Repco has a proud heritage as the longest standing and most trusted aftermarket automotive brand in the region.
In 2022, Repco celebrates its 100th year. It’s a milestone that few companies anywhere in the world can boast, and Repco is using the milestone mark to salute the passion and enthusiasm of its owners, staff and most importantly, its customers.
Repco has come a long way in the past century, and it has been quite a journey, but what remains true is Repco’s desire to stay true to the love of motoring and the innovation of their past – be it in store, on the racetrack or supporting their customers.
To find the loyal and trusting legacy that Repco has created in this part of the world, you need to wind the clock right back to 1922. Just a few years before, the motor vehicle industry in New Zealand and Australia kicked off, thanks to the Model T Ford. Soon, having your own vehicle was the only way to travel, and while Henry Ford’s vision to “build a car for the great multitude,” there was an early need for replacement parts to keep them, and the emerging brands of vehicles, on the dusty and bumpy road.
In Melbourne, one enterprising young man identified a growing need to make these replacement parts for all those cars on the road. Robert ‘Geoffrey’ Russell opened a small factory in a tin shed, trading under the name Automotive Grinding Company. Originally, the company specialised in engine reconditioning but soon, using his expertise and knowledge in the automotive sphere, the first replacements parts trade supply store opened. It was named the Replacements Parts Company, the origin of today’s name ‘Re-p-co’.
Almost simultaneously to Russell starting trading, here in New Zealand Motor Specialities – which grew to be the future of Repco New Zealand – was born.
During WW2 most of Repco’s capacity was turned to supporting the war effort. Post-war highlights included Repco’s development and manufacture of many components of the first Holden, the 48-215 of 1948. Repco’s dedication to parts soon saw them leading the way on the racetrack – both at home and abroad.
The beginning of Repco’s motorsport fame began in 1946, assisting Charlie Dean with the build of his Maybach 1, and by 1954, the Maybach 3 won the New Zealand Grand Prix with Stan Jones at the wheel. Of course, Stan was the father of the future F1 world title Alan Jones.
In 1959, Jack Brabham won his first Formula One Championship, driving a Cooper Climax with Repco providing support and parts such as clutches and universal joints. It was the first time that a combination of Australasian racing talent and ingenuity had achieved success at the highest level. ‘Black Jack’ repeated that effort the following year, winning his second title.
For the next few seasons, Brabham raced for the Cooper Climax team, followed by his own Brabham Racing Organisation, continuing its parts and development association with Repco, but it wasn’t until 1966 that Repco and Brabham secured a piece of sporting history that is unlikely to be repeated.
Brabham became the first, and still the only, person to win a Formula One world championship driving one of his own cars. The BT19 was designed by Ron Tauranac and powered by a Repco Brabham engine (RB620) designed by Phil Irving and engineered by Repco under the supervision of Frank Hallam in Melbourne. Brabham and the Repco-powered BT19 won the French, British, Dutch and German Grand Prix that year. It was a remarkable achievement, and a feat that is likely to never be repeated.
For fans in New Zealand the ultimate win came the following year, when Kiwi racing legend Denny Hulme, Brabham’s NZ team mate, took his Brabham-Repco to the world title, giving the team and the all-Australian engine its second world title success in a row.
The BT19 that Brabham took to victory remains owned by Repco. It is used infrequently for special guest appearances at events. Sir Jack passed away in 2014, but the BT19 and its Repco-powered engine lives on, allowing motorsport fans around the world to pay tribute to one of the most remarkable feats the sporting world has ever seen.
While there was plenty of champagne overseas at the highest level of the sport, Repco had not forgotten about its roots on home soil.
Motorsport legend Frank Matich won the local Sportscar Championship in the self-built Repco-sponsored and powered Matich SR4.
And at the same time, Repco developed the mighty Holden-based Formula 5000 engine that would become the popular choice for F5000 entrants. The engine was later also used in Sport Sedan racing, proving its durability and diversity.
Racing has remained at the beating heart of Repco, its stores and employees. The company sponsored the 2000 Bathurst 1000 winner of Garry Rogers Motorsport duo of Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna. In other specialties Repco became deeply involved in supporting car shows and New Zealand Rally events such as the iconic Repco Beach Hop and Repco Race to the Sky.
These days, Repco continues its unwavering support of New Zealand motorsport and car shows at the top-level. In Supercars Repco is a primary sponsor of the all-conquering Shell V-Power Racing Team, Repco also is the title sponsor of the Supercars Championship and the race that stops the nation, Bathurst 1000. In 2022, they’re also proud to return World Rally Championship to New Zealand gravel as the title partner of Repco Rally New Zealand. You’ll see their dedicated team at major events throughout New Zealand – Beach Hop, Kumeu, Kaikoura, Americana to name just a few. Many of these events are also heavily supported by Repco in a celebration of sharing the passion with car lovers throughout Aotearoa.
Today, there are nearly 90 Repco stores and over 1200 Repco crew serving Trade workshops and car loving customers in NZ.
Repco has come a long way since its start in a small tin shed, keeping the foot on the pedal for 100 laps.
What does the next 100 years hold? We’ll all have to wait and see, but you can be sure that the drive for excellence – on and off the racetrack – will never be lost.