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] 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.[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 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.[5]

Motor sport

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