Automotive art, New Zealand style

After looking at many individual cars, it might be time for an overview of New Zealand’s local automotive industry with an emphasis on the proud history of kit cars designed and manufactured in this country. I have been told — but am unable to verify — that during the late ’80s to early ’90s we had more homebuilt cars per head of population than anywhere else in the world. It seems feasible given our DIY mentality and the cost here of exotica at that time.

Since the mid-to-late 1950s kit cars have been sold to keen do-it-yourself enthusiasts. They have ranged in quality and content from just an unfinished body to all the parts being delivered in a box Airfix style. While you might think the gap between kit cars and factory items has widened over the decades, quality has been the big winner in the kit car field too. While they still have the twin virtues of simplicity and fun, it is unfair to lump modern kit cars in with the wobbly and roughly finished examples of yesteryear.

But before we get onto that we will start with a little history on the homebuilt-car hobby. This can be traced