Photos: The John Judson Collection

[Steve Holmes]

This is Robert Bartley's MkIII Cortina. It was powered by a 351 cu.in Ford V8. I assume this is the same Robert Bartley who now owns the Custaxie replica? Period reports said he was from Wanganui.

The Cortina appears to have lacked some development, although it was a pretty cool looking car. Judging by the widened steel wheels, I assume it was built on a pretty tight budget. I believe Bruce Robertson, who became well known as the creator of the first Tank stockcar for speedway racing, and later promoter of Palmerston North Speeday, plus various others, also had some involvement with this car.

It doesn't appear to have been raced for very long. I've only found a couple of reports where its mentioned. What happened to it?

[Steve Holmes]

Here is the same Cortina, pictured at Levin. I assume this was a practice day of some sort. The place looks mostly empty and the grass is quite long.

Note that the photo above has the front spoiler painted primer grey. I assume it was either fitted after the car was painted, or knocked off in the heat of battle, and re-attached.

[Steve Holmes]

Another V8 MkIII Cortina, this one being Clyde Collins' example. Collins always had good looking race cars, from his A40 Farina, to his PDL Minis, his later V8 Capri and Commodore, both of which Avon Hyde drove for him.

The Cortina was built for the South Island OSCA series. I think it was one of the first cars built for OSCA. Most were left-over Allcomers. It was fitted with a Ford V8. It was often referred to as the 'Cortina Mustang', which sounded a bit exotic. A bit like Anglia Corvette etc. I doubt the engine had ever been near a Mustang, but this was common practice in the day.

The Collins Cortina was a very successful car in the OSCA series. It was initially painted light powder blue, before it received a make-over in this attractive red with gold roof. It was later sold to Bruce Bellis who had Robin Officer fit a new set of aluminium flares based on the molds used for the PDL Mustang flares. Officer also built similar flares for the Jack Nazer Victor and Bruce Jenner Camaro (ex-Rod Coppins).

Bellis apparently spent mega-bucks having a new motor built for the car. I need to dig out some old reports, but it was believed to have been pretty trick. But he didn't enjoy a lot of success with it.

A later owner was Steve Vigurs who raced it well into the 1980s. I think Vigurs moved the mechanicals into another car and scrapped the Cortina shell. Someone with better knowledge may know more?

A replica of this car was built a few years ago in the South island.

[John McKechnie]

Steve...same Rob Bartley. He says car is still around. He also raced the Triang...Anglia..lhd with Triumph 2.5.
Both Cortinas have Mustang emblems on their grilles
I want to know the details of the Coupe there.
Understand that Vigurs put parts into his missus Celeste and raced that

[rogered]

I've had something of a fixation with this Escort for a number of years. I think this might be the first colour photo I've seen of it. The Escort was owned and built by Wayne Fuller in circa-1971, and fitted with an ex-Paul Fahey FVA or FVC engine. Fuller was from Greytown in the Wairarapa. He raced the Escort during the 1972 season, mostly in the South Island OSCA series, which required regular Cook Straight Ferry crossings.

After its 1972 season, Fuller then decided to have the car rebuilt, and took it to Graham Berry, of the famed Berry & Chung hot rod duo. Berry rebuilt the Escort to be fitted with a small block Chevy V8, and did all the fabrication work required. The 350 cu.in Chevy was topped with a cross-ram intake manifold and a pair of Holley carbs.

It was completed in time for the 1974 season, and Fuller got a young car salesman from Masterton named Roger Brader to drive it. It was scarily fast in a straight line, but the braking and handling required some development. Trevor Crowe drove the car for the team at Wigram to try and give it some manners, and the team were just getting on top of things by the end of the season. However, Fuller then decided to sell it. Warren Steel purchased it, sans engine, and was going to fit a smaller V8 and run it in the 4.2 class in the NZ championship, but failed his eye test, so sold the car to John Scott. I assume this is the same John Scott who later raced a Pontiac Firebird in speedway in Auckland. A later owner was Ian Taylor. Does it still exist?

Attachment 56936

May (or maynot) be the green escort Gordon Burr now has

[seaqnmac27]

This is Robert Bartley's MkIII Cortina. It was powered by a 351 cu.in Ford V8. I assume this is the same Robert Bartley who now owns the Custaxie replica? Period reports said he was from Wanganui.

The Cortina appears to have lacked some development, although it was a pretty cool looking car. Judging by the widened steel wheels, I assume it was built on a pretty tight budget. I believe Bruce Robertson, who became well known as the creator of the first Tank stockcar for speedway racing, and later promoter of Palmerston North Speeday, plus various others, also had some involvement with this car.

It doesn't appear to have been raced for very long. I've only found a couple of reports where its mentioned. What happened to it?

There is a photo somewhere on here with Bruce Robertson's name on the side.

[Spgeti]

Again great photos Steve. Love both the Cortina’s.

[Steve Holmes]

This is the 1967 Shelby Mustang raced by Kevin Haig in the OSCA series. Its one of the 26 A/Sedan cars built by Shelby, some of which raced in the Trans-Am series, this one included, driven by Bob Egan.

It was later purchased by New Zealand born Bob Kennet, who lived in the US, and raced a Porsche 911 in the Trans-Am Under 2 litre class. When the 911 was outlawed for the 1970 season, Kennet purchased the Mustang off Egan, and raced it in selected Trans-Am and A/Sedan regional events. Kennet was due to take the Mustang to NZ to contest selected events during the 1970/71 summer racing season, accompanying his friend Joe Chamberlain, who took a '69 Camaro. But time constraints prevented Kennet from achieving this. He did, however, return to NZ to help Chamberlain, and it was then he did a deal with Dexter Dunlop to swap the Mustang for a McRae.

Dunlop raced the Mustang unsuccessfully in some 1972 season events, but with its 5 litre engine, 8 inch wide wheels, and single 4-barrel carb, was out-gunned by the local opposition whose cars were far for heavily modified.

The Mustang then ended up with Kevin Haig who raced it successfully in the OSCA series, winning both the 1974 and 1975 championships. In fact, he'd built such a big lead in the series during 1975, he sold the car to Lawrence Bruce but still won the championship, and Bruce went on to win his class.

The car raced for many years in OSCA, and was eventually purchased in the 1980s by Gary Doyle in Palmerston North, who rebuilt it for classic racing. He later sold it to David Bowden in Australia, where it still resides in his impressive collection.

[Steve Holmes]

Engine shot of the Haig Mustang.

[kiwi285]

That car certainly had some racing history and would have been a great machine to have here now especially have been build as a genuine Shelby A sedan. Again the Bowden's picked it up when few other people were interested.

[Steve Holmes]

That car certainly had some racing history and would have been a great machine to have here now especially have been build as a genuine Shelby A sedan. Again the Bowden's picked it up when few other people were interested.

Yes thats right Mike, its now in the Bowden collection, but fortunate for NZ race fans, its sister car, that raced by Norm Barry and Red Dawson, has returned to NZ after also being owned by the Bowdens.

[Steve Holmes]

John Dymand's OSCA V8 Capri. I believe there was talk this car was a 1972 ETCC racer that ended up down-under, sans motor, before being converted for OSCA? Be interesting to learn the story behind it. Where is it now?

[Greg Ghost]

I have already submitted the story on Johns Capri the build etc

[928]

got a link please?

[Steve Holmes]

MkIII Cortina production racer.

[Rod Grimwood]

MkIII Cortina production racer.

I know the history of that car. did B&H and Lyall Martin and Robin Irving bought it and played with it for awhile, even let me have a go, and it was then tidied up and had engine swap (one in it was tooo good to sell as standard) sold as a standard car.

[Kevin Hirst]

I know the history of that car. did B&H and Lyall Martin and Robin Irving bought it and played with it for awhile, even let me have a go, and it was then tidied up and had engine swap (one in it was tooo good to sell as standard) sold as a standard car.

O.K. Rodney, what did you do to it that it had to be tidied up?

[Rod Grimwood]

O.K. Rodney, what did you do to it that it had to be tidied up?

Na did
nothing to this one, it was showing bit of wear and tear from weekend fun. Actually had Mk3 after this that blew most things away, it was a real sleeper. Guys reckoned engine had more ticker than me ole race car, certainly had low down grunt. was good fun. Bit like that 2Ltr you chucked together for me in Mk5 station wagon for the missus to go shopping, that was humour.

[Steve Holmes]

Allan Moffat's Mustang.

[Steve Holmes]

Formula Fords on the dummy grid.