12
By Cameron Scott
The racy-looking Triumph TR3 symbolises the golden age of British motoring.
A
ttractive, quick and affordable, it was one of the most popular soft-top sports cars of the 1950s and every schoolboy’s dream. They’re a rare sight these days. But before long a beautifully restored 1955 example will take to the road in Katikati. The lucky owner is Gideon de Lautour, a car enthusiast with a long background in industrial manufacturing. Using skills acquired from decades in the catering equipment and super yacht industries, he has manufactured from scratch many of the replacement parts for the TR3 nearing completion in his garage. Gideon spotted the car in an Auckland radiator repair shop 40 years ago. It was love at first sight and he parted with $600 for the partially-restored machine. “It has followed us around like a bad smell ever since,” quips wife Joy. It’s only in the last couple of years that Gideon has had time to get serious about the project. But in the eight months since the de Lautours moved from their avocado orchard into town, there’s been plenty of progress. When it’s complete he’ll test drive the TR3 and decide whether he likes it enough to shell out for expensive finishing work.
“Getting into it will be the most challenging part,” the energetic and affable 75-year-old says, laughing. “I might need a block and tackle to lower myself into the seat.” Joy disagrees: “Getting out will be the problem.” When the Triumph is back on the road, another challenging project awaits: rebuilding a rare 1925 10/23 Talbot Roadster whose rusted remains were retrieved from a Manawatu farm. Gideon certainly has the skills to do it. For many years he worked in manufacturing and design for a well-known catering equipment producer. In the 1980s when the company closed he went into business with a colleague, manufacturing a fibreglass-bodied kit car called the Cheetah. The E-type lookalike used all HQ Holden parts, making it easy to build and maintain. The pair made nine before the new availability of cheap Japanese sports cars made them uneconomical to produce and Gideon took on a new career with an Auckland super yacht builder, retiring nine years later. A member of the Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club, he is enthusiastic about the
y The Bay’s Most Exciting Attraction!
A great place for families & enthusiasts alike
Come and enjoy a nostalgic journey and share in the excitement of some of NZ’s rich aviation history at Classic Flyers Aviation Museum
Classic & Vintage Aircraft and memorabilia, operational machines along with static displays plus AV GAS CAFE, indoor and outdoor play areas for the kids! We are situated just 2 minutes from Tauranga Airport, 5 minutes from Bayfair and 7 minutes from downtown Tauranga.
CLASSIC FLYERS
9 Jean Batten Drive, Mount Maunganui
Ph: 572 4000
OPEN 7 DAYS 7AM – 5PM
Gideon de Lautour with the Triumph TR3 sports car nearing completion in his basement workshop.
Rebuilding a rare 1925 10/23 Talbot Roadster is the next project on Gideon’s list.
With a colleague, Gideon designed and manufactured this sleek kit car, called the Cheetah.
club, which he says has some clever and interesting members. “The knowledge that’s out there is amazing. There are not too many people in
the club who don’t have a sense of humour, and we all help each other.”