A Few More Roadside Snaps

This 1952 series II Morris Minor was parked near the top of a steep hill at Day's Bay in the Wellington area. A tough climb for the 803cc A series motor, but at least if it ever suffered a flat battery the down-hill run would make for easy starting. Having said that I must admit that many Morries have been retro-fitted with the 948 or even 1098cc motors. I remember when a lot of small cars were fitted with these folding rear carriers for extra luggage space.

This Peugeot is parked in my own driveway. It belonged to an acquaintance of my daughter, who was passionate about Peugeots. I understood this passion after being allowed a drive of it. A very tidy 1990 Mi 16, it had handling, performance and comfort that would challenge many cars of much later years. A true classic that you would want to keep.....but he didn't !

This 190E Mercedes is parked  in an alley in central Wellington. I assume it's an Evolution II look-a-like; not the real thing.

Parked at Wellington Hospital is this very tidy little 1972 Alfa-Romeo GT 1300 Junior. I have never driven this model Alfa, but if it's anything like the models I have experienced it will beg to be driven hard and fast.

An old bus converted into a motor home carries a BMW R65 as a spare.

I took this photo about 7 or 8 years ago of a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230. It was in every day use at this time and knowing how well those 70s Benzs are put together, I would not be surprised if it is still in use now.

A 1985 Mercedes-Benz 250 factory built limousine is snapped in Upper Hutt. The owner apparently had two of these for use as hire vehicles.

A lovely old Mercedes-Benz 220A parked in Palmerston North. As solid as a rock and still going strong.

More From the Roadside

Harbour City Funeral Services in Lower Hutt run this 1936 Packard funeral Coach. A real head-turner where ever it goes.

In February 2008 I again attended the British Car Day at Trentham. Whilst wandering back to Upper Hutt to meet up with my wife who went shopping, I came across this 1958 Edsel Citation in Burger King's carpark.

It's nice to see a 1956 Chev that hasn't got mag wheels or a supercharger protruding through the bonnet (hood).
This sedan parked outside a bar in Greytown.

A nice tidy Volkswagen Kombi from 1964 parked at Eastbourne in the Wellington area. I worked for a VW dealer many years ago; firstly as a mechanic and later as Spare Parts Manager, so I still appreciate a well cared for example.

A 1955 Ford Ranchwagon is parked in Alicetown, Lower Hutt near a motor garage which specialises in classic cars.

The "S" model was always my favourite of the BMW air-cooled boxer. This tidy 1977 R100S was parked at the railway station in Upper Hutt.

Palmerston North is where I took this snap of a 1937 Hudson Terraplane. Obviously needing new paint, but roadworthy so a good starting point for a restoration.

The Australian Holden is a very common car on NZ roads, but an EH in this condition  is rare. The EH was from the 1964 model year, but this one (which resides in my hometown) is actually registered as a '63, so must have been an early example.

Kerry Dudson of Carterton has a large collection of classic cars, ranging from rusty relics to pristine restorations. This is his 1951 Mercury with oversize wheels and tyres to cope with the 302 Windsor under the bonnet.

Parked outside the Masterton Animal Hospital is this 1970 Chrysler Valiant Regal hardtop. The Australian built Chryslers were common in NZ as four door sedans and station wagons, but the hardtops were produced in far less numbers. The body was virtually identical to the American built Dodge Dart, but as far as I know the Australian had the 318cu in V8 as it's largest engine choice whereas the Americans went far larger.

This 2001 Lamborghini Diablo was parked at the side of a rural road near Greytown. I wasn't aware just how low these are until I stood beside this one. To be exact official height is 1105mm (43.5ins). That's only slightly above my waist and I'm only 1740mm (68.5ins).

At the 2010 Vintage Harvest in Carterton, this 2009 Morgan Aero was parked amongst the entrants. "Outstanding in it's field", one might say.

Those With a Nose.

I have done a blog on Kenworth COEs so here are some KW conventionals (normal control, long nose).

The first conventional Kenworths arrived in NZ in the mid 60s. These were Canadian sourced models with fixed mudguards and aluminium, butterfly type bonnets. Most had 335 HP (or less)  Cummins power driving through a 13 speed Roadranger. In comparison to later models the radiator grilles were quite narrow, so are often referred to as "narrow nose" or "needle nose". This is a 1971 LW924 unloading a transformer at a new supermarket in Masterton.

Tudor Enterprises use this LW925 to transport a semi-trailer fitted out as a toilet and washroom for use at outdoor events. Seen here at Martinborough for the fair. Martinborough is a small rural town, about 30 mins drive South of Masterton, which twice yearly runs a fair where traders of crafts and giftware can set up a stall to sell their items. This has become a hugely successful event attended by people from all over NZ.

A 1973 LW924 is parked in Ngauranga Gorge on State Highway 1 just North of Wellington. It is operated by Hire Pool Sky Towers.

This 1972 W924 has the one piece fibre-glass bonnet and front guards but still has the narrow grille. A grille of this size, I would think, would be only capable of cooling a motor of no more than about 350HP. This Lendich of Auckland rig was photographed at Dargaville in NZs far North.

TD Haulage run KW tippers pulling full trailers to cart sawdust and shavings. This 1984 W924AR has just crossed the Manawatu River after coming through the Manawatu Gorge and is making easy work of the gentle slope up to Ashhurst. This model now has the wide grille and the larger headlamps fitted to Australian models as is the case with the "K" models of this era.

Ken Adam still uses this 1977 model daily despite the over two million kilometres it has covered. Here it is unloading at a Petone supermarket.

A 1984 W924AR is operated by D & J Larkin to haul fairground equipment. Decals on the bonnet sides indicate it is probably Detroit powered.

John Lockley of Waihi has several unusual American trucks including this Kenworth with a large sleeper box. A sleeper box of this size on a chassis this short requires the fifth wheel to be mounted too far rearward for ideal weight distribution.

A "W" series emerges from between the large rocks as it completes the steep climb up the Kaimai Range. 

Unusual in NZ this W921R has ten stud wheels (most early "W" models had cast spoke type) and single rear axle. Sherson Transport's 1976 model, unloads at a Hamilton supermarket.

In the late 80s Kenworth released their more aerodynamic versions of the conventional. This T600A operated by TD Haulage, is a 1990 model, parked in their yard at Mount Maunganui. One piece curved windscreen, smooth guards and shapely mirrors apparently made a significant difference to fuel consumption.

A 2004 T404s is operated with a low loader by Quality Demolition of Seaview in the Wellington area.

A loaded B-train behind a 1999 "T" model sits in the pouring rain at Masterton Motor Lodge. I'm sure the driver would be hoping it will be dry when he gets up in the morning.

Eight axles and a big load on this 2008 T404s at Copthorne Solway Park Motor Lodge in Masterton.

Salter Cartage T401 of 2003 vintage is parked at Masterton Motor Lodge in the afternoon sun. This tanker is used for carrying timber preservation chemicals.

The C500 models were designed for the construction industry and other rugged use. This 1996 model parked in Petone is operated by Daniel Smith Industries who specialise in crane and heavy equipment hire and operate from Rangiora in NZs South Island.

Kauriland Tanker Solutions T404s hauls a B-train of fuel over the Rimutaka Hill Road to be distributed to service stations in the Wairarapa where my home town of Masterton is located.

This 2000 T800 is operated by TD Haulage of Mount Maunganui.

Southern Water Cartage operate this 2006 T650 , loaded here with a B-train of concrete troughs.

The T604 was an Australian development with a higher mounted cab. This 2002 model tipper with trailer  is in Freightlines livery.

At the intersection of State Highway 1 and Gray's Road, at Plimmerton, there is a high pedestrian overbridge which is ideal for truckspotting. This is Hurlstone's T950 with low loader and divider dolly heading North with several tonnes of Volvo. The T950 has a tall grille to house the huge radiator necessary for the cooling of engines around 600HP.

Kenworth "K" model C.O.E.s

Cab-over engine, forward control, flat front...call them what you like, but Kenworths of this model are always an impressive sight. Although their cabs all look similar there are in fact many variations and changes as this model has progreessed from when they first arrived in NZ around the mid 70s.

Earliest examples had a narrow grille and small headlamps like this example with low-loader powering along State Highway 1 in the central North Island.



Later models were developed in Australia and had a wider grille to let air into bigger radiators for bigger engines. They also had larger headlamps which I believe were unique to Australian models. Note also the shaped front bumper in contrast to the straight one on the earlier type. This one blows a trail of exhaust smoke as the driver floors the throttle after using the "Jake-brake" coming into the corner.



This straight bumper, small headlamp model unloads fuel in Pahiatua.

A large headlamp model in Trailways livery tops up the tanks at Faulknor's Service station in Masterton.

A Regan Haulage 8 wheeler with sleeper cab unloads a tractor at C.B Norwood in Masterton. Norwoods are tractor and agricultural machinery dealers.

J.Watties Canaries operated this 8 wheeler with trailer seen here stopped near Bombay, South of Auckland. Watties are a major NZ producer of canned and frozen foods. The Jim Bull signage is the name of a range of potato chips (french fries) produced by Watties.

One of the first Aerodyne cabbed models in NZ was this B-train pulling rig operated by Combined Haulage, seen here in the main street of Taupo in the central North Island. L&P is a favourite NZ soft drink.

Later still the headlamps became rectangular as can be seen on this 1993 K100E aerodyne in Freightlines colours.

This aerodyne cab is a later model than the above as can be seen by the different shape along the upper edge. The front bumper is now aerodynamically shaped. This is a 1999 model operated by A.S.Wilcox of Pukekohe parked outside  a motel in Masterton. This example also has a very wide grille presumably to cool a very high horse-power motor. Notice also that the windows in the doors now have dip at the bottom toward the front and the windscreen is now a curved one piece item with three wipers..

Rectangular headlamps, smooth front bumper, flat top cab and grille not as wide as the above and a divided windscreen. This is a 1992 registered K100 of Equipment and Leasing Ltd unloading a refrigerated semi-trailer at Foodtown supermarket in Lower Hutt.

Rectangular headlamps were not popular with K model traditionalists, so in late 1999 they reverted to round once more, but this example still has the 4 piece windscreen and an aluminium front bumper. It is operated by Rotorua Forest Haulage.

Photographed in Palmerston North this model has a wind deflector on top which blends in perfectly with the aerodyne cab. It also has fairings over the headlamps and the one piece curved windscreen.



Almost identical in layout to the above; this 2008 K108 with Blue Ice logistics markings is waiting at Premier Bacon Company in Carterton to be loaded with bacon, ham and smallgoods for the trip to Auckland's supermarkets. The large stainless sunvisor and stone guard gives it a sinister appearance. These 4 axle trailers have the two rear-most axles self tracking, with automatic centralising and locking when reverse is engaged. Alternatively they may have the first and last axle of the group self tracking, but the above option is more common.
Although this is a 2008 model, I notice it has a divided windscreen with only 2 wipers. Maybe this was an option.



Rapid Roadfreighters 2000 K104 with curtained sided B-train with the curved windscreen and smooth front bumper.

Some 8 wheelers in the rectangular headlamp era had the front axles rear set as on this K140ER operated by Rob Dahm of Tokoroa.