Words: Kyle Cassidy
Published 2 September 2026
An early Californian electric car, a home-built children’s Land Rover and a damaged piece of Colin McRae’s 2002 World Rally Championship car are among the more unusual lots heading to auction in Auckland this weekend.
The vehicles and collectables form part of Webb’s September Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia auction, which takes place at its Mount Eden premises on Sunday, September 6.
Perhaps the oddest lot is a circa-1960s Electric Car Company Shopper FG-75, an electric two-seater built in Long Beach, California, decades before EVs were even a thing.
The Electric Car Company was founded in 1951 by a group previously involved in selling three-wheeled electric Autoettes. Long Beach became something of an early electric-mobility hub, supporting around nine manufacturers during the 1950s and ’60s.
Introduced in 1960, the FG-75 was designed as a small electric runabout for short suburban journeys. It weighs approximately 318kg and uses a 1.1kW, 24-volt electric motor.
Its advertised top speed was around 29km/h, while the claimed driving range was between 48km and 56km. Options included a removable fibreglass roof, windscreen and side curtains.
The example heading to auction is understood to be the only one in New Zealand. Finished in light blue with a white roof, it retains its manufacturer’s identification plate and California licence plate. Webb’s says it runs and drives, with working lights.
“It was built for a suburban errand in 1960, which is precisely the use case the industry spent the last fifteen years rediscovering. People tend to smile at it first and think about its exciting history and uniqueness second,” said Webb’s head of collectors’ cars, Chris Wiseman.
The Shopper carries an estimate of $25,000 to $35,000.
At the other end of the scale is a Toylander 2, a child-sized electric replica of a Land Rover Series II. It was supplied as a kit and constructed by its owner with help from his grandchildren.
Toylander began selling home-build children’s vehicles in the UK in 1987, with the Series II-inspired Toylander 2 joining the range around 2000.
This example is powered by an electric motor and has forward and reverse modes, adjustable speed control, a foot brake and handbrake. It also features working lights, a folding windscreen, an opening tailgate and pneumatic tyres.
The little Land Rover can accommodate one adult and two children, although its manufacturer-stated safe top speed is only around 8km/h. It’s finished in traditional Land Rover green and comes with a matching trailer, spare wheel and manufacturer literature.
It’s expected to sell for between $3000 and $3500.
The third unusual lot is the damaged rear valance from the Ford Focus RS WRC driven by Colin McRae and Nicky Grist at the 2002 Rally New Zealand.
McRae crashed during the 29.6km Whaanga Coast stage after mishearing a pace note and approaching a downhill right-hander one gear too high. The Focus left the road, struck a fence post and damaged its radiator.
McRae switched off the engine to prevent further damage, ending his rally and effectively closing the door on his championship challenge. Marcus Grönholm won the event and went on to claim the 2002 drivers’ title.
Measuring 1740mm at its widest point, the rear valance retains its Martini and Pirelli livery, competition wear and damage from the incident. Its history is supported by markings on the inner surface and footage of the crash.
“Rally memorabilia is usually a photograph or a suit. This is the part of the car that hit the scenery, on a stage that people in this country watched from the bank. It is a piece of motor racing history that many still remember clearly,” Wiseman said.
The valance is expected to fetch between $4500 and $5500.
The wider auction is led by a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda, estimated at $225,000 to $250,000. Other vehicles include a 1936 Rolls-Royce 25/30 HP limousine, valued at between $140,000 and $200,000, and a 2024 Honda Civic Type R.
The auction begins at 2.30pm on Sunday, with public viewing running until September 6 at Webb’s, 33a Normanby Road, Mount Eden.
