Buckle Sports Coupe

Buckle Sports Coupe

The Buckle Sports Coupe is a fibreglass-bodied sports car that 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, including a straight-6 engine from the Mark II. 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.

A total of twenty Buckles were produced, including two incomplete examples sold for racing purposes. 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.

Buckle Sports Coupe
Overview
Manufacturer	Buckle Motor
Also called	Buckle Coupe
Production	1957-1959 (20 produced)
Assembly	Punchbowl, New South Wales
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	2,553 cc (156 cu in) Ford Zephyr straight-6
Dimensions
Curb weight	865kg (1907 lb)

Motor sport

The Buckle performed well in hillclimb events and circuit races and held many records. Sixteen of the twenty Buckles built competed in motor sport, a highlight being Dick Newell's victory in the 1963 New South Wales GT Championship.

A special Buckle (Body#93-883) was built specifically for racing purposes and was raced by Bill Buckle himself circa 1960-1961. It featured a lightweight body moulded around a tubular chassis, a Raymond Mays-developed cylinder head and three SU carburetors.

Buckle GT Lightweight of John Ashwell, pictured in 2012. This car was raced by Bill Buckle himself circa 1960-1961

Back to Buckle Motors

Last updated on 13 December 2013 at 09:30.