You just can’t beat the sheer luxury, the old-fashioned elegance and generous leg room of the classic old cars – just perfect for that spring jaunt to Raglan, the Vintage Car Club of NZ would agree.
The North Shore Branch of the club thought Raglan was the ideal destination for its annual Spring Tour, having had a very popular visit here back in 2008, said branch spokesman and North Island Club president Paul Collins.
So the club planned a trip to Raglan last weekend, involving 32 cars and 74 members cruising the back roads in beautiful cars ranging from a gorgeous white 1964 Rolls Royce to a vintage 1929 Chrysler 70, a racy red Buick and Zephyr, a James Bond-style Caterham Lotus 7 and a retro Renault Caravelle.
Their tour took them past Papakura, Waiuku and Tuakau to Port Waikato, then along the coast road “pot holes and all” to Raglan, where they enjoyed a sunet cruise in the harbour before a dinner and dance at the Raglan Club.
Along the way they looked at three different vehicle collections, including that of Raglan motorcycle enthusiasts Bev and Terry Pidduck, Paul said.
Club members had the opportunity to see Terry’s work on a replica 1923 Ford Model TT school bus. Only three of these were ever built for the Education Department in New Zealand by the Post Office Stores.
Paul said Terry was using an original Model TT truck chassis and engine, then building an exact to-scale bus body on top, piece by piece. He hoped to have it completed for Raglan’s New Year parade.
After Sunday breakfast, Raglan locals were treated to the sight of the beautiful old cars as they cruised through town, out to the beach and to Te Toto Gorge, before heading back home via Old Mountain Rd, the Taitua Arboretum and the Pukemiro Bush Tramway.
Despite constant visits to the petrol station to fill “little tanks and hungry engines”, the trip had been “marvelous”.
“You go a bit slower but you see more of the countryside,” Paul said.
R Benn
