Buckle Sports Coupe

The Buckle Sports Coupe is a fibreglass-bodied sports car which was produced in Australia by Buckle Motors from 1957 to 1959 . The 2-door coupe used a combination of Ford Zephyr Six and Ford Zephyr Mark II components, including a straight-6 engine from the Mark II.[2][3] Thanks to its fibreglass body, it had a relatively light 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]

Buckle Sports Coupe
Overview
ManufacturerBuckle Motors
Also calledBuckle Coupe
Production1957-1959
20 produced [1]
AssemblyPunchbowl, New South Wales
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
Layoutfront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine2,553 cc (156 cu in) Ford Zephyr straight-6
Dimensions
Curb weight865kg

A total of twenty Buckles were produced, including two incomplete examples sold for racing purposes.[1] Bill Buckle, the person behind the creation of the car, would 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]

Motorsport

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]

  • 1955 prototype.
    1955 prototype.
  • Buckle GT Lightweight of John Ashwell, pictured in 2012. This car was raced by Bill Buckle himself circa 1960–1961.
    Buckle GT Lightweight of John Ashwell, pictured in 2012. This car was raced by Bill Buckle himself circa 1960–1961.
  • Rear view.
    Rear view.
  • A pair of Buckle Coupes at a car show.
    A pair of Buckle Coupes at a car show.

References
  1. Buckle Coupe Home Page, www.carpartsandmore.com.au Retrieved on 19 January 2012
  2. "BUCKLE MOTORS". Car Parts and More. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  3. "1958 Goggomobil DART". The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  4. Peter Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 69
  5. Peter Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 75
  6. Hepworth, Kevin (20 November 2009). "My Buckle GT Tourer". CarsGuide.com.au. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  7. Buckle Coupe - Racing History, www.carpartsandmore.com.au Retrieved on 19 January 2012
  8. Buckle Coupe Racing History - Circuit & Road Racing, www.carpartsandmore.com.au Retrieved on 19 January 2012
  9. Buckle Coupe Body#93-883, www.carpartsandmore.com.au Retrieved on 19 January 2012


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