Horopito scrap yard visit

[Jon]

From the archives:

Last Friday, I returned to Horopito scrap yard, which I'd previously visited in March 2008. On that occasion, I was on holiday with the future Mrs_wagon, so the visit was fleeting, to say the least. This time however, I went with my cousin and uncle, both long-term Land Rover enthusiasts (fortunately not members of the 'One Life...' brigade) and the women were suitably dispatched to the shops, so I had high hopes of taking my time and absorbing and photographing everything of interest.

Anyway, this is what greets visitors on arrival to the yard, a good taste of things to come:



There was no evidence of it having been vandalised, rather just picked of parts over the years, which is refreshing since it's easily approachable from the roadside. Anyway, at the reception we handed over our optional $2 (£1) donation so as to take a look round the 'museum' part and the yards. First up was the upstairs section of parts for sale:




My uncle was excited to find a 'pork pie' tail lamp for his Series 1 LR project, which to him was a seal of approval as to the stock as they're apparently hard to find. He'd recently picked up a pair so didn't buy, therefore we weren't able to ask about prices though had heard they aren't cheap. Fair enough I suppose.




Got to admit this would be a much nicer shot without the poundland trim. Give it 25 years or so and it might just be interesting but I doubt it really.



Not sure how much call there is for used distributor caps and leads. Maybe I've just never owned an obscure enough car.


Plenty of demand for grilles I suppose:













Interesting to see a D-Series next to a Trader, I didn't know they sold them concurrently; or is this perhaps just a dealer sign to illustrate what they service?




Lastly for now, I'll leave you with a Cavalier SRI type wheeltrim which has me stumped:



I'm thinking Subaru for some reason but can't think what model. I like that the valve cap hole looks to be the same size as the wheelnut ones. They probably are on most cars and I've just never noticed.

[Jon]

Anyway, I finished last time still inside the 'museum' part (quite why it's called this I don't know, since almost everything's for sale). A quick look out the window gives a taste of things to come:




Making my way downstairs, I see these lights but sadly it's as near as I got to seeing a whole one. I'd love one of these but it'd have to be a basic one; the sporting models do little for me.




Downstairs in a dingy corridor was a door from an old truck commemorating the 1981 film of the same name, shot at Horopito. 



It was on TV a few months back but I missed it. It's probably not that great a film though, much like most NZ efforts of the time.


Anyway, out into the light of day and I'm dissapionted at how low the winter sun is, making it not only difficult to take photos but even look at some of the cars. Oh well, at least it was dry.



I had to go round to the front to work out this crusty wagon was a Simca, though I knew I'd seen something special.




Next up, a more common Antipodean wagon, an Aussie built Chrysler Valiant. A CJ model I think but I'm still trying to get to grips with the coding of Oz cars.






Great to see a model I don't think I've ever seen on the road or at a show, a Minx 2dr/coupe I assume from the mid-50s. What struck me though was how large it looked next to the Fiat 500, as I'd never really considered the earlier models to be a Cortina sized car for some reason, possibly because of the cutesy styling.




At first I was concerned that this Datsun Bluebird was the complete and very solid one I'd seen 3 years ago. Thankfully not!




Rather used Mark 1 Cortina estate. Probably still attractive to the type of people who think 17" rims would look good on it.




This was next to the Cortina and equally bad/impressive. Can't identify it but the American styling yet small size makes me think it's a Simca? I've been in NZ too long - even mywritten sentences are ending in a question....


I seem to have subconciously taken lots of photos of estate cars up to this point, even though saloons far outweighed them. Here's a fancy pants Fiat (2300?) I saw back in 2008 and took a snap of then. 

2008:




2011:



Great colour consistency by me there. Not a lot's changed at the front, other than the detritus on the bonnet. I'm surprised to see those natty chrome side window vents are still there though. Also, the yard owners seem to have cleared some trees, most likely to house more junk. Nice one lads!




However, the back seems to be returning to nature somewhat and I can't work out whether it was like that or not last time.


Another estate, though this time even I can identify it as a Hillman Super Minx:




And finally for now, though the car didn't do much for me, I saw a good photo opportunity and took it.




More to come later. Many more.

[Jon]

Another shot that I thought some may appreciate but didn't do much for me:




And then another couple of revisits.

2008:



2011:



Shame this Fiat 850's had it's rear screen smashed, especially when it had a rather groovy rainbow sticker applied to it. It's a little rougher round the edges in areas but has generally survived well despite being stored outside on grass.


Now for one of a handfull of NZ designed and built cars, the Trekka:

2008:



2011:



There's a website that has a register of survivors but this wasn't one fo them last time I checked. Essentially a locally bodied Land Rover-alike with 2wd Skoda mechanicals, I'm not quite sure what the creators were thinking. Kind of a pre-emptive Rancho but without the character. Ho-hum.




Just in case you thought that Fiats that refuse to rust were the norm, here's a Vauxhall to show 'em how it's done.


This one got me quite excited, even if I couldn't remember whether the single headlamps marked out as an Austin Kimberley or a Tasman. Turns out it could be either if I'm to believe Google images.






Early-ish Urvan interlude before....


Another Aussie BMC discovery! 



It's a Morris Nomad, built between 1969-72 according to Wikipedia/AROnline, so I'm guessing there aren't many survivors. Apologies again for the poor shots but I just had to take the picture and hope for the best, the sun was that blinding. It obviously spent enough time on the road to break a front sidelight/indicator unit and be replaced by a couple of generic bullet lights. 



Funny how this design was sanctioned when it's so similar in principal to the Maxi of the exact same era.




Nice period spotlight modification to this Victor/Cresta




Thought this pic of cars going back to their Rootes (humour) would make a good screensaver. Except I can't keep a screensaver on my desktop for some reason. No idea what the white ute is which the Minx is sat on.




The front of this Corsair reminded me of Jimmy off South Park for some reason.




This one didn't, though it's a 2dr model so worthy of a snap I thought. I've only noticed that the car to its rear on the right has yellow plates, which were all handed back some time in the early 60s to be replaced by the black ones with a new numbering system, so it's likely to have been sat there for at least 50 years.




Toyota Crown wagon with a pleasing original registration which reads FZ1. Take a look at the shadow it's casting though - I told you the sun was low!




Can't remember what the Leyland version of the Standard Atlas was called but this was one of them.


Lastly for today, I'll leave you with a Skoda which, in my eyes was far more modern looking than the Octavia which I assume succeeded it. I know people often have the idea but I reckon this would look great put back on the road as is. Never gonna happen though.




Up next; a smattering of Euro-scat.

[Jon]

Through one of the outbuildings and out the other side, you come across a small section of European motors, mainly Renaults. It's funny to see plastic bumpers etc. after having been immersed in so much metal and chrome content prior to this.



There's still plenty of Fuegos on the roads if Trademe is to be believed, though I've yet to see one. 




Both 25s appeared to be the phase 1 versions - I've never noticed the ribbed bumpers before. This one looks to be a 1986 model by the plate, as they were issued sequentially and turned from white on black to black on white when the Nx xxxx sequences came in to play at the end of that year. Next to it is one of many Renault 12s - so many in fact that they almost seemed a bit boring, so I didn't take any shots of them.




This was very worthy though - one for Mr Bu77ocks. Sadly I couldn't work out the age of this Croma but the brown paintwork makes me think it's an early one. These were universally panned by the press in Aus, ending up in one of their many Lemon car books. I've no idea how many were sold here but with a presumably high price and a population of 4 million, I doubt they ever made 3 figures. At least the yard owners seem to appreciate this.





Here's the Datsun Bluebird I'd been concerned about earlier. Not a great picture but good to know it's still in one piece. Note the numerous Mk1 Escort grilles behind.




Walking through the workshop area, I see a few more grilles hung up and this one caught my eye. A Marina 6 grille; funny how they made the larger engine'd front look like a Toyota Corolla.





Generic statement as to the value of this panel, with reference to retirement funds.








What I now know to be a Hillman Californian, since I saw one for sale online yesterday. Therefore they aren't really that rare afterall.

Anyway, this draws to conclusion the parts of Horopito which I'd previously had chance to visit. Up next will be the highlights of the second yard, which has slightly more modern machinery (read late 1960s - early 90s). Here's an overview of what I saw but wasn't able to wander round 3 years ago:

[Jon]

Righto, I've found a couple of spots from the first yard area so will drop them in before this post takes an oriental slant (more humour, a' la J.Davidson).



Skoda MB, not the only one I spotted and more popular than I had expected, hence why the Trekka had Skoda running gear presumably.





This is the last of the camparison photos I have and though this Dodge does little for me (just don't like the fronts compared to its American contemporaries), I did see it being dispatched off a low loader in 2008:







This Datsun was seemingly the only Japanese car of interest in the first yard and has had its C-pillars cut off to save another one.


Anyway, onwards to the second yard. I'm pretty sure that most of the cars here are fair game for removing bits from, so a bit more of a working yard. Apparently though the owners aren't keen on selling parts from some when asked, since they're 'too complete', which is a bit of a catch 22 for a breakers.




Were steel wheels ever an option on these Cosmos? I've seen some which appear to have been sold 'NZ new', wearing black plates. It seems that the grey import market really opened up from 1987 onwards (and car manufacturing in NZ declined as such), so judging by the mirrors this is one of the latter.





Quite obviously Mazda corner, with the Cosmo sharing space with a few early 626s and a couple of 808 wagons, or RXwhatever if they're rotary powered.







An imported Toyota of some sort and quite desirable to one or two in the know, according to Kyteler on his blog. Once again, good to see some steel wheels.




Not so Grande.










I've no idea how this Bluebird got in this state - surely if it had been lifted they would have gone through both the doorframes?






Another mystery. Looks like it was target practice for somebody with an air rifle and a lump hammer. Next to it is a RWD 323 wagon of absolute no interest to any young men in New Zealand with poor tastes in wheels and exhausts.



One for Barrett




Hopefully saveable. I hadn't noticed before more how much the front resembles a Tredia.




A sort of Japanese car, if you count that later Holden Camiras were essentially rebranded Isuzu Askas. The one on top is a JB Camira, so pure Aussie world car.



The red one on the bottom has different shaped rear doors and clear indicators, so I think it's one of the uber-ugly later Aska derived models. Camiras epitomise Motoscat for me as they're a car which was initially very successful, then universally panned (once again mentioned in the Aus Lemons car books) and as such these two double the amount of ones I have seen. Rex would be pleased.

Next time, some Fords and more European drivel.

[Jon]

Last time I forgot to add a quick snap of the Subaru contingent, so here it is:





Fords now:



These Sierra's differ from the UK ones in that they both appear to be L models, judging by the wheels yet will most probably have the 2.0 litre engine. I don't think that there was any other engine option and if there was, it can't have been common. The 2.0 L model was also common model of Cortina too. Indeed, the Sierra is a good example of how Ford NZ distanced itself somewhat from Ford Australia, as I don't think the Sierra was ever offered there. Bizarrely, it was only the estates that were initially offered, as Ford already had saloon and hatchback Telstars on the forecourts, themselves a Mazda GC 626 with different frontal treatment. Later on the Sapphire arrived and the estate continued, yet at some point they must have been selling the Sierra/Telstar estates and the Sapphire/Telstar saloon at the same time. Bonkers!

Onwards to Escortland.






THE BEST CAR IN THE WORLD. Also what appears to be the Cortina being touted in the advert above, though I did see another very similar one.




I'm especially pleased with the fact that I managed not to get a satisfactory shot of any of the 10 Escorts in this photo. Skillz.


It was getting too expensive just to look at all that valuable* tin, so I moved on to something a little cheaper.



Catchy name.




Yet another variant of a Hillman Minx, nestling into the Aussie scat corner. Just to the right you can see a Commodore, one of a few there. However, I've become a Commodore snob and since mine's a VB and all others were VC onwards-models, I didn't deem them worthy of photographing. 



One for those who like close-ups of badges. A Sunbird is one of the cars on my wishlist, mainly for the truck-sized rear lamps.



I can't remember whether Princesses were manufactured in NZ in ckd form or not, though they seemed to be relatively popular in their day.



Seen from afar, the top one has natty twin headlamps - does this signify anything rare or unusual? Have I hit Princess holy grail after the Wolesley version?




Dauphine in half-hearted French sector.




"All Red wants to do is stuff his face"




Fiat 132? I took a good few shots of this but in reality these show all you need to see.







One for Seth, ready lowered without the effort. Bonus Ford dartboard rim for misleading amateurs.




Many for Seth. I'm too young to remember a time when a British scrap yard would have offered this scene. A great view, though taking a look beyond this pile revealed....







These beauties. I knew about the existence of the Solara in NZ but not the Alpine. Once again, thanks sun for ruining a snap.



Rear end shot garnered better results. It was at this point which I was contemplating the last time I could remember seeing an Alpine and came to the conclusion it was around 1988. Casually glancing at the row behind the Avengers and Hunters, reveals another one!



This one was slightly more complete and even had one of the original wheels and hubcap sitting on the front seat. It was also able to offer an insight into period giffer repairs.







Anyway, I beleive this is what's known as ending on a high. Hopefully I'll have tailored the content to a Motoscat mentality, rather than just documenting the same stuff seen elsewhere. Hence why I didn't take a shot of the Blue Slough built DS.



But that's not all! Commercial corner to be revealed next time.

[Jon]

Although some lorries are on site, there weren't many and I'm sure that visiting lorry pervs would have documented these, so I didn't get any shots of them. Plus it was a bit boggy and I was wearing trendy* skate shoes.


There were quite a few Transits and I think I got a bit carried away, as if I'd been having withdrawal symptons from seeing them about:




Strange to see that this still has its side panels intact - 99% of vans here have side windows.




Like this one. Love the shonkiness of these hinged side loading doors, it ages the origins of them so well.







I quite like the 'less is more' custom style of this but wonder how far the mods actually went?







Would love to know when this stopped working for a living. Obviously someone was too tight to pay for side windows from Ford, opting for the next best thing. Bizarrely this is still common practise on new vans here.




Then I redressed the balance somewhat with a photo of some Bedfords, though these sold much better here and aren't too uncommon on the roads still.




Bedford J series (what a confusing range it was) in period livery. Why don't more people do stuff like this when restoring commercials?




CHEER UP




Datsun 620 ute in a fetching shade of the 1970s.




Seeing a Meastro van in NZ really was a shock to the system. I know the Montego and Metro sold here from the mid 1980s onwards but don't know if the Meastro was, so have no idea if these were marketed or whether this is some export from an ex-pat. Either way, replacement grilles and bumpers were evidently in short supply.






Not a commercial vehicle. Sorry about that.


A couple of Thames vans:







Something much older. Any ideas what the frame would've supported? Surely it's not a roll cage?!






PURE EVIL. Had to reattach the grille on this to more easily identify it as some sort of Toyota.




Finally, amongst the $$$$$ of Ford Escorts lay this dormant Opel. I'd be very surprised if these weren't extinct. Don't think I've ever seen one, other than the odd ex German fire service one. This, the Toyota above, the Alpines and a few others really made the trip worthwhile, seeing things you'd stand next to no chance of spotting on the road. By this point, I'd even exhusted the interests of my cousin and uncle, so offered them the keys to the car so they could sit and wait, as if they were like a couple of women. Fortunately, they found a couple of items to take photos of them 'driving' for the benefit of the ladies (about the only way they'd fathom looking at old tosh), so the heat was off for a few minutes. I decided to take a cursory scan but found I'd looked at pretty much everything I'd wanted to.




I saw a photo opportunity of this 1100's reflection in the muddy puddle but the outcome wasn't too good. Sparked memories of John Cleese being hapless.




I didn't think I'd documented enough Skodas so took this one whilst passing the first yard on the way out.





Think this one's a bit past it. Fnar fnar.


Having had a great time, I was mildly reluctant to leave after only a few hours, so stopped the car as we passed this to take one more shot for posterity.



I don't think Horopito is going to disappear anytime soon, though I know they occasionally have a clear out of the more modern stuff to make space for other tat. How long it'll be until they start removing the 1980s relics and replacing them with 90s Japanese imports for instance (a fair few of which already exist) is anyone's guess though understandably they have to turn a profit. I suppose it's just the next chapter in NZ motoring so I suppose they deserve their palce at some point.

FIN.