Classic run in New Zealand

[Kilroy]

Hiya chaps and chapettes.
Just returned from a very enjoyable run near Christchurch, in the South Island of NZ.
Organised as a 'Classic' run for any interested parties, it attracted 194 cars last year - but due to it being a rather dismal day today, we only achieved 102 in a very mixed bag.
My friend Zeb has been doing a real fast overhaul on his Mk3 ute, from total body strip and paint, to a total 1800 motor/gearbox/transmission/suspension upgrade - and today was its first run - and I mean first..!
It was completed at 10pm last night, and virtually untried to say the least.
A resounding success..!
Not only did it look stunning - the 'as found' motor performed faultlessly, and proved to have plenty of poke.
The gearbox is sadly in need of some attention - but there is time for that now we know it all goes.
I took a bit of a risk and drove my prettiest car which was devoid of niceties such as rego...
We got a lot of comments on both vehicles, and were even joined by one other Marina - a low mileage 1300 saloon - quite rare over here.
Will share a few pics here.
Cheers all,
Kilroy

[MarinaCoupe]

Nice one Kilroy,

Congratulate Zeb on his pickup - very nicely done and the Dolomite Sprint wheels go well don't they?

Our spring/summer season is about to start in the UK, so hopefully lots of shots of cars at UK shows to come.

[JIM73]

That looks very nice Kilroy ! I like the pickup and the "marina" signage on the rear ! I think Billytits will like the dolly wheels !!!

[billytits]

na ive grown out of dolly wheels now mgf wheels all the way, although they do look bloody smart on that pickup two nice looking cars well done

[The original northen boy]

Ay up K,
The cars look great,and once again i will say to any prospective Marina buyer don't over look the MK3 look how well these boys look the styling (although only subtle changes) is so much fresher than the MK1 and MK2's and they drive better too and are far more economical on the go go juice than the 1800cc ones the 1700cc "O" series is only slightly slower than T.C,and their cheaper to buy as well and do they look like cars that finished production in 1979?

Now onto the pick-up look how well this little beauty looks,proof in it's self that out of the entire Marina/ital range the pick-up is the best balanced out of all the models,the whole vehicle is just so pleasing and in proportion the doors work so well also .

Oh and yes as i'm sure you know what my favourite Marinas are,well if you didn't you do know.

Russ

Beckett Bros "no i'm not being flash,it's what i'm built to do" :roll:

[Alan The Exocet]

Lovely cars,could fancy either one of them,the only thing i would do with the pick up is to get the cover to fit on the scuff rails and not by the panel mounted straps,still nice though.

Alan

[Kilroy]

Cheers all - appreciate all the nice comments..!

We had a very enjoyable day, so that was the point of the exercise I guess.

Tomorrow Sue and I are flying up to Wellington, then train to Masterton, to collect our latest purchase.
Its another sandglow Mk3 auto saloon - that will make 3.!
It featured on "Trademe" recently - in fact 4 times without a single bid.
Began at $1200, then 3 times at $1000.
I emailed the seller and admired the car - passed on my website link, and offered help.
This week the lady emailed me to say that the car had failed a warrant of fitness, and needed $250 spent on it. Would I like it for $300.?
That was a 'yes' of course.
Turns out it was her Dad's car - 1 owner - and she thought he would have liked for me to have it.
So - tomorrow we will have lunch with her and her Mum, take possession of the car and try to drive it all the way back here by Sunday night.
Apparently the rack bush has gone, and one rear wheel cylinder has seized. Hopefully it moves under its own power...!
Of course it has no road-going legalities, but we shall plead insanity if necessary.

Love these adventures..

Tally-ho.

Here are the other two...

[MarinaCoupe]

Hi Kilroy,

About the Mk3s, you personally seem to have more MK3s than I have ever seen in one place in the UK!. How long were they sold new for in NZ? Did you guys get the Ital or did they just carry on producing Mk3s?

[Kilroy]

Chris
I suspect that the reason I have so many Mk3's is because they are all still here - that is, they were not destroyed earlier in their careers, as many previous models were.
Like them or not - the Mk3's have a much more modern appearance - inside and out I feel, so their resale value lasted longer here.
Apart from commercial vehicles, all these Mk3's seem to have been owned - at least initially - by older folk. Probably they had a loyalty to English made cars, and by the 1980's there were not many choices available. Mk3's were only available in 1980-1981, and the Ital was never sold here.
The other factor, is that many motorists were trying to avoid front wheel drive, as they did not entirely trust the mechanical aspects as being affordable from a maintenance point of view.
My latest addition bears testimony to these theories - as it had two older owners - the first kept it 'on blocks' for much of his ownership - presumably because he was unable to drive it.
The second used it around town until his death last year, and I bought it from his family. It has done 92,000k.
He had begun 'parking-by-ear' it would seem, but it was garaged all its life, and thus has lasted in sound condition.
Left side is very good;



Right side shows a number of scars and imperfections;



But I do love the cushions - Retro-riders would love to get hold of these items I'm sure..



We made the 280 mile trip home without a single complaint.
Even has some obscure form of electronic ignition fitted.
Was cheaper than doing the same trip in a rental car - and we get to keep it...

Kilroy

[Number 63]

Excellent 8) 8)

[USspecGT]

Excellent work.... I guess the next photo we all want to see is the three of them lined up together.

Nice one!

[Uncle Frank]

:shock: Another one Kilroy! :roll: ...you just couldn`t resist could you! ...looking good mate, nice work :mrgreen:

[Kilroy]

Nah - couldn't resist..

Has some bits I've not seen before. Like this..



My first with a remote oil filler...



.. and then there is this optional accessory..?



Period stuff.

[JIM73]

Thats very 'cool' Kilroy ! Will you be keeping the seat covers for the winter ?

[Ausmarina]

Hi Kilroy, I had one of those electronic spark things many moons ago. Ah....so many memories :roll: . I can remember that it did nothing for the car it was fitted to (83 Charade), but it would have had a pretty good ignition system to start with. It might just work on a Marina.