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 865kg (1,907lb) and a top speed of 160km/h (99mph). It also featured a box chassis frame, transverse leaf spring front suspension and a conventional Ford rear axle.[4]
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
The 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
1955 prototype.
Buckle GT Lightweight of John Ashwell, pictured in 2012. This car was raced by Bill Buckle himself circa 1960–1961.
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