Muscle Maniac

A legendary Holden Monaro from New Zealand’s storied muscle car past has been resurrected and returned to the track. Plus My Muscle Car and Auction Update

Alegendary Holden Monaro from New Zealand’s storied muscle car past has been resurrected and returned to the track in its homeland. The rescue and restoration of what appeared to be a lost cause straight out of AMC’s Out of Action section is testament to the dedication of its current owner John McKechnie. The Aucklander has ensured the survival of this fondly remembered beast from his country’s racing history.

The Team Cambridge Monaro was originally built by Kiwi saloon racer and automotive parts importer Spencer ‘Spinner’ Black in mid 1969. It was constructed for local racing star Rod Coppins from a cache of high performance parts imported a year earlier.

The Aussie coupe, like so many period racecars with cigarette backing, was a beautifullooking car. And it sounded just as superb with its full-house 327ci Chevy V8 set low-down, moved back four inches and topped with Moon manifold and a quartet of 48IDA Webers.

The car was built from a HK shell, but only ever raced with a HT clip. The original grille was a brand new item purchased through Holden spare parts, hence the reason why the central Holden badge was missing – the badge was simply never purchased!

Panels and parts were also sourced from other more sedate donor vehicles to nish the racecar’s build.

Coppins, having previously competed in the

ex-Geoghegan 1965 Mustang, was enlisted to drive the new Monaro in the 1969/70 New Zealand Saloon Car Championship. Meantime, the plan was for car owner ‘Spinner’ Black to stick with his tried and tested 1967 Camaro, with both coupes sporting the blue, white and gold of Rothmans cigarette brand Cambridge.

Coppins raced the Monaro in the rst few rounds, with teething problems preventing the stunning coupe from scoring any meaningful results. By mid-season a busy schedule had ‘Spinner’ withdraw from racing and Rod moved across to the driver’s seat of the better-sorted Team Cambridge Chevy.

The Monaro was almost immediately sold to Wellington car dealer Grady Thomson. Thomson was a spectacular driver and the Monaro really suited his amboyant driving style. He steadily improved the car over the remainder of the season and led the occasional race. Thomson scored a third and two fourth place nishes at Bay Park Raceway’s non-championship Easter meeting, against the likes of locals Coppins, Paul Fahey and John Riley, as well as the big-block Camaro of visiting Aussie Terry Allan. Camaro-mounted Coppins went on to share that ’69/’70 title with Shelby Mustang racer Red Dawson.

Thomson eventually sold the now bronze painted, 350-powered car and it appeared brie y in early 1972, with long time saloon racer John Riley at the wheel. Sporting a new yellow livery, Riley only completed practice at the Pukekohe and Bay Park saloon championship meetings. The Monaro appeared again for the 1974/’75 season, this time in the hands of George Bunce. By now the Monaro sported enormous ared guards, sheltering equally enormous wheels, and a xed rear spoiler, but was no longer competitive against much newer machinery. Bunce persisted and contested most of the season’s events.

After that the Monaro faded from circuit combat, was at some stage converted to road car duties and disappeared from public view.

Its tale was destined to have a happy ending, though.

A backyard nd, the Monaro was rescued seemingly in the nick of time by John McKechnie.

The Aucklander has lovingly restored the Monaro to its original Team Cambridge colours and speci cation, complete with proper hand nished signage and period correct American Racing Equipment rear spoiler. It has been a huge four-year undertaking, as the car had been in very poor condition when rescued.

“It will not be a garage queen; it’s a tough racecar that has survived because it was a racecar,” says McKechnie, singling out Aussie racer Paul Stubber for special mention for his input into the project.

True to his word, McKechnie returned the Monaro to the track in late 2017 at Hampton Downs, then raced it at Taupo in January. The return leg home to Auckland included a side trip to reunite the car with rst owner ‘Spinner’ Black, who eyes lit up upon seeing the old girl again.

The plan from here is for more outings in races for Historic Sports Sedans and in the Invited Allcomers class. Both feature mostly original cars.

John McKechnie we salute you.