HISTORY – How it started

The Trekka emerged as the ultimate response to policies pursued by successive New Zealand Government’s aimed at boosting the homegrown content of the local motor industry.

By making new cars scarce and expensive, policies which began evolving from the 1950s offered concessions to firms able to increase the local content of cars assembled inside New Zealand.

The Trekka was a locally-produced, steel body with canvas or fibreglass canopies, bolted to the chassis and engine of the Skoda Octavia Combi, which dated form the late 1950′s.

The Trekka concept was first explored by Phil Andrews’ Motor Lines firm, which imported Skodas. It was finally produced by Motor Holdings, an independent car assembler largely owned by the Turner family, and masterminded by its “rough diamond” managing director, Noel Turner.

The secret of the Trekka’s brief success was the high proportion of its … Read More »