One car we never expected to see in the shop, let alone fit a rotary into, was this 1961 Vauxhall Victor! Arriving as a rusted, rough, bone-stock car, it had a long journey ahead before it could hit the road again.
We started with a full strip-down and carefully managed to fit a 12A engine into the tight confines of the engine bay, a process that required plenty of head scratching and clever engineering. A 12A peripheral port engine was built, paired with a rebuilt first-generation gearbox, creating a simple, clean, and reliable package.
A Hilux rear end was modified to suit, along with a custom gearbox tunnel, ensuring everything worked seamlessly. The car then went off to paint, where years of rust and wear were addressed before returning for final assembly and detailing.
All-new fluid lines supplied by Motorsport Plumbing Supplies NZ completed a super-clean system. The front-end components were stripped, blasted, painted, and refitted with new bushes and joints, leaving nothing to chance.
This project perfectly combined classic charm with modern rotary performance, creating a truly unique build that’s ready to turn heads on the road.