SUBSCRIBE TO THE
MAGAZINE NOW
Facebook-f Instagram

For the love of cars

20 April, 2026

Passion, Pride & Joy:
A new chapter for New Zealand’s classic car custodians
In the world of classic and collector cars, continuity matters. Not just of ownership or
provenance, but of care shaped by skilled hands, patience, and deep respect for the machines themselves.
Since 1973, Auto Restorations has existed for this purpose: to ensure these cars live
on, not as relics, but as working expressions of design and engineering. Over more than five decades, we have restored and returned countless vehicles to the road and racetrack, and in recent years expanded our service offering to keep them
performing at their best.
Today, we are proud to introduce the next step in that journey: This is not a reinvention, but a natural evolution. A name that reflects the full scope of what we now offer, while staying true to the standards and values that have always defined us.

A broader offering, built on the same foundation
Classic ownership today extends beyond restoration. It requires trusted expertise across the
entire life of a vehicle. ARG brings together restoration, servicing, parts, and brokerage under one unified identity.
Wherever you encounter ARG, you can expect the same philosophy: careful work, considered judgement, and an uncompromising standard of quality.
Whether undertaking a full restoration, sourcing period-correct components, or carrying out routine servicing, our approach remains simple if it carries the ARG name, it will be done properly.

Built on passion, delivered with precision
At the heart of ARG is a belief familiar to any enthusiast: no one loves your car more than you do but we understand exactly what it needs.
Our guiding idea, Passion, Pride &
Joy, reflects that: Sharing your passion with people who understand it
Restoring your pride through craftsmanship without compromise
Rekindling the joy that made you fall in love with the car in the first place

Strengthening capability
The formation of ARG also marks a careful expansion of our capabilities, always with quality in mind. A key milestone is the acquisition of Bruce McIlroy Limited, one of New Zealand’s most respected independent Bentley and Rolls-Royce specialists. This strengthens our expertise, tooling, and parts availability in these marques, while complementing the wide range of vehicles we already support including Jaguar, Morgan, Aston Martin, Maserati and Ferrari.
We have also continued to invest in our workshop capabilities, including advanced tyre fitting, wheel balancing, and the latest alignment systems allowing us to service vehicles of all eras with precision and accuracy.

Looking ahead
As specialist skills become increasingly rare, the role of businesses like ours becomes more
important than ever.
ARG represents a commitment to the future of classic car ownership bringing together the expertise, facilities, and philosophy required to care for these vehicles properly. We remain, as always, a business built on relationships. You are always welcome to visit, see our workshop, and talk with us about your car.
Thank you for being part of our journey.

Range Rover CSK — the original SUV

5 June, 2026

The Range Rover, thanks to Charles Spencer King, went into production in 1970 boasting an iconic shape that would last until 1996. The vehicle that would create the SUV moniker came about because Rover decided it was time to add a bigger four-wheel-drive vehicle, one with a 100-inch wheelbase, to the model range. Land Rover made a 109-inch wheelbase model but the standard vehicle had a 88-inch wheelbase.
The new model would be more suitable for road use than the existing Land Rover, which was considered to be predominantly for rural use. To make sure it could cope on any road it came standard with the Rover 3.5-litre V8 engine. The body design was originally sketched by King and went into production with only a few minor touch-ups by the Rover styling team.
According to King, “The idea was to combine the comfort and on-road ability of a Rover saloon with the off-road ability of a Land Rover. Nobody was doing it.”

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.