Latest news and features
Catching up with veteran racer John Cottier
“Trevor catches up with a man who many reckon is New Zealand’s oldest circuit racer” Readers may recall the story that appeared in New
Ten interesting facts about the De Tomaso
“We’ve had a dig around and found our favourite top ten facts about the De Tomaso. Got one we should know about? Leave us a
Shutter Speed: 2014 from our photographer’s perspective
As I am about to open the door on my tenth year behind the camera for Parkside Media, parent company to NZ Performance Car, NZV8,
The BMW that set the ball rolling
“Donn drives the first BMW sold in New Zealand 46 years ago, while recalling a test he carried out on its sister car in 1968”
Discovered wrecks along New Zealand’s highways and byways
“Trevor Stanley-Joblin has put together a gallery of the roadside relics discovered while travelling throughout New Zealand” View fullsize Morris Minor attracting attention to
Triumph’s Herald: An advance in more ways than one
“The Triumph Herald was a unique small car arrival in 1959, which makes it a sensible classic, as Donn explains” One of the more
Engineer racer John Nicholson in 1973
“John Nicholson is yet another high achiever who is largely anonymous — just the way he likes it” A good friend of mine has a
Did you have a ‘safer journey’ at Christmas?
We’re all going on a Summer Holiday!” sang Cliff Richard in the 1960s movie of the same name. He and his Shadows went in a
Stainless steel icon — DeLorean
Like most young lads, as a nine-year-old Mat Bedogni had a real passion for Ferrari, and one of those Italian supercars was always going to
Whipped Up — a look back on the year
It’s weird to think that I’ve been a part of this team for almost a year now. Maybe not officially, but somewhat anyway. I’ve found some
The ins and outs of 3D printing a classic car
“3D printing is here to stay and — although there’s more involved than simply pushing the ‘print’ button — it’s even possible to ‘print’
How can a number plate not made in New Zealand be unsafe?
Back in Issue No. 280 of New Zealand Classic Car, correspondent Chris Field wrote about his experience of being apprehended in his 1964 Rolls-Royce for
Peugeot 205 GTi — Changing the Game
“On the 30th anniversary marking the arrival of the Peugeot 205 GTi, Donn recalls one that had a special place in his garage” Oscar
Pacemaker — 1972 VH Valiant Pacer
“During the late ’60s and early ’70s, a muscle car revolution was taking place in the US and, half a world away in Australia,
50 years of Fun Ho! midgets
These early Fun Ho! models were designed to fill a demand for Matchbox-type toys on the domestic market when demand outstripped the supply in an
The first McLaren sports car
The current crop of McLaren sports cars — including our featured 12C Spider — can all trace their ancestry back to the late ’60s, and
Taupo Thunder Drags canceled
We’ve just been informed that the entire 2014–’15 race season planned for Taupo Thunder Dragway has been canceled. Promoter Ken Galvin stated in his release that only 11
A Kiwi Le Mans legend brought back from the past
“Recreating a Kiwi Le Mans legend is no minor feat and Grant Aitken explains the reasoning behind why he took on the challenge” Some
Focus on Howden Ganley for NZFMR 2015
There is nowhere else in the world where you will be able to see such a fine collection of Formula 5000 cars running and on
Be in to win one of three copies of Hot Rod Special
“Despite popular demand, we’ve still managed to hold on to a few copies of our Hot Rod Special, just so we can give them
Mini Cooper crushed in the name of the law
In a bid to crush the illegal trade of vehicles between the UK and the US, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been doing some crushing
Mansory perfects Mercedes’ power and luxury
When 430kW (577hp) isn’t quite enough in a road car, you add more power. This is exactly what German tuning powerhouse, Mansory, has done. They
We’ve taken the hard yards out of Christmas shopping
We all get bombarded with the, “What do you want for Christmas?” and the, “You’re so hard to buy for” comments. Well we’ve found a
Checking out the behind-the-scenes action at CMC
We’ve all read the race reports before and have all seen the cars (or photos of cars) out on the track, but there’s a whole
Ultimate barn find: Ferrari 250 GT and countless classics
In this era, where mankind has access to nearly every corner of the globe, it is inevitable that the classic barn find is dying —
A 26-day journey from Perth to Sydney in your classic car
There’s those road trips that regularly feature on ‘things to do before you die’ lists, around Europe and across America for example. Closer to home, the
Got room for a 1936 Ford Sedan in your garage?
If you’ve ever wanted to own a hot rod, but never had the cash, then this may be your chance. The New Zealand Hot Rod
A classic car blast from the past: January 1915, 1940, 1965, 1990
Once again, Graeme Rice looks back on the motoring worlds of 100, 75, 50, and 25 years ago January 1915 View fullsize Chevrolet’s Model T
Want to add Pope Francis’ Harley to your collection?
In a special countdown to Harley Davidson’s 110th anniversary celebrations, two commemorative motorcycle petrol tanks were presented to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI — they were signed,
Highlands Festival of Speed teams up with Aussie Racing Cars
It’s been confirmed that the two-day Highlands Festival of Speed — Muscle Car Battle, to be held over the weekend of January 30–February 1, 2015, has been paired
Win a Scalextric Lotus Exige
Most would normally link Colin Chapman’s legendary Lotus marque to Formula One and sports car racing rather than rallying, although those who remember the legendary
Get familiar with the law this summer
This summer, over the holiday season, there are two things Kiwi drivers should look out for on the road. The speed limit tolerance has changed and
St Heliers fills with classics, customs, and kids toys
The first Monday of December may mean different things for different people, but for us it’s always the day of the annual ‘Toy Run’. The Toy
A Sunday morning dose of Caffeine and Classics
It hasn’t even been two years yet since the inception of the monthly Caffeine and Classics event, but in that time it has become quite possibly
Will this weekend see New Zealand’s first four-second pass?
This weekend (November 29–30) is going be a big one — the second round of the IHRA NZ National series will be hitting Meremere Dragway following the
Big rigs and V8s ready to rumble
The BNT NZ SuperTourers are set to hit the Fuchs 500 event at Pukekohe Park Raceway this weekend, over November 28–30. Their brute V8 power will
Summer, beaches, and 1969 HK Holden Premier station wagons
With Christmas just around the corner and summer finally making an appearance, it’s time to start thinking about how to spend those lazy days ahead.
Lake Karapiro brimming with Stragglers
“Held every year in support of Waikato-based kids’ charities, the Stragglers Car Club charity show is growing every year, and this year Kevin Shaw
Larry Larson dips into the fives
Following up on his street-legal Chevrolet S10’s overwhelming success during the 2014 Hot Rod Drag Week, where he ran a 6.16 at 219.61mph, beating Andy Frost’s