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View Full Version : Red Dawson's Kensington Carpets Camaro



Steve Holmes
02-23-2017, 10:46 PM
My thanks to Mike Feisst for snapping these photos recently when in the South Island as part of the Historic Muscle Cars/Historic Saloon Cars tour. Mike tracked down the famous Red Dawson Kensington Carpets Z/28 Camaro and took these photos showing how the car looks today.

I wrote a story on this car about 15 years ago for NZ Classic Car mag and spoke to the owner Kelvin Towns. He'd owned the car for a long time, and had done some restoration work, including reinstalling a factory firewall after this was removed to shift the engine back for OSCA competition in the 1980s.

One of the interesting aspects of this car is the beautifully crafted flares. Maybe someone here knows how they were produced, and by who? The factory Chaparral Camaros that contested the SCCA Trans-Am series had similar looking flares which were actually special stampings made for Chevrolet, and which were then pop-riveted in place. When i spoke to Kelvin he told me the flares on the Dason car were also pop-riveted in place. This is most definitely not a factory race car. In fact, Dawson purchased it as a road car. But its flares fascinate me.

Dawson first raced the Camaro in the 1971/72 season, painted a beautiful metallic gold and sponsored by Kensington Carpets. It remained much the same other than mechanical upgrades until a sponsor change came for the 1974/75 season when it was repainted in red/white Marlboro colours. Dawson then sold the car to Don Peddie and Allan Dick who had various people drive it, including Kevin Haig, and even Ken Smith had a turn in it. It went through various other owners including Lawrence Bruce and Ross Cameron, before eventually ending up with Kelvin Towns who has owned the car for many years.

As you can see, although restoration is required, the condition of the car is actually very good, mostly thanks to Kelvin who has preserved this special piece of New Zealand motor racing history.

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Steve Holmes
02-23-2017, 10:47 PM
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Steve Holmes
02-23-2017, 10:47 PM
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Steve Holmes
02-23-2017, 10:48 PM
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Steve Holmes
02-23-2017, 10:49 PM
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Thanks again to Mike Feisst (Roaring Season member kiwi285).

Steve Holmes
02-24-2017, 12:09 AM
The same car as it looked 45 years ago.

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John McKechnie
02-24-2017, 12:41 AM
Steve- what year is this please - assume that is NZIGP with the Graeme McRae/Peter Gethin -Chevron B24- yellow banners.

Steve Holmes
02-24-2017, 12:42 AM
John, it'd be January 1974.

Kiwiboss
02-24-2017, 12:50 AM
WOW, amazing find thanks Mike Feisst. Great to finally see some pictures of another great New Zealand Historic saloon car, friggen awesome. Dale M

camaroman slp
02-24-2017, 11:08 AM
Kelvin Towns,Fantastic to see your photos & information on the ex Reds Dawson Camaro it was such a reliable & colourful car that travelled all the south & North Island circuts.

Does Kelvin have the old engine, as raced by Laurence Bruce, also the fuel injection as It changed to 4 barrel carburator as per new Osca rules, When Laurence Bruce owned it & painted it black it to looked so cool to, but I'm sure he always regreted selling it as soon as you bought it.I hope you were lucky & had a drive of it in race form as it must have been exciting to drive.

Cant believe you still have the car ,ill bet you cant wait to drive it again.

There must be lots of great photos the public can submit on the different colour combinations ?

Keep up the great work,[good things happen to those that have to wait] due to other commitments. Cheers

Rod Grimwood
02-24-2017, 09:48 PM
This one of last times it raced, Lawrence Bruce at Puke.
not sure of photo credit.

Jac Mac
02-24-2017, 09:51 PM
Found these earlier pics of the Dawson car. Note no hood scoop, smaller or original rear wheel archs and what looks like the Firestone cantilever tires on rear.

Rod Grimwood
02-24-2017, 10:05 PM
2 favorite photos of Red and car, typical pose. 2 hard case mates who drove the same. Be great to see this again. So glad the car is still in good shape.

Michael Clark
02-25-2017, 07:41 AM
I recall being at Pukie when this first turned up - with those flared guards it was an absolute beauty...at least to a 14/15 year old

Andrew Metford
02-27-2017, 03:20 AM
Good article by Allan Dick about this car in the latest edition ( Issue 71, March 2017 ) of Classic Driver magazine, which arrived in the letter box today.

TonyG
02-27-2017, 10:42 AM
This one of last times it raced, Lawrence Bruce at Puke.
not sure of photo credit.

One of mine Rod - all good. Tony

Steve Holmes
10-28-2017, 05:10 AM
A couple of photos recently posted on facebook:

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camaroman slp
10-31-2017, 11:00 AM
Great to see the restorations going well Kelvin did you get a motor & trans with the car from Laurence Bruce with injection webers ?