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Alastair Sloane

Race-based Jaguar up for grabs

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Up for auction in the US next week is a Jaguar XJR-15, one of 27 road legal models based on the XJR-9 racer that won the Le Mans 24-hour event in 1988. Another XJR-15 sold two years ago in the US for $US1,902,500 million ($NZ3,06m). The auction car recently landed in the US from Asia and will be the headline act at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island sale on March 4. Bidding is … [Read more...] about Race-based Jaguar up for grabs

Anti-theft ‘cat shields’ for Toyota hybrids

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Toyota and its luxury arm Lexus are selling cars in the US with an optional ‘cat shield’, in an effort to stymie the theft of catalytic converters, a crucial exhaust component which contains a precious metal worth six times more than gold. Hybrid models from the Japanese nameplates are the main targets because they have anti-pollution devices with even more precious metals … [Read more...] about Anti-theft ‘cat shields’ for Toyota hybrids

1974 Corvette and bucket of soapy water

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A 1974 Chevrolet Corvette discovered in a barn in the US has had its first wash in 34 years. Bought by its second owner in 1982, the C3 Corvette was driven until 1989, when it was parked in the barn. And that’s where it’s stayed for the past three decades – along with the rats and mice that called it home. The car was pretty much complete, except there was nothing left of the … [Read more...] about 1974 Corvette and bucket of soapy water

Hitting road in Hilux adventure camper

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The latest off-road camper from Japanese specialist Direct Cars is based on a 4x4 ute that is likely to join the Toyota fleet in New Zealand this year – the beefier Toyota Hilux GR. The GR ute itself will no doubt slot comfortably into the country’s best-selling vehicle segment. On the other hand, the GR-based camper conversion is very much a factory-finished niche product, … [Read more...] about Hitting road in Hilux adventure camper