The Buckle Sports Coupe was an Australian fibreglass-bodied sports car produced from 1957 to 1959 by Buckle Motors. The 2-door coupe used a combination of Ford Zephyr Six and Ford Zephyr Mark II, including a straight-6 engine from the Mark II.[2][3] Totaling a 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]
A total of twenty Buckles were produced, including two incomplete examples sold for racing purposes.[1] Bill Buckle would however 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]
Motor sport
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]
Buckle GT Lightweight of John Ashwell, pictured in 2012. This car was raced by Bill Buckle himself circa 1960-1961
References
