The Buckle Sports Coupe is a fibreglass-bodied sports car which was produced in Australia by Buckle Motors from 1957 to 1959 . The 2-door coupe used a combination of Ford Zephyr Six and Ford Zephyr Mark II components, including a straight-6 engine from the Mark II.[2][3] Thanks to its fibreglass body, it had a relatively light weight of 865 kg and a top speed of 160 km/h. It also featured a box chassis frame, transverse leaf spring front suspension and a conventional Ford rear axle.[4]
| Buckle Sports Coupe | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Buckle Motors |
| Also called | Buckle Coupe |
| Production | 1957-1959 20 produced [1] |
| Assembly | Punchbowl, New South Wales |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Layout | front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2,553 cc (156 cu in) Ford Zephyr straight-6 |
| Dimensions | |
| Curb weight | 865kg |
A total of twenty Buckles were produced, including two incomplete examples sold for racing purposes.[1] Bill Buckle, the person behind the creation of the car, would go on to a successful business venture building Goggomobil cars in Australia, the highpoint of which was the production of the Australian designed Goggomobil Dart.[5]
Motorsport
editThe Buckle performed well in hillclimb events and circuit races and held many records.[6] Sixteen of the twenty Buckles built competed in motor sport,[7] a highlight being Dick Newell's victory in the 1963 New South Wales GT Championship.[8]
A special Buckle (Body#93-883) was built specifically for racing purposes and was raced by Bill Buckle himself circa 1960–1961.[9] It featured a lightweight body moulded around a tubular chassis, a Raymond Mays-developed cylinder head and three SU carburetors.[9]
Gallery
edit-
1955 prototype. -
Buckle GT Lightweight of John Ashwell, pictured in 2012. This car was raced by Bill Buckle himself circa 1960–1961. -
Rear view. -
A pair of Buckle Coupes at a car show.
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References
edit- ^ a b Buckle Coupe Home Page, www.carpartsandmore.com.au Retrieved on 19 January 2012
- ^ "BUCKLE MOTORS". Car Parts and More. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "1958 Goggomobil DART". The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ Peter Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 69
- ^ Peter Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 75
- ^ Hepworth, Kevin (20 November 2009). "My Buckle GT Tourer". CarsGuide.com.au. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ Buckle Coupe - Racing History, www.carpartsandmore.com.au Retrieved on 19 January 2012
- ^ Buckle Coupe Racing History - Circuit & Road Racing, www.carpartsandmore.com.au Retrieved on 19 January 2012
- ^ a b Buckle Coupe Body#93-883, www.carpartsandmore.com.au Retrieved on 19 January 2012
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