NEW ZEALAND'S MOST SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION CAR
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Featuring the Heron MJ1 a New Zealand designed and produced supercar.
Ross Baker, a Rotorua A-Grade mechanic, had a look at the supercars that existed around the world and decided to design and build his own supercar in New Zealand and called it the Heron MJ1.
With the full support of his wife Bev and through their company "Heron Developments Ltd", he created and built a car that utilised fibreglass monocoque construction. Unlike other cars that either had steel monocoque bodies and/or a steel chassis, the Heron MJ1 had a fibreglass monocoque body/chassis with a unique patented system to bolt the motor, gearbox and suspension to the fibreglass body/chassis. The MJ1 stretched the boundaries of both design and materials.
Despite only being in production for a short time it still ranks as being New Zealand’s most successful turn-key factory produced supercar. Less than 30 MJ1s were produced. This car played an important part in New Zealand’s automotive history. The fact that the car got into production at all is a tribute to Ross, his vision, and his charisma.
This year is a very special year as it is the anniversary of the prototype's completion in 1983 and the year the car first appeared on TVNZ. New Zealand would have to wait another two years for production to begin.
Heron MJ1 stand at the 1983 Auckland Motorshow
Important Heron Motor Vehicles
The ’80s were an amazing time for small manufacturer car production. With today’s multitude of regulations, it would cost millions to manufacture an equivalent car today.
