"Production Supercars" of the late 70's/early 80's

[Rellum]

Hi all. I have been following many interesting discussions for many months on this site but have only recently become a member. An era of particular interest to me is the ‘Production Supercars’ of the late 70’s /early 80’s. Post GTX days there was, I guess, a bit of a void in what we would call now Muscle Cars and Production Supercars had splendid fields and great racing – this was my initial exposure to motorsport and my interest grew from there. However I have seen very little written about these cars and drivers.
The current “Historic Muscle Cars’ are very similar in spec. and intent of those cars, although like any motorsport the cars evolved and got faster. In the earlier years I remember Trevor McLean in his E49 being quite dominant (his brothers raced as well –Bruce in a blue XB Fairmont and Steve also in a Charger). In latter years Peter Meadows in his L34 (ex Jim Richards) was a front runner along with Mick Quinn in a late 70’s Camaro. Other stalwarts of the class include George Shewiery in his Falcons, Gary Bromley also in a Falcon. Bob Cullinane raced a black HQ Monaro. Paul Burnet (still racing today) in a Charger. MacDonald in a V8 Charger. There were a couple of XU1’s. I remember fields of 20-30 cars at Baypark, but a lot of names escape me now.

[Steve Holmes]

Hey these are brilliant photos, got any more? I assume the silver L34 is Peter Meadows in the ex-Coppins/Richards car as you mentioned? I don't think I've seen a colour photo of this car when it was silver. Whose is the XB GT Falcon?

[Rellum]

The XBGT is Gary Bromleys (I think the colour is called mullberry(?)) - I believe this car got destroyed in a crash on the road many years later. Gary went on to race a XD Falcon - I have a picture of that somewhere. The Torana is Peter Meadows, pretty much in its last guise as a "Production Supercar" - I believe that someone is restoring it, I saw it for sale in Otahuhu in the mid/late 80's for about $10K! and turned it down as I thought the body was a bit rough - another one of those 'the one that got away' stories.

[Steve Holmes]

Ahh, thanks for that. There is a photo somewhere on here, I think in Nigel Watts large collection of photos, that shows Bromleys XD.

The Coppins L34 was restored a few years ago to how it looked when it finished 3rd at Bathurst in 1974, its still in NZ. Definitely sounds like one of those "The one that got away" stories. Most of us have at least one of those. If only we had a time machine!

[Rellum]

Gary Bromleys XD

[TonyG]

I remember Gary Bromley in his dark purple XA in the wet at Puke. Was good to watch.
Some of these photos are pretty bad but here goes.
Bob Cullinane
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/6066/mr5064.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/837/mr5064.jpg/)

Bruce Anderson with Falcon in ANZ guise
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/8412/bruceandersonsm4.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/bruceandersonsm4.jpg/)

Veen Smith
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/8105/img0464fu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/22/img0464fu.jpg/)

Paul Burnett
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6513/e49charger4.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/e49charger4.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[TonyG]

Another Charger, this one was a Magenta colour though.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/4306/e49charger24.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/211/e49charger24.jpg/)

Derek McDonald E55 Charger - something went wrong with the passenger rear wheel.
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/8605/mr5074.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/546/mr5074.jpg/)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/640/mr5084.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/196/mr5084.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/4387/mr5094.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/mr5094.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[TonyG]

I know it is not quite the same as the topic of this thread but what happened to this car? I only ever remember seeing it run the once at Pukekohe.
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7943/robbiefranicivic4.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/robbiefranicivic4.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[TonyG]

Also this one I never saw again. The Leo Leonard Falcon.
13283

[Steve Holmes]

These are great guys, keep them coming! Re the Morton/Francevic XD Group A Falcon, George Shewiery has owned that car for many years. Its now white, and doesn't have the rollcage. Back when he bought it there wasn't really anywhere to race it so he converted it for road use, and repainted it white.

I have a feeling one of the Leonard Falcon/Fairmonts was bought by Tim Buxton, and eventually it became a Sports Sedan with box flares etc.

[seaqnmac27]

[QUOTE=TonyG;20090]I remember Gary Bromley in his dark purple XA in the wet at Puke. Was good to watch.
Some of these photos are pretty bad but here goes.
Bob Cullinane
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/6066/mr5064.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/837/mr5064.jpg/)
Tony, I think the Monaro is actually John Arkley from the 82 GP meet, he is car 2 referrenced from the entry list from this thread http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?444-New-Zealand-Sports-Sedans-Database-Histories-And-Whereabouts&highlight=lists.

[seaqnmac27]

Cullinane had by that stage the ex Bullivant Capri

[TonyG]

Oops my mistake. I remembered he had a black one at one stage.

[Rellum]

Now that I've spent a few more hours on the roaring season I have found a good picture on the bottom of this page http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?444-New-Zealand-Sports-Sedans-Database-Histories-And-Whereabouts&highlight=lists which shows Trevor McLeans E49, Mick Quins Camaro, Cullinanes Monaro and Gary Bromleys XBGT

[Rod Grimwood]

Also this one I never saw again. The Leo Leonard Falcon.
13283


It was actually entered as a Fairmont (to get around some Homoginized problems to run different back end) and later there was a hassle with the rear end and brakes etc with officialdom and it went to pasture.

[seaqnmac27]

Wasn't there a while there that there were no "Falcons" in NZ, weren't they all badged as Fairmonts for some reason?

[Steve Holmes]

Re the Falcons/Fairmonts, in the early 80s when the ANZ and B&H rules required the cars be NZ assembled, the only real option was the Fairmont Ghia, as this was the only NZ assembled V8 Falcon available, complete with 302 and auto. The Holden alternative was the SL/E, also a luxury car. Then GM-NZ built those 30 SS Commodores, which completely wiped the floor with everything. Even the driving talents and set-up skills of Leo Leonard weren't a match for the SS Commodores. Eventually the series became basically a one-make series, so the rules were tweaked for a season or so to make the Fords competitive again, until eventually Group A was adopted in NZ in 1984.

Gary Sprague also raced a very successful XD Falcon during the 1983/84 season.

[Steve Holmes]

It'd be interesting to know what happened to a lot of these cars that did the early Supercar events. Obviously the Coppins L34 has been restored, but where are the others? There were a bunch of E49 Chargers, the Cullinane HQ Monaro, the Falcon hardtops.

Vern Muller has been racing an XA GS Falcon hardtop since the early 80s and competed with several of the cars pictured above. Its now fitted with all XC front sheetmetal and painted up like a Falcon Cobra.

[Rod Grimwood]

I know it is not quite the same as the topic of this thread but what happened to this car? I only ever remember seeing it run the once at Pukekohe.
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7943/robbiefranicivic4.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/robbiefranicivic4.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Have a look in Steves magic new book "Petrolheads In Sheds" and it is in the company of the Sidchrome Mustang, the Masterton Homes Falcon, Plus a heap of other classic muscle cars under the care of a fella called "George"
Hint, he also races a Comet and Cobra Falcon.

[mid-year]

If the E-49 was a factory Magenta colour from new it would be a rare bird indeed as only the 1971 cars were seen in this colour in Aus.

[Rellum]

The original Production Supercar class came to a close in the early 80’s and then was resurrected again in the late 80’s by a few enthusiasts looking for somewhere to race their musclecars, there was no association with the earlier class just an adoption of the name as people were familiar with it, although not many (if any) cars raced in both eras, although some of the cars that raced in the NZ production classes, post “Production Supercars”, joined the second version eg. Veen Smiths SS Commodore (one of the NZ specials and currently being restored). Tim Buxton in the ex Leo Leonard XD (which ultimately got converted to a Sports Sedan as Steve pointed out and the Midgely brothers in the ex Pinepac XE Falcon (which unfortunately got stolen some years later).

[Rellum]

At the old Taupo hairpin Craig Pulmans XBGT in the lead.

[Rellum]

Alan Fergusons Torana

[Rellum]

Ian Magees E38 Charger

[Rellum]

John Popes XC Falcon Coupe

[Rellum]

John Turners Torana - subsequently raced for many years by Wes Kidby (Wes painted it Orange (Lone oranger).

[Rellum]

Vern Mullers XAGT (err.. that's me) - owned it for 20 years then sold in a fit of madness (it's now back in Aus).

[Rellum]

Phil Schuberts XAGT Coupe (RPO83 I believe) - not a very good photo but the spray shows all the aerodynamics (free wind tunnel testing?).

[Rellum]

Keith Rennies XU1 - fiarly highly developed car for its time

[Rellum]

Richard Shermans factory L34 - its factory colour was a burnt orange (I had some idea it was a special Bob Jane colour (?).

[Rellum]

Tony Saggers L34 - another factory car - this was originally raced in South Island Production Saloons.

[Rellum]

Wes Kidbys XU1, another very quick XU1.

[Rellum]

Vern Mullers Coupe in XA guise.

[Rellum]

Vern Mullers Coupe in XC Cobra guise.

[Rellum]

Veen Smiths SS Commodore

[Rellum]

The 2nd phase of Production Supercars imploded in the early 90's and we went classic racing instead this is at Whenuapai with the Andersons Camaro and Mustang.

[Kiwiboss]

Hi Rellum, these are REALLY cool, i remember all this!! i just luv how original looking the cars are, fantastic!! were did we all go wrong(or rite to some) but from memory it was Pullman that stretch the rules with his falcoon and ruined it for everyone when he spaced framed the front and made it look like "Darth Vaders" rocket!!

I first started racing around 94/5 just after Baypark closed and everyone went to Taupo, Millsy and gang with alot of these left over cars!! i remember Wes Kidby's Torana and it was fast and Paul Burnet racing a Charger, wait till i see him next, LOL

Dale M

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, these photos are amazing Vern! How did you get hold of them all? I have to say, your Falcon looked awesome when it was an XA.

I didn't realise that red/white/yellow Commodore of Veen Smith was one of the special batch of 30 SS cars. But now I look at it, it has the exact same paint scheme of the Robbie Francevic car, although on Francevics its blue where on Veens its yellow. Is this the same car?

Awesome pics, thanks for posting.

[Steve Holmes]

Hi Rellum, these are REALLY cool, i remember all this!! i just luv how original looking the cars are, fantastic!! were did we all go wrong(or rite to some) but from memory it was Pullman that stretch the rules with his falcoon and ruined it for everyone when he spaced framed the front and made it look like "Darth Vaders" rocket!!

I first started racing around 94/5 just after Baypark closed and everyone went to Taupo, Millsy and gang with alot of these left over cars!! i remember Wes Kidby's Torana and it was fast and Paul Burnet racing a Charger, wait till i see him next, LOL

Dale M

I think Pullman modified his car to go Sports Sedan racing in the early 90s. By that stage I think the Production Supercar thing had all but closed shop.

What happened to that John Pope XC hardtop?

[Steve Holmes]

Glenn Allingham owned that Allan Ferguson Torana for a while, and sold it to someone in Asia.

[Rellum]

Yes Veens car is the Francevic car (I always think of it as the Lendich car - may have been the sponser). John Popes XC (it originally started life as an XA (had the GT front etc (may have even been a GT) was sold to a guy in Thames (I think) who was going to turn it back into a road car but I'm not sure if that ever happened. Wes Kidby started racing in a XBGT sedan but the power was slightly to much for him so he stepped down to the XU1 to acclimatise himself.

[rogered]

Yes Veens car is the Francevic car (I always think of it as the Lendich car - may have been the sponser). John Popes XC (it originally started life as an XA (had the GT front etc (may have even been a GT) was sold to a guy in Thames (I think) who was going to turn it back into a road car but I'm not sure if that ever happened. Wes Kidby started racing in a XBGT sedan but the power was slightly to much for him so he stepped down to the XU1 to acclimatise himself.

I was cruising though trade me the other week and there was an coupe for sale.
My first thought was that it looked abit like John Popes.
Not sure if its still on there as i cannot seam to find it.

[rogered]

Veen Smith had it on display at the BMW festivel, painted back to plain white, and looking a million bucks


Wow, these photos are amazing Vern! How did you get hold of them all? I have to say, your Falcon looked awesome when it was an XA.

I didn't realise that red/white/yellow Commodore of Veen Smith was one of the special batch of 30 SS cars. But now I look at it, it has the exact same paint scheme of the Robbie Francevic car, although on Francevics its blue where on Veens its yellow. Is this the same car?

Awesome pics, thanks for posting.

[Kiwiboss]

Vern Mullers XAGT (err.. that's me) - owned it for 20 years then sold in a fit of madness (it's now back in Aus).

OK, Rellum is you Vern, great to have you on here, you have some fantastic pics Vern and of anyone you will know most of the history of all these cars!!

I luv the look of your Coupe in post 33, can't remember it been that colour!!

Keep'em coming

Dale M

[rogered]

definitally "wrong direction"
Andall this gear looked always seemed to be the best at baypark:)








Hi Rellum, these are REALLY cool, i remember all this!! i just luv how original looking the cars are, fantastic!! were did we all go wrong(or rite to some) but from memory it was Pullman that stretch the rules with his falcoon and ruined it for everyone when he spaced framed the front and made it look like "Darth Vaders" rocket!!

I first started racing around 94/5 just after Baypark closed and everyone went to Taupo, Millsy and gang with alot of these left over cars!! i remember Wes Kidby's Torana and it was fast and Paul Burnet racing a Charger, wait till i see him next, LOL

Dale M

[Rod Grimwood]

Ian Magees E38 Charger

Ian worked on Graeme Addis Charger Sports Sedan, if I remember right he was a auto electrician but jack of all trades. Top bloke and we had many a funny conversation in the big tent at Taupo and other places.

[Rellum]

Ian still works as an auto sparkie, I bumped into him a couple of years ago, he now owns and is rebuilding the ex Shane Blind Camaro that used to race in Super GT's, it must almost be track ready by now.

[Steve Holmes]

Haven't seen that car for a long time, must be at least 15 years since it last raced. I assume its for CMC?

Should you be on your way to Manfeild now Vern?

[Steve Holmes]

Here is some early 90s Production Muscle Car racing that Paul Stacey posted on the Castrol GTX Falcons thread: http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?396-GTX-Series-Falcon-XAGTs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cG_Bhrgs6VU

[Rellum]

Budgetry constraints mean a somewhat limited campaign this season, a few more in the new year hopefully.
The above video would probably be at least late 90's and is of yet another fledgling muscle car class - "Road Race Musclecars" (I dont think I got the name quite right but it was somthing like that. That class evolved into whats now Producyion Musclecars. Great footage of a lot of cars that aren't around now.

[macpac]

Hi all. I have been following many interesting discussions for many months on this site but have only recently become a member. An era of particular interest to me is the ‘Production Supercars’ of the late 70’s /early 80’s. Post GTX days there was, I guess, a bit of a void in what we would call now Muscle Cars and Production Supercars had splendid fields and great racing – this was my initial exposure to motorsport and my interest grew from there. However I have seen very little written about these cars and drivers.
The current “Historic Muscle Cars’ are very similar in spec. and intent of those cars, although like any motorsport the cars evolved and got faster. In the earlier years I remember Trevor McLean in his E49 being quite dominant (his brothers raced as well –Bruce in a blue XB Fairmont and Steve also in a Charger). In latter years Peter Meadows in his L34 (ex Jim Richards) was a front runner along with Mick Quinn in a late 70’s Camaro. Other stalwarts of the class include George Shewiery in his Falcons, Gary Bromley also in a Falcon. Bob Cullinane raced a black HQ Monaro. Paul Burnet (still racing today) in a Charger. MacDonald in a V8 Charger. There were a couple of XU1’s. I remember fields of 20-30 cars at Baypark, but a lot of names escape me now.

Hi Vern
Trevor Mclean and my dad Bruce were brothers and I (Steve) am Bruce's son. I don't suppose you would happen to have any pics of dads XB or Trevor or my E49's we ran back then by any chance?

[Habu]

I think Pullman modified his car to go Sports Sedan racing in the early 90s. By that stage I think the Production Supercar thing had all but closed shop.

What happened to that John Pope XC hardtop?

Pulmans car is (still) owned by Ivan Bevins - he bought the car a few years ago from someone in Northland if I remember rightly. The car has been for sale a couple of times in recent years. It sill looks exactly the same as when it raced as a Sports Sedan in the early 1990's. I'd like to know what happened to the Pope car too. There are a few others that I remember too, but dont know who owned them, there was a XAGT 4 door painted a very distinctive shade of light green metallic, a green XBGT 4 door, and then there were the succession of coupes and 4 doors run by Kirk Benge.....Keith Rennies XU1 was a fantastic car too. Although not a V8, whatever happened to the "SAMURI" 240Z that used to run the Penzoil Production Supercar days too???

[Steve Holmes]

Kirk is a member on here so can probably help with the whereabouts of some of his old cars. He also had a blue Torino which he sold a few years back.

Pretty sure his yellow XB Falcon hardtop was on Trademe a couple of years ago also?

[Hillbilly]

Pretty sure his yellow XB Falcon hardtop was on Trademe a couple of years ago also?[/QUOTE]

I saw that too Steve, it was down your way and didnt sell, i think Palmerston North too if i remember correctly?

14838

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah I think it possibly was from memory Paul. Think it had been stripped down too, some assembly required.

[Rellum]

Hi Vern
Trevor Mclean and my dad Bruce were brothers and I (Steve) am Bruce's son. I don't suppose you would happen to have any pics of dads XB or Trevor or my E49's we ran back then by any chance?


Hi Steve

I remember the cars well, but unfortunately do not have many photos. Part of the reason I started this thread was in the hope that it might result in photos being posted, particularly of those initial years 1980-82. I'm sure I do have some photos of Trevors E49 which I'll post if I dig them out. Didn't he start out in a triple webered Valiant Ute? - it would be cool to see pictures of that too.

[Rod Grimwood]

White ute that screamed, and was the king of club curcuit in it.

[Habu]

White ute that screamed, and was the king of club curcuit in it.

Is that the same white ute that later had the turbo fitted to it? Remember it (the ute) being at Trevor McLeans workshop alot.

[hilstwist]

Steve,I am about to send you a dvd with nice colour shots of a B&H race in I think the early eighties.You and others on the forum will be able to pinpoint the year. A lot of Commodores but Chrighton/Wilkinson driving a black one.And a Statesman!! The Falcons look like XDs

[John McKechnie]

The Statesman could be John Windlebourn

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah I reckon you'd be right on that one John.

[Rod Grimwood]

George Bunce and Rod Haines ran a silver one in B&H and then John had a go, Robin Irving (The DD) then had it and him and Rod Millen did Maramarua rally in it, amongst other bits that car could tell. We went to Bay Park in it once now that is another story to be told in confines of secrecy.
Got a photo of it somewhere.

[Steve Holmes]

White ute that screamed, and was the king of club curcuit in it.

Is this the ute?

14869

[John McKechnie]

Steve-absolutely Trevor McLean. Whenever you see Papakura Automatics , thats him. I worked at Davie Motors in late 70s with his girlfriend Mavis.

[TonyG]

Jimmy Stone worked for Trevor for a while too before relocating to Oz.

3 Versions of Trevors Commodores
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq204/TGPhotography/Scanned%20Images/TrevorMcLean2.jpg

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq204/TGPhotography/Scanned%20Images/TrevorMcLean.jpg

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq204/TGPhotography/Scanned%20Images/img036-1.jpg

[TonyG]

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq204/TGPhotography/Scanned%20Images/img045-1.jpg

[TonyG]

Hey Vern, is this Legit or is it someone trying to make a buck off you.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221150176902

[Rellum]

Hey Vern, is this Legit or is it someone trying to make a buck off you.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221150176902

Good spotting! Yeh its legit, a good mate of mine in Aus - Richard Sherman (he used to live here and in his time has raced a couple of real nice XU1's and a genuine L34) helps me from a distance - he runs our facebook page (www.facebook.com/falconcobraracing) and screen prints T shirts as a sideline. Richard was instrumental in resurrecting Production Supercars in the mid to late 80's. Great pictures of Trevors VK by the way (I remember at one of the Nissan Mobils at Puke where Trevor was quick and had qualified well only to be turned around going over the hill by Charlie O'Brien in a BMW M6 within the first couple of laps - did this car get turned into a VL or was that another car?

[rogered]

Good spotting! Yeh its legit, a good mate of mine in Aus - Richard Sherman (he used to live here and in his time has raced a couple of real nice XU1's and a genuine L34) helps me from a distance - he runs our facebook page (www.facebook.com/falconcobraracing) and screen prints T shirts as a sideline. Richard was instrumental in resurrecting Production Supercars in the mid to late 80's. Great pictures of Trevors VK by the way (I remember at one of the Nissan Mobils at Puke where Trevor was quick and had qualified well only to be turned around going over the hill by Charlie O'Brien in a BMW M6 within the first couple of laps - did this car get turned into a VL or was that another car?

its the car that tony boyden runs in central muscel cars. yes it has been vled

[Milan Fistonic]

14880

Another couple of shots of the McLean ute on a very wet Club Circuit.

[seaqnmac27]

Great shots Milan, who is the Farina?

[16bbls]

What a great site. I stumbled upon it yesterday and joined straight away. I'm currently living in Scotland, though will be back in NZ very soon for an extended period.

On 3 February 1980, there were Production Saloon support races for the Aurora AFX Series Finale for Formula Pacific cars at the Pukekohe circuit. George Bunce raced a Hot Mustard E49 Charger on the day that had been prepared by Trevor McLean. The owner's permission for the car to compete had been requested by Trevor and George had been invited to race the car subject to paying for its preparation! After qualifying second fastest, the car was unfortunately retired in the first race with a frost plug failure. In the following handicap race for Production Saloons and Sports Sedans, the car finished fourth. I understand the field to have also included the 340ci McDonald Charger, Trevor McLean's E38 Charger (E49 spec) and a Limelight E49 Charger. I'm told the Limelight Charger had problems in practice, so a frost plug was removed from this car and fitted to the Bunce E49. It would be great to see photos from the day. The Bunce E49 wore number 90.

Trevor performed most of the maintenance on the Hot Mustard E49 and even borrowed the driveshaft on one occasion when he suffered balancing problems at a race meeting with his own Charger.

The car is incredibly quick, remains unrestored and has been owned by me for the past 24 years.

[macpac]

Hi Steve

I remember the cars well, but unfortunately do not have many photos. Part of the reason I started this thread was in the hope that it might result in photos being posted, particularly of those initial years 1980-82. I'm sure I do have some photos of Trevors E49 which I'll post if I dig them out. Didn't he start out in a triple webered Valiant Ute? - it would be cool to see pictures of that too.

Hi Vern

Yes Trevor started out running is pretty quick old valiant ute. The engine was pretty much the same configuration as an E49 engine. When he sold it to a mate of his Ross (his surname escapes me) must be old age. Ross turbo charged the thing and I believe it was a pretty quick weapon.

Cheers Steve

[macpac]

Is this the ute?

14869

Yeap thats Trev's quick ute. He pretty much used to go to all of the club meetings at Puke and clean up.

[macpac]

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq204/TGPhotography/Scanned%20Images/img045-1.jpg

Thanks for the pics Tony. I think my family must have been Technologically challenged and couldn't use a camera because other than the pics of dad and Trevor on this site I don't have any. So thanks for the memories and your efforts everybody. I must have suffered the same fate because I don't even have any pics have the green E49 I raced. Ha ha.

Steve McLean

[macpac]

14880

Another couple of shots of the McLean ute on a very wet Club Circuit.

Thanks for the great pics Milan.

[Milan Fistonic]

What a great site. I stumbled upon it yesterday and joined straight away. I'm currently living in Scotland, though will be back in NZ very soon for an extended period.

On 3 February 1980, there were Production Saloon support races for the Aurora AFX Series Finale for Formula Pacific cars at the Pukekohe circuit. George Bunce raced a Hot Mustard E49 Charger on the day that had been prepared by Trevor McLean. The owner's permission for the car to compete had been requested by Trevor and George had been invited to race the car subject to paying for its preparation! After qualifying second fastest, the car was unfortunately retired in the first race with a frost plug failure. In the following handicap race for Production Saloons and Sports Sedans, the car finished fourth. I understand the field to have also included the 340ci McDonald Charger, Trevor McLean's E38 Charger (E49 spec) and a Limelight E49 Charger. I'm told the Limelight Charger had problems in practice, so a frost plug was removed from this car and fitted to the Bunce E49. It would be great to see photos from the day. The Bunce E49 wore number 90.

Trevor performed most of the maintenance on the Hot Mustard E49 and even borrowed the driveshaft on one occasion when he suffered balancing problems at a race meeting with his own Charger.

The car is incredibly quick, remains unrestored and has been owned by me for the past 24 years.

Here's the entry list for that February 3 meeting. Interesting that there was a dead-heat for first place by Trevor McLean and Derek MacDonald.

14883

The other race was a handicap with the Sports Sedans also included. Alan Woolf (Mazda RX3) won from Gary Bromley (Falcon XB GT) with Bruce McLean third (Torana). Bryce Platt was fourth in his Escort TC and George Bunce fifth.

[16bbls]

Thanks for posting that Milan. From some old notes I found, it appears that the Limelight E49 I referred to was that of Allan Scott. I had heard mention that there was a dead-heat for first in the Production Saloon race, so is good to hear that confirmed. I wonder how they shared the magnum?

[J42E48]

be great to see some pics of the limelight 49!

[macpac]

Thanks for posting that Milan. From some old notes I found, it appears that the Limelight E49 I referred to was that of Allan Scott. I had heard mention that there was a dead-heat for first in the Production Saloon race, so is good to hear that confirmed. I wonder how they shared the magnum?

The Allan Scott E49 (Limelight) is the car that got repossed with a conrod hanging out the side of the block. Trevor McLean bought the car for about $4K (bargain now) and we put another engine in it. I ran it for a season in the same colour with sponsorship from Captain Snooze Waterbeds. Does anybody have any pics? Trevor later sold the car to his mate Mick Quinn (who raced a Z28 Comaro in production supercars) who used it as a road car. He may still own it.

[BMCBOY]

Great shots Milan, who is the Farina?

I think that is Mike Moore - he, Bryce Platt and Trevor McLean had some epic battles at club circuits in the mid 70's

[George Sheweiry]

I remember that meeting, I got $40 for 3rd place which from memory paid for my entry fee, and I think this was the meeting we sat on the grid for qtr of an hr while they repossessed the charger (pink if I recall right) and the driver Alan Scott had a yellow race suit with white rimmed sunglasses. He was a builder (sort of) and I ended up doing some electrical work on a complex he was involved in with a woman lawyer partner at birkenhead and they went bust owing us subbies!!!

[e49tonye49]

2170721708217092170621710


Hi Steve,
I have found some old photos of your e49 taken during those golden days of production supercar racing. Although the car is a factory limelight car, it was painted this darker metallic green prior to been first raced by Allan Scott. The car was later owned by Mick Quinn and repainted hemi orange and not the incorrectly stated magenta color that it appears to be in photo #7 above. I brought the car off Mick in 1981 and raced it for the next 3 or 4 years. Included are photos of Bruces falcon Trevs e49 and my Hemi Orange ( ex Green ) e49. Regards Tony.

[Rod Grimwood]

e49Tonye49;
In 3rd photo is that Mick Quinn in the red/black Camaro, if it is he used this car for all sorts of events and ended in a paddock and car coming 2nd off in the Hamilton Tarmac.
Last photo no.62 Falcon is Gary Bromley I think, he had a few quick Falcons. It looks like Club Curcuit Puke

[Steve Holmes]

2170721708217092170621710


Hi Steve,
I have found some old photos of your e49 taken during those golden days of production supercar racing. Although the car is a factory limelight car, it was painted this darker metallic green prior to been first raced by Allan Scott. The car was later owned by Mick Quinn and repainted hemi orange and not the incorrectly stated magenta color that it appears to be in photo #7 above. I brought the car off Mick in 1981 and raced it for the next 3 or 4 years. Included are photos of Bruces falcon Trevs e49 and my Hemi Orange ( ex Green ) e49. Regards Tony.

Wow, these are SO cool! Thanks heaps Tony. Got any more?

[Popey]

After I finished racing it I sold all the race parts off it and the body as a rolling body to a guy in Thames I think it was. He said he was going to make it back into a road car as it was a genuine XA GT.

[George Sheweiry]

39722I first raced the ex Francevic Falcon in Castrol GTX and after that series finished I ran it in Production Supercars (photo thanks to
Ross Cammick)

[George Sheweiry]

When the Falcon Cobras came out in 78 I thought they were the prettiest cars I had ever seen and so as I couldn't afford one I built one up using an XA luxury V8 Fairmont I got for $4200.00. I took the front sheetmetal off and replaced it after selling it in "The Herald" for brand new panels that I got with the help of my buddy Norris Miles from McMillan Ford for the same money. I painted it over Xmas in my dads garage, bought a 351C 4V from Segedins and changed it to HO specs and put in a toploader I bought from Barry Searches Gotina Sports sedan and ran that in Production Supercars 39723

[George Sheweiry]

Heres another in black and white with another one of those pesky chargers I had just got by39724

[Steve Holmes]

These are awesome photos George. What happened to the Cobra replica?

[George Sheweiry]

These are awesome photos George. What happened to the Cobra replica?

Well I think I first raced the rep in 1979 and in 1983 I was on my way back from a race in Taupo and saw a genuine Cobra (#211) for sale at Gary Thiefs, oops I mean Kieths in Hamilton with $20K on the window. I was out of the car immediately, and the next thing you know a deal had been done for $19K. I had the 2 sitting side by side on my drive at my first home in Lynfield for a few weeks while I swapped all the race bits over to the real Cobra and put the other stuff in the replica. I sold the replica to Julian Litherland who worked in the parts shop at Segedins for $17K. So Steve it only cost me $2K to trade up to the real deal!!!

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, that is amazing! You did well George. $19K was a huge amount of money back in 1983!

[George Sheweiry]

This photo of the Cobra at Baypark shows the one and only time I actually got some sponsorship. I had started to do a little work on the suspension by then although it was just Konis all round and bigger front bar, a rear bar and eurothane in a few joints. Trevor Mclean had a big say in the rules and we all had to run on the 15x8 rims (that were the biggest you could fit on a Charger)39726

[George Sheweiry]

This is one of the first times I ran the genuine Cobra (minus front spoiler that day) as you can see by the different number plate and the rear side indicator is horizontal instead of vertical on the replica39727

[George Sheweiry]

That day I think I clocked a 1.10 or 11 on slicks around there where as now days to basically the same set of rules but on 180 tread wear road tyres my best time around the old circuit was 1.06.33 and the new layout 1.16.2. Wish I had have known back then what I know now haaaa

[George Sheweiry]

Here she is today sitting on the dummy grid as last raced at November Puke ACC meeting. The wheels now days are Magnesium BBS racing rims 17x13 on the rear and 17x11 front. 39728

[George Sheweiry]

And an action shot through the new chicane on the back straight39729

[Jac Mac]

When the Falcon Cobras came out in 78 I thought they were the prettiest cars I had ever seen and so as I couldn't afford one I built one up using an XA luxury V8 Fairmont I got for $4200.00. I took the front sheetmetal off and replaced it after selling it in "The Herald" for brand new panels that I got with the help of my buddy Norris Miles from McMillan Ford for the same money. I painted it over Xmas in my dads garage, bought a 351C 4V from Segedins and changed it to HO specs and put in a toploader I bought from Barry Searches Gotina Sports sedan and ran that in Production Supercars 39723

[B][COLOR="#0000CD"]Some parts get around.. that Top Loader was made up from a wrecked one ex USA with all lugs broken off front of main case, case was replaced with one from ex Francevic F/Lane, then later had internals swapped with those from an early FE trans to get close ratio gear set, it then served in both my MKII & MKIV OSCA Cortinas before the rolling MKIV was sold to McElrae who had a mainshaft snap at Timaru and I just happened to be at the meet & got hi-jacked by Rod to swap in the replacement mainshaft- from Rods extensive tool kit... 1 chippies hammer, two phillips screwdrivers, a couple of plain screwdrivers and a couple of cresents, ~ 1hr to strip & reassemble to get ready for last race only for the throttle cable to break. Pity the poor guy who had to rebuild it from there, I had to do a couple of 'uglies' to get the allen screws out of the shifter rails.

[Steve Holmes]

Thats such a cool story! I love this stuff.

[George Sheweiry]

Well if its the same box then you did a pretty good job of it then Jac Mac because its still in the car, still goin strong and before each race I leave the pits sideways onto the track. I can break most things but I have never broken a toploader. Most of my competitors have pulled them out and run a lighter Super T10. They usually break and I just keep on goin!! Jim had replaced the Sidchromes Toploader with an iron case super T10 and it was nothing but trouble so I pulled it out put in a close ratio toploader and have never had to touch it!! To finish first, first you must finish.

[George Sheweiry]

That reminds me, a certain Boss Mustang running a Jerico from Tauranga had to sit behind a dirty old Mercury Comet with a Big shaft Toploader that took 1st place. Mind you I wasn't invited back again, haaaa39733

[Jac Mac]

Barry Search will probably pop up now and say he broke it/replaced it and ruin the story George:) .Yes I share the same thoughts re Super T10 & later versions, in the TL sedans they like them due to weight, but you can see how the case twists and causes taper wear on the teeth.
I still have the original USA case with broken lugs, its now serving as a drilling/machining jig for the T44, never ending story.

[Grant Sprague]

Well if its the same box then you did a pretty good job of it then Jac Mac because its still in the car, still goin strong and before each race I leave the pits sideways onto the track. I can break most things but I have never broken a toploader. Most of my competitors have pulled them out and run a lighter Super T10. They usually break and I just keep on goin!! Jim had replaced the Sidchromes Toploader with an iron case super T10 and it was nothing but trouble so I pulled it out put in a close ratio toploader and have never had to touch it!! To finish first, first you must finish.Have to agree re Top loaders , we had a wide ratio in mustang & Roly fitted a close ratio built by Derek at Puke , I must have had it in there four years & it did some miles but never punished it....my only concern it was SSoooooo heavy ...

[George Sheweiry]

Well that's right Grant and that's why a lot of people shy away from them, but while they are slotting in another box between race 1 and race 2 I am sitting there cool calm and collected ready to go, and when you get home there is enough maintenance to do on the race car as it is !! (especially when you have 28 of them)

[Grant Sprague]

That would be a huge up keep George ....good on you for that , I find 2 are taking up so much time but really enjoying that challenge infact love it as time etc allows, having 3 young daughters takes up time etc etc ...as well ....getting back to what I need to do is great we are blessed

[Grant Sprague]

We can learn lots from photos some will say not , car in front is fast in a straight line but suffers understeer & positive camber 3 seconds at least in reading this car , mind you I still try & correct my own car .[not judging ].& a bit of caster ...
...but photos tell a story

[Jac Mac]

Three seconds!!!, that would get George relegated to starting from pit lane if he wanted to race those hot rods!!

[George Sheweiry]

28 cars has been fun alright, too many really but its time to downgrade so 4 have gone and another 2 soon. Yes the Comet does suffer from understeer and I have slowly been working on getting it better. I spent too much time trying to get it to hook up with dumb rules that don't allow a LSD and of course I spread myself too thin with too many cars, but I didn't have to be the world champion and not ever having any major sponsors I didn't have to go to every round if I didn't want to so it always kept the fun factor high. I always liked to run something different to and I have always done everything myself which as an electrician gave me some problems as well. haaaa The Comet had huge potential and guys like you Grant were always fun to race against. That first race I debuted the comet at you and I had a ding dong battle from the back of the grid and I would pull 12 car lengths on you going down the shute but because I had just finished building it the night before the brakes weren't right, the handling wasn't right and you would gobble me up under braking and then after battling to the front with you hounding me the whole way the cast iron crankshaft on the beginning of the last lap let itself be known that unlike the Clevelands it wasn't up to the job and it took me 2 more failures of that part before I cured it with a $$$$$$ original steel crank. Luckilly having all the different cars I had and after not succeeding to get her to hook up without a LSD I just concentrated on the other classes I was running in and told the pre 65 guys that when they changed the LSD rule I would go back. Here's the funny thing they just found out that the car that won the series last year was running a LSD, how dumb, but I bet they still wont change the rule. Go figure??

[George Sheweiry]

Grants probably right Jac, handling has never been my strong point and everything was so secretive as well. The mustang boys were able to get their cars to hook up with a bar off the top of the diff on the rhs going on an angle to the front leafspring bolt position but my old girl when I tried it with 200hp more and more importantly 200ftlbs of torque would just spin that rh wheel. I tried a torque arm that utilised the bolts on the diff head (in case it didn't work) that went right up to the gearbox. Then I shortened it to half the length, still didn't work. Rightly or wrongly I have always been a stickler for the rules (probably naively too) so after a big effort to build the car, finally sort the engine and try all that BS I just concentrated on other stuff. I felt it was a bit of a shame as the car was so different from everything else that was running and there were so many people who loved the car and wanted me to keep running it but after hauling it all the way to Manfield and seeing Tony Jeffs big Galaxie and the 426 Plymouth from the South Island leaving 2 thick black lines as they accelerated out of the corners I knew I would never be able to get the old girl to do that, and even though I had a way better engine than those 2 cars they still smoked me good. But there ya go, sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't so the Comet has spent most of the time since I built it in 97 just sitting in the garage. Nevermind!

[Grant Sprague]

Grants probably right Jac, handling has never been my strong point and everything was so secretive as well. The mustang boys were able to get their cars to hook up with a bar off the top of the diff on the rhs going on an angle to the front leafspring bolt position but my old girl when I tried it with 200hp more and more importantly 200ftlbs of torque would just spin that rh wheel. I tried a torque arm that utilised the bolts on the diff head (in case it didn't work) that went right up to the gearbox. Then I shortened it to half the length, still didn't work. Rightly or wrongly I have always been a stickler for the rules (probably naively too) so after a big effort to build the car, finally sort the engine and try all that BS I just concentrated on other stuff. I felt it was a bit of a shame as the car was so different from everything else that was running and there were so many people who loved the car and wanted me to keep running it but after hauling it all the way to Manfield and seeing Tony Jeffs big Galaxie and the 426 Plymouth from the South Island leaving 2 thick black lines as they accelerated out of the corners I knew I would never be able to get the old girl to do that, and even though I had a way better engine than those 2 cars they still smoked me good. But there ya go, sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't so the Comet has spent most of the time since I built it in 97 just sitting in the garage. Nevermind! George there is a good photo some where of you & I going through railway , yes remember the race well , I could see you were really struggling over the top of the hill etc I could gobble yr car up once yr tyre & brakes were going off , I was lucky as had some good people behind me and a terrific sponsor the package was perfect........now we are trying to get a little pinto to go like you say different classes bring a different energy , no pressure in my new class but sure is fun getting back into it & moving forwards trying different things we all have our ups & downs though for sure , not having so many cars to focus on to look after makes it a bit easier, we always want to go faster lol have a great xmas buddy

[Rellum]

39759

Hey Popey, here's a picture of your Coupe. Do you have a picture of it in XAGT guise?. Note there are 4 Coupes in this image.

[Steve Holmes]

39759

Hey Popey, here's a picture of your Coupe. Do you have a picture of it in XAGT guise?. Note there are 4 Coupes in this image.

There are 4 Falcon hardtops in this photo! Its extremely rare to see even one of these in modern day historic racing. I guess they were a more affordable options back then?

[Popey]

39864
Here is an older one taken on the old Taupo track turn one.

[John McKechnie]

Popey- can you please tell us the history of your car and how it developed into its final form- think I may have run with you and the Verns in early 90s

[Steve Holmes]

That Falcon is stunning! Where is it now?

[Popey]

I purchased it as a road car off a dealer in Auckland with the intention of club racing it. Traded a Mercury Cougar in on it, which I had swapped a Ducati motorbike for. It was a genuine XA GT but it was a bit scruffy, had some rust issues that were largely resolved and was informed the previously owner had drag raced it in a production based class.
The first time I raced it was at Pukekohi and it still had bulky superstock tyres on the back. The car evolved slowly over the years as the budget would allow and the rules and classes I raced in changed. I would mainly buy second hand parts and had good mates that would help work on the car and any sponsorship I could get was greatly appreciated and needed.
I got the front off an XC panel van I had and sold the original GT front for good money. I liked the spoiler set up of the XC better. For classic meetings I would have to change the grille back to XB as they wouldn’t allow the later XC model to run.
The car got badly crashed at Whenapai in 1992, I got hit in the driver’s door (it’s now hanging on the wall in my garage) by the out of control Brian Peace 930 turbo Porsche. The car had the RH rear quarter almost ripped completely off and the chasses got bent, but we managed to get it fixed. I found a Falcon panel van door and door pillar to replace the destroyed ones and reattached the original rear quarter with a few patches and a large amount of filler. I remember it cost me around $1,300. I heard the Brain Peace car cost over 20,000 to fix.
When it came time to sell it no one wanted to buy it so I sold it in parts and the body was purchased (buy a guy who owned a garage in Thames I think it was) to be converted back to a road car. I had still kept it registered as I did drive it on the road on occasion.
The original GT engine ended up in a T Bucket. I swapped the good roller cam motor for a twin cam Datsun 120Y race car and the motor ended up in a speedway saloon. Ray Cheba brought anything I had that was a GT part. John Alley brought the ex Allan Moffit GTHO gearbox for his pre 65 Mustang.

[Spgeti]

What a cool history.

[Popey]

3987539876
Thanks, some pics of the damage, after repairs and as purchased

[kiwibloke]

When it was street legal, I remember some good times in that car before you committed the GT to a full time race car.
Wayne

[Popey]

Yes fond memories, but stretching it legs on the track was where it needed to be, otherwise I think I would have got into to much trouble.