Classic Cars

If you were upper-middle management at a city accounting firm in 1971 the Vauxhall Viscount might’ve been the car you aspired to. The big boss would have a Jag and those under you, maybe something Aussie with a bench seat. Your equivalent at a law firm across town might’ve gone for a Holden Premier, but being an accountant, you thought the Vauxhall offered better bang for buck. And that might still be true today. Read on..

KTM are a company more known for motorcycles, so for its first foray into four wheels it’s maybe not surprising that the X-Bow looks like something a motorcycle designer might come with for a car. There’s no (proper) windscreen, roof or side windows – basically all the comfort of a sports-bike. However, it’s under 800kg and can sprint its way to 100kph in 3.9 seconds, so has the performance of a sports-bike. It’s less “wind in the hair motoring” and more hurricane in your face motoring. Read on...

You may ask yourself why a fairly plain 1992 Porsche 911 with an automatic gearbox and a few niggly problems to sort could be worth $140,000. Surely you could get a newer, faster 911 for that money? Well the answer is “air-cooled”, and, to some extent, “resto-mod”. This car is to be auctioned by Turners in Auckland. Let’s explore why it will be so popular. Read on...

21.5 million Volkswagen Beetles were built across its long production history, and yet, the very desirable and popular convertible version only accounted for 331,847 of that number. That’s still a big number, so to break it down, this 1965 Beetle Convertible - being auctioned by Turners Christchurch - was one of just 10754 built that year. Total Beetle production that year was around 1.6 million. So they are rare by Beetle standards. Why was that? Read on...

For some, the thought of touchscreen dashboards, plastic bumpers and EV drivetrains gives them night sweats. For them, dreams of a large V8, a thin rimmed steering wheel - with no buttons unless it activates a horn- and a stereo that only plays rock from the golden years, are the key ingredients for a good night's sleep and a calm mind. If that sounds like you then your dreams could become very real with this 1965 Chevrolet Impala 2 door hardtop Super Sport. Read on...

BMW’s first EV was launched in 2013 and despite being out of production for two years, the i3 still stacks up as one of the best in its class today. It’s a small car by today’s standards but is roomy and has thoroughly interesting modern styling. Older examples are still consistently hitting their range targets and they have a pretty good reliability reputation. The BMW i3 might just be a canny used EV buy. Turners Westgate has this one coming up for auction. Read on...

If you were very successful and wealthy in 1972 you probably had your heart set on a luxury car. A Rolls Royce was maybe out of your range, or perhaps a bit ‘old money’ for your taste. Indeed, what you really wanted was the Mercedes that was the forerunner to the famous S-Class line, the W108/109. And if funds could be stretched you really wanted the 3.5L V8 option. It said to the world you had class and taste. Over 50 years later this 280SE V8 still projects good taste and is perhaps more classy than ‘class’. And it could be yours. Read on...

It’s one of the most popular modern classics and certain versions are very highly prized. The BMW E30 comes in a myriad of specifications, starting with the 316i sedan all the way to the M3. They are all popular but the difference between the bottom to the top is significant, and is the reason why this car will likely be saved. This NZ new M325i has had a whoopsy to its front end and has been written off and deregistered. Will it be saved? I think so. And I imagine the auction will be a competitive affair. Read on...

It may seem obvious now but the Ford Capri was indeed designed to be the European Mustang and was designed by Mustang designer Phillip T Clark. Like the famous American Pony car, it was a big success, but it didn’t last as long as the Mustang which is still made today. Both models have their fans and both of these cars are being auctioned at Turners Christchurch. Would you choose the retro car favoured by seventies UK cop shows or the muscle of this Roush edition US Mustang? Read on...