RESTORATION STORIES

Purchased from a farmer near Rotorua who had owned it for 19 years, this 1995 VS HSV Clubsport – HSV238 was a surprise Christmas present for Vicky. It was running well but needed plenty of TLC, with the interior cleaned and good conditioned front seats installed, deteriorated glass replaced, and the body receiving panel repairs and a complete new paint job.

Purchased from a barn near Morrinsville with no engine or transmission, this 1980 VB SL/E was completely stripped and rebuilt. Originally registered as a 4.2-litre, it had been recorded as a 5.0-litre 308 after being imported into New Zealand, so a rebuilt 308 V8 and Trimatic were fitted as part of the restoration.

Purchased unseen at a storage shed clear-out auction, this 1970 HT Kingswood was originally a 253 V8 automatic. A good second-hand engine and transmission were fitted, the mechanicals and wiring were tidied, rust repairs were completed, and repaired steel guards replaced the fibreglass ones.

Acquired in a swap for a VS SS, this 1995 VS Clubsport was not running and was in very rough condition. A total rebuild followed, including bodywork and fresh paint, tri-spoke wheels and the installation of manual wind-up windows.

Purchased deregistered with frontal damage, this 2002 VT Clubsport was repaired, certified and returned to the road before being enjoyed for several years and eventually sold to help fund future projects.

Purchased as a stripped-out and damaged body, this 1999 VT Clubsport R8 was repaired and rebuilt using a 2002 Senator 5.7L LS1 engine, brand new T56 Corvette gearbox, GTO front clip, red SS leather interior and factory R8 suspension.

After sitting neglected for some time, this 1992 VP Clubsport – HSV227 was rescued as a largely complete project. The rust around the rear window has now been repaired, the body has received a fresh paint job, and the remaining work is focused on completing the electrical system and finishing the restoration.

Purchased deregistered, this 1992 VP HSV Clubsport – HSV062 needed rewiring, rust repairs, mechanical work and an interior tidy-up before it could go through the re-vinning process and return to the road.

Purchased after its previous owner had moved to Australia, this 1984 VK was missing its original GM four-speed manual gearbox. A five-speed Toyota gearbox was fitted, rust around both windscreens and the boot floor was repaired, and brake work and a general tidy-up saw it return to the road with a WOF.

Purchased with fresh paint already completed, this 1990 HSV VN GTS V6 still needed plenty of finishing work. Broken interior plastics and the hood lining were replaced, rust around the windscreen was repaired, and a noisy water pump was replaced to get this New Zealand-only HSV back into good shape.

Purchased from Tauranga without an engine or transmission but otherwise mostly complete, this 1979 VB SL/E was brought back to life with a 308 V8 and Turbo 400 transmission transplanted from a rusty donor VB.

Imported into New Zealand damaged and later left exposed to the elements for several years, this VX CSV needed plenty of work to bring it back. The restoration included frontal accident repairs, interior restoration, repair certification and sourcing the correct factory alloy wheels.