http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.fordnewzealand.co.nz en-us Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:35:14 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/170511/were-fords-made-in-new-zealand-before-1936/ That vexed question has troubled researchers for a long time now.  Short of a direct answer to that direct question, we are able to think about what else was going on at the time and put two and two together, to hopefully give us the correct answer.The Ford Motor Company, having discovered the cost benefits of shipping parts rather than completed cars, led the motor industry in remote assembly.  The earliest example of Ford assembly in New Zealand was seen in how Ford of Canada, who su... Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:37:24 +1200 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post170511 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/150360/the-ford-new-zealand-role-in-world-war-two-was-huge/ On September 3, 1939 Britain declared war on Germany.  It was not unexpected, and New Zealanders learned of this final development when our Prime Minister advised us on radio, and said "Where Britain goes, we go".And so began World War Two.On 9 May, 1945 the world celebrated victory in Europe.  VE Day was a great occasion - but there was still more work to do.  Japan was yet to be defeated.  It would take another three months before the world was at peace again.  The wor... Tue, 12 Aug 2025 20:15:58 +1200 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post150360 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/147038/the-consular-service-of-the-ford-consul/ It is 1945.  World War Two has just ended.  Britain is the victor.  But it doesn’t feel like it, because the cost of fighting the war has bankrupted the country.  The United States steps in to loan Britain millions of dollars just to survive.  Now Britain must repay that loan to the Americans.The British government insisted that, when its industry was up and running again, they must export.  This was especially so of the motor industry, which was offering high val... Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:17:42 +1200 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post147038 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/138221/christmas-with-ford/ Christmas in the world of Ford will always be an important time.Here in New Zealand the Ford dealerships have celebrated Christmas in the same way that most businesses do, looking after their staff and customers.  Back when Ford vehicles were built here in New Zealand, Christmas at Ford was a huge family affair.  The festivities began during December and the latest edition of the Ford network news magazine Newzeaford News carried the Christmas message from the very top....... Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:44:28 +1300 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post138221 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/125409/ford-new-zealand-production-figures-falcon/ I am often asked for production figures of vehicles Ford built here in New Zealand. Sadly, I've never been able to get my hands on Ford-NZ production records.  No-one seems to know what happened to them but I suspect either they were eaten by a very hungry mini-skip, or they were part of a large consignment of boxes that, just before I was on the scene, went off to The Discovery Centre, Ford-Australia (Geelong) and which is now closed. But there is one Ford model for which we can ... Fri, 08 Mar 2024 19:47:08 +1300 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post125409 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/113340/the-origins-of-the-ute/ Did Ford Australia really invent the ute?That is a question that has caused much debate over recent decades.  As the details of the story have been forgotten with the passage of time a broad-brush view has taken precedence.  This has caused observers to comment that so-called utes existed long before the time the Australian’s claim to have invented it.However, the fact remains that a chap named Lewis T Bandt is entitled to the moniker “Father of the Australian Ute”.  Let’s... Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:21:44 +1300 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post113340 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/107613/post-war-car-design/ A Facebook post by veteran motoring journalist Allan Dick describes the story of the Ford Pilot.  It was a reminder to me that there were just so many tales about the origins of the Pilot that, when writing the Ford in New Zealand book, I took the opportunity to tell it as it really was.  ... Sat, 22 Jul 2023 12:51:03 +1200 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post107613 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/105869/16-june-1903--this-day-120-years-ago/ 120 years ago today, the Ford Motor Company was founded.That was not such an unusual event during those times.  Many engineering firms, bicycle manufacturers, inventors and speculators tried their hand at producing their version of a motor car powered by the internal combustion engine.  Indeed, Ford himself had already been involved with two failed attempts - the Detroit Automobile Company and. in 1901, the Henry Ford Company. Early car makers relied on outside contractors to buil... Fri, 16 Jun 2023 22:39:02 +1200 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post105869 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/105342/anziel-nova-a-new-zealand-car/ A week or so ago the above photo appeared on Facebook.  The car is the prototype Anziel Nova, which appears to be at a motor race meeting at Levin, probably during our 1967 - 1968 summer.  It is not clear, but at the wheel is most probably one of the Gibbs brothers, Ian or Alan, who owned Australia and New Zealand Industrial Engineering Ltd - Anziel.  They were the men behind the Nova.  Ian was also well known in yachting circles internationally; Alan became notable for his A... Mon, 05 Jun 2023 12:28:26 +1200 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post105342 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/post/104632/dunedins-ford-dealership-celebrates-its-centenary/ Last weekend, Dunedin City Ford celebrated 100 years in business.In fact, the Ford marque has been sold in Dunedin longer than that.  A Mr W J P McCulloch was appointed the Ford dealer in 1912, and he set up the business in the Octagon.  In 1917, he sold out to the Todd brothers, who were general traders and stock agents.  They had also set up Ford agencies in Roxburgh and in Heriot.The motor business went very well for the Todds and so, in 1923, they formed the Todd Motor Company... Thu, 18 May 2023 17:24:39 +1200 http://www.fordnewzealand.co.nz/blog/#post104632