Hi, thanks for watching, a full list of the several hundred videos on the channel is here: th-cam.com/users/oldclassiccarRJvideos Channel homepage: th-cam.com/channels/KaTg9fPUvmUQi94FcnDbrg.html If there are any petrolheads that you know that might find this kind of thing interesting, please pass on one of these links, thanks!
Such a very impressive almost encylopedic knowledge of specifications and build history displaying a highly enviable memory for detail. Amazing to see some of those cars that I remember from the late 1940s myself. It's a tribute to New Zealanders that they can keep these old classics going when spares are not manufactured for any of them apart from a very rare few with enthusiasts making their own in Marque clubs for some makes. Great video slide show many thanks.
@18:13 I not only know what the bronze and white car is in the back ground 1961 Chev,NZ version , I bombed around in it in the 1970's !!!! The colour was duco cooper bronze metallic with off white roof . It was paint I had left over from my '56 Belair . I have a couple of photos of it when it was powered with a full race built 327 chev V8 from a sprint car! Insane performance ! The car belonged to a work mate who bought it from a car wreckers ,minus engine etc. Lots of crazy stories around that car . In later years my brother found it in a land film sight in Northland NZ ,which had to be around the time that snap was taken .amazing!!!!
Thank you for another great collection from Peter Ward. A very stylish Gazelle in blue with the cream side flash at 1:28. I'm looking forward to the promised dedicated Singer upload, having spent most of my childhood in the company of my father's Singer 9 Sports Coupe, an SM1500 and several Gazelles.
Those perspex window surrounds were a common sight on driving school cars back in the sixties when hand signals were part of the driving test. That first shot of a Hillman could be a Humber version as I believe some Hillmans were re-badged as Humbers for certain export markets. Nice collection Rick.
They were called a 'Monsoon', my Grandfather always had the part green tinted version fitted to his cars, were great for the wet unpredictable Auckland weather.
Very interesting set of photos. I also think the red car in the second photo (?) is a Plymouth. Thanks to Peter for sharing this collection and thank you Rick for putting it together so nice to see.👍👍
Chrysler Corp liked to switch around their names in overseas markets a lot, my guess is 1936 Plymouth, but it could also have been badged Dodge, Chrysler or even DeSoto for export.
Absolutely brilliant photographs! To add a little more info - the Morris at 13:53 is actually another Isis, the Series I in this instance. Ford beside it is a 1951 model and at 18:00 the Yank of missing trim is a 1961 Chevrolet Impala or Bel Air.
You still see a fair bit of stuff in use over here, rust is rarely an issue. The price of cars in the 70’s/80’s was pretty steep though, I’ve got a NZ new XJS from 1988, that on the sales ticket was $129000.
The large orange car on the right at 10:23 is a Chrysler VH Valiant model from 1971 and a few years after. Likely assembled in Australia or less likely New Zealand from Australian parts. Most commonly using the Australian hemi 6 of 215cui (3.5 litre), 245 cui (4.0 litre) or 265 cui (4.3 litre). The top of the performance range two door coupe Charger Hemi six with triple Weber Carbs from the factory dominated the New Zealand endurance races for series production sedans. Beating the Australian 5.7 litre V8 Falcon XY GT351 cars that were hard to beat in Australia. Australian Valiants were sold in the UK from 1966 with Chrysler hoping to it to be a simple replacement for the Humber Super Snipe going out of production. Only sold in small numbers but close to no tooling establishment costs being an right hand drive car from Australia. Some survivor Valiants did turn up at the Ace Cafe in London on an Australia Day event, along with a car park full of Australian cars in the UK. Some highly watched coverage of the event on TH-cam from a few weeks ago,
Actually it's the reverse. A minority were built up imports. Most of these Valiants were assembled in NZ by Todd Motors. They had been since the 60S AP4s AP5s. And that included some Charger and luxury models.
Australian Minis always had external door hinges, even with the Clubman front. From some time in the '60s with the round front minis, there was a local design with wind up windows but external hinges.
Came looking to see whether someone had pointed that out! Also, while Aussie Mini variants received wind-up door-windows, they never lost the quarter-windows!
Lived & worked in Auckland, NZ, for several months in 1982, & was surprised to see so many older British & Australian vehicles, but I soon discovered that import-duties were very high for everything, plus duty on vehicles were even higher & based on engine-capacity. Although goods from England & Commonwealth countries received a slight reduction, wages were comparably lower than for Australian workers, so as a result Kiwis simply repaired their stuff for as long as possible! Only the really well off had the luxury of owning things like late-model cars, electronic-appliances, HiFi gear, musical-instruments, or photographic equipment!
I disagree. Most NZrs had electronic appliances stereos tvs photographic equipment back then. Indeed a lot of those things were made in NZ. And many had musical instruments. I played in a band at the time. There wasn't any problem getting instruments guitars drum kits amplifiers synthesizers speaker systems etc. Again a number of those things were made in NZ. We weren't all hill billies living in the back blocks. These cars were old when the photos were taken. Yes you could find them. But it's not like they were common every day vehicles. Most were old 'bombs back then. Or as the Brits would say, bangers. Which no doubt, is why the photos were taken. Take a closer look at the newer cars around them. And Japanese vehicles started arriving from the mid to late 60s. By the mid 70s they were taking over. It's about context and perspective. Back then you could find simaler age cars in the US UK Australia etc. Indeed, the late 70s was the first time i went to Australia. And i spotted a number of cars of this vintage. Especially old Holdens. But also Vauxhalls and Fords, which included Zephyrs and Falcons. Plus Hillmans BMC, ie Austins Morris etc. All of which i loved to see!
@@davidtaylor351 - quite so, certainly by the '70s. But there was also another factor affecting availability at least until the early '60s and likely to be forgotten by most, and that was the requirement for a sterling or $US deposit. I seem to recall from signs displayed in windscreens in dealer's yards this extended to some used vehicles.
Great video. This provoked me to look up Singer, the company. The wiki site has a marvellous, detailed history of this British company. Singers were all about in my childhood, 50s & 1960s. Thanks for putting this together. Peace be unto you.
At 14:27 the car between the Imp and Mini is a Datsun 510 (or Bluebird or 1600, not sure what it was badged in NZ). 1.6 ohc engine and all-independent suspension in 1968, a respectable sport sedan for the price of a VW Beetle. Very popular in America and Australia (likely NZ as well).
The reason we had so many "old" cars on the road was partly the result of Piggy Muldoon's Mickie Mouse money policy. It was impossible to buy a new car without access to overseas funds so as a result, Cockies [Farmers] who were exporting meat and wool, could buy a new car every year and trade it in after a year for more than they paid for it and get another new car. Second hand prices for new cars was simply prohibitive. I was "going out" with a beautiful Cockies daughter and was always amazed by his latest Valiant Regal - real classy car. One of the first cars I had was a 1948 Morris 8 Series E and I think it cost me well under $100 - my salary in 1970 was $1,134 PA. I just wish I had some of the many cars I went through in my youth!
At 1730 that DeSoto is a export model of which I didn't know till you showed it.. it appears to use Plymouth fenders of which the lights sit low where as a no export model the lights sits above the fender wheel opening the grill isn't what is in the US
The 1946, 47, or 48 DeSoto Special Deluxe seen in this video is a USA export model, to keep the DeSoto models competitive price wise they actually used a US Plymouth Special Deluxe (Top Plymouth Trim level) body with export front fenders, grill & other trim & interior appointments to make it a DeSoto. The USA DeSoto trim levels are Custom (top line) & Deluxe (entry level) & used a longer wheelbase than both Plymouth & Dodge as it was upmarket of both of them. The US Plymouth was the entry level car produced by Chrysler Corp. It was the most produced & popular Chrysler Corp. car at that time. It came with the least powerful flat head 6 cyl. engine & the shortest wheelbase of all Chrysler Corp. Cars, & the front fenders stopped forward of the front doors. Dodge, DeSoto, & Chryslers all on longer wheelbases have the front fender line terminating at the trailing edge of the Front doors. These Export DeSoto's were sold in Canada, Mexico, & many other parts of the world.
@@chuckfugate4518 I like how you explained it .. I recently photographed a 46 dodge town sedan and made it into a 3 window coupe fastback in my artwork ..
@@retrobrid2784 The USA 1946 to 1948 Chrysler Corp. 4 dr Town Sedan body is 1 of the rarest 4 dr body styles built, the survival rate is very low. I have seen photos, but not sure I've seen 1 in real life Metal. The 1946 to 1948 Plymouth Business Coupe is a sweet looking ride as well. Thanks !!!!
@@chuckfugate4518 These unusual Chrysler products came to NZ ex Canada, not the USA, in knocked down kit form and were actual models that were manufactured in Canada that were an amalgam of Plymouth and Dodge models. Cold War Motors a Canadian you-tuber refers to them a "Plodges". We got Pontiac Laurentians here which was basically a Pontiac built on a Chev chassis with a 283 Chev engine, again a car ex Canada. Interesting stuff.
At the precise moment when I believed I would never comprehend the nuances of British autos, New Zealand is added to the mix! Have mercy on an American disciple only trying to get the British marques straight! Only kidding sir, excellent video .as usual.By the way I perused cartraction, you have raised a proper young man!
I agree that the first photo of the 40's Hilman is likely to be one of the 'Humber' badged variants as a lot of the smaller Roots cars acquired the Humber moniker in NZ. I also wonder whether the metallic grey/gunmetal Austin A95 could be one of the very rare Vanden Plas trimmed A105's which were supplied in that, or a very similar colour? Another fantastic compilation Rick, I especially appreciated the series E Vauxhall which is without doubt my favourite early/mid 50's British car, I recall my father's 56' Cresta with great affection!
The local builder distributor of Rootes / Chrysler vehicles in NZ Todd Motors Ltd. Along with building Hillmans. Badged some of them as Humbers. The earlier ones as Humber 10s and the Hillman Minx as Humber 80s. And the super Minx as Humber 90s. Both cars and station wagon versions. These were sold alongside their Hillman counterparts. By changing the grills trim items and colour options etc, they created a seperate new car model. Thereby under the import licence arrangements. They could bring in twice as many ckd component packs. To cover these Humber models. Thus build and sell twice as many of the 'same' car. Other local builders / distributers, also at times created NZ specific models. Two examples. The local importer builder of Skodas created the Trekka utility vehicle based on a Skoda Octavia chassis. And Ford NZ built its own Cortina GT model. The GTE. And executive luxury versions of the MK4 Ford Zodiacs. Also the builders of BMC cars in NZ who eventually merged to became the NZ Motor Corporation. Built Rover P6 V8s and Jaguar XJs at their Nelson South Island plant. From where they were also exported to Australia and the Pacific. Anyway that's the back story to some of these different versions of familiar cars. Cheers
At 1:18 behind the Singer Gazelle saloon was actually a Singer Gazelle estate from 58 to 61. I had run out of film to take a photo of it. And at 19:58 you can just see the Singer Hunter horses head bonnet mascot. Hunter being a breed of horse. The basic Hunter was minus the mascot, fog lamps, bumper over riders plus other chrome parts. The bets / pints I've won over the years, when folk say " no mate not a Singer Hunter " "a Hillman Hunter" and then I prove it. Another pint won, lol 😂 cheers. 🍻 PS, at 10:28 so long ago now but I'm sure it was a Hillman Minx Phase VII 53 / 54 and not a Humber. And yet it looks like a Humber from drivers door and front wing, and yet it looks like the rear end of a Minx as I'm sure the Humber had a more sloping boot line, and a wrap round rear tail light unit. Let's solve the mystery lol 😂 what do you folks think. Enjoyable video again, thank you Richard.
Sadly most of these seem to be gone from our roads, now just riddled with; SUV's, Pickups, and EV's. I think this is a generation thing, as we die off our dream cars become just old boring scrap... The thing is if cared for even now they will function as a car, she me an EV in 50 years... but clearly the new generations just see cars as appliances, if you can't connect your phone to the car it is worthless... I am currently looking for the car I first drove at 13, I am sure it won't be fast but will outlast me... Thanks for sharing these pictures, a great glimpse into the past, when design actually meant something.
Gracious Motors was in Mt Eden, Auckland up until the 80's. Used to stock mostly British classics that were nice but VERY overpriced. In the shot with the Humber Hawk Rego CJ4139. The Orange car with the CNG sticker is an Australian Valiant Ranger. In New Zealand we used to have both CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) options. CNG died out in the 80's after people realized it dried all your motor's gaskets and destroyed peoples' engines. The Bronze car with the cream vinyl roof in the same shot is a Mitsubishi Sigma.
Petone is pronounced Pe-toe-nee. This takes me back. I can remember seeing many of these as I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. My parents had an Austin A40 Devon, then an Austin Cambridge which my father converted to floor change. Then they got a 1975 Vauxhall Victor. My first car was a 1965 Morris Minor. Great cars.
The pic. with the cream Humber Hawk has an Aussie built Chrysler Valiant next to it on the right (with gas conversion sticker) . Most likely a Ranger 4 door sedan or it could be a 2 door Charger. Could be a straight six most likely although they came in V8 also. On the left is an Aussie built Chrysler Sigma. 4 cyl. 2.6 or 2.0 L, It looks like an upmarket SE as it has metallic paint and vinyl roof. You were on the money Rick as it was a spin off of a Mitsubishi Galant. They had trouble making the 2.6 4 cyl. smooth and advertised them as having ‘silent shafts’ which were shafts that spun and ran down each side of the engine. Unfortunately they were still a lumpy engine. As Chrysler took over the Rootes Group in Aus. they all have a common ancestory although the Valiant was a spin off of an American car.
Small correction. The cream car isn't a Humber Hawk. It is a mid 50s Hillman Minx or a NZ market Humber 80 badged version of the Hillman Minx. Both models were built in NZ by Todd Motors as were the Mitsubishi Sigmas and Chrysler Valiants. NZ built vehicles were a mix of imported components, ie completely knocked down packs. And locally manufactured content and components.
Dear "Old Classic Car", I enjoy every video and must say that those times where these cars where "new" the living was "better" and so where the cars models. Now everything lookes the same. In this one I hope I can help you out... at 18.00 we are looking at an English car and an American car. You are not sure about the Ami; well I am, it is definitly a Chevrolet Impala 1961, in a minor look. Maybe the car is used as a track racer but however. I like it much better with the bumpers on it. In my opinion it is not the most beautifull version of the Impala, I loved the 1959 version aswell as the 1978. But so much about American cars, lets go on with other Classic Cars, its your turn, thanks for all those videos. Greetings from Holland. 👍👍👋
When I came to NZ in the early 80s it was a classic car paradise. Successive anti-car government agendas means they have all gone now. I've owned minis, Minors, Anglias, Cortinas, allsorts. I still own and maintain a VW Beetle 1968 model. Sadly NZ is now all new Japanese cars aside from the dwindling number of enthusiasts.
@@oldclassiccarUK And the fastback sedan you thought was a Plymouth is either a '39 or '40 Ford standard. I really like the Morris Isis too. The front end reminds me of a 49/50 Chevy. And speaking of Chevies, your fleetline is a '52. Had a 4-door notch back just like it in '71. Bought it off an old farmer for $10 and my Dad and I drove it back to our house using the E brakes to slow down and stop. Good times indeed.
At 10.25 ,right hand, Chrysler Valiant , (6 cylinder Hemi 71-2 ,) far left Chrysler Sigma 2,6 litre 4 cylinder, or when Mitsubushi took over Chrysler 1979-80, Sigma name kept. at 1459 last car subaru sedan ,at 18,12, 61 Chev Sedan Impala most likely
OMG have to explain the Hillman Minx vertical grille bars is the rebadged Humber ten its factory car, built to give Humber dealers a small car to sell, mid 50s one is also a Humber not hillman, as is the car between the Valiant and Mitsubishi
It was cheap 2nd hand Japanese imports that killed of a lot of these old British cars. I was in NZ 5/6 years ago. You do still see a quite a few about.
@@oldclassiccarUK I've seen sales literature, they seem to have been sent there in the '70s as a replacement for the big Humbers. Can't have been popular or you'd remember them better! The Aussie model was better suited to that than the American one, because besides being LHD the American Valiants were trimmed and sold as economy cars - you couldn't even get a plush velour-and-fake-woodgrain interior until the Brougham model starting in early calendar 1974 as a mid-model-year option.
Hi, thanks for watching, a full list of the several hundred videos on the channel is here:
th-cam.com/users/oldclassiccarRJvideos
Channel homepage:
th-cam.com/channels/KaTg9fPUvmUQi94FcnDbrg.html
If there are any petrolheads that you know that might find this kind of thing interesting, please pass on one of these links, thanks!
Such a very impressive almost encylopedic knowledge of specifications and build history displaying a highly enviable memory for detail. Amazing to see some of those cars that I remember from the late 1940s myself. It's a tribute to New Zealanders that they can keep these old classics going when spares are not manufactured for any of them apart from a very rare few with enthusiasts making their own in Marque clubs for some makes. Great video slide show many thanks.
@18:13 I not only know what the bronze and white car is in the back ground 1961 Chev,NZ version , I bombed around in it in the 1970's !!!! The colour was duco cooper bronze metallic with off white roof . It was paint I had left over from my '56 Belair . I have a couple of photos of it when it was powered with a full race built 327 chev V8 from a sprint car! Insane performance ! The car belonged to a work mate who bought it from a car wreckers ,minus engine etc. Lots of crazy stories around that car . In later years my brother found it in a land film sight in Northland NZ ,which had to be around the time that snap was taken .amazing!!!!
Ha that's mad, what a coincidence!!!! :-)
Thank you for another great collection from Peter Ward. A very stylish Gazelle in blue with the cream side flash at 1:28. I'm looking forward to the promised dedicated Singer upload, having spent most of my childhood in the company of my father's Singer 9 Sports Coupe, an SM1500 and several Gazelles.
A pleasure Colin, I'm just pleased to share my pics with Richard and his followers. He does a great job creating the videos. Cheers 🥂
Those perspex window surrounds were a common sight on driving school cars back in the sixties when hand signals were part of the driving test. That first shot of a Hillman could be a Humber version as I believe some Hillmans were re-badged as Humbers for certain export markets. Nice collection Rick.
There was a Humber 80 which was unique to NZ. It was a Minx with a longer bonnet and a 2.2 litre Humber Hawk/Sunbeam Talbot engine.
@@cornishhh No it was the Minx pure and simple rebadged by Todd motors
They are still made for classics here in Brisbane Australia.
They were called a 'Monsoon', my Grandfather always had the part green tinted version fitted to his cars, were great for the wet unpredictable Auckland weather.
Monsoon shields - great things, meant you could drive with your window open a bit on a hot rainy day, and not get rained on
Very interesting set of photos. I also think the red car in the second photo (?) is a Plymouth. Thanks to Peter for sharing this collection and thank you Rick for putting it together so nice to see.👍👍
Hi, I'm just pleased I can share my pics with Richard and his followers for you all to enjoy. Cheers 🥂
Chrysler Corp liked to switch around their names in overseas markets a lot, my guess is 1936 Plymouth, but it could also have been badged Dodge, Chrysler or even DeSoto for export.
Absolutely brilliant photographs! To add a little more info - the Morris at 13:53 is actually another Isis, the Series I in this instance. Ford beside it is a 1951 model and at 18:00 the Yank of missing trim is a 1961 Chevrolet Impala or Bel Air.
You still see a fair bit of stuff in use over here, rust is rarely an issue. The price of cars in the 70’s/80’s was pretty steep though, I’ve got a NZ new XJS from 1988, that on the sales ticket was $129000.
The large orange car on the right at 10:23 is a Chrysler VH Valiant model from 1971 and a few years after.
Likely assembled in Australia or less likely New Zealand from Australian parts. Most commonly using the Australian hemi 6 of 215cui (3.5 litre), 245 cui (4.0 litre) or 265 cui (4.3 litre).
The top of the performance range two door coupe Charger Hemi six with triple Weber Carbs from the factory dominated the New Zealand endurance races for series production sedans. Beating the Australian 5.7 litre V8 Falcon XY GT351 cars that were hard to beat in Australia.
Australian Valiants were sold in the UK from 1966 with Chrysler hoping to it to be a simple replacement for the Humber Super Snipe going out of production. Only sold in small numbers but close to no tooling establishment costs being an right hand drive car from Australia.
Some survivor Valiants did turn up at the Ace Cafe in London on an Australia Day event, along with a car park full of Australian cars in the UK. Some highly watched coverage of the event on TH-cam from a few weeks ago,
Actually it's the reverse. A minority were built up imports. Most of these Valiants were assembled in NZ by Todd Motors. They had been since the 60S AP4s AP5s. And that included some Charger and luxury models.
At 20:55+. The car in the background is a 1962 Chevrolet. 3 tail lights makes it an Impala. [ or - what’s left of one].
Great video.
🚗🙂
Thanks Jeff
Australian Minis always had external door hinges, even with the Clubman front. From some time in the '60s with the round front minis, there was a local design with wind up windows but external hinges.
Ooooo interesting variations, thanks for posting
@@oldclassiccarUK they had ugly door handles too.👍👍🇬🇧
Came looking to see whether someone had pointed that out!
Also, while Aussie Mini variants received wind-up door-windows, they never lost the quarter-windows!
Lived & worked in Auckland, NZ, for several months in 1982, & was surprised to see so many older British & Australian vehicles, but I soon discovered that import-duties were very high for everything, plus duty on vehicles were even higher & based on engine-capacity.
Although goods from England & Commonwealth countries received a slight reduction, wages were comparably lower than for Australian workers, so as a result Kiwis simply repaired their stuff for as long as possible!
Only the really well off had the luxury of owning things like late-model cars, electronic-appliances, HiFi gear, musical-instruments, or photographic equipment!
I disagree. Most NZrs had electronic appliances stereos tvs photographic equipment back then. Indeed a lot of those things were made in NZ. And many had musical instruments. I played in a band at the time. There wasn't any problem getting instruments guitars drum kits amplifiers synthesizers speaker systems etc. Again a number of those things were made in NZ. We weren't all hill billies living in the back blocks. These cars were old when the photos were taken. Yes you could find them. But it's not like they were common every day vehicles. Most were old 'bombs back then. Or as the Brits would say, bangers. Which no doubt, is why the photos were taken. Take a closer look at the newer cars around them. And Japanese vehicles started arriving from the mid to late 60s. By the mid 70s they were taking over. It's about context and perspective. Back then you could find simaler age cars in the US UK Australia etc. Indeed, the late 70s was the first time i went to Australia. And i spotted a number of cars of this vintage. Especially old Holdens. But also Vauxhalls and Fords, which included Zephyrs and Falcons. Plus Hillmans BMC, ie Austins Morris etc. All of which i loved to see!
@@davidtaylor351 - quite so, certainly by the '70s. But there was also another factor affecting availability at least until the early '60s and likely to be forgotten by most, and that was the requirement for a sterling or $US deposit. I seem to recall from signs displayed in windscreens in dealer's yards this extended to some used vehicles.
Great video. This provoked me to look up Singer, the company. The wiki site has a marvellous, detailed history of this British company. Singers were all about in my childhood, 50s & 1960s. Thanks for putting this together. Peace be unto you.
Thanks Martin, there'll be an upload dedicated to Singer cars in the near future
@@oldclassiccarUK Great, there's a lot, Singer started producing cars 1901. Peace & contentment unto you.
The white Japanese car on the photo with the Phase 1 Vanguard is a circa 1970 Datsun 1600.
Many great memories here thanks for your great work 😅
10:25 on the left a Chrysler or Mitsubishi Sigma, right- a VH Valiant by Chrysler Australia
I posted same before I read your comment.
At 14:27 the car between the Imp and Mini is a Datsun 510 (or Bluebird or 1600, not sure what it was badged in NZ). 1.6 ohc engine and all-independent suspension in 1968, a respectable sport sedan for the price of a VW Beetle. Very popular in America and Australia (likely NZ as well).
I see, thanks for the info!
The reason we had so many "old" cars on the road was partly the result of Piggy Muldoon's Mickie Mouse money policy. It was impossible to buy a new car without access to overseas funds so as a result, Cockies [Farmers] who were exporting meat and wool, could buy a new car every year and trade it in after a year for more than they paid for it and get another new car. Second hand prices for new cars was simply prohibitive. I was "going out" with a beautiful Cockies daughter and was always amazed by his latest Valiant Regal - real classy car. One of the first cars I had was a 1948 Morris 8 Series E and I think it cost me well under $100 - my salary in 1970 was $1,134 PA. I just wish I had some of the many cars I went through in my youth!
At 1730 that DeSoto is a export model of which I didn't know till you showed it.. it appears to use Plymouth fenders of which the lights sit low where as a no export model the lights sits above the fender wheel opening the grill isn't what is in the US
The 1946, 47, or 48 DeSoto Special Deluxe seen in this video is a USA export model, to keep the DeSoto models competitive price wise they actually used a US Plymouth Special Deluxe (Top Plymouth Trim level) body with export front fenders, grill & other trim & interior appointments to make it a DeSoto. The USA DeSoto trim levels are Custom (top line) & Deluxe (entry level) & used a longer wheelbase than both Plymouth & Dodge as it was upmarket of both of them. The US Plymouth was the entry level car produced by Chrysler Corp. It was the most produced & popular Chrysler Corp. car at that time. It came with the least powerful flat head 6 cyl. engine & the shortest wheelbase of all Chrysler Corp. Cars, & the front fenders stopped forward of the front doors. Dodge, DeSoto, & Chryslers all on longer wheelbases have the front fender line terminating at the trailing edge of the Front doors. These Export DeSoto's were sold in Canada, Mexico, & many other parts of the world.
@@chuckfugate4518 I like how you explained it .. I recently photographed a 46 dodge town sedan and made it into a 3 window coupe fastback in my artwork ..
@@retrobrid2784 The USA 1946 to 1948 Chrysler Corp. 4 dr Town Sedan body is 1 of the rarest 4 dr body styles built, the survival rate is very low. I have seen photos, but not sure I've seen 1 in real life Metal. The 1946 to 1948 Plymouth Business Coupe is a sweet looking ride as well. Thanks !!!!
@@chuckfugate4518 These unusual Chrysler products came to NZ ex Canada, not the USA, in knocked down kit form and were actual models that were manufactured in Canada that were an amalgam of Plymouth and Dodge models. Cold War Motors a Canadian you-tuber refers to them a "Plodges". We got Pontiac Laurentians here which was basically a Pontiac built on a Chev chassis with a 283 Chev engine, again a car ex Canada. Interesting stuff.
At the precise moment when I believed I would never comprehend the nuances of British autos, New Zealand is added to the mix! Have mercy on an American disciple only trying to get the British marques straight! Only kidding sir, excellent video .as usual.By the way I perused cartraction, you have raised a proper young man!
Great pics!😍😍
Thank you!!
I agree that the first photo of the 40's Hilman is likely to be one of the 'Humber' badged variants as a lot of the smaller Roots cars acquired the Humber moniker in NZ. I also wonder whether the metallic grey/gunmetal Austin A95 could be one of the very rare Vanden Plas trimmed A105's which were supplied in that, or a very similar colour? Another fantastic compilation Rick, I especially appreciated the series E Vauxhall which is without doubt my favourite early/mid 50's British car, I recall my father's 56' Cresta with great affection!
Pleased that it was of interest, thanks for watching
The local builder distributor of Rootes / Chrysler vehicles in NZ Todd Motors Ltd. Along with building Hillmans. Badged some of them as Humbers. The earlier ones as Humber 10s and the Hillman Minx as Humber 80s. And the super Minx as Humber 90s. Both cars and station wagon versions. These were sold alongside their Hillman counterparts. By changing the grills trim items and colour options etc, they created a seperate new car model. Thereby under the import licence arrangements. They could bring in twice as many ckd component packs. To cover these Humber models. Thus build and sell twice as many of the 'same' car. Other local builders / distributers, also at times created NZ specific models. Two examples. The local importer builder of Skodas created the Trekka utility vehicle based on a Skoda Octavia chassis. And Ford NZ built its own Cortina GT model. The GTE. And executive luxury versions of the MK4 Ford Zodiacs. Also the builders of BMC cars in NZ who eventually merged to became the NZ Motor Corporation. Built Rover P6 V8s and Jaguar XJs at their Nelson South Island plant. From where they were also exported to Australia and the Pacific. Anyway that's the back story to some of these different versions of familiar cars. Cheers
Very interesting collection.
At 1:18 behind the Singer Gazelle saloon was actually a Singer Gazelle estate from 58 to 61. I had run out of film to take a photo of it. And at 19:58 you can just see the Singer Hunter horses head bonnet mascot. Hunter being a breed of horse.
The basic Hunter was minus the mascot, fog lamps, bumper over riders plus other chrome parts. The bets / pints I've won over the years, when folk say " no mate not a Singer Hunter " "a Hillman Hunter" and then I prove it. Another pint won, lol 😂 cheers. 🍻 PS, at 10:28 so long ago now but I'm sure it was a Hillman Minx Phase VII 53 / 54 and not a Humber.
And yet it looks like a Humber from drivers door and front wing, and yet it looks like the rear end of a Minx as I'm sure the Humber had a more sloping boot line, and a wrap round rear tail light unit. Let's solve the mystery lol 😂 what do you folks think.
Enjoyable video again, thank you Richard.
Thanks as always for sending me your fab collection of photos.
The number of cars allowed to be imported in NZ was limited Rootes got around this by marketing Hillmans as Humber 80's
Thanks for this collection Peter. NZ really is a treasure trove of preserved old English….and more….cars.
@@peterriggall8409 You're welcome Peter, I'm just pleased to be able to share them with Richard and his followers.
Cheers matey. 🥂
Sadly most of these seem to be gone from our roads, now just riddled with; SUV's, Pickups, and EV's. I think this is a generation thing, as we die off our dream cars become just old boring scrap... The thing is if cared for even now they will function as a car, she me an EV in 50 years... but clearly the new generations just see cars as appliances, if you can't connect your phone to the car it is worthless... I am currently looking for the car I first drove at 13, I am sure it won't be fast but will outlast me... Thanks for sharing these pictures, a great glimpse into the past, when design actually meant something.
The first red American car with sloping rear end is a Hudson. A Terraplane or maybe an Essex.
10:52 I still see a Humber Super Snipe like that driving around where I live. Original colour from new.
Gracious Motors was in Mt Eden, Auckland up until the 80's. Used to stock mostly British classics that were nice but VERY overpriced. In the shot with the Humber Hawk Rego CJ4139. The Orange car with the CNG sticker is an Australian Valiant Ranger. In New Zealand we used to have both CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) options. CNG died out in the 80's after people realized it dried all your motor's gaskets and destroyed peoples' engines. The Bronze car with the cream vinyl roof in the same shot is a Mitsubishi Sigma.
Thanks Antonia!
@@oldclassiccarUK Thank my dad, he knew all this stuff. xx
Petone is pronounced Pe-toe-nee. This takes me back. I can remember seeing many of these as I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. My parents had an Austin A40 Devon, then an Austin Cambridge which my father converted to floor change. Then they got a 1975 Vauxhall Victor. My first car was a 1965 Morris Minor. Great cars.
Thanks Peter.
Nice collection from a different country
That first red car is a Humber 10, assembled at Todd motors. I have one, you can see it on a channel called Moving our world.
Thanks!
"Good old times" never seemed so good! Wish I could go back! Fu*k the present!!!
Welll it's not all bad now, but I do prefer simpler times to what we have now
@@oldclassiccarUK Exactly. Not all is bad, but a lot is. Wish we could have back our simpler, gentler times....
The Hillman Minx is actually a Humber ten badge engineering trick to give Humber dealers an entry level car to sell
The pic. with the cream Humber Hawk has an Aussie built Chrysler Valiant next to it on the right (with gas conversion sticker) . Most likely a Ranger 4 door sedan or it could be a 2 door Charger. Could be a straight six most likely although they came in V8 also. On the left is an Aussie built Chrysler Sigma. 4 cyl. 2.6 or 2.0 L, It looks like an upmarket SE as it has metallic paint and vinyl roof. You were on the money Rick as it was a spin off of a Mitsubishi Galant. They had trouble making the 2.6 4 cyl. smooth and advertised them as having ‘silent shafts’ which were shafts that spun and ran down each side of the engine. Unfortunately they were still a lumpy engine. As Chrysler took over the Rootes Group in Aus. they all have a common ancestory although the Valiant was a spin off of an American car.
Small correction. The cream car isn't a Humber Hawk. It is a mid 50s Hillman Minx or a NZ market Humber 80 badged version of the Hillman Minx. Both models were built in NZ by Todd Motors as were the Mitsubishi Sigmas and Chrysler Valiants. NZ built vehicles were a mix of imported components, ie completely knocked down packs. And locally manufactured content and components.
Dear "Old Classic Car", I enjoy every video and must say that those times where these cars where "new" the living was "better" and so where the cars models. Now everything lookes the same. In this one I hope I can help you out... at 18.00 we are looking at an English car and an American car. You are not sure about the Ami; well I am, it is definitly a Chevrolet Impala 1961, in a minor look. Maybe the car is used as a track racer but however. I like it much better with the bumpers on it. In my opinion it is not the most beautifull version of the Impala, I loved the 1959 version aswell as the 1978. But so much about American cars, lets go on with other Classic Cars, its your turn, thanks for all those videos. Greetings from Holland. 👍👍👋
Thanks for watching these videos!
@10:42 car in the left is a Chrysler valiant and on the right is a Mitsubishi Sigma . Both Australian designs .
Hi, so the bronze / white 61 Chev I took the photo of was your car ?
How amazing, what a small world as they say. Cheers 🥂
Great presentation
Thanks, if you know of anyone else who might find this interesting, please pass on the link, thanks
@@oldclassiccarUK I like your jolly background music too Rick. Not intrusive but seems to add to the experience.
Nice 👍👍👍
When I came to NZ in the early 80s it was a classic car paradise. Successive anti-car government agendas means they have all gone now. I've owned minis, Minors, Anglias, Cortinas, allsorts. I still own and maintain a VW Beetle 1968 model. Sadly NZ is now all new Japanese cars aside from the dwindling number of enthusiasts.
The Chevy behind that Austin is a '61 Impala
4-door hardtop. Hope
that helps.
Thanks Ken
@@oldclassiccarUK And the fastback sedan you thought was a Plymouth is
either a '39 or '40 Ford standard. I really like the
Morris Isis too. The front
end reminds me of a 49/50
Chevy. And speaking of Chevies, your fleetline is a
'52. Had a 4-door notch back just like it in '71. Bought it off an old farmer for $10 and my Dad and I
drove it back to our house
using the E brakes to slow
down and stop. Good times
indeed.
that red and black one near the beginning could be a 38/39 Pontiac the two doors were very rare
At 10.25 ,right hand, Chrysler Valiant , (6 cylinder Hemi 71-2 ,) far left Chrysler Sigma 2,6 litre 4 cylinder, or when Mitsubushi took over Chrysler 1979-80, Sigma name kept. at 1459 last car subaru sedan ,at 18,12, 61 Chev Sedan Impala most likely
OMG have to explain the Hillman Minx vertical grille bars is the rebadged Humber ten its factory car, built to give Humber dealers a small car to sell, mid 50s one is also a Humber not hillman, as is the car between the Valiant and Mitsubishi
It was cheap 2nd hand Japanese imports that killed of a lot of these old British cars. I was in NZ 5/6 years ago. You do still see a quite a few about.
10.28 left Mitsi Galant or Sigma / 56 Humber 80 / Valiant (245/265/6) CNG compressed natural gas
I was rather surprised that you did not know the Chrysler Valiant.
Were they even sold in the UK?
@@oldclassiccarUK I've seen sales literature, they seem to have been sent there in the '70s as a replacement for the big Humbers. Can't have been popular or you'd remember them better! The Aussie model was better suited to that than the American one, because besides being LHD the American Valiants were trimmed and sold as economy cars - you couldn't even get a plush velour-and-fake-woodgrain interior until the Brougham model starting in early calendar 1974 as a mid-model-year option.
My father had a few of those, nostalgia times for me.
Ek not fb
Humber upper grill?
😁👍
1938 PLYMOUTH