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BUCKLERS LEAD -- OTHERS FOLLOW |
  
Mervyn Mayo's Car now owned by Kelvin Brown
Kelvin is the archivist for New Zealand and the author
of a book covering all the NZ
Bucklers and much much more
Kelvin has kindly donated some history of this car...
Hoping for some photos soon !
Mervyn Mayo's Car
This was an early type of "kit car" with UK origin, home
built by Mervyn Mayo in Papatoetoe. It was finished and
registered new in October 1956. The original design used
basic 1950 era Ford 10. E93. type, transmission, axles,
brakes, three speed gearbox, and transverse springs,
gear and axle ratios were modified. The engine was a
side valve 1172cc. Ford 100E, but fitted with an Elva
overhead inlet conversion head, twin SU carbs, and other
standard modifications.
The multi tube Buckler Mk.90 chassis and divided axle
front suspension were imported from the UK for Merv by
Arthur Harris of Bucklers NZ Ltd. A locally built Jarvie
fibreglass body completed very well built project.
Arthur Harris of Bucklers and other Auckland motor
racing friends including Phil Kerr, Colin Beaniand, and
Bruce Mcl.aren were of help during the cars
construction, it was one of the first Mk.90's to race
here. Mervyn was eventually to own the company Bucklers
NZ Ltd.
For the era these Bucklers were quite special little
road going sports racers. cars of simple design light
but strong, well constructed, fast for the time (100 mph
), they handled well with their split front axle
suspension. This one had a very interesting history as
it was raced extensively throughout the country for some
ten years and it was driven to most meetings, the
Buckler was able to beat a Cooper Climax or Lotus Eleven
factory sports of similar capacity. and to out perform
many other larger capacity cars as well.
Merv Mayo's success in the first year of competition had
him short listed with two other talented young Kiwi
drivers, Phill Kerr and Bruce McLaren for the initial NZ
Driver to Europe scheme, that was finally awarded to
Bruce. Subsequently his car was owned and driven by
other young drivers of note early in their motor racing
careers, Malcolm Gill, Scott Wisemann. Andrew Buchanan,
Leo Leonard and others.
During those often quoted "Golden Years ", of New
Zealand motor sport the car was raced on just about all
of the well known original circuits, Ardmore, Ohakea,
Levin, Ahuriri. Mt Manganui. Renwick, Wigram, Ruapuna,
Waimate, Dunedin, Teretonga, and in many other speed
events as well like 0E2.
Merv and his Buckler competed in the main Dunedin
Festival Race in 1958. and was entered for the Lady
Wigram Trophy, but it was usually the supporting races
of the main International events held that it was
entered. In the 1950's and early 60's supporting races
on those programmes were usually a mix of scratch and
handicap races, with cars of various sizes and types,
Formula Libra, sports, racing, and Grand Prix cars wore
able to compete against each other.
As a result this little Buckler sports diced with some
exotic company, against most of the NZ drivers of note
and many international drivers as well, legends of their
time. Two of them went on to become World Champions in
Fl. And what an amazing variety of specials, sports, and
racing cars it was able to share the starting grid and
race with. many were classics of their time. Now most of
those old European factory sports racers and Grand Prix
cars, worth millions of dollars, have returned back into
overseas ownership for restoration, some in museums, but
a few others still compete in glamour classic events.
In my own interest 1 have checked back through many of
the old race programmes over those years to associate
cars, drivers, and events in which this special little
Ford 10 based NZ Buckler sports car competed, just some
of those astounding cars and drivers are listed, not a
bad line up for the times, what great memories those
names do recall.
ACE 1 1 1
Wally Darrell
Alfa Romeo P3
John Mansel, Brian Tracey, (a famous ex Nuvolari car)
Allard J2 Cadillac
Vic Shuter
Ardun Special
Brian Tracey (originally the Marlborough Thomas)
Ausca
Paul England Aus.
Austin Healey
Doc Langley, George Lawton
Austin Healey 1 OOS
Ross Jensen
Austin Healey Corvette
Arthur Kennard
Austin Special
Chris Amon
BCM
John Armstrong
Buckler Mk.Vl
Phil Kerr
Buckler LeMans
Jim Boyd, Ivy Stephenson
Citroen Special
Vic Blackburn
Connaught
Jim Fenton
Cooper 500
Sid Jensen
Cooper Bristol
George Palmer, Len Gilbert
Cooper Climax Sports
Jack Brabham, Alan McKay, lan McKeller, Merv Neil,
George Lawton
Cooper Climax
Ron Frost, Bruce Mclaren, Angus Hyslop, Tony Shelley
Edelbrock Special
Frank Shuter
Ferrari 750 Monza
Ken Wharton UK, Ken Harris, John Riley, Bill Thomasen
Ferrari 375
Ron Roycroft
Ferrari 256
Pat Hoare
Ferrari 275GTB
Geoff Richardson UK
Ferrari 555 Super Squalo
Torn Clark, Bob Smith
HWM Cadillac
Darrell & Ted Avery
HWM Alta
Jim Boyd
Jaguar C Type
David Young
Jaguar D Type
Bob Gibbons, Angus Hyslop
Lago Talbot
Allen Freeman
Lola Climax
John Riley, Barrv Cottle, Doug Lawrence.
Lister Jaguar
Archie Scott Brown UK
Lotus Eleven
Roly Crowther, Howden Ganley
Lotus Fifteen
Arthur Moffatt, Barrv Porter, Jim Palmer
Lycoming Special
Malcolm Gill
Maserati 4CLT
Brian Blackburn
Maserati 6CM
Roly Crowther
Maserati 8CM
Tom Clark
Maserati 8CLT
Frank Shuter
Maserati 25O F
Ross Jensen, John Mansell, Gavin Quirke, W Eade, Brian
Prescott
Mercury Special
Peter Leversedge
MG
Denny Hulme
Normac Special
R McCutcheon
Norris 120 EN
Errol Norris
Northland Special
Lionel Bullcraig
Riley Brooklands
Don Ransley
Ranslev Riley
Don Stewart
RAL
Roly Levis
RA Vanguard
Geoff Mardon
RJR Special
Ron Roycroft
Stanton Special
Morrie Stanton, Charlie Bensomann
Stanton Corvette
Morrie Stanton
Stuart Special
Neill Stuart
Tec Mec
Rod Coppins, John Mansel
Toiero Jaguar
Frank Cantwell
TR2 Mistral
Douq Lawrence
260M Zephyr
Ron Rutherford
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