000rpm. The cockpit was modified because its pilot needed to sit close to the wheel — and, uniquely, the car had a much- modified gear linkage so that Good could change gear. The hole for the shaft on the left-hand side of car (the McLaren, like most racing cars, being a right-hand change) remains. Good was fourth in the championship after one ‘fastest time of the day’ (FTD), a second and a pair of thirds.

Today the car resides in New Zealand, owned by David and Katya Mitchell. The Mitchells had it shipped to New Zealand in May 2014, and it appeared at the Gulf Oil Howden Ganley Festival at Hampton Downs in January 2015. David will compete in Formula Libre races in the coming season, and intends to retain the treaded tyres rather than make a move to slicks.

The next issue of NZ Classic Car will include a full feature on the 1970 McLaren F5000 M10B, but for now, enjoy the beautiful sound of this historical piece of machinery firing into life in its makers own workshop 57 years later:

You’re the one that I want – 1973 Datsun 240K GT

21 February, 2025

In the early 1970s, Clark Caldow was a young sales rep travelling the North Island and doing big miles annually. He loved driving. In 1975 the firm he worked for asked Clark what he wanted for his new car, and Clark chose a brand-new Datsun 240K GT. The two-door car arrived, and Clark was smitten, or in his own words, he was “pole vaulting.”
Clark drove it all over the country, racking up thousands of miles. “It had quite a bit of pep with its SOHC 128 hp (96kW) of power mated to a four-speed manual gearbox,” he says. Weighing in at 1240kg meant the power to weight ratio was good for the time and its length at almost 4.5 metres meant it had good street presence.
Clark has been a car enthusiast all his life, and decided around nine years ago to look for one of these coupes. By sheer luck he very quickly found a mint example refurbished by an aircraft engineer, but it was in Perth.

The originals – the Ledgerwood Collection

14 February, 2025

Thanks to Central Otago’s dry climate, it’s no surprise to find that Wanaka couple Jim and Daphne Ledgerwood are steadily developing an incredible collection of amazing coupes. ‘The Originals’ they have are as per factory new condition, and their aim is to keep them for everyone to see how it was done back in the day—pure nostalgia.
An occasional email from Jim usually reveals another gleaming addition. The collectors also have an impressive display of American pickups. It’s our gain and US enthusiasts’ loss, as car agent’s adverts proclaim, “Sorry you missed out. Gone to New Zealand!” Some of Jim and Daphne’s cars are almost part of the family, hence their nicknames.