Finally saw it, but as usual it was the one time I went that way & was in a hurry, however I did get the rego & carjam confirms it is a Terra & if its there agaiin Ill pop in see if I can have a chat with the owner
supernova2,
Feb 2, 6:43pm
This is a bit hazy - its been a long time since 1970. Was Morris Turner Motors - Fred Turner and probably a Mr Morris Made in Rotorua industrial area - maybe Riri St or Pururu St. Started as Vw then later models had other motors to up the power a bit - i thought they were peugeot but may have been renault.I'm guessing that as they were "handmade" you could have had just about any donk fitted if you wanted. Rear engine made for a pretty small load deck but like everything back in the 70's you pretty much took what you could get or did without. Maybe try the Rotorua Vintage & Vetren Car club - might just be someone there who knows more than I.
There's a VW specialist in Rotorua - Colin Hardie - he's the right age group to maybe able to help.
Good Luck.
supernova2,
Feb 4, 7:45pm
The more i think about it I have a feeling that the Terra was made in Fergusson Place.
whqqsh,
Feb 10, 7:05am
Katyj2 hasnt been back in for updates for some time it seems
katyj2,
Oct 25, 4:47pm
x1
Is there anyone out there who knows anything about the history of a very rare kiwi built utility called the TERRA! I'm writing a book on unique kiwi built vehicles. Found an old trademe auction listing and have seen a photo but having no luck finding further info. It was a vw based utility probably made in very small numbers in the 60's! Was also told that a guy in Wellington still has one! anyone give me any info on where they were built!Who built them! Anythingabout history of this special piece of kiwi ingenuity!
rpvr,
Oct 25, 7:41pm
I used to own one up until about 15 years ago. I owned a bach on Great Barrier Island and kept the vehicle over there. Eventually sold it to an island resident so he may still have it. Anyway, my recollection is that they were mainly built on standard VW floor pans and were made in Rotorua. Mine was a standard 1200cc, but there were various engine sizes as all of the air cooled VW engines were interchangable. There were also a few different body styles, one is pictured here http://oldstyle-vw.blogspot.com/2010/05/wheelerdealer-ultra-rare-terra.html but mine was a bit different at the front.
katyj2,
Oct 26, 11:35am
Many Thanks RPVR,at least Rotorua may be a starting point. I thought I'd cracked the Terra Mystery at one point but turned out that people were mixing up Terra with a Trekka and a Farm Buggy and maybe a Trailmaker! All VW Based I think and very simular looking. Think they were all built by ingenius Kiwis because of currency and import difficulties of that era!No record of TERRA at companies house or of name being registered at NZ Patent office at that time.So still desperately seeking history for this vehicle.
shelleigh,
Oct 26, 4:35pm
There was an article in the September/October 2011 issue of the Life and Leisure magazine called "Terrific Trekka". It featured Neil Tolich. Here's a link to how you can get a copy if you don't know anyone who gets it. http://www.nzlifeandleisure.co.nz/archive
jaydeesnr,
Oct 26, 7:45pm
Not Trekka shelleigh , "Terra". They were made in rotorua,vw based, a very boxy shape. A friend of mine had one and will try to recall the makersname. Will notify you if he doe's
Whoops! Maybe check out sites like www.classiccar.co.nz (they have ablog) where you could find the info/contacts
katyj2,
Oct 27, 4:59pm
THANKS ALL! a good lead with Morris Turner Motors. Just found a photo of TERRA badge which says "manufactured by morris turner motors rotorua". Tried web search on this company name but no luck! Anything that anyone knows about the history of this rare kiwi car still appreciated.
jmma,
Oct 27, 7:49pm
Read through this link, they are restoring one, maybe contact them and they may have your answers (o:
mantagsi,
Oct 27, 8:03pm
A very close friend of mine has an immaculate one that she has had for years, and has receieved some offers that would make your head spin! Won't sell it for love nor money either. It is pretty fun to drive and goes well offroad but it is pretty noisy at motorway speed. Hell of a lot of fun. It would be dead easy to make one as the terra is just a simple box section body with aluninium sheet slapped on top of a reasonably standard swing axle vw chassis. I was quite keen on copying the terra but I ended up building a fibreglass buggy instead
nave12,
Oct 27, 8:10pm
Was watching a documentary(im almost positive it was on the heartland channel "from the archives") and it had a whole heap of nz engineered cars that tried to crack the market and the terra you mention had a segment about its origins with some old rare footage of the place it was made in Rotorua etc.
julian.walls,
Oct 28, 9:15am
x1
As the guy that has documented contents of car magazines over the last 37 years in depthfor over 30 Titles including NZ - I found a Driving feature of one that I reseached a few years back I Would quote you my website but Trademe members might complain - :(
See January 1971 Motorman Magazine (NZ) Page 19brief driving impression also includes mention of one in article that took part in a local 1968 Rally which prior to Heatway may have been called Goldstar +bw photo of the a vehicle
To get a copy visit the National Library of NZ based in Molesworth St Wellington (They may be back in their premises now as they temporary moved to Thorndon Quayyou cannot take magazines out - but you can photocopy the article
From what I understood they were VW Basedand looked more like a buggy with front spare tyre on the front - The Trekka was designed by a Brit and was based on Skoda Octavia engine
You could try Trekka Book - in it Niels mentions other local produced vehicles .in a few chapters as for Webbos Car Assembly book - 'that was a rushed job' - although some areas were excellent others hardly got mention - I don't Recall the Terra been Mentioned but its been a few years since I read the book - there might be something there of help.
As for Surviors I sure I seen one owned or used by Shell Station in Gracefield and I am sure I seen one here in the Upper Hutt here
Best of luck
singing1,
Oct 28, 10:05am
x1
Have you got the Trail maker and Trail Freighter in your book! Also based on VW floor plan but made in Cambridge!
katyj2,
Oct 28, 10:33am
Thanks for all the comments and clues. Looks like it might take a bit from here and abit from there to stitch the TERRA story together. Ref the trailmaker story yes no probs there.Also been in contact with a top bloke who made another farm buggy down in Blenhiem. The TERRA has been my nemisisso hard to find and on many occasions it turned out that people had mixed it up with trailmaker,trekka,farm buggyor just a one off special that some cocky or hunter lashed together. The TERRA made in rotorua by MORRIS TURNER MOTORS is the kiwi utility that I want all and any info on. Maybe someone in rotorua remembers the company!
whqqsh,
Oct 28, 2:43pm
I think something similar drives through South Aucks quite often & have seen in parked at a factory not far from here, I'll have a look next time Im going past
katyj2,
Oct 31, 11:24am
Thanks whqqsh, and all who have posted. Latest is that I followed the Morris Motors lead and found a helpfull and friendly company called Stag 4x4 company formely called believe it or not Morris Turner Motors. The modern day Morris got back to me straight away BUT the names are just a coincidence! Just when I thought I had a great lead on the TERRA it turns into a dead end again. FRUSTRATING! Any clues as to history of the ingenius little TERRA utility from Rotorua still gratefully accepted.
afer_daily,
Nov 1, 5:19pm
saw a very tidy orange one in manurewa today/ about 4 . 30 pm /you just dont see them anymore
moosie_21,
Nov 2, 4:02pm
I would suggest you find the nearest museum or archives in Rotorua and kindly phone their onboard researcher/curator if they have any time to do some searching for you. Failing that you could try Archives NZ.
katyj2,
Nov 3, 8:05am
Thanks moosie, not a bad idea our main library has a local archivist/ historian so maybe Rotorua has similar post in charge of local history archives. I'll give it a try. Maybe they have a record of who ran Morris Turner Motors who it seems made the mysterious TERRA. still happy to get any info that anyone can supply. As for now the great TERRA mystery continues!
mapman,
Nov 3, 8:38am
katyj2, it should be an interesting book when you have finished. Have you completed a section on the three wheeled Gnat yet!
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