Car sightings in New Zealand #1

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Here are cars sighted during our year in New Zealand (2003/04).

I was pleased to see this '68 Pontiac. Always liked these back in the day. Per the owner, parts for about 200 were imported that year, and the cars were assembled in-country:


I think this a 1st-generation Ford Escort, British-made, from about the mid-70s. I imagine it was the successor to the Cortina. We didn't see Escorts in Canada until the German version in the 80s.


Here's a legendary Citroen 2CV, as immortalized by Thompson and Thomson of Tin Tin fame:



This was the cockpit of a newer Citroen. I was impressed by the single-spoke steering wheel and the interesting dashboard:


And here's another one, also offbeat by North American standards:


This was a Fiat Multipla, truly a unique design:


 
I would love to drive that 2CV, ugly as a Buell, and appealing in the same way. Love car shows, thanks for sharing.
 
Our US cars in right hand drive came out of Canada, so the Pontiac was an Impala with a Pontiac grill etc...no wide tracks. So the Pontiac version of the Belair and Impala was the Parisienne and Laurentian. Same with the Chrysler products, the Dodge was a badged Plymouth.

That's a MkII Escort, the Cortina was a bigger car.

Where was this event ? I see a Northland fire safety truck there, and it's obviously an airfield - Whenuapai ? They used to have combined airshow and classic/race car shows there.
 
Originally Posted By: Dyusik
I would love to drive that 2CV, ugly as a Buell, and appealing in the same way. Love car shows, thanks for sharing.


Would love one to kit up...


Some of the nicest have Guzzi engines in them.
 
Originally Posted By: Silk
Our US cars in right hand drive came out of Canada, so the Pontiac was an Impala with a Pontiac grill etc...no wide tracks. So the Pontiac version of the Belair and Impala was the Parisienne and Laurentian. Same with the Chrysler products, the Dodge was a badged Plymouth.

That's a MkII Escort, the Cortina was a bigger car.

Where was this event ? I see a Northland fire safety truck there, and it's obviously an airfield - Whenuapai ? They used to have combined airshow and classic/race car shows there.
Silk, interesting information about Kiwi Pontiacs. To me the full-size Chevs and Pontiacs of the day were pretty similar anyway. The taillights and rear end on that '68 Pontiac are identical to those sold here.

In Canada, the Biscayne corresponded to the Strato Chief, the Bel Air to the Laurentian, the Impala to the Parisienne, and the Caprice to the Grand Parisiene.

The show was "Wings and Wheels" in Whangerei up by the airport c. late '03 or early '04.
 
Originally Posted By: SubieRubyRoo
And here I was thinking the Aztek was the fugliest thing ever... boy was I wrong!
My photo didn't capture the detail well, but the cockpit was shockingly weird as well.
 
That Citroen 2CV, is a serious pile of feces. There isn't one thing desirable about it. It looks like a blind person tried to build a VW beetle with parts of a pinball machine. From front to back and everything inside, it got hit with the mongoloid stick repeatedly.

The Fiat Multipla is a simple Fiat minivan in comparison.
 
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Thanks for the Pics
smile.gif


See, I think the 2CV is charming and "cute" whereas most "modern" vehicles have all gone to ugly school
frown.gif


So far, I have no interest in anything made after about 2005 except for maybe the Morgan(s) and a Tesla P100D ...

The "new" trucks are all to high to work heavy materials (back in the day they actually advertised low loading heights). The new vans are designs from a cartoon. Cars are either so boring they put me to sleep, or they are hideous ...

Guess my next car will be a two-tone from the '50s
laugh.gif


Thinking maybe a 57 Corvette kit on a mod'd 56 frame from a roller with a Pink Slip ...
 
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Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Thanks for the Pics
smile.gif


See, I think the 2CV is charming and "cute" whereas most "modern" vehicles have all gone to ugly school
frown.gif


So far, I have no interest in anything made after about 2005 except for maybe the Morgan(s) and a Tesla P100D ...

The "new" trucks are all to high to work heavy materials (back in the day they actually advertised low loading heights). The new vans are designs from a cartoon. Cars are either so boring they put me to sleep, or they are hideous ...

Guess my next car will be a two-tone from the '50s
laugh.gif


Thinking maybe a 57 Corvette kit on a mod'd 56 frame from a roller with a Pink Slip ...

Ditto for me, but they say that three of the signs that you're getting old are:
1) You don't listen to modern music because it all sounds like noise,
2) You don't watch hockey anymore because there are too many teams, and
3) You can't tell who makes what car any more because they all look the same.

Guilty as charged!
 
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