The passion for classic cars sometimes prompts enthusiasts to build and race their own. Several outstanding examples of one local production will feature on the Sports Car Club stand at the Ellerslie Classic Car Show on February 11th .

The Beattie marque is the work of Avondale owner Stephen Beattie who has constructed and raced his creations in the past.

“Building cars has been a passion of mine,” he says,” and now in my late 60’s, after visiting the Ellerslie Classic Car Show and the Sports Car Club, I was stirred to build and design another model moving more into a later design.”

“Currently I’m building a new model which is currently a rolling chassis stage powered by an Alfa boxer engine. It’s at a very interesting stage and is beautifully engineered with its bright red chassis and nickel-plated suspension arms. All going well, it will have its side pods or sills fastened on for the show.”

Beattie says passion was the driver. “It’s interesting how from starting with only hacksaws and files a small Myford lathe and a wee bit of space offered by my boss how a chassis has progressed to the stage it is today.”

Owners are quite passionate about the Beattie – Stephen points out that the Mayor of Napier has one and that for some reason there are four or five of them in the Hawkes Bay.