Sheepskin seat covers NOT included!
December 13th 2007 03:31
As you may have already guessed from my ramblings, modern cars, in general, do not get me overly excited. They are efficent, reliable and characterless!
The major reason for this is my formative years were spent in a small part of Her Majestys commonwealth known as New Zealand. This was a handicap in itself, so dont blame me, blame my parents!!
Many moons ago, in the dark mists of time a New Zealand Government decided that there would be no trade deficit. So they organised a system wherein you , as a new vehicle buyer had to deposit the exact amount of funds into a bank in the country of origin of your new car. This was administered by the local new car dealer and Reserve bank and allowed the government the freedom of little or no government funds were utilised to balance the trade figures.
The system was not perfect as a generation of Kiwi car buyers can attest to, long waiting lists grew and the favourite ruse used by the new car dealers was to contact Mr Smith after nine months to tell him his shiny new red Humber/ Riley/ Wolseley was ready for delivery. The problem here being a blue one had been ordered! Well maybe Mr Smith would like to wait for a blue one and that will take another ten months! Needless to say Mr Smith took the red one and liked it! Thankfully, this system died a natural death and in a positive twist New Zealand eventually became an automotive dumping ground. The late 1960's and early 1970's saw Manufacturers from around the world offer the average Kiwi motorist, vehicles that the rest of the world had already turned their nose up at. Rear engined Skodas, Fiats that rusted before your eyes, anything British that resembled a motor car all made that long trip round the Horn across the Indian Ocean to arrive in Godzone. The price of new cars in NZ at that time were enough to frighten a Kiwi Millionaire and make Aussies laugh out loud. Try a 1986 Australian built Ford LTD for $96,000!!!
Eventually the Japanese used vehicle import flood began and car prices tumbled. Not too long ago you could still find one owner trinkets out there, in the mid 1980's it was still possible to find what are now considered classics such as Triumph Heralds and Mayflowers, Mini-matics, Rover P5 coupes with low milages and in very original condition.
It was during this period that the only car I regret not buying passed me by. I could have owned a restorable daily driver Jaguar XK 150FHC with sunroof and stove enamelled wires for the princely sum of $ 5000, I still have nightmares even today as the values now soar towards the stratosphere.
Excuse me while I have another stiff drink!
The major reason for this is my formative years were spent in a small part of Her Majestys commonwealth known as New Zealand. This was a handicap in itself, so dont blame me, blame my parents!!
Many moons ago, in the dark mists of time a New Zealand Government decided that there would be no trade deficit. So they organised a system wherein you , as a new vehicle buyer had to deposit the exact amount of funds into a bank in the country of origin of your new car. This was administered by the local new car dealer and Reserve bank and allowed the government the freedom of little or no government funds were utilised to balance the trade figures.
The system was not perfect as a generation of Kiwi car buyers can attest to, long waiting lists grew and the favourite ruse used by the new car dealers was to contact Mr Smith after nine months to tell him his shiny new red Humber/ Riley/ Wolseley was ready for delivery. The problem here being a blue one had been ordered! Well maybe Mr Smith would like to wait for a blue one and that will take another ten months! Needless to say Mr Smith took the red one and liked it! Thankfully, this system died a natural death and in a positive twist New Zealand eventually became an automotive dumping ground. The late 1960's and early 1970's saw Manufacturers from around the world offer the average Kiwi motorist, vehicles that the rest of the world had already turned their nose up at. Rear engined Skodas, Fiats that rusted before your eyes, anything British that resembled a motor car all made that long trip round the Horn across the Indian Ocean to arrive in Godzone. The price of new cars in NZ at that time were enough to frighten a Kiwi Millionaire and make Aussies laugh out loud. Try a 1986 Australian built Ford LTD for $96,000!!!
Eventually the Japanese used vehicle import flood began and car prices tumbled. Not too long ago you could still find one owner trinkets out there, in the mid 1980's it was still possible to find what are now considered classics such as Triumph Heralds and Mayflowers, Mini-matics, Rover P5 coupes with low milages and in very original condition.
It was during this period that the only car I regret not buying passed me by. I could have owned a restorable daily driver Jaguar XK 150FHC with sunroof and stove enamelled wires for the princely sum of $ 5000, I still have nightmares even today as the values now soar towards the stratosphere.
Excuse me while I have another stiff drink!
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