New Zealand Built Cars

EricW · Post by **EricW** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 6:58 pm

The car you are referring to was the "Heron M1" I think that it was in fact
a small production car, I do not believe that it was ever available as a
kit.

It was developed by Baker Bros in Rotorua. They were a motor repair outfit,
and I think, the agents for Commer Trucks

They started off by building the Heron Sports Car in the early 1960s, there
was only one of these, which Ross Baker drove in many sports car races
between about 63 & 67. I last saw it at the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1966.
It was a two seater, powered, if I recall correctly, by a rear mounted Ford
Mk 1 Cortina engine, which was considered quite "hot" in those days. I
think, and someone probably knows, that this engine was the original basis
for the Cosworth. We used to fit twin Webers, hot cams and extractors and
think we were God's gift to women.

I used to see this car daily as Baker Bros was right across the road from
where I worked. I rode in it once with a mate who was an apprentice there.

The M1 came along quite a few years later, I remember that it was marketed
in Auckland by Continental Car Services and was about $25,000 new, which in
those days was far from cheap.

I think they sold about 60 of them however. I still see the odd one about,
there is a nice yellow one around Orewa, they still look stunning.

Ok, since we are into older classic cars, here is a challenge for you, who
can tell me anything about the Gordon Keeble GT4?

Regards

Eric

tim.maggie · Post by **tim.maggie** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 7:53 pm

Eric - a Gordon Keeble???!!! even the net is a bit vauge on that one.
Fibre galss is about all I can see. T.

tim.maggie · Post by **tim.maggie** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 7:53 pm

Eric - a Gordon Keeble???!!! even the net is a bit vauge on that one.
Fibre galss is about all I can see. T.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 8:46 pm

Wow thats not a bad looking car for a sixties Brit
car. looks a bit like a Lancia Fulvia.

Glenn
--- "tim.maggie" <tim.maggie@xtra.co.nz> wrote: >
Eric - a Gordon Keeble???!!! even the net is a bit
[...]

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 8:46 pm

Wow thats not a bad looking car for a sixties Brit
car. looks a bit like a Lancia Fulvia.

Glenn
--- "tim.maggie" <tim.maggie@xtra.co.nz> wrote: >
Eric - a Gordon Keeble???!!! even the net is a bit
[...]

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 8:50 pm

Keeble...
Body by Bertone.. Engine by GM . now theres a strange mix.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 8:50 pm

Keeble...
Body by Bertone.. Engine by GM . now theres a strange mix.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:02 pm

Appears there was only 100 made. Must have performed fairly well though with
that 5.4 litre Chev Corvette V8!!
A brief history is here...
http://www.gordonkeeble.com/html/gordon-keeble.html

Grant.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:02 pm

Appears there was only 100 made. Must have performed fairly well though with
that 5.4 litre Chev Corvette V8!!
A brief history is here...
http://www.gordonkeeble.com/html/gordon-keeble.html

Grant.

Phil McArthur · Post by **Phil McArthur** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 10:11 pm

There is (or was) at least one Gordon Keebel around; I remember seeing it
driving along Greenlane Rd East towards the motorway interchange a few years
ago, having only ever seen them in magazines... a fine looking machine, a
little reminiscent of the Facel Vega around the headlights, crossed with a
Lancia Fulvia maybe.

Phil McArthur · Post by **Phil McArthur** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 10:11 pm

There is (or was) at least one Gordon Keebel around; I remember seeing it
driving along Greenlane Rd East towards the motorway interchange a few years
ago, having only ever seen them in magazines... a fine looking machine, a
little reminiscent of the Facel Vega around the headlights, crossed with a
Lancia Fulvia maybe.

Who is online