Thats right John.
Yup. NZ Steve - and quite a well known car. I think I may have posted that pic before and Roger Herrick responded. Sorry, with 48 pages to wade through, I'll wear that one!
I too am a huge fan of Iso's and Bizzarini's, as they look so good, even if the power-plants were mass market.
I now save pics to a separate directory after posting, so I am a bit better organized. Some of the random scans over the years are of slides I hadn't previously logged. I have worked my way through most of the pile of the GT's that had already been partially logged, but there are still more in the unsorted pile, not to mention single transparencies that were removed from the plastic mounts or never have been mounted as the image was too small, or faded, but scanning at a high resolution and cropping can turn a dumped transparency into a worthwhile one . Time. It just takes time - and lots of patience...
Actually now you mention it Ray, I think I saw the Gordon Keeble parked on the side of the road in Wellington many years ago.
I recall seeing a beautiful metallic blue Iso Grifo at Ruapuna several years ago too. Its the only Grifo I have seen in the flesh.
Yes, the mass produced American V8 doesn't have the charisma of an Italian motor, but does help to keep the prices down and makes the cars much easier to maintain.
Bob (Sir Robertson) Stewart had a Gordon Keeble, presumably bought new, during the heyday of the PDL team.
A Gordon Keeble was used for Clerk of Course car at GP the year that Hugh Anderson ran the works Suzukis. It might even feature in my photos.
Gordon Keeble had a great badge.
I read just last week that the 'only 99 made' story might be not quite right - not by much but that there were at least 100 or so. Whatever - I have seen one (the only one in NZ?) in Christchurch from time to time over the years and it is lovely.
According to another website, there is the aforementioned blue ex PDL car (seen initially with different NZ plates and before those flared guards and Minilites) and a white car. Then someone mentions a burgundy one...
From the other site:
GK1 IT PRO 5y
Car lives in Lyttelton and its plate is now KS92 it is the first of 7 cars built known as GK1 IT (International Touring) and is Chassis #92, the first in the series of 7 ITs built, there were 91 cars in the first series of which one came to NZ new in 1964, my car arrived in 1966.
They were the last cars produced by Gordon Keeble and had a number of small refinements like seating, braking, ventilation etc that differed from the other 91 cars produced, only 2 new cars came to NZ
Warren Derbie PRO 5y
GK1 IT Thanks for the additional info. I recall seeing another at Manfeild in the 1980's (white?). Would you like to post a current photo of the car?
GK1 IT PRO 5y
The white car was the other car sold new to NZ, I have just uploaded some pics of my car as it is today.
Edward 5y
I photoed CZ 827 in the mid sixties in Palmerston North. It was a burgundy one and was for sale at Syd Jensen Motors in Princess St.
imacfii 8mo
Denny Hulme imported the white one. I brought in another one in 1979, (#79) it is being restored. There's another one in the WOW museum.
Last edited by ERC; 03-13-2017 at 06:57 AM.
When Rick Rimmer had his Healey Shop at Mt Maunganui, I remember he had a GK for sale there....10 + years ago
Here you are Steve. Snapped outside the garage three doors away from home. 'Chick' Wheelhouse converted what was just a petrol station and service garage into a second-hand car showroom. He was a very smart cookie, who knew that if he put an exotic out front, people would stop. I posted pics previously of a Gordon Keeble and possibly a Lamborghini Muira, that were real attractions.
Testing colours immediately before the full restoration, 1993/94. Still on the original 13" Cosmic wheels - now safely stored in the garage. Chris Watson's low flying TR8 just to the right.
Last edited by ERC; 03-14-2017 at 01:41 AM.
A mix as slides are picked out of the pile and as some had already been partially sorted, a batch of Austin Healeys is inevitable.
Ian Richardson's Chev Corvair - using a borrowed camera (with cruddy Fuji film) this was the first time I'd ever managed to use a camera with a longer lens than standard.
Probably 1977 but definitely Donington.
Donington again, 1980
Note to Terry S. it took almost an hour to get this one pic in a fit state to upload as it just wouldn't scan properly, probably as the plastic slide holder was somewhat out of shape and the slide wouldn't sit flat, which distorted the image. After 3 scans, I removed it from the plastic and mounted it in glass.
Western Springs, probably November 1992.
Last edited by ERC; 03-15-2017 at 11:44 PM.
Ray, did you go to any shellsport F5000 or aurora series meetings in the UK?
928. From memory, I went to one or two Mallory Park F5000 meetings and one at Brands Hatch April 1971.
Guessing the year - again...
Ellerslie, but can anyone please give me the year?
1994 Whenuapai
Last edited by ERC; 03-17-2017 at 03:23 AM.
Fine pic of Kirk Benges XB Coupe sliding at Hamilton road race.
Rear wing is set correctly as is the angle.....eh Dale ????
Once again, apologies if any have been posted before.
Last edited by ERC; 09-15-2017 at 06:06 AM.
Found the date for this - which is the same as for the Healey and EMW - 16th July 1983. Berkeley and not the locally built Ibis.
Last edited by ERC; 03-20-2017 at 01:53 AM.
Still a mix as slides are scanned. Researching old race programmes has certainly cemented some dates - and made me change others!
The Lotus 88 looks decidedly odd without the front wings we now take for granted.
Two NZ built Robertson Lotus 11 replicas, Ardmore 1989.
Whittaker's practice day 1990 - the only time I ever managed to get trackside...
Adrian Whapham MARCH 722. (I put that in upper case as it was the initial letters of the founders of MARCH...)
I had a query on this one for years, but it appears to be Rhubarb 3, 1991 at Whenuapai, and I suspect, Saturday practice.
Chris Watson, Whenuapai 1994.
Last edited by ERC; 03-21-2017 at 11:38 PM.
Onee of those Robertson cars was in my shed until just before I left NZ in December.