Cars at Omaka (2)

I like the styling of the XJ40 series of XJ6.
Unfortunately they were produced in an era when Jaguar was struggling with build quality.
This is a 1989 Daimler with the all alloy AJ6 4.0 litre six.

This 2008 Jaguar has the 4.2 litre V8.

Toyota Coronas were a popular model.
Nearest the camera is a 1983 1770cc version, with a 1988 1995cc Amon model, behind.
The Amon was a standard model with suspension tuned to local conditions by NZ racing driver, Chris Amon.

The 1951 Citroen Light 15 was ahead of its time.
The BX16 TRS Auto was also quite a remarkable car.
I have driven a BX, and although I was impressed with the ride and comfort, I felt the engine wasn't up to the smoothness and quietness of contemporary Japanese offerings.

1984 Toyota Cressida, a popular model in NZ
1983 Holden Camira, not so much !

Mercedes Benz's big coupes were well proportioned and sold reasonably well world-wide,
although I feel they were a little impractical.

The big Rovers in 3.0 litre form were smooth, if not so fast saloons,
but the P5B with the 3.5 litre Buick sourced V8 was a speedy limousine.
This is a 1973 version.

The Jaguar Mk VII was and still is, a large, high speed saloon.

Predecessor to the MkVII was the Mk V.
This is a superbly restored 1951 model.

The Vauxhall Victor in 1600 and 2.0 litre form, competed favourably with Ford's Cortina, but the addition of a 3.3 litre six made the Victor a force to be reckoned with. A very popular model in New Zealand around 1969, when this example was assembled..

Vauxhall's big sedan, was the Cresta.
A fairly plain sedan with bench front seat and 3 speed column change and utilizing the same engine as the above Victor.

Like a stretched Austin Cambridge, the Austin Westminster was only bigger, forward of the windscreen, to accommodate the 2.6 litre, 6 cylinder BMC C series engine.

Cars at Omaka (1).

While at Blenheim, I paid another visit to Omaka Classic Cars. Mary said it would be a waste of money, but it turns out they now have a whole new shed of cars that weren't there last time.

Triumph 2000s in both Mk 1 and Mk 2 forms were, and still are, a nice drive.
Both models were also produced in 2500 PI (Petrol Injection) models as well, but proved unreliable and difficult to tune correctly at the time, although many have since mastered their faults and peculiarities.
The Mk 2 was also produced as a 2500 carburettor model, as well, which became a very popular model..
Surprisingly these are still an affordable classic.

The Austin/Morris 1100 was later produced in 1300 form and, as with the smaller engined model, there was also a Wolseley version, as pictured at left. On the right is a 1957 Morris Minor 1000, an icon of British motoring. The Minor was introduced in 1949, powered by the gutless, but reliable, side valve engine from the Morris Eight. In 1952, 4 door models were fitted with the 803cc, ohv unit as introduced in the Austin A30, and other models were so fitted the following year. In 1956 the 1000 badge was added when the 948cc model arrived.  From 1962 the engine was again increased in capacity to 1098cc, but the badge still read 1000.

Many believe the Jaguar XK120 was the best looking sports car of its time, but I've always liked the more modern look of the XK150 as pictured here as a 1959 model with its 3.4 litre dohc straight six.

1967 Peugeot 404.
Although similar in looks to the BMC offerings of the time, the French saloon was a quite different and more refined car.

The EH model has become one of Holden's most popular collectable classics and are fetching unbelievable prices.

Mitsubishi's Tredia was a sedan that was reasonably popular in its day, but then the name was no longer used.
The pictured example is a 1984 1600cc Turbo verion.

Vincent motorcycles were renowned for their effortless high speed.

Rootes made some of the best everyday saloons in 1960s Britain.
This 1965 1600cc Hillman Super Minx is one of many sold in New Zealand at the time.

Subaru's 1600GFT model from 1978 was a variation of their coupe model.

Isuzu introduced this 1500cc saloon to the NZ market and from what I remember they weren't a bad little car. Reliable, but not exciting to drive, but as for all Japanese cars of this period, rust became a major problem after a few years of ownership.

Jaguar's Mk 2 was a popular high speed saloon of the 60s, both in motor racing and as a bank robbers' getaway car.
Although powerful, it was often thought the big twin cam 6 made it a bit front heavy.
The Daimler version, with its 2.5 litre alloy V8 helped this imbalance and to many, was a better car.
This 1967 Daimler is a 4 speed manual with overdrive, which for many years I thought was quite rare (most were automatics) , but I have now sighted several of them in NZ in recent times.

A 1974 Datsun 180B. A good seller in its day.
And a 1979 Austin Princess 2.0 HL a model that wasn't memorable.

Dangerous Skies.

Last weekend we travelled to Blenheim for a family gathering. While there I took the opportunity to visit " Dangerous Skies", the World War 2 section of the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.

A disabled Hawker Hurricane plummets, inverted from the sky with its jettisoned canopy
disappearing in the slipstream behind it....

...The pilot has already parachuted to safety, had his injuries bandaged and is now sharing a wine with a lovely lady.
The scene is based on a true event, in which the pilot landed in a wealthy manor and was sent the bill for his care afterwards !

A close up the lady.
Very lifelike models.

Close up view of one of the Armstrong Siddeley Cheetahs, in the Avro Anson.

One of the many detailed displays.

The inverted Hurricane, with flames flickering on the side of its
engine cowling, above the flying glass-house (Anson).

A Fleet trainer, Yak in the background and Stuka overhead.

A Stuka dive bomber begins to descend with its propeller driven sirens screaming.

A famous female Soviet pilot stands proudly by a Yak fighter....

...Soviet pilot Lydia Litvyak.

Where the Spitfire should have been, was a Ryan Monoplane, trainer.
The Spitfire was away for servicing.