The Phar Lap Raceway Market Green in Timaru became the hub of the All Comers Charity Car and Bike Show on Sunday, May 1. The show was held in support of Batten Disease New Zealand, and was open to all makes and models of cars, bikes, and trucks — and those who made it out to the show had a great time. For those that missed breakfast, a food caravan was kept busy all day, while those that needed their morning caffeine fix were well catered for. The great thing about shows like this is that you get a really great mix of vehicles, be it hot rods, muscle cars, or vintage, and this show was no different. No matter what your taste, this show had it.
This 1959 Studebaker Lark is a local car. It was imported into New Zealand back in 2006 and spent a number of years in the small town of St Andrew, south of Timaru, before being purchased by its current owner about a year ago. The car is running its original 259ci V8, as well as rear wheel spats and a continental kit, which were factory options.
This was one very tidy 1972 Holden Torana GTR XU1. The car has been repainted in its factory Taormina Aqua Metallic and has had some engine work done, but its interior is still the way it left the factory. The engine is a ’73 Bathurst-spec 202 straight-six fitted with triple Webers. Gear swapping is done via an M21 manual box, which sends the power rearward to a Harrop diff. The horsepower is rated at approximately 250hp.
Here is something many of us don’t get to see: a 1930 Alvis Silver Eagle, which is classed as a five-seater sports saloon. Its 2148cc six-cylinder engine is good for 70mph at 4500rpm. Power is fed to a four-speed gate-change gearbox, and stopping this beast is the job of the cable and rod–operated brakes.
This beautiful ’65 Impala Super Sport is an ex–Defence Force car and runs a 300hp 327ci small-block. It’s apparently one of only 1308 SS coupes fitted with the three-speed manual box.
How’s this for a daily driver? Built by Garry Black, it’s based on an Erskine/Studebaker four-door sedan, which was shortened into a pickup cab. It has been fitted with Model T doors, and a Vauxhall Viva gave up its skin for the roof. The cab sits on a Datsun GN620 chassis, and a ’66 Mustang donated its 200ci six for motivation.
With just the right stance, this ’68 Pontiac Firebird was picture-perfect, with the sun making the paint job really pop, and who wouldn’t want that chrome and polished metal mountain sticking out of the bonnet.
It was a perfect day to bring this 1959 Ford Fairlane Galaxie Skyliner out to play with.
First produced in 1997, the Plymouth Prowler was based on a concept developed in 1993. Chrysler engineers were given free rein to design a hot rod–type vehicle that was a follow-up to the Dodge Viper. One of the most striking features is the open Indy racer–style front end. This Prowler had a fully polished front end, as well as chrome grille and stunning paint. You can really see the ’32 roadster look from this angle.
This ’47 Plymouth Special Deluxe Club Coupe is a rare car in New Zealand as only sedans were sold here. This car was imported into New Zealand from the USA back in 1948 and spent up until 1970 in the Wellington area. It then found its way to Temuka where it was put into storage until 1997 when its current owner, Lindsay McKenzie, bought it. Due to its rough condition, the car has undergone a full body-off restoration, with thousands of hours going into it. It now lives in Oamaru.
