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‘I’m Ruby’ and there's more...

“Im Ruby” is not alone in New Zealand

Hello again from the Antipodes -Tony & Anne Lindley from Auckland, New Zealand.

Despite our insistence that there was only one ‘Spartan’ in New Zealand, we met up with another owner of the fabulous brand at a recent Motor Show ‘Galaxy of Cars.’
Normally we travel around the show grounds looking for a parking spot adjacent to some really flashy classic cars – so that ‘Im Ruby” in her solitary glory, will attract the eye of the many enthusiasts.  Like most car rallies, species of the same brand stick together forming ranks to show their strength against lesser models and poor old ‘Ruby’ has had to suffer isolation as there are never any Spartans but ours at these meetings.

But………..to our surprise……….as we circled yet again to try to find a parking spot
with some allure, we saw a beautiful sight – a white Spartan in all its glory parked in isolation.  Needless to say we quickly parked beside this beautiful white Spartan and the two of them just stole the show – Honestly! Ha!

Here’s the photographs to prove it.

The owner was a very affable chappie and we swapped yarns, suggestions and helpful hints with promised to meet up at the next car show. He had bought the Spartan 3 years ago for NZ$5000 from a carpenter who’d had the boot modified for carrying tools! – Sacrilege! What Indignity! AND THEN THERE WERE TWO - ‘Im Ruby’ has a friend at last!

He advised me to purchase a pair of side wind deflectors for the winds screen columns for use when the Canopy off.  We eventually found a source to buy them from – an Auckland company who make kitset cars – Lotus 7 Mini racing cars.

To our astonishment, within a week of the discovery of another Spartan in our midst, we were alerted to an advertisement in ‘Trade Me” which is the equivalent of ‘E-Bay”
Yet another Spartan, this time in the south Island – being sold for NZ$10,000!
SO NOW THERE ARE THREE!

Meanwhile,  we are just coming out of what has been a mild warm winter and  are heading into spring when our Spartan will come out of relative hibernation and be used excessively once again –

So …………   Commiserations for your winter to come,
We will think of you all as we bask in the sun.
With beautiful Red Ruby showing her might
We’ll wander the highways with sheer delight!   Yippee!

Anne and Tony