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What awaits within New Zealand Classic Car Issue No. 298

15 October, 2015

October’s issue of New Zealand Classic Car (Issue No. 298) is now on sale, and, as always, it’s packed from cover to cover with some of the country’s finest motors.

On the front cover sits a photograph quite rare and difficult to replicate — a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 paired with its older, similarly coloured friend, a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302. We compare, contrast, and celebrate two of the best to bestow the blue oval, and we also delve into the history of the Boss. If you’re into Mustangs, you’re going to love this.

New Zealand Classic Car regular Gerard Richards recently spent a solid chunk of time trekking across Mexico and Cuba, and — perhaps unsurprisingly — in his travels he stumbled upon stacks and stacks of amazing vehicles. Certain areas in South America can have the fascinating appearance of being frozen in time, with old Fairlanes, Datsuns, De Sotos, and Bel Airs roaming the streets as if it were still the swinging ’60s.

Ford enthusiasts will further rejoice when they find our comprehensive article on one of the true icons of the international Group A touring-car formula — this Eggenburger Ford Sierra RS500. Spearheaded by Ruedi Eggenburger, his famously liveried gang of Texaco Sierras took over the formula, winning races and championships the world over. While the history of this car, which now resides in New Zealand, is somewhat blighted by one particularly wet day on Mount Panorama, it’s still an incredible monument to a memorable era in motorsport.

If new cars are more your style, Issue No. 298 also sees us take on the strenuous task of reviewing the new Bentley Mulsanne Speed. With a price tag of $635,000, you can expect something more than just four wheels, four doors, an engine, and some seats — and more is what you get. Under the bonnet is a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8, capable of wafting one along in both comfort and brisk speed. And while you’re on the move, there is a plethora of toys and gizmos for you to play with (strenuous, remember?).

Along with all of that quality glossy goodness, Issue No. 298 features all of the latest in classic car news, from the unveiling of Omaka Cars’ latest restoration, to some of New Zealand’s more interesting restorations in progress, and Donn Anderson’s words on the late and quite great Frank Matich. For your latest 112-page serving of classic cars, check out your local, or even grab a copy below!


ROTARY CHIC

Kerry Bowman readily describes himself as a dyed-in-the-wool Citroën fan and a keen Citroën Car Club member. His Auckland home holds some of the chic French cars and many parts. He has also owned a number of examples of the marque as daily drivers, but he now drives a Birotor GS. They are rare, even in France, and this is a car which was not supposed to see the light of day outside France’s borders, yet somehow this one escaped the buyback to be one of the few survivors out in the world.
It’s a special car Kerry first saw while overseas in the ’70s, indulging an interest sparked early on by his father’s keenness for Citroëns back home in Tauranga. He was keen to see one ‘in the flesh’.
“I got interested in this Birotor when I bought a GS in Paris in 1972. I got in contact with Citroën Cars in Slough, and they got me an invitation to the Earls Court Motor Show where they had the first Birotor prototype on display. I said to a guy on the stand, ‘I’d like one of these,’ and he said I wouldn’t be allowed to get one. Citroën were building them for their own market to test them, and they were only left-hand drive.”

Tradie’s Choice

Clint Wheeler purchased this 1962 Holden FJ Panelvan as an unfinished project, or as he says “a complete basket case”. Collected as nothing more than a bare shell, the rotisserie-mounted and primed shell travelled the length of the country from the Rangiora garage where it had sat dormant for six years to Clint’s Ruakaka workshop. “Mike, the previous owner, was awesome. He stacked the van and parts nicely. I was pretty excited to get the van up north. We cut the locks and got her out to enjoy the northland sun,” says Clint. “The panelvan also came with boxes of assorted parts, some good, some not so good, but they all helped.”