Auto Channel 29

ISSUE 29 OCTOBER 2020

THE VOICE OF THE NEW ZEALAND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Check out our new look, award-winning electronic catalogue system, Navigator Pro.

WINNER 2017 MOST INNOVATIVE TRADE CATALOGUE/ E-COMMERCE SOLUTION

WINNER 2019 MOST INNOVATIVE TRADE CATALOGUE/ E-COMMERCE SOLUTION

Talk to your Repco or Appco rep for more details.

So far so good AUTO CHANNEL SURVEYED READERS RECENTLY AND ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR REQUESTS WAS TO FEATURE MORE WORKSHOP PROFILES. SO HERE WE ARE. n answer to the question “what would you like to see more of?”, Wiremu Burkhardt of Master Mechanics in Auckland’s central city, said “My workshop on your front cover”.

Well, as you asked, Wiremu — and before you ask, dear reader, it’s no good saying you want this, too. You should have said so in the survey.

As it happens, we had already done a short piece on Master Mechanics in one of our first issues. A second visit would give us an insight into how this relatively new (established 2015) small independent garage was doing in these unprecedented times.

The answer was: surprisingly well.

“Our workload has doubled over last year,” says Wiremu. He asked his accountant to see if he qualified for the Covid wage subsidy and the answer was ‘No way’!

“We’ve been flat out, especially after the first

I

Wiremu Burkhardt

lockdown,” he says. “In fact, everyone I know is flat out. Maybe it’s just starting to go back to normal now but I don’t feel like we’re in a recession.”

More space Wiemu has taken heart from the number of people still buying new internal combustion engined cars and big diesel utes.

“They are all going to need servicing and repairing for years to come,” he says.

He reasons people will still need transport in ‘the new normal’. And our reliance on cars is so strong he has been confident enough to take on another

mechanic and look at opening another garage.

It won’t be another branch as such, more of an overflow for his current premises. It will be about the same size, with room for a couple of hoists, and a dirty room for cutting, grinding, and welding. Making exhaust systems is one of Master Mechanics’ specialist subjects.

The extra space is encouraging Wiremu to think of how he’d like to reshape his business. Most of his work at present is repair work with the occasional big engine overhaul.

He’s got one of those in the workshop at present, and it has tied up one of his hoists for quite a while.

He’s keen for those jobs to go to the other workshop,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

ONE STEP PERMANENT

COOLANT LEAK REPAIR

NO DRAINING/NO FLUSHING SEALS HOLES/CRACKS – JUST POUR & GO KSEAL.COM

1

Win a Weber 1000 BabyQ! Every $250 spent will automatically give you one entry into the draw.

15 PRIZES NATIONALL Y!

Hurry - offer ends 31 October!

For full terms and conditions visit napa.co.nz

Offer only valid for Appco, Ashdown-Ingram, ASL, Bindons, NAPA Auto Parts and Sulco account holders. Pictures are for illustration purposes only. GPC Asia Pacific reserves the right to correct pricing where printing errors have occurred. BBQ image for illustration purpose only and may differ slightly. Copyright Š 2020 GPC Asia Pacific Company No. 1158404

Contents

From the Ed.

28 Workshop masterplan

Cover / 4

Investing in the best

7

Ford prepares for PHEVs

8

Auto parts for Euros

10

Best of both worlds brake lathe

14

Accelerating EV policies

16

Reader survey results

18

R&J Batteries expands

20

Car News

24

A good Chevelle gets better

28

Tech Feature: Build a sprint boat

34

Product profiles

40

Directory listing

44

This month we share the results of a reader survey and we were pleased to get two different positive messages from it. Firstly and most importantly, the automotive trade in general has a more positive outlook about its own business prospects than other sectors of the business community.

The vast majority of respondents are in workshops. While some think things will get worse for them over the next 12 months, it’s a smaller number than for business at large.

One of the survey respondents, Auckland’s Master Mechanics, features on our cover for a couple of reasons. We wanted to accept the challenge in the company’s survey response; the business is one of the majority that is taking a positive approach to the challenges of 2020, and the team share some of the tips that have worked for them.

I’d also like to thank those people who responded to the survey, which showed we are on the right track with this magazine — that was the other bit of good news — and for telling us what works for you, so we can do more of that!

Ian Parkes, Editor

16

Auto Channel is distributed 11 times per year.

To receive your free copy or to change your address simply visit autochannel.co.nz.

3

freeing up the space in the Upper Queen St workshop for faster turnover work. He is keen to do more regular servicing and has just bought a new wheel balancer to fill out that scope of work.

Customers working in the city like the convenience of being able to drop the car off in town. Having more space to park cars will be another bonus of the extra workshop.

Most of the cars coming through the door are around 10 years old and mostly European. VW Golfs would be the most common, he says. They are quieter, more powerful, and more sophisticated than Japanese equivalents but they are more complex.

“There is so much more to them that the opportunity for stuff to go wrong is there,” he says.

“We love them.”

Heritage building The Master Mechanics workshop has a boutique appeal that is well suited to its location in the city, right at the top of Auckland’s Queen St. The building itself is almost a local icon. It has been involved in transport for around a hundred years or so. It used to be a stables and it was a mechanical workshop for about 40 years. The building sat empty and Wiremu, who lived virtually over the road, thought it would be an ideal place to set up.

He was keen to buy it. It sold to someone else in 2015, but the new owner needed a tenant so Wiremu, who had already been buying and storing tools and equipment, had his new workshop up and running within weeks.

The outside is painted a distinctive heritage grey.

“It’s Shark Grey,” says Wiremu. “I like sharks. I’ve probably had a hundred people come in and ask me what colour it is.”

The logo and signage are also classic and understated, and the black and white branded T-shirts the staff wear are simply classier than the usual primary colours favoured by car dealerships.

Wiremu went to a professional designer and it shows. He has created a look that appeals to the

more image-conscious customers you find in the central city. Peer inside and a wall of plants, lit by natural daylight from clerestory windows, makes it a much more welcoming place than most workshops.

However, the look is not just for style meisters, says Wiremu. It appeals to everybody. He says creating a welcoming space and giving customers a good experience should be a no-brainer.

“Most workshops never think about this but if your workshop looks like a disaster zone it doesn’t matter if you are the world’s best mechanic.”

Copycat design Wiremu’s branding is so cool and well judged that someone from Europe emailed him and announced he was going to copy it exactly. Then he did it and sent pictures.

“All he did was change the date to when he started his business. So weird!”

Wiremu has trademark protection but it only applies in New Zealand. Still, it shows he’s hit on something with universal appeal.

Master Mechanics doesn’t get a lot of walk-in business, unless you count the people who have driven past for a couple of years before deciding to give it a go. Most are regular customers, or people who have been referred by word of mouth.

Wiremu is big on relationships. He also gets a few performance cars to work on and has a nice little sideline in preparing modified cars for certification.

He says that has come from running his own cars at track days, although none of them are signwritten with his business. That business has just come through word of mouth.

The engine overhaul on the SR5 Hilux came about that way. The owners had been given a quote by another garage on the outskirts of town but were looking for someone they could trust. They were referred by one of Wiremu’s customers.

“You’ve always got to deliver and give customers more than they expect,” Wiremu explains. “All of the elements have got to add up to do that.”

AUTO CHANNEL IS DISTRIBUTED TO 11,298 NEW ZEALAND BUSINESSES

ONLINE autochannel.co.nz EMAIL editor@autochannel.co.nz PHONE 09 360 1480 MAIL PO Box 46020, Herne Bay, Auckland 1147

EDITOR Ian Parkes, editor@autochannel.co.nz DESIGNER Day Barnes, Henry Khov PHOTOGRAPHER Adam Croy MEDIA SALES Mike White, michael.white@parkside.co.nz ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Renae Fisher

AUTO CHANNEL IS PUBLISHED BY

PUBLISHER

Greg Vincent, greg.vincent@parkside.co.nz

BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Michael White, michael.white@parkside.co.nz

GENERAL MANAGER

Simon Holloway, simon.holloway@parkside.co.nz

CONTENT DIRECTOR Isobel Simmons PRINTING Ovato

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS Parkside Media uses due care and diligence in the preparation of this magazine, but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes, misprints, omissions, or typographical errors. Parkside Media prints advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warranty and makes no representation to the truth, accuracy, or sufficiency of any description, photograph, or statement. Parkside Media accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph, or statement contained herein. Parkside Media reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Parkside Media, the publisher, or editor. All material published, gathered, or created for Auto Channel is copyright 2019 Parkside Media Limited. All rights reserved in all media. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the publisher.

Auto Channel is the best way to reach the wider automotive industry. The publication is direct mailed to 11,298 New Zealand businesses in the following automotive sectors:

Leo Tan, Wiremu Burkhardt, Ryan Bingley, and Mikey Standish

4

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

Automotive workshops, parts importers and distributors, transmission specialists, automotive recyclers, towing operators, panel beaters and painters, crash repairers, tyre dealers, suspension and underbody repairers, steering specialists, towing operators, auto-electrical repairers, newand used-car dealers, air-conditioning repairers, heavy-machinery dealers, trucking and transport

Eliminate the Guesswork

Take Charge and make the right choice!

Century Yuasa’s Battery Look Up system will help to ‘future proof’ your business by providing a complete battery finder and fitment solution. The system allows users to easily identify vehicles using a registration search, presents the battery replacement options for that vehicle and then provides an estimated battery fitment time to replace it. But more importantly, it provides you with detailed fitment instructions to ensure the battery will be installed correctly.

Call to find out more about how you can benefit.

0800 93 93 93 | centurybatteries.co.nz CB123-2888

Getting to grips with radiator sealant THERE ARE A LOT OF RADIATOR STOP-LEAK PRODUCTS OUT THERE, BUT WHICH ONES ACTUALLY WORK? -Seal was so confident its product was superior that it sent it off to Brighton University for testing against a stringent US standard.

Originally developed in the UK, and now manufactured in the US, millions of bottles have been sold worldwide.

Brighton University tested K-Seal to ensure that it meets the US’s ASTM D3147 standard for Stop-Leak Additives for Engine Coolants.

The university’s engineering team reported: “The test data shows that K-Seal is capable of sealing 0.635mm diameter holes and 0.254mm wide by 12.7mm long slots satisfactorily in accordance with ASTM D3147.”

Testing also demonstrated that K-Seal sealed leaks in test conditions 100 per cent of the time — and that K-Seal could pass through a 0.85mm sieve without clogging or gumming the gaps. Further, the researchers found that K-Seal was more effective — by a significant margin — at sealing large and small holes than the nearest competitor.

K-Seal was introduced to New Zealand a couple of years ago. Its local distributor, Griffiths Equipment Ltd, describes it as a one-step leak repairer.

Griffiths Equipment national sales manager Tim Paterson says: “Just shake, pour, and go. No

K

need to drain or flush the system, and no need to worry about what type of antifreeze or coolant is in the cooling system.

“We’ve been amazed at the effectiveness of K-Seal in stopping what some people may consider serious leaks. It is proving to be a very popular and reliable leak fixer in the New Zealand market.”

It also impressed UK trade magazine Professional Motor Mechanic enough to award it top product status two years in a row.

the cooling system and engine, cures the relevant K-Seal formula compounds. This explains how K-Seal is able to repair head-gasket failures, even when the cooling system is being over-pressurized by exhaust gases entering the system.

The standard 236ml pack of K-Seal will treat cooling systems with a capacity of 20 litres — motorbikes to light commercial — while a 472ml pack is available for larger capacity systems. K-Seal HD is also available for heavy duty or industrial plant and equipment.

For more details, contact Tim Paterson at Griffiths Equipment Ltd on 09 525 4575.

K-Seal Academy To help users and mechanics understand just how and why it works, K-Seal launched the online K-Seal training academy, explaining some relevant coolingsystem basics, cooling-system issues, the different leak-repair technologies used in different products, as well as tips on adding value to a business’s customer service.

K-Seal includes ceramic microfibres and copper particles that flow freely around the system suspended in the coolant, which then mat together in a leaking hole or crack. Exposure to either the external atmosphere or the gases within the combustion chamber, together with the heat within

NO MESS, NO FUSS, QUICK AND EFFECTIVE

HEAVY-DUTY

TEXTURED, SCRUB & CLEAN WIPES

REMOVES: PAINT ADHESIVE GAP FILL OIL

POLY FOAM GRIME SILICONE AND MORE...

FROM HANDS, TOOLS & SURFACES

Introducing the most aggressive industrial wipe made.

Hard on dirt, not on the hands!!

Griffiths Equipment Ltd. Email: sales@griffithsequipment.co.nz, Tel: +64 9 525 4575, www.griffithsequipment.co.nz

Why buy top-of-the-line?

ELSDON MOTORS IN PORIRUA ISN’T A SPECIALIST WHEEL SHOP, BUT IT HAS BOUGHT A TOP-OF-THE-LINE WHEEL BALANCER. WHY? lsdon Motors (2013) is a general automotive repair workshop that fits news tyres as part of its service offering. The business didn’t even fit tyres or balance wheels every day, so surely a basic or even a mid-range balancer would have been all it needed. And yet owner Brent Collins went for Italian brand Sice’s top-of-the-line S76EC balancer, and specified the optional run-out kit. Why? “In a word, it’s idiot-proof,” says Brent. “I wanted something that was easy for everyone to use.” In this machine, all the smarts are built-in. When you are not balancing wheels every day, it’s too easy to forget how to get the best out of lower-spec machines, says Brent. You will just find something that works for you. This top-of-the-range machine is fully automatic. You load the wheel on, and it does everything apart from attach the weights. The operator only needs to clamp the wheel by using the electro-locking pedal and close the hood. This offers another benefit over the common pneumatic or manual systems on other machines, as it won’t overtorque or lock if it detects an issue with mounting.

It will handle rims up to 32 inches in diameter.

Its upgraded hidden-weights option will split weights and position them behind spokes without the operator having to key in how many spokes the wheel has. The machine’s wheel scanner already knows, and the machine does the maths

E

says. “Italian tyre equipment is just the best.”

To find out more about Sice wheel-servicing equipment or other workshop equipment, contact Century Distributors on 04 567 1405 or see centurydistributors.co.nz.

automatically. It will stop the wheel in the right spot, highlight the attachment spot with a laser, then rotate the wheel to light up the next target.

The optional sonar run-out kit adds sensors that look at the tyre. The machine assesses any wheel deformations and recommends how far to rotate the tyre on the wheel to counteract that. Or, if a tyre is out of round, it will signal that it should be replaced. Brent says that if you balance all four tyres, the machine will then show a graphic recommending which corner each wheel should be fitted to for the best ride.

Brent has already noticed that the machine is saving him money on wheel weights.

He has selected the weight-saving programme as the default. His previous machine had recommended as much as 105g on one side of a wheel. The most he has had to apply with the new machine is 60g.

“And it’s definitely a lot quicker,” says Brent. “We’ve pushed it [wheel servicing] heaps more since we’ve had the balancer, and we don’t have guys having to wait to use it.”

That means Brent is also looking at getting a new tyre machine too. “I’m looking at going back to an Italian one,” he

FL44A

The latest Sice FL44A tyre changer.

An every day workhorse loaded with features, capable of difficult rim and tyre combinations. Built to last.

Multi-function helper arm Inside clamping: 13” - 26” Outside clamping: 11” - 24” 15,000N Bead Breaker Force Max wheel width: 1100mm CE Inflation Gun, Plastic Rim Protector Kit 3ph Power Supply.

Wheel balancers to match from $2,795 + gst

100% NZ Family Owned & Operated.

Finance & Lease options. Capricorn Supplier.

Delivery included, no hidden costs!

Save $500 $5,249 + gst www.centurydistributors.co.nz sales@centurydistributors.co.nz Ph: 04 567 1405 7

New PHEV models electrify Ford dealerships FORD NEW ZEALAND GEARS UP TO MARKET EUROPE’S BEST-SELLING PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE (PHEV), THE FORD ESCAPE PHEV, AND NEW ZEALAND’S ONLY PHEV VAN, THE TRANSIT CUSTOM head of the arrival of the all-new Ford Escape PHEVs and Transit Custom PHEVs, Ford New Zealand has partnered with Singer Group Limited to set up Ford dealerships around the country with charging stations and charging solutions for PHEV customers.

Ford will soon be offering the new Escape PHEV in two variants — the Escape FWD PHEV and the Escape FWD ST-Line X PHEV, which is sold as the ‘Kuga’ in some markets. Ford will also offer two electric Transit variants — the Transit Custom SWB PHEV van and an eight-seater, the Transit Tourneo Titanium PHEV. Ford is partnering with Singer to prepare the ground at dealerships, and to offer customers fast-charging solutions at their premises — home or business — to make the most of their vehicles’ electric mode.

A

Charging ahead Phase one of the Ford and Singer partnership is installing charging stations on-site at dealerships.

Sales and service staff also need to be trained on the PHEV technologies, how to use the chargers, and on opening conversations with customers regarding their charging options.

Ford’s first charging station has been installed at

8

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

John Andrew Ford in Auckland. Charging stations will be installed throughout the dealership network before the new PHEVs arrive.

“The new Ford Escape PHEV has already made a big impact in Europe, quickly becoming the bestselling PHEV on the continent, so we are especially excited to be prepping our dealerships for its arrival,” says Ford New Zealand managing director Simon Rutherford.

He said the Transit Custom PHEV would also be New Zealand’s first PHEV van, making it a great proposition for businesses looking to run a greener or more efficient fleet.

“Partnering with Singer for our dealer-network charging stations and customer-referral programme made great sense,” adds Rutherford. “They have a successful track record of installing chargers for both businesses and homes, and providing fantastic after-sales support. And they can work with our customers to assess the best options for them.”

Future-proofing The Singer-installed charging stations are compatible with both Type I and Type II connections. Most Ford dealerships will opt for the faster 22kW AC chargers on their forecourts, futureproofing for fully electric vehicles. The forecourt

chargers are for customer use. Most sites will also have a second charging station in the workshop to top up vehicles while they are in for servicing.

Each dealership showroom will also have a non-live charging demo unit on display. Ford’s head office will also be installing a charging station.

Singer can monitor and report on consumption as well as lock or unlock stations remotely.

“Our focus is always on the customer experience, and we want to ensure the charging process is simple and easy to use — and it is. If you can plug in a TV, you can plug in your Ford,” Rutherford says.

Ford sales and service teams will be able to refer customers to Singer for their home or business installations. Singer will conduct site assessments and manage customer installations.

For more information on Ford’s PHEVs, see ford.co.nz/suv/newescape/ or ford.co.nz/electric/transitphev/, or for the eightseater, ford.co.nz/electric/tourneophev/.

PEACE OF MIND

WITH FORD GENUINE PARTS Transit TRADE PRICE1

GETGENUINE POINTS2

PART

PART NUMBER

MODEL

Air Filter

GK219601AB

2013 onwards

$ 46

69 pts

Oil Filter

GK2Q6714AA

2013 onwards

$ 24

36 pts

Pollen Filter

BK2119G244AA

2013 onwards

$ 43

64 pts

Fuel Filter

GK219176AA

2013 onwards

$ 91

136 pts

Brake Pads, Front

BK312K021AD

2013 onwards

$ 222

333 pts

Brake Pads, Rear

BK212M008AC

2013 onwards

$ 155

232 pts

Motorcraft Brake Disc, Front

G2MZ1V125BFA

2013 onwards

$ 109

163 pts

Motorcraft Brake Disc, Rear

H2MZ2V026G

2013 onwards

$ 95

142 pts

Drive Belt

6C1Q6C301HC

2006 onwards

$ 131

196 pts

Glow Plug

BK3Q6M090AB

2006 onwards

$ 26

39 pts

Hub Seal

5C161175AA

2000 onwards

$ 46

69 pts

Motorcraft Wipers - Driver

HAMJ17528MA

2013 onwards

$ 28

42 pts

Motorcraft Wipers - Passenger

HAMJ17528LA

2013 onwards

$ 28

42 pts

Compressor and Clutch Assembly

GK2119D629BE

2013 onwards

$ 851

1276 pts

Condenser

BK2119710AB

2013 onwards

$ 574

861 pts

TRADE PRICE1

GETGENUINE POINTS2

Motorcraft Hub & Bearing PART

PART NUMBER

FRONT/REAR

APPLICATION

Bearing

J2MZ1215D

Front axle

Fiesta 2014 onwards

$ 77

Hub & Bearing

J2MZ1109A

Rear axle

Ecosport 2013 onwards

$ 270

405 pts

Bearing

J2MZ1215B

Front axle

Courier 2002 - 2007 Courier V6 2005 - 2007 Ranger 2006 - 2011

$ 166

249 pts

Hub & Bearing

J2MZ1104A

Front axle

Focus 2005 - 2011 Focus XR5 2006-2011

$ 233

349 pts

Hub & Bearing

J2MZ1109B

Rear axle

Focus 2005 - 2011 Focus XR5 2006-2011

$ 242

363 pts

Bearing

J2MZ1215A

Front axle

Focus 2012 onwards Kuga 2011 onwards

$ 96

144 pts

Hub & Bearing

J2MZ1104B

Front axle

Falcon 2008 onwards

$ 227

340 pts

115 pts

Call your local Ford dealer today 0800 FORD NZ (0800 367 369) Prices are recommended only and are net after discount and exclude GST. Recommended prices were correct at the time of printing. 2 GetGenuine reward points are awarded only to trade customers registered under the GetGenuine GetRewards Programme. Some exclusions apply. Images shown are example parts only. For full warranty terms and conditions ask your authorised Ford Dealer. Promotion ends 31 October 2020.

1

Unsung heroes SHINING A LIGHT ON THE LESSER-KNOWN AFTERMARKET PARTS BRANDS FOR EUROPEAN CARS ome parts and aftermarket manufacturers’ brands are almost as well known as the carmakers they support, while others are barely recognized.

One of New Zealand’s largest aftermarket parts distributors, Bapcor, supplies thousands of aftermarket items through its trade-focused BNT and Autolign branch networks. Whether those manufacturers’ brand names make it into advertising or promotional material depends on a number of factors.

Some parts manufacturers, such as Brembo brakes, are well known and their brand strength is an asset in marketing those products. However, the sheer number of products and parts suppliers in some product areas, like suspension parts, makes other types of promotion more effective.

Product manager Kris Taunt says that reasoning is even stronger in New Zealand, where the car parc is so diverse.

However, he was happy to take this chance to highlight two of BNT’s suppliers that specialize in manufacturing aftermarket steering and suspension parts for European cars. BNT has dealt with Chassis Technology Europe (CTE) for about 20 years, and Sidem for about 15.

CTE is a Taiwanese manufacturer of suspension control arms and bushes, rack ends, tie-rod ends, and some braking kits. It might be better known to some as ‘CCYS’, its brand name for parts for Asian cars. CTE’s products for European cars, and some US models like Teslas, are branded CTE. The company says that each new item it produces goes through one million cycles in a fatigue test.

As you would expect, Belgium-based Sidem has extensive coverage of European cars, offering

S

10

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

steering-related products, including ball joints, tie rods and tie rod ends, sway bars, rack gaiters, track control arms, and bushes.

Sidem has been in business for more than 80 years. It is one of the oldest manufacturers of chassis parts and now the leading manufacturer in its field. It has opened new factories in Hungary and Romania, and has developed and patented products which offer improvements over original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.

“They offer a good range, good quality, and good prices, which are all the things you want from a supplier,” says Kris.

Both CTE and Sidem are getting a rare outing this month, as BNT is featuring its product offering for European vehicles. Some of the better known brands it is promoting include Brembo brake parts, Varta batteries, and Fuchs oils. Others include ClutchPro clutches, Bendix Euro brake-pad kits, Dayco timing kits and water pumps, Ultra Torque alternators and starters, Hengst filters, and CTE and Sidem steering and suspension parts.

See bntnz.co.nz for more on BNT’s product range for European cars and for store locations.

Automaster Equipment meets Kiwi workshops’ wheel needs AUTOMASTER’S BROAD RANGE OF HOME-BRAND TYRE MACHINES AND WHEEL BALANCERS IS GEARED TO NEW ZEALAND’S GENERALIST AND SPECIALIST WORKSHOP NEEDS utomaster has been in the workshop equipment business for more than 15 years and has built up a detailed knowledge of what works here, what workshops want in tyre equipment, and where the value sweet spot lies — and how that is changing over time.

Automaster’s Gary Cotterell says that workshops here tend to value simpler machines that offer more robust performance, compared with those in overseas markets which update equipment more frequently. Gary says that many of the first machines it sold are still in daily use. “Reliability is key — but also access to fast support and service if required,� says Gary.

But buyers are now adding new technology to the list, he says. Smarts such as sensors on balancers that recognize wheel sizes, and helper arms on tyre machines that make the job faster and safer for both operators and rims, are more popular than ever.

Gary says Automaster offers two ranges of equipment, standard and Pro Series, for both car

A

10- to 24-inch wheels and can have optional lowprofile helper arms attached to it. Together with the AM-412 Pro Series wheel balancer ($2990 plus GST), it is Automaster’s most popular combo.

Automaster is also the New Zealand distributor and technical support for premium Italian Corghi tyre-service equipment.

For more product info, photos, and videos visit, automaster.co.nz, phone 0800Â 214Â 604, or email info@automaster.co.nz.

and truck wheels, that are designed to meet and anticipate New Zealand workshops’ demand.

There has never been a better time to buy.

Thanks to a new Covid-19 tax break, businesses can now deduct 100 per cent of new gear costing up to $5K in a short-term post-Covid tax break. For one year only, businesses can deduct the full cost up to that limit, which means that the purchase of any equipment under $5K can be fully depreciated in the first year.

Automaster’s standard range offers reliable quality at keen prices for mechanical workshops that also do tyres. It offers balancer and tyrechanger combos starting at just $3995 plus GST. Automaster’s Pro Series range offers heavy-duty, fully featured equipment backed up with two-year parts and labour warranties. Based on Automaster’s experience, they are specified with the top-quality motors, cylinders, oilers, clamps, and accessories necessary for high-demand workloads.

The Automaster Pro Series AM-203IT tyre changer ($3795 plus GST), for example, can handle

AUTO EQUIPMENT BUILT TO PERFORM IF YOU’RE HUNGRY FOR QUALITY, WE DELIVER :H RIIHU SUHPLXP (XURSHDQ SURGXFWV IURP &RUJKL 9DPDJ 0$+$ DORQJ ZLWK .RUHDQ PDGH OLIWV IURP 3RZHUUH[ 3OXV KLJK VSHF &KLQHVH SURGXFWV LQFOXGLQJ $XWRPDVWHU 3HDN :KDWHYHU \RXU UHTXLUHPHQWV ZH KDYH VRPHWKLQJ WR VXLW \RXU QHHGV EXGJHW *Delivery, installation and GST not included

G R E AT D E A L S - S U P R E M E S E R V I C E - H U G E R A N G E

3UHPLXP .RUHDQ PDQXIDFWXUHG 6FLVVRU OLIW ZLWK NJ FDSDFLW\ 2Q RU ,Q JURXQG LQVWDOODWLRQ RU SKDVH

3UHPLXP .RUHDQ PDQXIDFWXUHG SRVW OLIWV LQ NJ FDSDFLW\

6/ 6/ 0HFKDQLFDO OHYHU ORFN UHOHDVH RU HOHFWULF ORFNV ZLWK EXWWRQ FRQWURO ER[ LQFO GLUHFW GRZQ UHPRWH FRQWURO 6WDQGDUG RU UDWFKHW IHHW

3UHPLXP .RUHDQ PDQXIDFWXUHG SRVW OLIWV LQ 7 7 FDSDFLW\ 6WDQGDUG RU DOLJQPHQW RSWLRQV ,QFOXGH WZR MDFNLQJ EHDPV EXWWRQ UHPRWH FRQWURO

)520 6,795

6SHFLDO

OUR VICE-GRIP GUARANTEE NO DEPOSIT LEASE-TO-OWN TERMS

AUTOMASTER SERVICE GUARANTEE

IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY, WE REPLACE OR REFUND IN FULL.

12-60 MONTH OPTIONS AVAILABLE

WWW.AUTOMASTER.CO.NZ 21 Aetna Place, Henderson, Akl 6 Gerald Connolly Place, Hornby,Chch Call toll-free: 0800 214 604 / Email: info@automaster.co.nz PATCH RUBBER TYRE AND TUBE Everything for the tyre dealer

www.patchrubber.co.nz

)520 $ *

Simply better steering and suspension parts LOW-QUALITY PARTS ARE MORE TROUBLE THAN THEY ARE WORTH. AVOID THE FRUSTRATION BY CHOOSING TECHNICALLY SUPERIOR PARTS sing good-quality parts is key to the smooth running of any workshop, says All Euro Parts’ Auric Mirfin. He says poorly conceived technology in some vehicles’ production parts, along with complicated installation and removal processes, often leads to frustration and delays for mechanics and workshop owners.

Based on his over 30 years of experience in servicing European cars, Auric knows that he can’t go wrong with Meyle products for almost all aspects of chassis and steering. Going by his and his company’s extensive experience, he explains that Meyle-HD parts are technically better than the original-equipment counterparts and simply last longer: “Cleverly designed, award-winning Meyle kits also save time and money in the workshop.”

U

The Meyle-HD control-arm range has been designed to meet the highest quality standards for the high weight load on European vehicles. The increased ball-pin diameter of the Meyle-HD ball pin reduces the surface pressure and thus wear and tear.

The heat-treated ball pin can withstand forces over a longer period of time, preventing premature failure.

also designed for a long service life, and a newly designed plastic seat ensures an optimal fit.

Meyle’s full rubber bushings have also been designed to exceed OE standards. Standard OE bushing design comes with a risk of hydro fluid leakage out of the hydro mount, causing a shorter part lifetime and premature failure. It can also cause steering vibrations and impaired driver safety. New and improved Meyle HD bushings offer full rubber bushing with an optimized rubber shape and a larger bonding surface. This new design eliminates the risk of leakage, giving the bushing a significantly longer service life.

Meyle’s team is so confident in the quality of its HD range that it offers a four-year warranty on all HD parts. Auric says that this must be one of the best warranties available in the aftermarket, offering workshops peace of mind.

For more information on Meyle’s range, contact All Euro Parts on 0800 255 387 or see alleuroparts.co.nz.

Meyle-HD ball joint (right) has heat-treated larger diameter ball and high-tech grease

During the re-engineering process, Meyle focused on more than just the ball pin’s function. The ball pin has been made even more resistant to friction and wear with a special inductive heat treatment.

The Meyle high-performance grease used is

alleuroparts

Hydro bushings (left) risk leaks. Full rubber Meyle-HD bushings offer long service life

64 Hamatana Road Snails Beach 0820 Auckland

Phone 111B111111 255 3B7 parts@lalleuraparts.ca.nz www.alleuraparts.ca.nz

13

Pro-Cut B17 bench lathe ramps up brake service and convenience THE NEW B17 FROM PRO-CUT DELIVERS THE ADVANTAGES OF ONCAR LATHES WITH THE VERSATILITY OF A BENCH LATHE echanics have been refinishing drum brakes with bench lathes for around a hundred years. The advent of disc brakes saw a lot of workshops opt for on-car machines, which can be rolled out of the workshop, saving space, when not needed.

The new lathe from Pro-Cut, one of the leaders in on-car lathe technology, combines the benefits of both approaches as well as modern direct-drive technology and programming smarts in its new ‘super-bench’ B17.

The bench-height lathe sits on a rolling cabinet so it can be stored out of the workshop space and brought in when needed.

M

Fast pivot It features a pivot plate that brings either the two cutting heads for discs or the single cutter for drums into position just by rotating it 90 degrees. An indicator light illuminates when it is ready. All settings can be made without tools. Everything is adjustable and lockable by hand using built-in levers. The B17 is also a ‘smart’ lathe, making use of the direct-drive motor to ensure that spindle speed and feed rate are matched and electronically controlled. It does without the need to change belts to gear down fixed-speed motors, as required on older-generation lathes. An electronic monitoring system tracks run times and records the number of cuts performed.

Pro-Cut says the result is a fresh take on bench-mounted brake lathes, combining Pro-Cut’s decades of experience developing on-car machining technology with the latest digital technology. A smooth and powerful DC (direct current) motor provides quiet operation, great torque, and delivers better-than-OE-spec surface finishes.

It takes just two seconds to rotate and lock the pivot plate between the twin-cutter head for discs and the single cutter for drums. Even smarter, the feed-direction servo motors are automatically switched, so there is no further set-up required by the technician, saving time and aggravation.

The user has control over the feed and speed, but Pro-Cut has tuned the two relative to each other, based on keeping the final surface finish roughness average (Ra) within OE specs. This means the technician will achieve an Ra of better than 100 out of the box, and selecting slower feed speeds means the rotor finish will just get smoother.

14

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

Simple controls Pro-Cut’s latest generation command module has condensed all user controls into just two knobs and two buttons for all functions, while its memory also tracks the numbers of discs and drums machined and provides maintenance alerts.

The unit also features a ringlight around the arbour — a first for a bench lathe — which floods the inside of the drum or the disc with shadowless light, making the process safer and more efficient. A flexible gooseneck LED lamp lights the outside face of the rotor.

Roll-away convenience The B17 disc-and-drum brake lathe is mounted on a heavy-duty roll cabinet so that the whole unit can be stored until needed. The cabinet has three drawers. The first holds brake service tools, the second cones and adaptors in foam inlays; this makes it harder to misplace them and means they won’t be dropped or damaged, as can happen with traditional pegboard storage. The deep third drawer is extra storage.

Locking wheels hold the workstation in place, while its mobility allows for easy clean-up around the lathe. The B17 Super Bench promises to be a superior alternative to older designs and makes machining discs and drums fast, affordable, and therefore profitable.

For more information on the B17 Super Bench, available soon, contact Repco, Appco, or Napa Auto Parts stores.

P² cutting head in disc mode

P² cutting head in drum mode

PREM IUM OILS

ENGI N EERED FOR PERFORMANCE

THE CREATORS OF:

19375050 Dexos2® 5W-30

19375066 Dexos1® Gen2 5W-30

19375069 Dexos2® Premium HP 5W-40

Get the edge over your competition with ACDelco’s new range of Premium Oil

10

OI

L F I LT E R

S

B

U N O S

Receive 10 BONUS* ACDelco Premium Oil Filters with every 40 Litres of ACDelco Premium Oil purchased in a single transaction.

Part No.

Ref No.

Vehicle Application

AC024

19266374

Avalon, Camry, HiAce, HiLux, Landcruiser, Prado, Tarago

AC07

19266413

Mazda3, Mazda6, Excel, Getz, i20, i30, i45, iLoad, iMax, Santa Fe, Terracan

AC073

19266417

Laser, 323, 626, MX5, Lancer, Outlander, Pulsar, X-Trail

AC028

19266378

Courier, Bravo, 626, MX6, Magna, 380, Impreza, Legacy, Liberty

AC022

19266372

Camry, Corolla, Echo, RAV4, Yaris, MR2, Apollo, Charade

*Your BONUS 10 Oil Filters consists of: 2 x AC024, 2 x AC07, 2 x AC073, 2 x AC028, 2 x AC022.

Offer valid until 30/11/2020

Available from: Your local Holden & GM Trade Parts Outlet

www.gmtradeparts.co.nz

15

Government encouraged to accelerate EV take-up DRIVE ELECTRIC SAYS THE NEXT GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO MORE TO REACH ELECTRIC VEHICLE TARGETS rive Electric, a not-for-profit organization wanting to make electric vehicle (EV) ownership in New Zealand mainstream, believes both National and Labour need to work with industry to encourage faster conversion.

“To meet New Zealand’s legislated climate ambitions, our analysis shows we need to see at least 250,000 new EVs on the roads by 2025, and for this trend to continue through to 2030,” says Drive Electric chair Mark Gilbert.

“What we really need in New Zealand is an ambitious bipartisan roadmap to decarbonize the light fleet in line with the Zero Carbon Act, detailed in a New Zealand Motor Industry Plan.” He says the light vehicle fleet constitutes more than 90 per cent of the travel on New Zealand roads, and is a growing component of our nation’s emissions. “We can’t leave a transition to chance.

“New Zealand is a taker of automotive technology, and the future of light vehicles worldwide is carbonfree. Unless we have a consistent policy roadmap that deliberately moves New Zealand towards EVs, we will lock in the importation of second-hand fossil-fuel-powered cars.”

D

Tick for tax incentives “Without actively encouraging consumers to switch to EVs through tax or other incentives, a clean car standard makes it more likely New Zealanders will buy cheap, second-hand petrol cars exported from Japan or the UK, instead of EVs,” he says.

Gilbert congratulated the National Party for specifying a target of 80,000 EVs on the roads by 2023 and said the proposal to waive fringe-benefit tax for fleet purchasers was “a real step forward”.

“NZTA data for 2019 shows that almost 60 per cent of new passenger cars were bought by companies,” says Gilbert.

16

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

A submission by Auckland Regional Public Health to the previous National Government said incentivizing fleet purchasers, who change cars quite frequently, would deliver more and newer second-hand EV cars to New Zealanders, helping overcome the purchase-price hurdle. It would also displace internal-combustion-engine cars currently on the road every day in fleet use.

Cross for EVs in bus lanes However, the submission criticized National’s plans — revived in the new policy announcement — to allow electric cars in bus lanes, which was also opposed by councils managing bus lanes.

Auckland Transport analysis showed that EVs in bus lanes would slow traffic, not just in the bus lanes but also in normal traffic lanes as drivers cut in and out around buses. Research in Europe showed the policy only encouraged buyers who lived on bus

routes to switch and didn’t displace other vehicles as planned. Generally, more affluent people took up the option and they tended to pass on their internal-combustion-engine cars to others in the family, even taking them off public transport.

Converting to an electric fleet in New Zealand would have significant environmental benefit, as more than 70 per cent of electricity is generated from renewable resources. Even if the entire car fleet were converted, only another 17 per cent of generation would be needed — less if charging were done overnight.

“The abundance of renewable energy in New Zealand means the owner of an EV in New Zealand can charge their vehicle at home for as low as 30 cents a litre,” says Gilbert.

“We would like the next government to go a step further and work with the industry to detail how New Zealand will then get to 250,000 EVs by 2025, and then move to decarbonize the entire fleet.”

In August, Drive Electric announced five key policy platforms required to meet EV targets, available at https://driveelectric.org.nz/wp-content/ uploads/2020/08/DE-policy-discussion.pdf.

The UK has promised no new petrol cars on the roads from 2032. The motor industry there is also trying to accelerate change. It says that customers are lagging behind in taking up the options already on offer.

The UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says massive industry investment in electric tech cars worth some NZ$100 billion in 2019 alone has encouraged demand to double in the past year, but from a small base. The number of electrictech vehicles on sale there has grown from 62 to 83 in the past year. However, while these cars now account for one in six models on sale (17 per cent), they make up just one in 13 purchases (eight per cent). That’s a worrying stat for car makers, who are now looking for support to accelerate the change.

The SMMT survey found the biggest factors holding buyers back are higher purchase prices (52 per cent), lack of local charging points (44 per cent), and fear of being caught short on longer journeys (38 per cent).

As part of its UK-wide consumer education roadshow, Go Electric, Ford says the majority of UK consumers admit to being confused by EV technology. The confusion has led to an apparent lack of appeal to consumers.

That is further confirmed by research from lubricants company Castrol, which also showed many consumers judge EVs by the way petrol and diesel cars are fuelled and operated.

Its research, Accelerating the EVolution reveals three ‘tipping points’ that would accelerate change.

On average for UK consumers, a price point of NZ$46K, a charge time of 30 minutes and a range of 453km from a single charge would achieve mainstream EV adoption. The research also estimates that the annual EV market in the UK could be worth NZ$25 billion by 2025 if all three tipping points are met.

L E N N S A T L H C ESU O T AURVEY R SU

Automotive trade more optimistic than most AUTO CHANNEL’S SEPTEMBER SURVEY OF READERS SHOWS THAT THE AUTOMOTIVE TRADE IS MORE POSITIVE THAN OTHER SECTORS — AND THAT AUTO CHANNEL GETS A BIG THUMBS UP fter two-and-a-half years in the game we at Auto Channel surveyed our readers, primarily to check in and make sure we were delivering what readers wanted but also to gauge sentiment on how businesses in the trade viewed their own prospects. That will have a keen bearing on how we respond.

It’s been a year for the history books, that’s for sure. The effect on businesses throughout the country is probably only just starting to become apparent, with gross domestic product (GDP) already down 12.2 per cent for the recently announced September quarter. Given that background, it was gratifying to see the generally positive feedback we have been getting about how much work people in the industry had on at present was reflected in the numbers in the survey.

Nearly 45 per cent of respondents were feeling positive or very positive about business prospects over the coming 12 months. Another 36 per cent were undecided. That left less than 20 per cent who were feeling negative. The survey of readers was carried out between 10 and 16 September and responses were by email and it has a confidence level of 90 per cent. It was a nationwide survey and an especially positive result when you consider the country was at Covid alert Level 2; Auckland was still at 2.5 that week and community cases were still being recorded.

This survey of our sector compares favourably with an ANZ survey of 254 New Zealand businesses across the economy in September — 26 per cent of the businesses that ANZ surveyed expected things to get worse.

Another positive trade result in our survey was the number of businesses planning to invest. The lower dollar spend is predictably greater than the higher dollar investments planned, but this again is a generally positive picture. It’s worth remembering that, thanks to a new Covid-19 tax break, businesses can now deduct 100 per cent of new gear costing up to $5K in a short-term post-Covid tax break. For one year only, businesses can deduct the full cost up to that limit, which means the purchase of any

A

18

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS OVER THE COMING 12 MONTHS?

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO INVEST IN EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE COMING YEAR?

HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE?

WHAT SECTOR OF THE WIDER AUDIENCE INDUSTRY DO YOU WORK IN?

equipment under $5K can be fully depreciated in the first year.

Our survey also shows that the majority of our readers — or survey respondents anyway — are small or very small businesses.

To put that in context, this graph shows which sectors respondents worked in. The bulk — nearly 64 per cent are in automotive workshops, and that aligns with the large number of low head count businesses.

Auto Channel was launched almost two-anda-half years ago to offer a more affordable way for businesses to communicate with the wider automotive sector in New Zealand.

Publisher Parkside Media’s Mike White says, ”We are proud to have delivered on that, which is clear from the substantial advertising support we receive from the industry each month.”

Auto Channel set out to offer workshops and the trade in general more readable industry news and information.

“Most businesses we spoke to were not satisfied with internet-extracted press releases, many international, that offered little value to those within our country, so we’re proud to have ticked that one off the list as well,” says Mike. “We’re quite humbled to see 74.2 per cent of respondents state that Auto Channel magazine is their most preferred automotive trade title in the country.

“Despite [it] being a competitor we’ll also give the MTA member publication Radiator a mention here, even though they have a circulation of less than a third of Auto Channel, as it’s only sent to MTA members. They came in with 13.6 per cent of respondents stating it was their most preferred publication, so well done Radiator. We actually think you do a bloody good job too,” Mike says.

Thanks to all our readers. We will certainly be doing everything we can to share information that will help promote the industry and increase prosperity for everyone involved in it.

WHAT REGION DO YOU WORK IN?

WHICH AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE TO YOU ENJOY THE MOST?

WHAT DO YOU LIKE READING ABOUT IN AUTO CHANNEL?

19

The Christchurch team — Russell Armstrong, Kade O’Keefe, Gary Gray and Chresten Cockburn

R&J Batteries expanding its New Zealand operations R&J BATTERIES ADDS A BRANCH IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, THE SECOND NEW ZEALAND BRANCH TO OPEN SINCE ITS ARRIVAL HERE IN 2017 &J Batteries entered the competitive New Zealand market when it opened its Auckland branch three years ago. The premises at 9A Angle Street, Onehunga, were initially set up to service all of New Zealand. However, the growing demand for high-quality batteries created a need for a second

R

base to service the South Island, leaving Auckland to service the north.

R&J Batteries’ Christchurch branch was established after a merger agreement with Acme Batteries. The 100 per cent New Zealand– owned and operated distributor’s strong presence

in the New Zealand battery aftermarket, and a solid following for its Koba brand, made it an ideal partner.

R&J Batteries’ location at 14 Dakota Crescent, Wigram, provides easy access for Christchurch customers, as well as a distribution hub for South Island freight. The rapidly growing branch is headed by R&J Batteries’ South Island manager Russell Armstrong.

“We welcomed Russell on board to set up the Christchurch site and to begin building relationships across the South Island,” says R&J Batteries’ New Zealand general manager Warrik Skulve. “As an experienced auto electrician, Russell hit the ground running with the Christchurch branch and our service level has grown immensely.”

R&J Batteries is the exclusive distributor for the world-leading Delkor and US Battery products in New Zealand. Delkor’s comprehensive range of 

Christchurch manager Russell Armstrong

20

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

YEARS

1995-2020

100% AUSTRALASIAN OWNED AND PROUDLY INDEPENDENT

•

Largest independent battery distributor in Australasia

•

Family owned

•

Exclusive distributor for quality battery brands

•

25 years strong

•

In-house training

•

Exclusive stockist programs

We are the largest independent and wholly Australasian owned battery distributor in Australia and New Zealand. You can have confidence that you are dealing with a family owned business and not some remote overseas owner or listed company. R&J Batteries have a wide network spanning across Australia and New Zealand. We are true battery specialists with the highest quality products and a strong history of delivering exceptional customer service.

EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR OF

TRADE AND WHOLESALE ENQUIRIES WELCOME - BECOME A STOCKIST! AUCKLAND: 9 Angle St, Auckland I 09 636 5980

CHRISTCHURCH: 14 Dakota cres, Wigram I 03 341 0090

The Auckland R&J Batteries team

EFB and AGM batteries is ideal for the high-demand modern automotive technologies, including IdleStop-Start (ISS) and regenerative braking systems.

R&J Batteries is building its reputation in both markets on having the expertise and brands to meet specialist demands, as well as providing quality and reliable solutions for mainstream applications.

In addition to Delkor and US Battery, R&J Batteries’ brand portfolio covers all applications and includes the pure performance Optima batteries, Fullriver’s premium AGM standby and cyclic batteries, Odyssey batteries for power and endurance, the high-quality Predator SMF (sealed, maintenance-free), AGM, and motorcycle batteries, and Hardcore batteries for heavy-duty commercial applications. R&J Batteries’ BAE batteries cater to those seeking solar-energy storage solutions, while the Relion lithium range provides an energyefficient alternative to lead-acid batteries.

22

The Auckland branch

R&J Batteries was already having an eventful year, even before these unprecedented times. Considered by some to be the fastest growing battery company in Australia, R&J Batteries opened its 23rd branch in June and is set to open its 24th in October. The company has also added a new lithium battery brand, Allion, to its world-class portfolio.

R&J Batteries is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary later this year, and it is also planning to further expand its New Zealand operations.

To get in touch with the R&J Batteries’ New Zealand team, call 09 636 5980 for Auckland or 03 341 0090 for Christchurch, or visit rjbatt.co.nz for more information.

BAE: High-quality, German-made gel leadacid batteries with patented design features for solar, UPS, and telecommunication applications

Predator: Predator batteries are available in three ranges: SMF for automotive and commercial; Predator AGM for general purpose; and the Predator Motorcycle and Powersport range

Delkor: Exclusive to R&J Batteries in New Zealand, Delkor batteries have won Korean government awards for 11 years for best quality in their range of batteries for highdemand conditions and stop-start

US Battery: The 6V, 8V, and 12V deep-cycle batteries made in the US for golf carts, electric vehicles (EVs), hire equipment, renewable energy storage, marine, and RVs

Fullriver: Premium deep-cycle batteries in sizes from 1.2A/h up to 400A/h. Simply the best AGM batteries

Relion: Specializing in lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo4), Relion batteries have 10 times the life of a lead-acid battery at a fraction of the weight – ideal for adventuring

Hardcore: Developed by R&J Batteries with semi-cyclic capacity and heavy-duty plate construction for commercial vehicles, including trucks, tractors, and earthmoving equipment

Odyssey: Some batteries provide enormous cranking power; others deep-cycle reserve power. The Odyssey battery is designed to do both

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

the total braking solution

www.cooldrive.co.nz

Available from

Big Boys Toys is excited to bring its own brand of non-stop auction action to the ASB Showgrounds this November with Going Once – Big Boys Toys inaugural classic car auction. Going Once will display hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of classic cars at Big Boys Toys from the 13th to the 15th of November and the cars will go under the hammer at 3pm Sunday the 15th. With a wide varity of classics ranging from 1960s Mustangs to 1980s Porsches, Going Once is not to be missed!

Sell your pride and joy with us.

Contact the dedicated team at goingonce@bigboystoys.co.nz for a consignment package

Proudly bought to you by:

13 - 15 NOVEMBER 23

Car news

Volta unveils the first purpose-built full-electric truck Volta Trucks, the start-up electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has revealed the new Volta Zero — its first vehicle and the world’s first purposebuilt full-electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle designed specifically for inner-city parcel and freight distribution.

The Volta Zero will begin operator trials with some of Europe’s largest parcel delivery and logistics companies in 2021. Orders have already been taken from companies wanting to secure the first customer-specification vehicles when production starts in 2022.

Rob Fowler, Volta Trucks chief executive, says that it is redefining the perception of the large commercial vehicle and how it operates in towns and cities. “At Volta Trucks, we are directly contributing to society’s migration towards an electrified future,” he says.

Carl-Magnus Norden, founder of Volta Trucks, says that in London, as an example, 23 per cent of pedestrian fatalities and 58 per cent of cyclist deaths involve heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), yet large trucks only account for only four per cent of road miles.

“This is clearly unacceptable and must change.

24

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

The Volta Zero completely reimagines the commercial vehicle, ensuring that it can operate safely with all road users and become a friend of the zero-emission city.”

Fresh interior The removal of the traditional internal-combustion engine enabled the designers and engineers of the Volta Zero to rethink the truck’s layout. The driver of a Volta Zero sits at pedestrians’ eye level and has a wide 220 degrees of direct vision around the vehicle, reducing blind spots. The protection of vulnerable road users is enhanced by the use of rear-view cameras that replace traditional mirrors, a 360-degree bird’s-eye camera showing the driver their complete surroundings, and blind-spot warning systems that detect objects down the sides of the vehicle.

Safety and comfort for the driver have been optimized by minimizing cognitive overload. The driver sits in a spacious and light cabin, which makes eye contact with other people easy, while operating intuitive user interfaces. The removal of the internalcombustion engine means that the driver sits in a

central driving position with a swivel seat, giving easy access through fast-opening sliding doors on either side, handy in busy or narrow streets.

“We had three main priorities for the design of the cab. We wanted it to be best in class for safety, ease, and efficiency of ingress and egress, and the best driver environment of any truck on the market.

With the Volta Zero, I can comfortably say that we have achieved that goal,” said Carsten Astheimer, managing director of Astheimer Design and lead designer of the Volta Zero.

The truck will come fully loaded with a suite of advanced driver assistance programmes and a status monitoring system that maximizes the uptime of the vehicle.

Flax body The Volta Zero will be the first road vehicle to use a sustainably sourced natural flax material and biodegradable resin in the construction of its exterior body panels. Developed by Bcomp of Switzerland, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, it is currently used in 16 of the world’s most competitive motor racing series.

The flax weave is reinforced with Bcomp’s grid technology, creating a lightweight, highperformance fibre matting that is almost CO₂ neutral over its life cycle. It matches the performance of carbon fibre but uses 75 per cent less CO₂ to produce. At the end of their useful life, the flax composite parts can be burnt and used for thermal energy recovery, unlike alternative composite materials, which are usually sent to landfill. It also has a pedestrian-friendly flexible fracture behaviour that doesn’t produce sharp edges.

“By 2025, we aim to have saved around 180,000 tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere — the equivalent annual CO₂ usage of 24,000 houses — and improved inner-city air quality. For Volta Trucks, sustainability is much more than just tailpipe emissions,” says Fowler. “We take an environmentalfirst approach to all material sourcing and will continue to strain every sinew to ensure that we deliver on our mission of becoming the world’s most sustainable commercial vehicle manufacturer.”

Cost of ownership The Volta Zero has 90 per cent fewer mechanical parts than an equivalent internal-combustion-

engine vehicle, making the same total cost of ownership of equivalent diesel-powered vehicles perfectly feasible. In addition, Volta Trucks is introducing a Truck as a Service offering that could revolutionize the finance and servicing of commercial vehicle fleets, offering a hassle-free way to electrify a fleet of vehicles and give smaller operators a low-cost entry point.

Prodrive Advanced Technology helped Volta Trucks create the Volta Zero, working with Volta’s partners Astheimer and Magtec to integrate all the high-voltage electrical, electronic, and mechanical systems and assemble the finished vehicle at its headquarters in Banbury, UK. The project was completed from a clean sheet to a fully running demonstrator vehicle in just 10 months.

New drivetrain At launch, Volta Trucks will be the first fullelectric large commercial vehicle manufacturer in Europe to use an innovative e-axle to drive the rear wheels, rather than the conventional electric motor and driveshaft set-up used by the small number of other electric truck manufacturers.

The single electric motor, transmission, and axle

of the Volta Zero are contained in a lightweight and compact e-axle unit that’s lighter and more efficient, delivering an increased range as a result.

It also provides packaging benefits by freeing up space between the chassis rails. This is where Volta Trucks fits the battery of the vehicle — the safest possible location.

The Volta Zero will use 160–200kW of battery power, and Volta Trucks has selected to fit the vehicle with lithium iron phosphate batteries instead of a nickel cobalt manganese set-up as used in most passenger cars. It delivers a long cycle life, robust cell design, and good thermal stability, enhancing safety. It also contains no precious metals, eliminating the associated sourcing issues of other battery materials.

The Volta Zero’s range of up to 200km will be sufficient for all inner-city logistics requirements.

Designed to operate in narrow city streets, it can also do the work of three or four 3.5-tonne vehicles.

The Volta Zero is 9460mm in length, 3470mm high, and 2550mm wide, with a wheelbase of 4800mm.

It’s gross vehicle weight is 16,000kg and the vehicle is limited to a top speed of 90kph.

For more information on the Volta Zero, see voltatrucks.com.

Car-buying women more zen than men

Women worry less than men about many aspects of buying a car, new research reveals.

According to analysis by online-only car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk, men are three times more likely than women to be ‘wary’ of buying a car without seeing it first. Women are more relaxed about the online car-buying experience than men, in part because they particularly value not having to deal with a pushy salesperson face to face but they also appear to be more zen about a range of factors affecting their choice.

For instance, when women decide to take a test drive while researching their next car, they overwhelmingly do it to see if they like driving the car. Men are principally motivated to see for themselves that there are no faults.

When it comes to concerns about their longterm ownership experience, women are less worried than men about their cars continuing to feel comfortable inside over time and overwhelmingly less concerned that they will become bored with their new cars.

Women make up 50 per cent of BuyaCar’s customers, compared with a third for traditional dealers.

The results of a survey of 705 customers suggest that men are significantly more anxious about buying a car than women on a range of

measures. Although concerns are generally low for all the car buyers who were questioned, women appeared to be especially unfazed about the prospect of future mechanical faults and more interested in driving enjoyment than future problems.

One of the biggest differences between the attitudes of men and women was that one in four men describe themselves as wary of buying a car without seeing it first, compared with fewer than one in 10 women. Of those who insist on trying before buying, their reasons for taking a test drive showed some significant differences. For example, 20 per cent of men say they want to see for themselves that there are no faults, whereas just 13 per cent of women cite that as a reason,

overwhelmingly preferring to be sure they enjoy the feel of driving the car before buying.

Christofer Lloyd, editor of BuyaCar.co.uk, said that the research helped explain why it had more female customers than the traditional car yards.

“It seems that women tend to be more relaxed than men, not just when it comes to worrying about faults, and more focused on the positive aspects of car ownership, such as the look and feel of the interior, seat comfort, and overall driving experience. So, while women more often report feeling stressed by the traditional face-to-face car-buying process than men, when it comes to issues relating to the vehicle itself, it seems that women are more zen than men.”

25

Pedal-car boom Watt a way to pay Nissan is giving customers yet another reason to love their electric cars: the ability to pay for parking with electricity.

In a global first, electric vehicle (EV) drivers will be able to discharge power from their car’s battery pack to pay for parking while visiting the Nissan Pavilion exhibition space in Yokohama. Visitors to the 10,000m², zero-emission pavilion can eat at the Nissan Chaya Cafe, which operates on power supplied by Nissan Leaf electric cars and solar energy.

They can also enjoy virtual experiences, including Formula E electric street racing or going for an actual

ride in the all-new Nissan Ariya EV crossover.

Guests at the Pavilion can also experience the ProPILOT advanced driver-assistance system as well as Nissan’s Invisible-to-Visible (I2V) technology, which combines information from the real and virtual worlds to assist drivers.

By playing a virtual tennis match with Grand Slam champion and Nissan brand ambassador Naomi Osaka in the pavilion theatre, children and adults can learn about I2V and get a feel for how the technology will make driving more convenient when installed in new cars in the near future.

GM R&D to continue at Lang Lang Proving Ground Following up on our report last month on the Holden test track’s sale, the new owners have calmed fears.

General Motors (GM) Holden interim chairman and managing director Kristian Aquilina says the sale to VinFast meant that global automotive research and development would continue at Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria.

“The Lang Lang Proving Ground will continue to shape the global automotive industry,” says Aquilina. “Over the past five years, GM has invested in the laboratories and tracks at the site, which will now be well utilized by its new owners.

“This deal hits a sweet spot of a fair sale value, a ready-made facility for VinFast’s needs, ongoing employment for former Holden

26

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

employees, and the preservation of amenity for the community.”

He pays tribute to the achievements and careers of the engineers who worked there.

“In some ways, it’s the end of an era. At the same time, it’s genuinely pleasing to know there’s a bright future there as well,” Aquilina concludes.

VinFast also says it is committed to the ongoing protection of the local bushland and environment and intends to continue to allow access for community land-care activities, for Holden car clubs, and for former-employee open days.

Aquilina says that, under the agreement, GM Specialty Vehicles will continue to access the Lang Lang site for testing and engineering validation of new products in local conditions.

The sight of car-mad parents’ young progeny charging along the straight at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in old and restored Austin J40 pedal cars has given the craze a new lease on life.

A new J40 Motor Company was launched in April this year. J40 Motor Company director Jamie Burnett has wasted no time in expanding his vision for the company, launching a new e-commerce website that increased global orders by 60 per cent. The company has also reintroduced previously out-of-stock J40 parts, launched new products and accessories, improved quality and availability, bought a number of early J40 cars for restoration, and plans to launch a range of merchandise.

Production of the original Austin J40 pedal car started in 1949 as a non-profit-making business based in Bargoed, South Wales, UK. In total, 32,098 Austin J40 pedal cars were made before production ceased in September 1971. During that time, the cars remained largely unchanged. Demand remains high, with examples fetching thousands of pounds on the used market, thanks in part to the annual Settrington Cup race held at Goodwood Revival, where children race along the famous start/finish straight.

J40 Motor Company partnered with renowned artist Stefan Marjoram to develop what a modern-day take on the J40 might look like. Stefan spent his early career as a freelance creative director, working with studios such as Aardman Animations and projects including documenting the build of the ‘Bloodhound’ and ‘Beast of Turin’ landspeed-record cars.

The collaborative design has produced a car that remains true to the original and retains core J40 DNA. Every panel of the new car is different but it is instantly recognizable to owners and enthusiasts as a J40 derivative.

The J40 Motor Company has installed new technology to complement traditional methods of manufacturing. 3D scanning allows engineers to verify prototypes and reverse engineer products that have become unavailable. A 3D printer is also producing small-volume parts, and new CNC milling equipment has been installed to produce more complex bespoke parts.

Parent company Burlen built fuel systems and offers restoration services for classic vehicles.

EXPRESS Yourself You’re smart, hard working and reliable and you know that how you turn up each day says a lot about you. Whatever your business, Express yourself with the all new Mitsubishi Express Van.

Choose between a 1.6L diesel twin turbo engine with manual transmission or, 2L diesel turbo engine with dual clutch automatic transmission. The new Express is packed with features, including: fold-down work station, rear view camera,

bulkhead, Bluetooth™ connectivity, auto rain sensing wipers and dusk sensing headlamps. Access to the 5.2m3 cargo space is made easy with dual sliding side doors, as well as easy loading rear barn doors.

Express yourself from just

$34,990

+GST +ORC*

Call 0800 54 53 52 or visit mmnz.co.nz to find your nearest dealer. *Price listed is for Express 1.6L Manual and excludes GST and on road costs of up to $800 which includes registration, WoF, 1,000km road user charges and a full tank of fuel. Metallic Silver, Metallic Black and Red Solid paint colours are available for an additional $500. Model shown in White Solid paint. Visit www.mmnz.co.nz for full Express Warranty conditions. Optional Accessories Shown.

28

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

BETTER THAN I BEFORE

SOME PEOPLE BUY THEM AND BUILD THEM FROM SCRATCH; THEN THERE’S GUYS LIKE CHARLIE BAILEY WHO BUY GOOD CARS AND MAKE THEM EVEN BETTER! WORDS: CAMERON SHARFT PHOTOS: STRONG STYLE PHOTO f there’s one thing we can possibly agree on it’s the fallacy of the seven-day builds many American car programmes portray. Case in point, the Foose series that went for years telling us you can bang a quality finish just in time for an unsuspecting victim to break down in tears. Those builds, if they are to be believed, are astounding. However, television can be deceiving and a quick ‘Whatever happened to …?’ internet search regularly shows up a sorry tale of what became of …

Anyway, while we’ll attempt to agree that seven-day builds can happen, the consequence is sometimes a less-than-desired result. Yes, while the TV programme may be saying it happens, there’s also a bunch of realist car builders over there who work a more believable pitch.

One of those unsung heroes in Texas comes from a totally different background. Tim Duncan — look him up — made his millions playing basketball for the San Antonio Spurs. During his tenure around the hoops, he had a penchant for enjoying decent car builds. It was there that his passion would lead him after he retired from the court and Blackjack Speed Shop came into being.

While still bouncing a ball or two, Tim also found a ready market in other players of the NBA. With a cool quarter-billion — yes, billion — in the bank, he could afford to play hard when it came to toys. With Blackjack supplying cars to the stars, that’s where this little feature here comes to the fore.

Back in 2015, Tim and his team were inspired to start a build for LaMarcus Aldridge; a Chevelle for LaMarcus to enjoy among his other collection of toys. Budget wasn’t a problem, so off Tim and Blackjack went. A genuine 138-code ’68 Chevelle was the chosen canvas and a large big block fivespeed was to do adrenaline duty.

Rather than attack the classic lines like some celebrity builds, Tim kept the Chevelle OEM, bar a set of Kindig-it Design trademark door handles and some cleansing of side lights. The rest stayed outwardly as General Motors (GM) had created it nearly 50 years earlier. Underneath is where things changed drastically. LaMarcus was used to manhandling Italy’s finest in sports and supercars, so a sad old full-frame from GM wasn’t going to cut it.

Tim knew that, so the body came off and his team proceeded to add high-end aftermarket trinketry to refine the handling.

Hotchkis tubular arms and sway bars, along with drop spindles and urethane bushings, were

complemented by an AGR quick-ratio steering box. Wilwood slotted and drilled rotors went onto the spindles with corresponding Wilwood fourpots all round so that a big set of rims could be fitted. LaMarcus initially chose 22-inch Forgiatos, but before long they were swapped out for a more sedate set of US Mags in line with the car’s classic restomod appearance.

With the links, steering, and brakes all sorted, it was on to the driveline. Not one to pussyfoot, Tim threw a crate 572 at the car, then added a Holley Dominator EFI system and MSD on top for good measure. A set of Lemons big-tube headers led to a full three-inch custom exhaust incorporating oversize Flowmasters. A Tremec fivespeed is clutched by a Centerforce dual-friction and pressure plate inside an SFI-spec Lakewood bellhousing. A bullet-proof driveshaft was fabricated that leads to a welded 12-bolt with posi, C-clip eliminators, and 4.11 gears. Yes, this thing was always going to put a smile on anyone’s dial. With over 600 horses (450kW) on tap and the modern capabilities of the Holley system, pure grunt with smooth tuning is how we’d describe the drivability.

30

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

All new fuel and brake lines went through from back to front before the body rejoined its chassis.

Up front, a monster radiator was built to handle the Texas heat while Vintage Air’s billet-bracket serpentine system tacked itself on to the front of the engine and routed air conditioning into the cabin.

Creature comforts are a must when it comes to celebrity status, so attention to detail was key inside the cabin. Windows were tinted, electric motors added, and all weatherstrips and rubbers are fresh. Remote locks, alarm, and obligatory ear-melting stereo add to the wiring tangle.

Even the ignition buzzer was made to work. The seating is a work of art. Custom black leather diamond with red stitching went into every section along with the revised dash and console.

Even the boot was trimmed with LaMarcus’s initials and a set of panels trimmed up to hide the accessories inside the boot.

It certainly is the little things that make a truly good build exceptional — one that definitely wouldn’t happen in seven days. The dash received a full complement of Dakota digitals along with an LED touchpad for the tunes in the console.

When it came to the body, Tim enlisted Chris Shuler of Boerne Stage Kustoms to put the icing

on 1968 his cake.CHEVROLET Chris and his team straightened and aligned every panel and then laid down a candy red CHEVELLE youENGINE: could swim in.big Starting a House 572ci blockwith Chev, Bowtieof Kolor 10.2-inch tall deck block, four-bolt mains, base coat of Zenith Gold (BC12), he then sprayed 254/264 duration at 0.050, 0.632 lift, 109/119 fourlobe coats of Applehydraulic Red Kandy (UK11) before centreline roller cam, 6.53finishing the ocean deep paint with SG100 clear. Put inch 4340 H-beam rods, 9.7:1 forged pistons, floating it this way: ifpins, youBowtie ever getrectangular to see this port car in the flesh, aluminium heads, 118cc chambers, 2.25-inch you’ll what westainless mean about swimming in it. andget 1.88-inch valves, 1.7:1 rockers, Strangely,Edelbrock ownershipVictor changed hands fairly modified R manifold, Holley Dominator EFI, stainless 2.25-inch Lemons quickly after LaMarcus enjoyed the Chevelle for headers, three-inch exhaust, Flowmaster a season.

Maybe the lureradiator, of thoseVintage Italian stallions mufflers, aluminium Air andserpentine — I hate tosystem say it — a Tesla was too much of a draw, but anyway the carfive-speed, drifted away from Texas DRIVELINE: Tremec Centerforce Friction clutch, Lakewood SFIit blowandDual ended up down in Florida where then popped proof bellhousing, billet shifter, Chev 12-bolt up diff, on eBay. 4.11:1 gears, posi head That’s about where this storydrop getsspindles, interesting.

SUSPENSION: CPP two-inch Edelbrock shocks 450-pound springs, Titirangi’s Ivan Vlasich spotted the Chevelle, Hotchkis topand, and bang, bottom tubular threw in a bid, the thing arms. was shortly Hotchkis Pro Tour sway bar, 12.7:1 AGR thereafter on the water heading to New Zealand.

800-series steering box, Hotchkis triangulated Delrin bushings, lowour springs Yes,four-link, a few celebrity cars havesuper visited shores in BRAKES: Wilwood master cylinder, vented the past, but we’re fairly sure not one that had an discs and four-pot calipers NBA connection.

WHEELS/TYRES: 20x8.5-inch and 20x10Ivan certed said Chevelle and sorted a few inch Niche wheels, 245/35R20 and idiosyncrasies 245/35R20before tyres deciding he wanted another challenge.

Guess what? In walks Charliesplitter Bailey— yes, EXTERIOR: Custom paint, custom he of many carsCustom — and hours after selling his last INTERIOR: leather retrim, Dakota Digital gauges, custom dash insert adventure he now owns something he’s wanted for PERFORMANCE: 612Nm, 597hp (445kW) at years: a solid big block and manual-shifted Chevelle. the wheels (5567rpm) Not one to rest on his laurels, Charlie was straight down to Takanini Auto Service Centre where Hamish

haymanreese.co.nz 0800 MY TBAR A CEQUENT NEW ZEALAND BRAND

EMCO is an Industry Leader in the distribution of lubricant and fluid equipment including: • Hose Reels • Pumps • Mobile dispensing equipment EMCO is a one stop shop, specialising in advice, installation of pipework and equipment as well as servicing of fluid management systems.

We distribute and sell a great range of lubrication equipment from leading brands including RAASM, GRACO, ReCoila and Macnaught.

Here is what one of our customer had to say recently about an installation job EMCO completed: “When we were building our new Flagship Toyota dealership here in Hamilton, we worked closely with James Driscoll and his team from EMCO. They were very easy to work with right from involvement during initial concept meetings and quotes, clarifying technical queries about pipe systems and equipment that they recommended…through to the installation of equipment from oil, water and air lines, oil fill manifold cabinet through to double skinned tanks. The work was completed on time with EMCO working closely with our construction company and meeting our high standards and expectations both from a functionality and aesthetic point of view.”

- Alistair Silcock, Aftersales Manager, Ebbett Toyota

Contact EMCO on 07 8505240, email sales@emco.co.nz or visit our website www.emco.co.nz 31

and his team weaved their magic once again. A set of revised lowering coils, new 20/22 rolling stock, and the obligatory cut-outs went in. It was then off to Real Rides for Kayton to fabricate a new air dam along with making subtle changes to its character in the form of new wheel arch trims and grille treatment. As we said, it’s the little things that count.

Instead of taking the car to one of Auckland’s usual V8 tuning workshops, Charlie decided that it was time to test one of his neighbours. Little did he realize that Iain Clegg owned not only New Zealand’s quickest GTR but also ran a talented team down at his workshop in Mount Wellington.

The car headed off to ST Hi-Tec for a remap on the Holley Dominator and a smiling Charlie got it back with a nice shiny dyno sheet stating 577 horses (430kW) at the wheels and 805 pounds of torque (1091Nm). The best part? Iain was nice enough to do it for a box of beers. Considering that Charlie had been quoted close to $5K to have the tune sorted elsewhere, Iain’s bill was a welcome gesture of goodwill for his neighbour.

So there you have it; a celebrity car made better than before in little old New Zealand. Just goes to show, even an unlimited-budget build can be made better down at the bottom of the earth.

CHARLIE BAILEY CAR CLUB: Meadowbank Bridge Club AGE: 42 OCCUPATION: Builder PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS: As a teenager started in the Rotary world, soon moved to American and Aussie stuff, EH wagon, HT Monaro, ’67 Impala, ’69 Camaro, ’57 Chevy, ’62 C10, ’61 Apache, ’67 Chevelle, ’59 Bel Air, ’74 Camaro, ’71 Camaro, ’70 Chevelle, and a plethora of Harleys DREAM CAR: Loads, presently an Aussie-style burnout monster along with a ’67 Nova done in Pro Street style … watch this space WHY THE CHEVELLE? I was in the right place at the right time BUILD TIME: My bits were done in a couple of weeks LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: Six months CHARLIE THANKS: My wife and kids for putting up with my addiction, Kayton Coughey of Real Rides (and his mad team), Hamish Paton of Takanini Auto Services for believing in my ambitions and Iain ‘never-saying-no’ Clegg at ST Hi-tec for a fantastic tune, and Ivan who sold me his celebrity purchase at a reasonable price

32

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

SPLASH, DASH, AND A BIT OF BOOST AS IF SETTING UP THE PERFECT ENGINE COMBO IS TOO EASY, ADAM WILTON HAS SET ABOUT DOING THAT IN JETBOATS OF HIS OWN DESIGN! WORDS: ANDREW JOHNSTON  PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

34

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

ost of us started our love affair with V8s with tyres rotating on tarmac, but Adam Wilton started with hulls hitting water. A man with a passion for fast boats and LS engines, Adam started working for a North Island boatbuilding business at 18 years old, building small and large boats ranging from fishing boats to touring boats to jet and race machines. Of course, the inevitable happened; a couple of years later, he had built a boat for himself in his spare time — not just a little fishing dinghy but a 5.3m jetboat powered by a Lexus V8. A string of personal boats followed with jet-ski engines, a Nissan V6 turbo, a ZZ383 Chev crate engine, and even a brand-new supercharged 3.8-litre Buick V6 that Adam spotted one day sitting at a Holden dealership in Tauranga.

An interesting side story is that while Adam was building the first boat, he got impatient with seeing his Lexus engine sitting on a pallet each day, so took a tape measure to it, compared it with his Nissan Navara engine bay, thought he could make it work, and, hey presto, two weeks later, the V8 was being tested in the little Japanese ute. It was a bit of an expensive engine test, though, as it cost Adam many rear tyres and actually managed some 13-second quarter-mile runs before eventually making its way into the jetboat!

In 2007, when the global financial crunch hit and boat sales started dropping in the North Island, Adam moved to Rangiora, just north of Christchurch, working for the same company but with a different demographic market. It was here that he got interested in remote-controlled quarterscale jetboats. These are powered by miniature 29–32cc gas two-stroke marine engines complete with water-cooled manifold, head, and exhaust and coupled to a little jet unit that is so cute you could sit it on the mantelpiece as art.

Designed in Aussie, the scaled-down jet unit is just like a big one, with water-lubricated rear bearing, twin front main shaft bearings, carbon ceramic water seal, and stainless-steel impellers.

Adam invested time designing his own quarter-scale hull based on a V8 jet-sprint boat and built his first one in 2011. Then, when he posted a pretty average video on YouTube, his phone started ringing. He had so many enquiries that he realized he needed to CAD model the boat and start building them in his home garage in his spare weekends.

If you’ve never seen these boats, go to YouTube and search ‘1/4-scale Jettec’. These are for committed hobbyists, as they are a serious piece of kit and easily reach 60-plus kilometres per hour in just 1.5 seconds! To date, Adam’s built more than 70 of these little boats, mostly for overseas clients, and shipped them to many countries.

After seeing the build quality of the little boats, a guy in Canterbury asked Adam if he could build him a full-scale jetboat, and that was basically the start of Adam’s Jettec business: starting with a few 3m two-seater boats and then rapidly progressing to bigger big boats with V8s. Fast forward seven years and Jettec has manufactured more than 90 big boats plus another 20 or more for other companies, and more than 30 aluminium boat and jet-ski trailers.

Rather than focus on the world-class quality and

M

stunning design of Adam’s jetboats, we recently caught up with him to ask about marinizing the engines and modifying the LS engines that are now commonplace in many of his boats. Having originally used various engines, Adam finds the LS ones are now hard to beat, being uber-reliable.

That’s not to mention that they are easy to find, easy to get parts for, easy to increase horsepower on, and very compact. The key point, though, is reliability; that’s one of the most important hallmarks of a jetboat engine, as when it’s not running you lose all steering and all forward and backwards thrust. Remember too that when this happens you’re at the mercy of a fast-flowing river with obstacles such as trees and rocks lining the river banks; you can’t just pull over and stop the way you can in a car.

Most people who buy one of the bigger hull Jettec boats spec either an LS1, if the budget is tight, or an LS3, the biggest, baddest, boldest, more expensive option. Adam has looked at other engines, such as the LSA with a supercharger, but adding 120kg to a normal boat weight of around 850kg doesn’t make sense when there are so many mods available to increase horsepower and torque in naturally aspirated (NA) engines. Even an NA LS1 with a more efficient cam gives good, honest, and cheap horsepower, and it’s hard to beat gaining 80hp (60kW) by investing in a cam, springs, and labour for around $1400.

Adam has also installed many engines with a single

turbo over the years, but one of his recent large boats has a 2014 Camaro LS3 engine fitted with twin BorgWarner 60/68 turbos, specifically tuned for the rpm and boost that Adam is running with this motor. Twin large water-to-air intercoolers make sure that the LS is getting plenty of cold air, and the pre-turbo and post-turbo pipework is water cooled to help keep external temps down.

35

The turbos run twin 45mm external wastegates and the turbo housing is ceramic coated by Elite Powder Coaters of Christchurch, again to keep the external temperatures down and the heat inside the turbos. To keep reliability high, modifications are pretty quiet on this engine compared with on some of the earth shakers we’ve seen. However, even running on a low boost of 8psi with stock bottom end and aftermarket camshaft valve springs, this combo is giving decent reliable power and will save the con rods and pistons, which are known to be the weakest link of an LS when people get carried away turning the boost up.

Over the years, Adam has found that running a high-compression engine with a turbo works well, as it already makes good power down low before boost comes on, but this does put a lot more strain on an engine that was never designed to have boost. Matching the correct-sized turbo and wastegate is very important, and the engine tune is key to keeping it all in one piece.

36

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

Once the boat is up and running, the motor doesn’t get much rest, being constantly under load — working hard all the time, kinda like driving your car up an endless hill in top gear with your jandal hard on the throttle. Even at 3000rpm, the engine

Having originally used various engines, Adam finds the LS ones are now hard to beat is working very hard in comparison with an engine in a car, so the whole drivetrain needs to be super durable to handle the constant stress of all the components.

The 6.8-litre stroked LS3 in the blue boat is an interesting engine, as it was purchased by Jettec from Mast Motorsports in the US and shipped over.

It was dynoed in the US at 560hp (388kW) and 580ft·lb (786Nm) at 5400rpm, which most readers will know is a tricky set of three numbers to get lined up, as it’s easy to get high horsepower at high revs but normally the torque drops off, which is less than desirable for a jetboat. Adam runs the LS engines on either a modified factory ECU and loom or a stand-alone aftermarket ECU like a New Zealand–made Link. Obviously, the boat can’t be put on a dyno to set up the ECU, so initial tuning is dialled in on the trailer backed in the water using up to 50 per cent fuel ratios. Using headphones, Adam listens for engine knock, gets it close, then runs the boat on the river with the jet unit acting like a dyno for the final tuning.

The cooling of a V8 in a boat is interesting, as there is no airflow over the sump as in a car but the bottom of the hull is running in cool water, making the temperature of the engine bay cooler than a car bay most of the time. Engine cooling is still required, though, and there are a couple of options: a closed heat exchanger with copper pipes, recirculating the engine water around the outside of the pipes, or an open-loop cooling system with a water mixer that mixes the water you are boating in and again thermostatically regulates how much is recirculated.

Most people use an open cooling system as it is cheaper, and most of the time customers are running their boat in fresh clean water. Some customers also choose to have an oil cooler, which is thermostatically controlled in a similar fashion.

Water-jacketed exhaust manifolds made from thick-walled cast alloy cool down the exhaust temperatures with the water running around the outside of the exhaust. Not only do these manifolds look like a piece of art you could display in your foyer but they are cleverly designed so that the water exits the downside of the manifold, giving it no chance of getting back into the engine.

On the propulsion side of things, all that horsepower has to be converted into forward thrust, and Jettec chooses to run different jet units from Hamilton Jet, Scott Waterjet, Southern Jet, and

Flo Pro, depending on the drivetrain spec, size of boat, and what the boat will be mostly used for.

Some jet units can run one, two, or three impellers but the most common is two impellers, with pitch and nozzle diameter determined by the expected horsepower of the engine. It’s super important to get this right to avoid slippage, especially in high-speed corners such as a fast U-turn, where you need lots of grip and control of the boat, as the unit needs to be pumping water for that control to be achieved.

The heart of the jet unit is the impellers, their clearance tolerances, and their condition, so if the boat is run in shallow gravel beds or across sand bars the impeller leading edges will wear quickly and become dull and inefficient. Pumping sand also increases the wear to impeller clearance, causing cavitation and loss of performance.

Jet units are energy-sucking contraptions, and due to the water drag, a jet unit actually tries to stall the moment you take your foot off the gas — similar to putting your foot hard on the brake in a car without depressing the clutch. This is most likely to happen with quick off-throttle moments such as when you are cruising at 3000–4000rpm and suddenly back off the gas — perhaps, for example, when you aren’t sure which river channel to take. For this reason, the engine has to be set up with a high idle, often called the ‘idle base duty cycle’ to keep the engine at high-enough rpm to avoid a dangerous cut-out.

When it comes to reversing, there is no clutch, there is no gearbox, and there are no brakes — pretty much describes an old Mazda rally car I had! — but there is a mechanical ‘reverse bucket’, which is simply a curved bucket that comes down over the jet nozzle and directs water under the boat against the river flow for a neutral position when partially down, or for backwards thrust when the bucket fully covers the nozzle. This makes good use of Newton’s third law of motion — every action has an equal and opposite reaction — and is basically the same as the reverse thrust felt when holding a powerful fire hose. On the end of the jet unit, the steering nozzle has tuneable alloy inserts to change the boat’s cruise speeds and engine operating rpm. There is often also a trim nozzle for trimming the front of the boat up or down to get ultimate

performance from the hull.

Jetboats are more complicated than cars when it comes to drivetrain options, as there is no perfect boat, engine, and jet unit for every boating situation.

Different drivetrains and hulls will have advantages and disadvantages over others, and no one design will work perfectly in every boat with every driver for

These manifolds look like a piece of art you could display in your foyer every application. Some people want to tow a skier, some are content with cruising up a river with all the family and a picnic lunch on board, some want to be able to keep going with a grille full of stones on thin water, and some want to carry a load of venison back from a successful weekend’s hunting.

Adam works hard with each owner to determine what they want to do with their boat and what performance they want, then selects the hull, the engine, and the jet unit to achieve this.

You can see that Adam’s definitely a true, diedin-the-wool V8 fan with a passion for world-class engineering and detail, and a genuine guy who loves what he’s doing for a living. He’s definitely working with a different set of parameters and different solutions for high-performance V8s than we are used to with four-wheeled vehicles. He’s not completely one-eyed, though; he also has his own four-wheel project: a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere wagon with factory 318-cubicinch (5.2-litre) V8 that he’s owned for four years, slowly restoring it to look like new again.

Adam would like to take this chance to thank Gary and Gareth from Scott Waterjet, Clayton from Southern Jet for manifold work, Jason from SAS Christchurch for wiring and tuning the LS engines, and SSS Engineering in Christchurch.

37

Ryco’s latest catch-can developed for both diesel and petrol engines RYCO’S MELBOURNE-BASED ENGINEERING TEAM HAS DEVELOPED A FIRST FOR THE AUSTRALASIAN MARKET — A CRANKCASE FILTER SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR BOTH DIESEL AND PETROL ENGINES he release of the upgraded catch-can from Ryco Filters, the RCC351, brings the benefits of bolt-on crankcase filtration enjoyed by diesel operators to high-performance petrol engines.

Fitting a catch-can is a well-known improvement for diesels operating in heavy duty conditions to prevent oil and soot contamination entering a clean air-intake system, leading to more efficient engine operation for longer. What is not so widely known is that crankcase filtration is also great for highperformance petrol engines. Installing a catch-can offers high levels of protection for turbochargers, preventing oil build-up in intercoolers and generally keeping engine components cleaner.

Any vehicle owner serious about the efficiency or longevity of their engine for maintaining performance, improving fuel economy, or longterm reliability, should consider a Ryco RCC351 catch-can among their priority upgrades.

Designed for ease of fitment, the RCC351 features inlet and outlet ports that can be adjusted in several configurations, enabling it to be mounted

T

to almost any vehicle in a variety of locations.

Ryco’s RCC351 mounting bracket system has been developed in Australia for outback conditions.

The bracket is tough, e-coated, and allows the whole unit to be mounted and unmounted quickly, providing for easy inspection and servicing from awkward locations.

A tap has also been incorporated into the sump of the upgraded filter system to allow for easy draining.

The RCC351 upgraded catch-can supersedes the RCC350 version, which was suitable for diesel vehicles only.

For full specs or more info, see ryco.co.nz or call the Ryco team on 0800 838 222.

Outflanking the battle with ball joints REPLACING SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS AND BUSHINGS HAS PROVEN CHALLENGING FOR MECHANICS AND EVEN SUSPENSION SPECIALISTS FOR MANY YEARS, AND CAN CALL FOR A HYDRAULIC PRESS AND SPECIALIZED TOOLING t is not unusual for workshops to buy in ball joints and/or bushings and then send them to specialized workshops to have them installed into the arms. An automotive parts division manager at Repco, Josh Strang, says that even then specialized workshops can have difficulty wrestling these ball joints and bushings into place, occasionally damaging the control arms that they are being fitted to in the process.

“At this point, the decision has to be made to replace with new arms, if available and sensibly priced, or do the rounds of motor wreckers to find second-hand replacements,” he says. To add insult to injury, in most cases those used parts will also need ball joints or bushes replaced before they can be reused. In the meantime, the vehicle can be off the road for several days, taking up valuable workspace, and causing consternation to the owner.

That’s why Australian company Nolathane, which specializes in replacement bushings, has also decided to identify and develop a range of replacement suspension arms for a wide range of vehicles

I

38

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

popular in the Australian and New Zealand markets, creating options that will speed up and reduce the risks in repairs for these vehicles.

The range is sold in single left-hand or righthand units, and fitted with softer, stronger, or smarter bushings

and premium-quality ball joints where applicable.

Josh says the complete solution eliminates the need for a hydraulic press, specialized labour, and tools, resulting in less vehicle downtime, increased workshop efficiency, and profitability.

For the full control-arm range, visit or contact a Repco, Appco, or Napa Auto Parts outlet, or view the range online at nolathane.co.nz.

WIN BIG BOYS TOYS TICKETS Just look up autochannel.co.nz, enter your business email address, choose your industry category, and you will go into the draw to win one of ten double passes to Big Boys Toys

TICKET WORT S $29 EA H CH

The latest automotive products Products

Comp Cams for more power Comp Cams offers a broad range of hot cams for a broad range of vehicles. Comp cams also offers mild or more serious street- or race-tune profiles to suit any need. Priced from $220, they can be paired with various lifters. Contact the team at 1st Auto Parts on 09 638 6439 or see 1stparts.co.nz for more information.

For off-road action With its extra recovery points, higher departure angles, and protected connection points, the X-Bar is specced for off-road action. It sits up to 100mm higher than other bars, offering an average of five degrees more departure angle than OEM and other aftermarket tow bars. The integrated bash plate and protected trailer plug mounts provide additional off-road protection. X-Bar comes with an eight-tonne central recovery point flanked by two, four-tonne recovery points in a fully Australian Design Rules (ADR)– compliant towbar. It has custom forged 700-grade steel recovery points and tow ball mount, high-tensile Australian Standard–grade 10.9 fasteners, and protected trailer socket mount points.

Available exclusively through Beaut Utes and ARB 4x4 centres nationwide; see x-bar.co.nz for stockists, or call 0800 698 277. Priced from $1795 plus fitting.

Control arms for Euros Automaster mobile single-post car hoist Ideal for workshops and garages where space is at a premium, the AM-7251 can be moved by one person with ease once unloaded. And unlike most other mobile vehicle lifts, it will lift to the full working height of a conventional two-post vehicle lift. The four swivel lifting arms are easily adjusted, will lock automatically, and stay in place during operation.

The is AM-7251 $4795 plus GST. Call 0800 214 604, email info@automaster.co.nz, or visit automaster.co.nz for more information.

40

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

Meyle-HD control arms exceed OE standards and have been designed for longer service life. The ball pin joint has an increased ball pin diameter to reduce surface pressure and wear, and it is also heat-treated to make it tougher still. Meyle-HD control arms are available for BMW, Audi, Mini, Porsche, VW, and most other European car brands.

Engineered and quality approved in Germany, all Meyle-HD parts have a four-year warranty.

For more information see meyle.com/en/products-1/ product-lines/meyle-hd/. To buy, contact All Euro Parts on 0800 255 387 or email parts@alleuroparts.co.nz.

Balancing wheels and the budget Raasm air or water hose reel

The CEN-425A is a value for money, automatic data-entry balancer that makes quick work of balancing tasks. It features automatic data entry for diameter and offset, and the button panel is separate from the screen so easy to use. You can select dynamic, ALU1, ALU2, and ALUS balancing modes. Balancing accuracy: +/– 1g, and it has a self-calibrating cycle. It will handle 10- to 24-inch-diameter rims and wheels, up to 65kg. The CEN-425A is $2695, plus GST, delivered. For more info, call 04 567 1405 or see centurydistributors.co.nz.

This 3⁄8-inch Raasm fixed air/water hose reel comes with an ABS drum and brackets in painted steel. The retractable 18m black rubber hose is ideal for keeping busy workshops tidy and working efficiently. Check out Model No. 9430.102. Contact Emco on 07 850 5240, or email sales@emco.co.nz.

Takes the beating about the bush Developed using industry-leading design features, state-of theart manufacturing processes, and robust internal components, Century’s Ultra High Performance 4WD range of batteries is ideal for off-road conditions. The batteries feature vibration resistance, extra reserve capacity, and starting power that 4WD enthusiasts can rely on, off the beaten track. For more on Century’s 4WD batteries, visit centurybatteries.co.nz or call 0800 93 93 93.

Custom mats for utes Wildcat floor mats will help keep work utes clean for the weekends this summer. Unlike the usual one size-doesn’t-fit-at-all types, Wildcat custom fit mats are tailored to fit six of the most popular utes on New Zealand roads. Available as full sets, they are made from hoseoff durable material and feature anti-slip backing to ensure that they stay in place. They are available from automotive stores nationwide, Contact stockists for pricing. For more details, call Griffiths Equipment on 09 525 4575.

41

Making the first step into work a micro step MITO HAS LAUNCHED A NEW ONLINE CREDENTIAL THAT HELPS NEW ENTRANTS TAKE THEIR FIRST STEP INTO THE MOTOR INDUSTRY ITO, the training organization for the automotive industry, has launched a free microcredential that provides ‘foundation knowledge’ for school leavers or people wanting a new career in the automotive industry.

This new introductory course shrinks the gap into the industry in three important ways. It gives candidates both relevant knowledge and the confidence that comes from knowing the basics, and achieving a course pass — even one called ‘micro-credential’. And it also shows employers the graduates are self-starters who can do the work and learn the skills.

“MITO continues to deliver fresh and innovative ways to enhance the pipeline of talent to our industries,” says MITO chief executive Janet Lane.

“Having a free micro-credential course available to anyone who is interested in gaining introductory knowledge that will underpin their future learning is an exciting development for the automotive industry.”

Enrolment is free until 31 March 2021.

Janet Lane says the micro-credential is completed entirely online, so learners do not need to be employed in the industry to complete it. “This will provide a vital connection between local businesses and future employees, continuing MITO’s culture of developing leading-edge workforce development strategies,” she says.

Micro-credentials recognize familiarity

M

42

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

with a defined set of skills and knowledge. The Introduction to Automotive Engineering Microcredential (Level 3) is more substantial than the term ‘micro’ suggests, as it could take up to five months to complete.

It is made up from selected Level 2 and 3 unit standards. On completion, learners will be able to demonstrate foundation knowledge of the tools and equipment used in the automotive industry, automotive vehicle systems and components, and safe work practices. And the micro-credential will be listed on trainees’ NZQA Record of Achievement.

For more information and to enrol, visit mito.nz/aemicro or call 0800 88 21 21.

Janet Lane

Redarc’s chargers manage batteries the smart way Available in 4A, 6A, 8A, and 10A outputs, the Redarc SmartCharge range packs many features into a compact unit sealed against dust and low-pressure water to IP65 standard.

The chargers run through eight charge stages: 1. Analyze — checking for correct connection and short circuits 2. Soft start — checking the battery size and adjusting to the correct current output 3. Main charge 4. Top charge 5. Analyze — checking for individual cell short circuits 6. Float — maintaining 13.8V for 10 days 7. Sleep — sleeping for seven days 8. Wake up — starts charging again from Stage 1.

There are no battery-type settings to select; simply select between 14.4 and 14.7 max output voltage. The chargers adjust the output voltage up to those maximums based on ambient temperatures. Too hot and the voltage is reduced for safety; too cold and the voltage is raised for more efficient charging.

Select ‘Power Supply’ for a constant 13.6V output when trying to rejuvenate an extremely flat battery, power 12V loads directly, or to help maintain a vehicle’s starting battery while the ignition is on.

Safe long-term battery charging is achieved by charging to 100 per cent, holding it charged for 10 days (the float stage), ‘sleeping’ it for seven days, and then charging again from Stage one.

The 8A and 10A models will charge a 12V battery from as low as 2V. For more information, visit redarcelectronics.co.nz.

THE ULTIMATE RACING FILTER MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY, ON THE STREET AND ON THE TRACK www.fram.com

Available from

Supplying to the Trade

New Zealand Wide - Wholesale Only Warehouses in Auckland, Christchurch, Geraldine and Invercargill

• • • • •

Quality brands Prices to the trade Premium and budget tyre options available Excellent profit centre for tyre shops and garages Online ordering 24 hours

FREE PHONE: 0800 80 90 96

EMAIL: blairs@blairs.co.nz WEB: www.tyreorder.co.nz

Auto Channel has unsurpassed reach into the wider Automotive trade, direct mailed to over 11,000 business owners in New Zealand.

Call me to today to discuss ways I can help you grow your business through NZ’s highest circulating automotive trade publication!

Mark Everleigh - 09 222 1729

Supplier directory

PA R Be TS

a S ra ring UP di s P at , d LY or iff : s, s, en al SE gi ter RV ne n O IC co ato ils E ,g C m rs, po br re O as N ne ak e, S nt e c co UM s, om ol A W Ba p an B O tte on L t R , E rie en Ra K t S r an : s ts gs SH , s cl , lu O fl ea b P ui ne ric C d, rs an O bu , C ts N lb SU ar , P SU s, flu SP C PE M ar , A sh Ti E a B e e N er L es , r A bu od SIO irc oso ES on ls : sh s, N ,a es ba & br , b ll j S as ea oin TE AF iv rin ts E es TE , r RI g , s, ac N Au R sh k G di M oc en : dr o, AR ks ds es pe K , s rf ET up or , p m AC W ai an C nt ce ES O /w p S D RK ra ar O ia S p, ts, RI g ha no HO dr bo ES nd sti P iv d : el y c E to s, Q iv ki e ts ol ho U s, is IP , RE sp ts M PA , ec e E N Au IR l ia ec T l to ist tr : en E SER se ics gi lec V rv , p ne tr IC ic ow i e c re al E: eq er bu , g W ui to ild ea pm ol IN r s b , D W S en s, su ox in C t sp es d m sc RE en , c irr re E sio yli or en N nd n S s, s ,c e w ,c & oo r h ip hi G W er p LA lin ead H s, re S g s, E O E cu pa S EM LS st irs : om , s re re & pa p T fit ide irs lac YR m gl , c em E en as S: o t s, e ns n AU t um , TO t re ab yre st R le s, s, fit su ora EFI in tin pp tio N ne g lie n, ISH r t /b s, sm E ub ala sp a R es nc ra sh S: in yp re g, ai pa nt ir er s, s, au pa to in b tc o or dy re ct io n

YOUR GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND'S LEADING AUTOMOTIVE TRADE SUPPLIERS

    

   

    

    

   

     

0800 472 787 0800 200 100 0800 445 889 0800 333 125 aecs.net 06 874 9077 bntnz.co.nz 09 414 3200 hcb.co.nz or 0800 422 228

     

precisionequipment.co.nz 0800 246 478



jasoceania.co.nz or 0800 527 335



dieseldistributors.co.nz or 09 265 0622 09 836 6673

 

 

 

 

 

autolign.co.nz or 09 574 2288 tatp.co.nz or 0800 268 266

      

   

   

smitsgroup.co.nz or 0800 227 422

  

  







griffithsequipment.co.nz or 09 525 4575



parts@1stautoparts.co.nz or 09 638 6439 mountshop.co.nz or 0508 866 686







bmw.co.nz or 0508 269 727 cyb.co.nz or 09 978 6666





0800 465 855 0800 549 429

 

automaster.co.nz or 0800 214 604 centurydistributors.co.nz

 

  

     

dtm.co.nz or 0800 621 233

nzmotoroils.com or 0800 942 645





 

 







 

0800 383 566 06 306 8446 or blackfern.coop redarcelectronics.co.nz 0800 757 333 or fenixautoparts.co.nz







crc.co.nz or 09 272 2700 rjbatt.co.nz or 09 636 5980

 #27 October August 2020 Auto Channel Issue #29 2020

patchrubber.co.nz or 0508 837 248

penriteoil.co.nz or 0800 533 698



44

smitsgroup.co.nz or 0800 227 422



treadwayequipped.co.nz 0800 436 436

        

      

 

 



 



sales@advancefc.co.nz 0800 538 058

holden.co.nz/dealers







07 850 5240

0800 188 122





  

 

mmnz.co.nz or 0800 54 53 52

cooldrive.co.nz or 0800 327 868

ryco.co.nz or 0800 838 222

ford.co.nz or 0800 367 369

tyreorder.co.nz or 0800 80 90 96

moreyoil.co.nz or 09 813 9200

gearwrench.co.nz

The Auto Channel supplier directory is your easy reference for sourcing a range of automotive products and services.

This directory is a paid service for businesses who supply to the New Zealand automotive trade.

To secure your inclusion, contact Mark Everleigh on 09 222 1729 or mark.everleigh@parkside.co.nz.

TIME TO UPDATE THOSE 2007 COPIES OF WOMAN’S WEEKLY IN YOUR WAITING ROOM?

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE AND HAVE FIVE NEW MAGAZINES DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS!

ONL $199Y !

0800 727 574 OR MAGSTORE.NZ/BUSINESS

45

a S ra ring UP di s P at , d LY or iff : s, s, en al SE gi ter RV ne n O IC co ato ils E ,g C m rs, po br re O as N ne ak e, S nt e c co UM s, om ol A W Ba p an B O tte on L t R , E rie en Ra K t S r a s ts gs SH : n , s cl , lu O fl ea b P ui ne ric C d, O rs an bu , C ts N lb SU ar , P SU s, flu SP C PE M a , a AB sh Ti E r e e N es , A er L r S bu od IO irc oso ES on ls : sh s, N ,a es ba & br , b ll j S as ea oin TE AF iv rin ts E es TE , r RI g , s, ac N Au R sh k G di M oc en : dr o, AR ks ds es pe K , s rf ET up or , p m AC W ai an C nt ce ES O /w p S D RK ra ar O ia S g p, ts, RI ha no HO dr bo ES nd sti P iv d : el y c E to s, Q iv ki e ts ol ho U s, is IP , RE sp ts M PA , ec e E N Au IR l ia ec T lis t : to S t s ric en E ER er s, gi lec V vi po ne tr IC ce w i c re al E: eq er bu , g W ui to ild ea pm ol IN s, rb W DS en s, su ox in C t sp es d m sc RE en , c irr re E sio yli or en N n, nd s, s S co er w ,c & ip hi G W ol he er p LA in ad H s, re S g s, E O E cu pa S EM LS st irs : om , s re re & pa p T fit ide irs lac YR m gl , c em E en as on e S: t s, AU su nt, TO m ty re ab re st R le s, s, fit su ora EFI in tin pp tio N ne g lie n, ISH r t /b s, sm E ub ala sp a R es nc ra sh S: in yp re g, ai pa nt ir er s, s, au pa to in b tc o or dy re ct io n

PA R Be TS

Auto Agencies goes digital AUTO AGENCIES LAUNCHES DIGITAL CATALOGUE, PUTTING ITS EXPERTISE ONLINE AND ON TAP he team at Christchurch’s Auto Agencies has a wealth of knowledge and a customer experience you can trust, based on more than 60 years’ experience.

This doesn’t mean that the company is sitting back and taking it easy. It has launched an online catalogue, helping to make looking for parts easy and efficient. Auto Agencies’ Dave Jennings expects this extensive catalogue to be an engine for growth in the coming years.

Auto Agencies specializes in cooling and electrical, engine management, and ignition products for old and new cars. It imports quality brands from around the world, such as Facet, Blue Streak, Jubilee, Warren & Brown, Gauss, and Pioneer. This variety makes it the ideal place to look for genuine Jubilee hose clamps, Facet thermostats, ignition and sensors, Protec ignition leads, caps, rotors, coils, bulbs, radiator caps, wipers, and much more. And since 2016, the company has been the manufacturer and distributor of Sealwel cooling system sealant.

The company aims to make the difficult choices involved in repairs simpler by stocking only products that have proven quality. This Kiwi

T

family–owned business has done all the hard work, sourcing only products of premium quality, informed by the team’s extensive experience.

“Not only are our products top quality, we have those often hard-to-get parts,” says Dave.

Auto Agencies is pleased to offer its products to Blackfern members. It offers overnight delivery throughout New Zealand.

For more information or to check out the catalogue, go to the company’s website, autoagencies.co.nz; email sales@autoagencies.co.nz; or call 03 313 7709.

Above: Sales manager Gavin Bright. Below: Directors Dave Jennings and Cheryl Jennings

Auto Channel is the best way to reach the wider automotive industry. The publication is direct mailed to 11,298 New Zealand businesses in the following automotive sectors: Automotive workshops Parts importers and distributors Transmission specialists Automotive recyclers Towing operators Panel beaters and painters Crash repairers Tyre dealers Suspension and underbody repairers Steering specialists Towing operators Auto-electrical repairers New- and used-car dealers Air conditioning repairers Heavy machinery dealers Trucking and transport

Auto Channel Issue No. 30 distributed 27 October Editorial: editor@autochannel.co.nz Advertising: Mike White michael.white@parkside.co.nz All other enquiries to: autochannel.co.nz Auto Channel is produced by Parkside Media, publishers of NZ’s three biggest-selling automotive magazines NZ Performance Car, New Zealand Classic Car, and NZV8.

46

Auto Channel Issue #29 October 2020

STRUT MOUNTS

SWAY BAR LINKS

SWAY BAR BUSHES

SUSPENSION BUSHES

SUSPENSION ARMS

s R t s Ai

l C a R i

c E e D p

UN S

QUALITY • SERVICE • KNOWLEDGE • LATEST RANGES WHANGAREI . HENDERSON . PENROSE . HAMILTON . PALMERSTON NORTH . LOWER HUTT . CHRISTCHURCH

WIN A WORKMATE worth $38,000 or a share in over $60,000 worth of prizes.

SIMPLY PURCHASE PRODUCTS FROM THESE GREAT BRANDS:

BATTERIES

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

Promo runs 1 October - 30 November. Ask your local branch or sales rep for full terms and conditions.