Question
I want to know about the
Anziel Nova can you give me a brief overview and what are references to this car
Alan Gibbs earlier efforts in the late 1960s to develop a true NZ car
This car is the Anziel Nova saloon of 1967-1969
Back Ground
The Anziel Nova was originally designed by Ogle design (not Alan Gibbs as reported in the media of the time and even today) a small specialized British design consultancy under the management of Stylist and Managing Director Tom Karen.
It was designed for Reliant. Reliant were a small British independent car company who built at the time a number of 3 wheel and 4 wheel mini cars , trucks and panel vans and was more better known internationally from 1968 in developing the Reliant Scimitar GTE – a Sporting Estate sports car also designed by Ogle.
(In fact most if not all Reliants since the 1960s have been designed fully or in part by Ogle.)
Reliant were specialists in developing fiberglass bodied cars and they wanted to produce a series of small to medium sized 4 cylinder cars in 2 door sedan , 4 door sedan, a pickup truck and panel van to be sold to countries who wanted to produce a low cost locally produced product . The vehicle which was to form the basis was the Reliant FW 5 although prototypes were built in Britain, manufacture of the cars as a production car were developed in Turkey by the Turkish industrial giant Ostosan and cars model was called a Anadol.
Alan Gibbs wanted to also produce the Anadol as the Anziel Nova for the New Zealand market using as much as possible locally sourced components.
References:
History features
Feature Magazine Location Comments web site
History June 1970 Wheels (Aus) Page 9-11 N/A in Lib s in NZ Wheels magazine for reprint
www.wheelsmag.com.au
History Sep 1988 AA Motor World (NZ) Page 43 WP,WN,AP includes photo of proto
Reg DD 5254 in Auckland NZ 1200cc 4cyl
History Summer 1995 NZ Classic Wheels Page 17-18 pvte (Walls)* as above by David Overend
• For some reason the NZ Archives of National Library Wellington does not have any copies in its collection of now defunct NZ car magazine called NZ Classic Wheels or Auto Nostalgia as part of its deposit scheme!
Letter Spring 1995 NZ Classic Wheels page22 pvte from T Lowe
Letter Sept 1993 NZ Classic Car Page 72 AP,CP,WP,WN etc ?
Letter October 1993 NZ Classic Car Page 74 AP,CP,WP,WN etc ?
Letter May 1993 NZ Car Page 70 AP,CP;WP;WN;etc ?
News features of the time and comments
Column July 1968 Wheels (Aus) V29 #3 Page98 pvte TransTasman - Anziel heard nothing from the Govt ' column by Donn Anderson
Column Sept 1968 Wheels (Aus) V29 #5 Page 98 pvte Trans Tasman - by Donn Anderson in NZ . Way blocked
Column March 1969 Wheels (Aus) V20 #4 Page 98 pvte TransTasman could be on sale less then a yr - and would be 4 doors not 2 doors as the prototype by Donn Anderson
Preview Nov 1967 Motorman (NZ) Page 29 WN
Preview Jan 1968 Motorman (NZ) Page 3-4 WN includes a brief driving impression –the closest thing to a test!
Preview Sept 17 1967 Sunday News Newspaper
(note no doubt other newspapers around the country at that time may have featured a similar article on the day or a few days later Newspapers have not been reviewed by the Automotive Historian author)
You cannot keep a good man down: and a bit of a surprise
(never mentioned by other magazines!)
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Brief news Mar 1971 Wheels (Aus) V34 #4 Page 35 pvte Wheels International-Donn Anderson in NZ ; proposal to built Reliant Scimitar GTE in NZ by end of 1971 - says MD of Anziel LTD Mr. Alan Gibbs ; possibly built fiberglass body with Aussie engine
Discovery of one of the prototypes and is been restored for owner Alan Gibbs
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Discovered Jul – Aug 1995 NZ Classic Wheels #11 page 48 pvte proto been restored by AC Fibreglass -Auckland restoring car for its original owner/developer Mr. Alan Gibbs;
Books
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I recommend the reader read the recent release
The Trekka Dynasty, by Todd Niall
As a chapter within this book covers in depth the problems Alan Gibbs had in terms of the ‘regulatory regime of the time’ * and various vested interests in working to stop the car been developed
Iconic Publishing. ISBN 0-476-00757-7
Go to web site
http://www.trekka.co.nz/book.htm
* Quote words from
I read it myself and it’s an excellent book
There is also another book written by a Reliant Historian called
Rebel without a Applause –The Reliant Company Volume 1 by Daniel Lockton published by Bookmarque Publishing
Particularly refer the reader to Chapter 11 under Reliant Turkish Ventures
See ISBN 1-870519-64-7
Available on limited release and unlikely to be in the NZ library system
A brief mention in the book
Assembly –New Zealand Car Production 1921 -1998 by Mark Webster see page 108
Published by Reed Publishing NZ LTD
ISBN 0 7900 0846 7
Available from most book stores like
University Bookshop Ltd (Auckland) - New Zealand
Or
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Other for Back ground of Anadol, Ogle and Reliant.
Information on the Anadol
ANADOL (TURKEY)
Feature Magazine Location Comments web site
On the company 5th Jan 1967 Autocar (GB) V126 #3699 P52-54 WN includes visit and driving impression by Editor of Reliant FW5 based 2D Saloon
On the company 18th Jan 1967 The Motor (GB) Page 11-12 WN Includes visit
Prototype in GB 19th Dec 1968 Autocar (GB) V129 #3801 Page 27 WN Preview of prototype Reg. SRE 937G which is Left hand Drive
Information on Ogle
OGLE (GB) 1960-1964 / 1965-Present. (Although car design work ceased 2002 they now specialize in Industrial design)
Their Designs. On Four Wheels (Orbis) Edition 1974 (GB)* WP History of the company to 1975 includes photos
Page 1551-1553
Note the magazine On Four Wheels edition 1 was published 1974-1975 it was an attempt to produce a car encyclopedia in weekly parts. Most Central libraries in New Zealand often have it as a series of bound books. (I too have it as part of my private library)
The later edition was issued 1977-1978 and some libraries have this one instead.
Their Designs 27th Aug 1983 The Motor (GB) Page 31, 43-45 WN History of the Company to 1983 includes photos
Their Designs October 1990 Classic & Sportscar P17+ AP or CP may have it? History of the company includes photos
Not reviewed by me
Their Designs Jan 1996 Classic & Sportscar AP or CP may have it? History of the company includes photos
Not reviewed by me
Information on Reliant
RELIANT (GB) 1935-2002
History On Four Wheels (Orbis) Edition 1974 (GB) WP History of Company to 1975 includes photos
Page 1841-1847
History Jun 1985 Thoroughbred & Classic Cars (GB) WP, AP,CP History of Company to 1985 includes photos
V12 #9 Pages 96-98
History Mar 2001 Practical Classics (GB) #3 Page 44-49 Weltec On your Marques; Plastic Fantastic by Mark Dixon
Company Visit 17th Dec 1970 Autocar (GB) Page 34-39;41;43-44;46 AP;CP;WN Company profile 1970
Company Visit Jun 1976 Motorsport (GB) Page 650; 652 WN Company profile 1976
Company Visit Oct 1983 Alternative Cars (GB) Page 60-64 pvte Company profile 1983
Company Visit 26th Sep 1990 Autocar (GB) Page 54-55 WN,AP,CP Company profile 1990
Company Visit 29th Jan 1997 Autocar (GB) Page 48-49,51 WN,WP;AP;CP Company Profile 1996
Company Visit Jan 1997 Practical Classics (GB) Page 48-49,51 Weltec Company Profile 1996
Specially on the FW 5 Prototype
Brief news 28th Jan 1966 Autocar (GB) Page 203 WN Release debut including photo Reg. FBF 581C
Brief News 24th Dec 1966 The Motor (GB) Page 53 WN photo only debut
Preview 30th Sep 1966 Autocar (GB) Page 695 WN Prototype for Turkey
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Note: Under library I have used the libraries own abbreviations as discussed in their own paper back hand book where possible
AP= Auckland Public Central Library (the main one in the city)
CP =Christchurch Public (the main one in the city)
WP= Wellington Public (the main one in the city) Victoria Street
WN= Wellington National Library; Molesworth Street
Weltec is the Polytechnic in Petone; Lower Hutt and in my experience have one of best complete collections for Practical Classics magazines. At one time one of the few libraries with earlier issue of Practical Classics and Popular Classics from 1994 However note you have to visit in person as a meeting in 2002 with the then head librarian said they would not be interested to photocopy issues for outsiders even for a fee!
Practical Classics were usually at those polytechnics that offered a Mechanics course – The main stream libraries strangely did not stock it.
Lower Hutt Library for example is another source in Wellington but alas only keeps copies for 2-3 years.
The Wellington Public Library is now stocking it from 2004 and they will be kept for 20 years. I am not aware of Auckland & Christchurch Libraries stocks of Practical Classics – A visit on site later in the year is planned.
If you any other queries please contact the writer
Copyright Walls World Cars 2009 “I review magazines so you don’t have to”
The Car Mag Man
Julian Walls – Auto Historian & Analyst
46 Clyma Street
Upper Hutt
Tel 04 528 8532
Or email julian.walls@xtra.co.nz or carmagman@hotmail.com