RISING CLASSICS
F
or more than a couple of years now, we
have been writing about the changing
world of classic cars; about how a car
from not that long ago may have entered the
list of what is considered a classic car.
The New Zealand market is as up to date
as any on trends, and recently we have been
surprised by the values of some Japanese cars
that not too long ago were not considered
desirable at all. There’s a direct parallel
between desirability and price, even when we
don’t want to admit it.This magazine featured a couple of Mazda
R X3s a while ago; those two cars were worth
a combined $250,000. Now, here’s one to
reinforce the fact that some Japanese cars
are now worth serious money in this market
too. The Nissan GT-R celebrates its 50th
anniversary next year, and one of the original
GT-Rs, a 1972 model, is currently for sale in
New Zealand for only $10 shy of $400,000
— serious money for a car that many didn’t
know how to take when it was new.
It is fair to say that anyone who did have
a close look at it then was impressed. These
cars were produced in a very limited run,
known as the Hakosuka — if you understand
Japanese — or Skyline, and they were a very
successful racing car in their home country.
Ironically, it was the Mazda rotary that ended
the Skyline’s winning ways. The cars came
with a DOHC two-litre six, which was fed
through triple Weber carbs that would rev to- That should have made all of us sit up
and take notice.
Nowadays, Japanese cars are a major part
of our automotive park, and cars like this one
are major ‘markers’ of that particular story.
Today, it is a genuine classic.
GETTING STARTED
S
o, you are interested in buying a
classic car? Where do you start? You
will have your own favourites — and
that’s a powerful motivation — but when it
comes to laying money down, more sensible
considerations might also come into play.
A good place to start is with a car that is
widely known, with a strong following, is
relatively common, and has a ready supply
of both parts and people who know about
those parts. If it’s quite practical and usable in
modern traffic, you are more likely to use it
regularly, which is generally better for the car
than long periods of storage. Plus, if it has a
healthy club scene you could get a ready-made
social programme as well.
A car that fits all of those criteria is the
MGB or even an MG Midget. A quick look
through the various sales channels here
will show a surprisingly wide range of cars
available. Prices for an MGB start at around
the $10,000 mark and drift upwards to about
$30,000. By then, you’re buying a very good,
original condition, chrome bumper model.
The various MG owners’ clubs are a great
place to start, so look up the nearest club and
begin your search.We know best how to insure classic cars
STAR INSURANCE MARKETPLACE
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