New Zealand Classic Car 402, November/December 2025

Circuit racer to show stopper
A one-time racing saloon gets a new lease on life
Hugely popular back in the day, and European champions, Ford’s Capri is still a popular and competitive racing saloon, so to find one turned back into a pristine road car is rare indeed.
Loburn’s rolling hills and river plains in North Canterbury are renowned for their fruit-growing areas, and also have some great driving roads, perfect for enjoying the long-legged cruising Ford Capri featured here.
Since the Christchurch earthquakes, the area has become a sought-after lifestyle region. Toby and Donna Dimmock moved to the area a short time ago, and they enjoy the laid-back, sunny lifestyle of the region in their new home, which features a generously sized garage and sheds, perfect for a couple of gleaming classics. They are best known for their 1972 Holden HQ Monaro LS, a show-winning car that serves as their big, comfortable country cruiser when driving to car shows. However, their 1974 Ford Capri Mark 1, GXL 3 Litre, is something special with an unexpected background, quite at odds with its amazing current condition.
Our FREE pull-out poster in this issue is of a trio of Lamborghini Diablos.

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In Tune With Miranda – 1990-2001 Lamborghini Diablo Trio
There are certain moments in life when it dawns on you – often quite suddenly – that you are, in fact, living the dream!
In disbelief, I found myself in the company of not one, not two, but three exceedingly rare Lamborghinis, all of them stunning examples of the iconic Diablo.
The Unexplained – 1962 Jaguar Mark II, 3.4-litre, Part 1
Auckland music producer Larry Killip immersed himself in the swinging ‘60s of Beatlemania, part of an era of pop icons, from fashion design to music. The decade closed with the first man landing on the moon, influencing a flurry of futuristic automotive design in the US. The British typically went for a more fluid and traditional bodyline, setting new standards of design, performance and reliability with Jaguar, becoming one of the best known style icons.
Make a date with Ayrburn Classic 2026 – 20-22 February
Organisers are excited about the strong response to entries for the 2026 Ayrburn Classic, with some classes already fully booked. Don’t miss out on a chance to be at this world-class event this summer.
Dino, bellissimo – 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4
Frowned upon by the Tifosi when first launched in 1974, the Dino 308 GT4 acquired an undeserved reputation, seen as not a true Ferrari road car. The little Bertone wedge soon silenced its detractors with its capability as an excellent handling road and track car, and a 2 2 design layout that would influence Ferrari's thinking for decades.
Shelby heaven-part 2
From Le Mans to Daytona, the Shelby legend lives on in today’s Shelby American’s US operation, building Ford high-performance cars and trucks. A must-see on any bucket list is a visit to the Colorado Shelby Museum. Vaughan Wilson concludes his tour of this famous museum.
The cars are the stars – the cars of film and TV shows
It truly is amazing what Cinema and TV can do for a car and make it a star.
In Christchurch, it was the turn of the cars to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation.
Price On – Road User Charges (RUCs) for classic vehicles
When I first started writing for Classic Car back in 1995, we were in the middle of the unleaded petrol fiasco.
Many of you will remember that it had catastrophic consequences for many classic cars and motorcycles that were never designed to run on unleaded petrol.
When history comes to life
Motorsport in the ‘50s and ‘60s paved the way for iconic drivers, iconic cars, and some of the most iconic pub yarns you will ever hear. Lenny Gilbert was a capable local driver in those decades, a friend especially to our own Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon.
Motorman – Toyota’s first Rav4 – classic inspiration
The original Toyota RAV4 made a cautious entry into the New Zealand market three decades ago, but there was a feeling then that the best was yet to come.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet when it comes to looks, often the first incarnation of a model is the most harmonious and simply the best.
Kits and Pieces – Barry Leitch and the Leitch Super Sprint
In the deep South of the South Island, Barry Leitch is a well-known figure in automotive circles. When it comes to automobiles, there is not much that Bar