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The Nelson Photo News

 

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The Old Ones Are Coming

Hundreds of vintage and veteran cars will converge on Nelson in about 11 days, as a climax to the international rally. Courses from various points end at Nelson and this city will be treated to an exhibition of the world's finest old cars. As a preview to the rally we feature nine of the Nelson cars competing.

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1909 Martini. This car, owned by well-known enthusiast Andy Beattie, was built in Switzerland and was originally owned by the Glasgow family in Nelson. It has also spent some of its career on the West Coast. Mr Beattie took five years to restore the Martini and now it will cruise at 30mph. It is powered by a four-cylinder 10hp engine and, typical of its era, has the gear lever outside. There is no door on the driver's side.

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1928 Dodge Victory 6. Before Bob Helm acquired the Dodge three years ago, it had been a one owner car and was sold to that owner by J. G. Ingram and Co. in 1928. Its most unusual feature is an internal expanding hydraulic brake. The sixcylinder, 208 cubic inch side-valve engine will push the Dodge along at 45mph comfortably and it can do 60mph. It has a Phaeton model body.

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1929 Hudson Super Six. A feature of this car is its length - 18ft 3in. Its owner, Geoff Clark, says it will just fit a normal parking space. The model served extensively as service cars and this one was used by Nelson Gold Band Taxis. Geoff has owned it for seven years. The Hudson has a custom-built seven-passenger body, is powered by a 4.7 litre motor and will cruise at 50mph, consuming a gallon of petrol every 14 miles.

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1922-23 Rolls Royce. Brought out as an owner-driver car, the Rolls 20 (20hp) was the first of the baby Rolls'. Prior to this model, the Rolls Royce cars were designed to be chauffeur driven. George Topliss bought the car from Ray Beach, three or four years ago. The 20hp 3 litre engine develops about 60hp. The car will cruise comfortably at regulation speeds and can reach about 60mph. It has an autovac tank system, twin ignition (battery or magneto) and a three speed gear-box. A feature always in the driver's mind is the limited braking ability of the two rear wheel brakes.

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1926 Chrysler Imperial 80. A car weighing more than two tons would need a big engine, and this fine model, Walter P. Chrysler's challenge to the Cadillac, has a 5 litre, six-cylinder motivating force. Naturally such a large engine chews through a fair bit of petrol and Jack Warn says his pride and joy gets 10mpg. If this car were a rugby player it would be a selector's dream: Over two tons, it will do 80mph.

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1914 Saxon. The Saxon, a product of the Saxon Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan, first appeared in the United States in 1913-14 as a small two-seat roadster with a 1400c.c. four-cylinder side- valve engine. An unusual feature for vehicles of that era is that the gear-box is mounted on the differential. The wooden-spoked wheels are another feature which was optional when the car was new. To the owner, John Hansen, the car is priceless.

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1925-26 Dodge 4 Sedan. After leading a rough life, which included a stint as a delivery van, this old timer has finally been rewarded for its service. The Dodge is owned by Ken (pictured) and Geoffrey Morris. Geoffrey will be driving in the rally. The 3.5 litre four-cylinder engine develops 30-35hp and will push the car along comfortably at 35-40mph. The three-speed gear-box is reverse to the normal type. Ken has used the car on trips and it is reasonably economical at 20mpg.

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1927 R Series 20/60 Vauxhall. Les Roberts acquired this car in about 1961 and is only the third owner. The original owner was a Nelson doctor who sold it to a Rotokohu farmer six months after buying it. It was in use until about 1953. Les rescued it from the shed where it was retired to. It has a 2762c.c. O.H.V. motor and has a R.A.C. rating of 19.8hp and a petrol consumption of about 18mpg. This is another heavy vehicle and weighs just under two tons. It has a gate change gear-box and five speeds. Les competed in the North Island Easter Rally at Palmerston North last year, and was second equal in Concours for the vintage section.

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1923 Crossley. The owner, Jonathan Tidswell, believes this car to be the only one of its type in the Southern Hemisphere and possibly the world. It is a roadster, capable of seating two, not four, like the tourer model. This particular body style could make the car unique. The Crossley has a four-cylinder engine, will cruise at about 30mph and will do 20mpg. Mr Tidswell has another car, a 1930 Whippet, in the rally and this will be driven by Major and Mrs G. B. M. Law of Wellington.