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Celebrating 25 years of Canterbury USA Day

8 November, 2016

 

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“Whether you like Mustangs, Camaros, Impalas, or Cobras, there was a great mix of America’s finest parked up for the viewing public at Canterbury USA Day 2016”

Hundreds of people arrived at Gladstone Park in Woodend, just north of Christchurch, on November 6 for the 25th Anniversary of the Canterbury USA Day. Hosted by the American Classic Car Club of Canterbury, this is a popular event not only for the owners of any vehicle of American origin, but for any petrolhead who loves a great car show. Numbers appeared to be up on previous years with the rugby field almost filled by late morning. 

Vehicles attending numbered around 400, so no matter your taste, there was something for everyone. The newer-model Dodge Challengers appear to be popular at the moment, with a number of sharp-looking cars on display.

One of the first cars to greet you was this cool-looking Dodge Charger R/T. As if it wasn’t tough enough, the owner’s added a blower just for that extra punch

Rangiora locals Owen and Marg Frew are the proud owners of this stunning 1934 Buick Phaeton. Just 587 were built, with 143 being exported around the world. This was the only one to make its way to our shores. Back in the day, this car could be purchased for $1675.

Despite a number of Corvettes being on display, this 1970 Stingray stood out from the others with its bright Prowler Yellow Prizmatique paint. The ’Vette was built in the US by Luscher’s Automotive in New Jersey, before heading out to New Zealand. Powering this beast is a fuel-injected ZZ502 crate motor.

No American car show would be complete without an AC Cobra replica. Even in its unfinished state, this one still looks like it means business.

Golden Bay’s Graham Balck calls himself the custodian of this very cool 1929 Studebaker Commander. Power is from a 250ci eight-cylinder engine. The car was restored prior to a big rally back in 2000.

Mustangs had a large presence at the show, but this one was certainly more interesting. Believed to be one of the oldest Mustangs in the world, possibly the oldest in New Zealand, the car was built on April 6, 1964, 11 days before the launch weekend of April 17–19 when 22,000 Mustangs were sold. This one was sold on April 17 to Denise Monti, who owned the car until 2004, and it is now owned by Garry and Loretta Jackson of Amberley. The car has a 260ci V8, automatic and power steering, and has travelled just 51,000 miles from new.

Restored by Muscle and Classic Restorations in Christchurch, this 1932 Cadillac is simply a styling masterpiece. This V12 Roadster is one of only nine built, is one of only four known to survive today, and is the only example outside of the US. The car has a long list of extras fitted to it and really needs to be viewed in person for the amazing workmanship to be appreciated.

Canterbury USA Day 2016 award winners

  • Moorhouse Muscle Best Pre ’49: ’34 Buick Phaeton, Owen and Marg Frew
  • Albert Street Panel and Paint Rangiora Best ’50s Car: ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air, Graeme Trillo
  • Dean’s Auto Electric Best ’60s Car: ’63 Corvette Stingray, Kevin Sullivan
  • Mustang Centre Best ’70s Car: ’73 Dodge Charger, Wayne Gibson
  • Avon City Ford (Parts) Best ’80s Car: ’85 Excalibur Phaeton Mk2, Trevor Mitchell
  • County Cars Woodend Best ’90s Car: ’98 Chevrolet Camaro
  • Avon City Ford Rangiora Best 2000 and Newer Car: ’06 Shelby CS8, Dean Stavreff
  • Burkes Metalworks Best Hot Rod: ’32 Coupe, Maurie Barrington
  • Moorhouse Muscle Best Original: ’30 Model A Truck, Dean Inwood
  • Dean’s Auto Electric Best Commercial: ’53 Ford F100, Kevin Jellyman
  • Trevor Ian Armstrong Memorial Trophy: ’78 Pontiac Trans Am, Brendan Wright
  • Men at Work Peoples’ Choice Award: ’32 Cadillac Roadster, Ivan Harris
  • Men at Work Best in Show: ’68 Dodge Charger, Chris Blackmore

Top 10

  • ’32 Cadillac Roadster, Ivan Harris
  • ’47 Ford Coupe, Kerry Walsh
  • ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air – Allan McDowell
  • ’58 Ford Thunderbird, Neil Hawker
  • ’66 Ford Mustang, Glenn & Kathryn Martin
  • ’67 Ford Fairlane, Andy Hurst
  • ’68 Dodge Charger, Chris Blackmore
  • ’68 Chevrolet Camaro, Gary Miller
  • ’76 Dodge Monaco, Scott Blackadder
  • ’16 Ford Mustang Backdraft Cobra

Ford’s Mustang – the endlessly hip American dream machine

28 May, 2026

Fifty or so years ago, the only place in New Zealand to see a Ford Mustang was on the racetrack. In a local market severely constrained by a lack of new motor vehicles, the new North American Ford was a dreamy icon boosted by considerable motorsport success.
Import licences for cars were limited, and if Kiwis travelled abroad, the amount of currency they could take with them was restricted. What’s more, those funds could not be used to buy a car for importation back home. Yet it was OK to spend the money on heavy drinking at a London pub, Gucci shoes, sable fur coats, and excessive stays at the Hôtel Martinez at Cannes in France.
However, any rare Mustang that landed on our shores would not be destined to pose around Auckland’s then trendy Queen Street on a Friday night but would more likely be found in the care of well-known racing drivers on the starting grid at local motor racing tracks.

Chrysler’s classy cruiser

22 May, 2026

I first saw our feature car, a 1970 V8-powered Regal 770 hardtop, towing a trailer carrying the tidy Ford Anglia classic racing saloon in Broadspeed racing colours that has featured in these pages. The coupe is comparatively rare here, which means anyone contemplating purchasing one of these big two-doors is sure to see prices continue to climb. The latter Charger has claimed much of the Aussie Chrysler limelight, but the simpler and classier lines of this car, which appeared dated soon after its introduction, now have a more timeless appeal.
Former owner, Balclutha motor engineer, Mike Verdoner, remembers the car well. He believes it came from Dunedin originally.
“I’m not sure about the car’s history, but I bought it off its owner at Kaitangata. Unusually, it was advertised in the local newspaper, the Clutha Leader, which was a surprise as these usually go for a lot more money on the internet. I had it for quite a few years. It needed a little bit of work to tidy it up, so I had to decide whether to spend the money on it to do it up, which could have been twenty grand. Its value at the time was not like it is now, so I sold it to Ewan. It’s probably now worth three or four times what I sold it for.”