Horopito! NZ's most famous scrap yard - Revisited (twice)

[Jon]

Early Subaru contingency. They're rust-prone over here, too.

 

Fords now:

 

These Sierras differ from the UK ones in that they're both L models, yet will most probably have the 2.0 litre engine. I don't think that there was any other engine option and if there was, it can't have been common. The 2.0 L model was also common model of Cortina too. Indeed, the Sierra is a good example of how Ford NZ distanced itself somewhat from Ford Australia, as I don't think the Sierra was ever offered there. Bizarrely, it was only the estates that were initially sold, as Ford already had saloon and hatchback Telstars on the forecourts, themselves a Mazda GC 626 with different frontal treatment. Later on, the Sapphire arrived and the estate continued, yet at some point they must have been selling the Sierra/Telstar estates and the Sapphire/Telstar saloon at the same time. Bonkers!

Onwards to Escortland. 

Cortina interloper amongst the blue chip investments.

 

10 Escorts in this photo and not one in full shot. I deserve a Conelrad photography excellence endorsement.


It was getting too expensive just to look at all that valuable* tin, so I moved on to something a little cheaper.

 

Catchy name.  

 

Yet another variant of a Hillman Minx, nestling into the Aussie corner. Just to the right you can see a Commodore, one of a few there. However, I've become a Commodore snob and since mine's a first model VB and all others were VC onwards-models, I didn't deem them worthy of photographing. 

 

 

One for those who like close-ups of badges. A Sunbird is one of the cars on my wishlist, mainly for the truck-sized rear lamps.

 

 

I can't remember whether Princesses were manufactured in NZ in ckd form or not, though they seemed to be relatively popular in their day. Anyway, I've posted this photo before, since this is the ying to Vulgalour's yang.

 

 

Dauphine in half-hearted French sector.

 

"All Red wants to do is stuff his face"   

 

Fiat 132? I took a good few shots of this but in reality these show all you need to see.

 

 

One for Seth, ready lowered without the effort. Bonus Ford dartboard rim for misleading amateurs.

 

Many for Seth. I'm too young to remember a time when a British scrap yard would have offered this scene. A great view, though taking a look beyond this pile revealed.... 

 

These beauties. I knew about the existence of the Solara in NZ but not the Alpine. Once again, thanks sun for ruining a snap.  

 

 

Rear end shot garnered better results. It was at this point which I was contemplating the last time I could remember seeing an Alpine and came to the conclusion it was around 1988. Casually glancing at the row behind the Avengers and Hunters, reveals another one!

 

 

This one was slightly more complete and even had one of the original wheels and hub cap sitting on the front seat. It was also able to offer an insight into period giffer repairs.  

 

 

Anyway, I believe this is what's known as ending on a high. Hopefully I'll have tailored the content to a chod mentality, rather than just documenting the same stuff seen elsewhere on-line. Hence why I didn't take a shot of the Blue Slough built DS.

 

I'll post up the commercial corner, next.

[Cavcraft]

Great stuff.

 

By the way I know I get really pissed most Saturday nights but (sadly) I don't recall meeting the future Mrs Cav or arranging a marriage.

[mercrocker]

Probably one of the best places to have been a car-spotting kid in the 1960s!   This is wot I like - Educashional spottage.......

[Jon]

Yeah, the future Mrs_Cav is now the current Mrs_Jon, since I changed my username. It's a bugger getting the deed poll involved with our name changes but I think it's worth it. In fact, this incredibly popular* 5 year thread saga has raised a couple of LOLs from me, especially the negative comments I had against the hired Hiace, since I now own one, albeit a SWB one with a petrol motor and manual box. Still slow and the layout isn't as good as a Transit but waaaay more affordable if you buy a shit one like mine.

 

 

Here's the type of van I want to be driving. There were quite a few Transits and I think I got a bit carried away, as if I'd been having withdrawal symptoms from seeing them about:

 

 

Strange to see that this still has its side panels intact - 99% of vans here have side windows, just like my Hiace does. Made it a lot easier to convert it in to a mingebag-spec camper.  

 

Love the shonkiness of these hinged side loading doors, it ages the origins of them so well.

 

I quite like the 'less is more' custom style of this but wonder how far the mods actually went

 

 

Would love to know when this stopped working for a living. Obviously someone was too tight to pay for side windows from Ford, opting for the next best thing. Bizarrely this is still happens to a few new vans here.  

 

Then I redressed the balance somewhat with a photo of some Bedfords, though these sold much better here and aren't too uncommon on the roads still. 

 

Bedford J series (what a confusing range it was) in period livery. Why don't more people do stuff like this when restoring commercials?

 

CHEER UP

 

Datsun 620 ute in a fetching shade of 1970s. 

 

Seeing a Meastro van in NZ really was a shock to the system. I know the Montego and Metro sold here from the mid 1980s onwards but don't know if the Meastro was, so have no idea if these were marketed or whether this is some export from an ex-pat. Either way, replacement grilles and bumpers were evidently in short supply.

 

 

Not a commercial vehicle. Sorry about that.


A couple of Thames vans:

 

Something much older. Any ideas what the frame would've supported? Surely it's not a roll cage?!

 

PURE EVIL. Had to reattach the grille on this to more easily identify it as a Toyota Dyna.

 

Finally, amongst the $$$$$ of Ford Escorts lay this dormant Opel Blitz. I'd be very surprised if these weren't extinct. Don't think I've ever seen one, other than the odd ex German fire service one. I posted this image on a local Opel forum (no, really, there is such a thing) and no-one knew of any RHD Blitz. Anyone else know of one? Maybe it's an Irish model, or something Later Opel Blitz' were rebadged Bedford Cfs, I think.

 

Anyway, the Blitz, Dyna, Alpines and a few others really made the trip worthwhile, seeing things you'd stand next to no chance of spotting on the road. By this point, I'd even exhausted the interests of my cousin and uncle, so offered them the keys to the car so they could sit and wait, like a couple of bored women. Fortunately, they found a couple of items to take photos of them 'driving' for the benefit of the ladies (about the only way they'd fathom looking at old tosh), so the heat was off for a few minutes. I decided to take a cursory scan but found I'd looked at pretty much everything I'd wanted to.

 

I saw a photo opportunity of this 1100's reflection in the muddy puddle but the outcome wasn't too good. Sparked memories of John Cleese being hapless in a field.   

 

I didn't think I'd documented enough Skodas so took this one whilst passing the first yard on the way out. 

 

Think this one's a bit past it. Fnar fnar. Actually, it's funny to look at this and see that 3 years ago, it was obviously in need of remedial rear beam work, which I only got round to this year. I remember my uncle commenting that it wasn't easy to fill the crossword in on the way home as he sat in the back. MIDDLE CLASS PROBLEMS.


Having had a great time, I was mildly reluctant to leave after only a few hours, so stopped the car as we passed this to take one more shot for posterity.

 

 

[chaseracer]

Isuzu Aska...?

 

[maxpower]

great pics.... got me thinking with all the xfactor shit and big brother crap on tv... it would be good to have a show where a team of 4 go to the transit section with only tools water oil, battery and fuel and have to build a driveable transit from what's available there... likewise the hunter/avenger sections etc... would make great tv show me thinks  or has that already been done?

[Jon]

Aye Maxpower, you could be on to something there. There's plenty of videos on Youtube where people do similar things to long abandoned motors.I'd watch it, at least.

 

So, up to date now with the backlog from 2008 and 2011 visits, here's the photos I took last Monday, when we were heading home from a weekend skiing. Where the blue 50's American somethingorother stood was now this:

 

 

Would love to give house bus a crack myself one day but I'd like to do something different to all the wooden bodies and on a slightly smaller scale. Would probably just end up looking like a normal camper van though.....

 

 

In to the 'museum' bit again and nice to see a bit of order* in the place, along with a British registered bike. Anyone want to run its number through an on line checker, to see if it's a recent import?

 

 

 

 

A couple of token pictures of gathered tat:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shame to have a couple of more modern grilles propped in front of the others, though I suppose they're almost the last of their kind.

 

 

 

Number plates galore, seemingly formed in alphabetical order, though I'm not quite sure why, since all these plates would be non-transferrable. More likely there to satisfy someone's mild OCD than for ringing purposes.

 

Inside storage, with a nice looking Alpine:

 

 

 

Surrounded by other interesting things:

 

 

 

Outside the front entrance now and a fab Thames wrecker, which I really hope they plan to use again at some point:

 

 

 

 

Sad Kadett GSI. Thought these were GSE but I guess they had swapped over by then to keep in line with others marketing 'i' models.

 

 

 

Forgotten I'd photographed this last time but the paint job looks pleasingly period, so I took it again. Looks to have remained pretty much the same as before.

 

 

 

 

 

This Escort was still on the road in 2011, according to the rego in the window. These weren't sold here but seem to have been a common UK import, back in the day. There was a Mk4 version just behind it.

 

 

 

 

Nice pair of bulbous Austins for Dicky. Larger one is a home built ute, I'd guess.

 

 

 

Datsun (or Prince?) and Toyota were no doubt put together since they're Japanese. A couple more milling about, too.

 

 

 

Couple of Frenchies and the Marina TC I'd seen in 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw this and though it was a rare Singer SM1500

 

 

But it had a Hunter badge on the front, so obviously Rootes decided to use the gawky styling on more than just one model.

 

 

 

[insert rusty Vauxhall quip]

 

 

 

Alright, fish-face?

 

 

 

Lowlight in the Minor corner

 

 

 

General detritus. Slightly funny framing to knock out something more modern in foreground, as I liked the fact that this was almost timeless.

 

 

 

Love the grille

 

 

 

 

GR8 pour la pre-soixante huit

 

 

 

Early script on Maxi - does this mean cable change?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had taken a similar shot before but never explored down in the pit. However, despite Mrs_Jon sat waiting patiently for me in the car, I thought I'd give it a try...

[mercrocker]

GR8 as usual!   The Singer Hunter was a development of the SM1500 and was one of the first cars to use GRP for some of the panels.  Those Austin utes are both A70s - one a Hampshire and t'other a later Hereford.  Judging by the cargo bodies they could well be home built or local derivatives  -  There were A70 Hereford pick ups but these had full steel styled bodies.  I thought Maxi cable changes had gone by 1750 engines but might be wrong - never took a lot of notice of them new!   An MM Minor in that sound shape would be well saved over here....Like this place.  A lot.

[Noel Tidybeard]

want pitchers of renner 12s

[mouseflakes]

Had taken a similar shot before but never explored down in the pit...I thought I'd give it a try...

 

Exciting!

[Jon]

want pitchers of renner 12s

 

Soz Frank, they were pretty much unchanged from the first time I visited, so I didn't bother. I think they were in my first post on this thread though.

 

 

Exciting!

 

You forgot the asterisk, Mouseflakes!

 

 

 

Cheers to Mercrocker for identifying the EK Holden earlier on. Here's another fine example, slowly making its way down in to the pit:

 

 

 

 

Turns out that the 'pit' had a rich seam of utes, both factory jobs and home built efforts. Here's one of the latter, which is actually the supposedly white ute I couldn't identify from afar on my last visit.

 

 

Clearly a bit of effort has gone in to converting this Super Minx. I wonder when it was done?

 

 

 

Rare Standard 4WS.

 

 

 

The stainless section at the bottom of the rear wheel arch makes me want to say Vauxhall Cresta. Anyone any better ideas?

 

 

 

Austin A40 and a factory model, I think. BMC lickers tell me otherwise!

 

 

 

If this goggle-eyed Bedford had been covered in a dusting of snow, I reckon it'd make a nice Christmas card scene. Not sure the recipients would be that impressed, though.

 

 

There were quite a few cars down there, too:

 

 

 

Then I went and looked at a lot of wheels:

 

 

 

Have a half-arsed-attempt-at-a-screen-saver on me:

 

 

 

Then a quick look round the concealed bit of the yard that holds mostly modern-ish Euros, including this very sad sight:

 

 

Looks like it's in there for panel damage issues, rather than rust. Looks like a late model (1986, perhaps) judging by the plate. And as if that wasn't bad enough, it was a Volumex, too.

 

 

 

 

Then I found only the second Visa I've seen over here that I don't own. Nice and tastefully* modified. Took a look at the doors and they're surprisingly solid, unlike mine. I wouldn't want to guess how much it'd cost to get them, though. Plus, take a look at those shitty printed circuits in the light unit - I've had to bodge mine to keep the currents flowing.

 

 

I also discovered that if I ever lose one of my wheel arch skirts, an artfully crafted stuffed vinyl sausage is a suitable substitute. Enjoy what you can see of the port hole Charade - the cars are so packed in that I couldn't get a better shot. Haven't replaced my wide angle lens yet.

 

 

 

Some considerate rat enthusiast has piled these seats up in the corner of a shed. 

 

 

 

Aussie Farina. I like these full width grilles.

 

 

I went into uncharted territory again, finding a corner I'd not previously explored. On the way, I passed that unidentifiable wagon from my first visit, with a Skoda plonked on top of it. I couldn't get any nearer to it at any other angle and I couldn't see anything specific that would give the game away, so it's still a mystery wagon.

 

 

This is the only Mini that I can remember seeing. Strange, as they sold well over here, judging by the number I've spotted on the roads. Still plenty rolling on 10" rims, too. That's a Valiant AP5 on top.

 

 

 

I reckon these J-type Bedfords would make a cool (and heavy) camper. Shame I missed out on a local one when a factory sold off their old fire truck for $500 - that's £250, or thereabouts. Aaaargh!

 

 

 

Karrier?

 

 

 

 

Here's a series 1 Nissan Patrol. They sold these from the mid-60's until 1980, when the model direction changed from a utilitarian tool to something worthy of featuring in a WHAM! video (Last Christmas).

 

 

 

This looked like a Standard Vanguard wagon but I thought the rear door looked a bit odd, like it had a one piece door where there should be two. 

 

 

 

Here's the front. Looks like my mystery wagon theory was wrong - it's clearly a Vanguard.

 

 

 

And here's a saloon right opposite. That'll do for now.

[Rusty Pelican]

WOW , Im moving there

[mercrocker]

I think it was Mash who correctly guessed the mystery wagon Skoda support as an A95 Westminster countryman, but it could also be a Morris Marshal variant (unique to Antipodes...) The Aussie Farina is an Austin Freeway with again a unique to down under 6 pot "Blue Flash" engine - Want!   The Bedford lorry is actually a very similar styled Austin K2.   The Vanguard pick up (Phase III) looks to be factory but I have not come across Super Minx utes before - interesting choice of vehicle but I guess the estate version would convert well.   Keep em coming, this is fantastic!

[STUNO]

Superb jon.  I got to the pic of that Vanguard estate and also could not work out the rear door, I have only seen them with 2 doors. It's hard to say but there may be the remains of some filler at the top left corner.

mercrocker. AFAIK the Morris Marshall did not come to NZ, we got the Austin. Sorry to say but I have already owned the Wolseley version of the Freeway ! badged as Wolseley 24/80 .I traded it for a new Mini K in 1970. ( mini K. Aussie version with wind-up windows and quarterlights  plus an 1100 engine and hydrolastic )

Can that yellow mini be sold on as "always kept garaged, or is the Chrysler trying to consume some steel to repair itself.

The goggle eyed Bedford is shouting Austin at me.

As you said over coffee this morning that Visa looks to be fairly solid so it may well be worth a look at in the spring. Those doors look solid.

[Spiny Norman]

Fantastic shots Jon, I could happily wander round places like that all day.

[Jon]

Cheers for the IDs lads, I'll play the youthfulness card and say that's why I can't always name these things correctly!

 

 

And Spiny, I'm right with you on that one - I could've spent far longer wandering round there, were it not for the bored missus sitting in the car. There's only so much Sudoku one woman can take as entertainment. Just as I'd finished taking photos in my last post, I walked up to her car and she thought I was ready to go; actually I was only letting her know I'd finished in the first yard and was off to the second! This meant I had to compromise, so I was given a curfew of half an hour (I'd wasted almost 2hrs in the first bit), so had a quick zip round.

 

Sadly, I missed out a few rows of mostly British stuff, like Hunters and Vivas, etc. but it didn't look to have changed much since the last visit, anyway. Let's start off with a Subaru:

 

 

 

Judging by the green paint underneath, I think this is an earlier SIII trying to bely its years and look like a late County model instead. Nice try, though.

 

 

 

When was the last time you saw a Series 1 in a scrappie? RP plate is a re-issue from the early 90's, so it's probably not been there as long as you'd think.

 

 

 

The following few are for STUNO - MK3 Granada!

 

 

Quite rare as a 2.4? Or if you fancy a natty spoiler for your BX, choose from these two:

 

 

Both 19TRS models. Cleared space in background and modern dross is a sign of future expansion.

 

 

 

 

Another Frency, this one with scissor front doors.

 

 

 

 

These double doors welded shut with a single window mod were a really common practise on CF campers, it seems. I don't get it personally, even if there is a bed stuck sideways against the back doors.

 

 

PRO TIP: an oil drum is a useful jack substitute when propping a van up on grass.

 

 

 

I'd like to think this 125 skidded in to its resting place, then promptly expired.

 

 

 

 

The ground around these two was soft, so I had to TREAD carefully but I never TYRE of looking at old cars. Puns.

 

 

 

Back to commercial corner now and I've still yet to see one of these early Econovans on the road. It's a rebadged Mazda E1600; I spotted a ute one in the south island in April but it's not a van, so doesn't count. Tiny rear drums are to accomodate equally tiny dual rear wheels, so offering a flat loading floor with no wheel arch intrusions, according to Spottedlaurel.

 

 

 

 

Saw this Transit last time but it's just too photogenic, so here it is again.

 

 

 

Transits and Bedfords as far as the eye can see (if you're myopic)

 

 

 

Seeing this epic Pig nose brown beauty was really sad, as I'm certain it's very new to the yard. I bet this was something pretty special back in the day. Love the wide steels.

 

 

 

Instead of settling for a nice reliable 1991 Hiace like I have, this is really the type of camper van I want to build and I LOVE Mk1&2 Transits, so had to take a closer look. Check out the custom padded dash!

 

 

 

Moving to the rear, I braved the mustiness and got a shot of the brown and beige padded interior. It was a really neat install for the time, I reckon.

 

 

 

Beige side action flash and ominous tide mark-esque black stripe finish off the effect well. If this had worn plates still, I reckon I'd have made enquiries...

 

 

 

The name on the side must refer to its aerodynamics.

 

 

 

I was going to break my curfew and carry on looking round but sadly, the sole of one of my walking boots decide to completely part company with the rest of the boot just round the corner from the Thames. I only bought them in 1998, FFS.

 

 

I passed the Escorts on the way out, so I guess it'd be rude not to:

 

 

 

 

 

And a couple of Cortinas:

 

 

 

Then I grabbed a shot of the Sheerline and something else which had been cut down, parked outside the entrance. How decadent must a gold Sheerline have been back in the day?!

 

 

 

So, that's ya lot for now. I'm not sure if many people are particularly interested in this thread, though admittedly plenty of people have posted up pics of Horopito all over the place and I'm still going to take pictures anyway, so will probably update again next time. It may not take 3 years to go back though, as STUNO mentioned that he's still not visited! You're retired man, what else is so important?!

[STUNO]

Must be faster than 3 years ! I said this morning that I needed a rear wiper switch for the BX, and there are at least 2 at that place. I wonder if they have a Camira with a solid floor too.

[fotorabia]

The yellow Mini under the Valiant AP6 is from the movie Goodbye Pork Pie....

 

Ive sat in the original...

[Jon]

The yellow Mini under the Valiant AP6 is from the movie Goodbye Pork Pie....

 

 

Long time no hear, Rab! How's Berlin treating you? Are you just guessing about that Mini, or do you know it played a part in the film? Released the same year as Smash Palace I think (1981) and I'm sure there's a scene where they get chased through National Park, so it's feasible I guess. Must watch the film again, it's been a while.

[sheffcortinacentre]

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