NZ Classic Car – New Zealand’s longest running classic car magazine – celebrated its 200th edition in August 2007, an amazing achievement for a publication which began as a simple idea to put local classic car owners in touch with event organisers, car clubs and trade professionals. NZ Classic Car has been a vital part of the local motoring scene for more than 20 years and features unique and extensive classic motoring coverage. NZCC’s enthusiastic and passionate writers cover the length and breadth of the country ensuring extensive classic motoring coverage. Our coverage of New Zealand’s motoring heritage remains unrivalled, especially in the field of motorsport history, plus we include stunning photography, authoritative features and event reports from throughout the country.
Surviving the numbers
NZ Classic Car
IMPERFECT INNOVATION • The rather staid Rootes Group decided that it had better build a better small car and came up with a design featuring innovation, practicality, and style that still stands out today
THE ROTARY REVOLUTION RETURNS • Mazda is relaunching its rotary technology so we took a fresh look at what the only manufacturer who had sales success with this technology achieved in the past
TAIHAPE CORVETTE • A casual conversation with a stranger in the small town of Taihape turns up a treasure
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN • Few cars have so successfully combined an appetite for devouring all manner of terrain while racking up interstellar mileages
A PHANTOM WITH ROYAL HERITAGE • More than 50 years ago, a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI limousine transported Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne around the country during their 1970 royal visit. Now, the transformed Phantom brings dignity to some of the new king’s subjects’ final rides
AUTOMOTIVE nirvana • The Petersen Automotive Museum anchors the eastern end of the famed ‘Miracle Mile’, that length of Wilshire Boulevard that boasts numerous world-class museums
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE • NEVER MISS AN ISSUE FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME SAVE UP TO $9 OVER RETAIL
THE LOST WORD • Gerard escapes the confines of city life and hits the back-country roads on a mission to find wrecks, rest, and spiritual restoration — in Dargaville
RESTOMODED SCIMITAR • Patrick turns his attention to a fibreglass restomod with a difference while visiting The Pointon Museum in the Wairarapa
THE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE REAL SHED • APRIL/MAY ISSUE OUY NOW
A Miles better Mini • Gordon Miles defied the critics in his unassuming 1960 model Austin Seven Mini, often beating larger, more powerful saloons on local circuits and in hill-climbs. Donn Anderson sat down with him in 1962 to talk about the Miles magic
FUNNY CARS AT THE BRICKYARD • Sixty years ago, Colin Chapman’s flimsy, fragile, rear-engined little Limey machines started down the road to consigning the fire-breathing ‘Offy’-engined roadsters that had dominated the Indy 500 to history
ROOTES GROUP’S MINI-BASHER • Whether badged as a Hillman, Sunbeam, or Commer, the Imp is one of the quirkiest and most charming of all contemporary British classics
RESKINNING A DOOR • Jim explains why panel work is best left to the professionals
YOU CAN’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ (EXCEPT MY COLUMN)
THE LANCE MACKLIN STORY: A RACE WITH INFAMY
Build something interesting
PUTTING THE BEGG ON THE MAP • Three days of socialising, motor racing and entertainment kicked off the inaugural George Begg Festival in Invercargill, celebrating the life and achievements of a local legend
MARLBOROUGH HOSPICE VEHICLE SHOW
A YEAR OUT DIDN’T HURT AMERICAN VEHICLE DAY • Last year’s Covid cancellation only meant more and better prepared cars turned up for this year’s show
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