Rare racer on road to recovery

The refurbishment of a rare racing Datsun is on track to be finished by Christmas.

Maungaturoto automotive painter Terry McCook brought the 1975 Datsun 120Y SSS almost two years ago and is returning it to its original condition.

“I really like classic cars and because I worked at Datsun this was an ideal project for me to take on,” Terry says.

This particular model was built only in New Zealand to compete in the Benson and Hedges 500, a saloon car race held at Pukekohe from 1968 to 1980.

“Only 100 triple S models were built in 1975, so it’s not a car you see every day.”

The car features an original Datsun radio.

The car cost just under $5000 new and, despite having a 1200cc four-cylinder engine, producing 92.5 brake horse power, it could do up to 172 kilometres an hour.

Its performance was subject to enhancements by Performance Developments, led by top New Zealand race driver Dennis Marwood. Improvements included a rally spec camshaft and purpose-built extractor system to replace the standard exhaust manifold.

Since purchasing the car, Terry has done extensive work on it, with the engine and head gasket set to be dropped in soon.

Finer details include new badges, indicator lights and an original car radio.

“There are a few decisions I’m still making details like whether I should put in a new four-speed gear box or the original.”

Terry entered the automotive industry as a painter in Maungaturoto in 1975.

He switched to the Datsun plant in Wiri in 1980, where he worked as a foreman at the factory.

“The cars were known to be rust buckets in the early days, but in my four years there I think we really improved that reputation by doing a better paint job.

“I was particularly good at painting metallics. I helped teach the staff and we could do around 65 cars a day.”

He moved on to Howick Auto Painters and then back to Maungaturoto in 1988 to start his current business, Maungaturoto Auto Painters.

He has owned a number of cars over the years, mainly Fords, including a MK I Capri, MK II GT Cortina and now a fully LPG-powered Falcon.