I went to Steels Bros to get some front and rear guards for a special that a friend and I were building. I remember the cars there being built using a RHS ladder chassis. Very un-Lotus like.
poppy62,
Jun 26, 8:07am
Ferris de Joux produced a number of Minis. Mini de Joux . as well as derivatives of other makes.
ryanm2,
Jun 26, 8:18am
If including the Radisich Telstars we must include the SMX (Steve Millen) Nissan Maxima's.
2sheddies,
Jun 26, 8:22am
Green with gold pinstripe? Have a copy of that issue. Beautiful example of the GTE.
mimik3,
Jun 26, 7:01pm
The 5 door was only ever made in Japan for the Australian market and NZ and was never exported anywhere else. The sedan and the 3 dr where made all over the world, so does have its place as one of the few unique mass produced cars only for NZ. A lot of the others mentioned are just badged engineered versions of a standard production car.
allan_mac,
Jun 26, 9:59pm
Mitsubishi Tredia and Cordia Turbos - with the super-shift 4x2 gearbox.
rbd,
Jun 27, 9:50am
Not a unique car, but the original NZ made Nissan Maxima had fold down rear seats, the only Maxima in the world to have this feature.
martin11,
Jun 28, 2:04am
The Series 4 Lotus were kits supplied by Lotus and assembled by Steel Brothers . 95 Of them I think was the number assembled .
nzmax,
Jun 28, 3:43am
All the NZ assembled Maximas (1991-1998) had fold down rear seats, and most correct, we were the only country in the world to have them. NZ was also the 1st country in the world to assemble Maximas outside of Japan with the original J30 Maxima in 1991.
807,
Jun 28, 5:10am
Mk 2 Cortina GTE was based on the UK 1600E, but not as well appointed. We had a 1600E, it had rostyles, wipac foglights & reversing lights, full woodtrim, i.e. dash & doorcaps, etc. whereas the NZ GTE left some of these items out. Our 1600E is still in the South Island, I believe. nice car.
In Nelson yes! Really was the most fantastic gear change.
tamarillo,
Jun 28, 10:05am
So what were they ? The lotus 7 series 4? Wonder if was the aborted 907 engined car they tried to get off the ground, that was wider to allow for the newer engine I believe.
tamarillo,
Jun 28, 10:17am
This is misinformation commonly thrown around mate. The first few cars only were component kits so that they could get the hang of it but they bought jigs and moulds and then produced a stronger chassis themselves and had fibreglass done locally (crestacraft). The whole point of the excercise was to achieve over 50% local content to get around import rules and sell to Aussie. They bought in engines, gearboxes, diffs, but achieved well over that 50% local content. They were produced here.
r.g.nixon,
Jun 28, 10:46am
Is that the Lotus Super 7, that was being produced in Christchurch around 1977? $20,000, I thought I was going to buy one.
franc123,
Jun 28, 11:00am
That last one was not a NZ model, it was intended for either Malaysia or Thailand cant remember which and a batch of them ended up here, presumably because there was always a degree of embarrassment involved in attempting to sell under engined Commodores into the Australian market after the VC VH starfire fiasco. NZ was the easiest place to dump them.
2sheddies,
Jun 28, 11:00am
Seems many of the old Fords are well known for that. Love the Escorts, Cortinas etc. remembered that one well. I particularly like the nice woodgrain dash with the GT style instruments. a touch of performance and class. The BRG colour suited it, and although it had the period wheels for the photos, I could imagine how lovely it'd look on the minilites with wider tyres. Amazing to watch how the value of these sort of cars keeps rising too. although it's sad aswell, because now I'll probably never afford one myself darn it!
whqqsh,
Jun 28, 6:06pm
was going to mention that, one awesome looking little car
whqqsh,
Jun 28, 6:10pm
I went to buy one, was told they were for South Africa, coincidentally a mate bought one a few years later, it came with a letter from Holden stating any oddball parts required would be brought in by local dealer without incurring any transport charges. (yeah right)
tamarillo,
Jun 28, 8:40pm
I think that's what they were calling it. They even imported a load of 907 engines but only ever made one or two, something to do with planned exports to Aussie not looking good I think. Those engines were around for ages I recall.
tamarillo,
Jun 28, 8:41pm
He made some great stuff, but mass produced. Maybe we need another thread for NZ home baked. Cars that is.
rodeorunch,
Jun 28, 8:55pm
The Mitsubishi station I think came out in the early 80s Was told there were only 64 made for the nz market and only Available to the mizty dealers to buy leather inside Speedo in miles per hour When like a cut cat
beetle1234,
Jun 29, 4:49am
Not a car,but the cool Healing Dragster pushbike,painted bright yellow,either red or green guard,s(in flash metallic paint) 3 speed shifter,bannana seat,ape hangers,so cool. Made in NZ only an as competition to the Chopper.mmmmm $ about $95.00,the chopper was $89.00. I used to stand lookin thru the window wishing! Just b4 the ole man picked me up in his 2nd hand GTHO tradein. Shit life was different back then aye?
beetle1234,
Jun 29, 4:53am
The first EB2/EN Honda civic stationwagen was rear wheel drive,an I kid you not ,not sure if Kiwi spec but also sold new in Greymouth. Only seen one other so might have been Nelson factory made.
dublo,
Jun 29, 5:43am
Back to Hillman and Humbers: Todd Motors found they would be allowed to import twice as many Hillman Minxes if half were labelled as Humbers! They were 10s from 1938 to 1954 (= Minx Mk 1 to 7) and 80s from 1955 (=Minx Mk 8) to 1961 (=Minx Series 3A) and were sold by Humber dealers who would otherwise have had only large cars to sell. Differences: Humbers could be distinguished by their different grille slats and a "flying lady" mascot. There were no mechanical differences. Hillman Super Minxes Mk 1 and 2 (1962 - 64) as Humber 90s had, from memory, just some extra chrome trim to separate the two-tone paint schemes After that time import restrictions eased and the twin names were no longer needed.
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