By Ben Selby If you know classic cars, chances are you know the 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe. You are also probably aware this one-of-two ever built unicorn changed hands for a mind- boggling $142 million US ($220.4 million NZ). The buyer, an anonymous but we can safely assume a very wealthy, car collector who was able to secure …
When many think of Oxford, a beautiful town set the heart of England which played host to one Inspector Morse and his MK2 Jag on TV tends to spring to mind. However, for those in the South Island, Oxford is a Canterbury town which has plenty to offer, especially as a destination for classic car fans and owners. The drive …
By Ben Selby What does the Ferrari 250 GTO, the Lamborghini V12 engine and the Iso Grifo all have in common? Well, apart from these being grand testimonials to Italian car design, one man had a hand their creation. That man was Giotto Bizzarrini and we owe him a lot. Born in Livorno, Italy in 1926, the young Bizzarrini had …
By Ben Selby The day was hot, the sky was blue and best of all, the New Zealand Government had decreed outdoor gatherings under the COVID-19 traffic light system would no longer be limited to groups of 100 to 200 people. Throw all this together and you have the perfect template for a grand day out with countless petrolheads and …
By Ben Selby It’s becoming quite undeniable that the greater Auckland area is growing at an expediential rate. Take Warkworth for example. The population has swollen in recent years as many Aucklanders have chosen Warkworth as a place to settle or to get away. Some also use Warkworth as a place to store their classic car. However, if you now …
By Ben Selby James Dean. The name is as recognisable around the world as Coca Cola and Levis Jeans. Star of cult fifties films East of Eden, Giant and the classic Rebel Without a Cause, Dean was only getting started in the acting world before his short life came to a tragic end. Dean was a known lover of fast …
By Ben Selby We all love a good barn find right? The concept of digging through some forgotten shed or lockup and finding an untouched automotive gem certainly has appeal. Well, imagine what went through the mind of the Holden fan who found this one-of-one 1979 Holden Commodore VH SL/E Prototype under a sheet in Victoria. Now this Aussie time …
By Ben Selby The summer months are quickly coming to an end. However, there is still plenty of time to hop in your classic and head out on a warm summer drive. Those in the South Island, particularly those residing in Canterbury and Marlborough immediately associate summer with one particular place, Kaiteriteri. For many, Kaiteriteri is the definitive summer holiday …
By Ben Selby Its 1966. Enzo Ferrari is not happy. For the last six years, his scarlet racing cars have utterly dominated events in the World Sports Car championship. That was until the combination of the Ford Motor Company and Carroll Shelby perfected the formula for the now legendary GT40 MKII. Ford’s Ken Miles won the 1966 24 Hours of …
