PHOTO GALLERY: Vintage Cars Road Trip in New Zealand

2014/05/19

photos of Vintage cars rally in New Zealand

Vintage car rally in New Zealand

PHOTO GALLERY:

Vintage Cars Road Trip in New Zealand

While traveling around New Zealand recently I was unexpectedly invited to join a 4-day vintage car rally around the Coromandel Penninsula. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that I could not pass up!

My hosts selected their 1950s Daimler from their collection of a dozen road-worthy vintage cars to drive in this rally. The Daimler, they explained, is sturdy, spacious and comfortable for long road trips. I also quickly found out that it easily cruises at speeds of 50-60 mph / 80-100 kph with no hiccups whatsoever. It performed as well as any new modern car, much to my surprise.

Model A cruising through Coromandel Penninsula

We all met up at a designated spot one fine autumn morning. We totalled 25 members, driving in over a dozen gorgeous vintage cars ranging in era from the 1910s to the 1970s. In New Zealand, a car must be over 30 years old to classify as vintage. To my eyes, 1970s autos don’t exactly look ‘vintage’ to me, but they are in fact over 40 years old already. Fair enough on the rating!

We soon set out on our 4-day exploration of the stunning eastern coast of North Island, its rolling interior hills and the spectacular Coromandel Peninsula. We cruised along many winding mountain roads, scenic coastal drives and through two striking gorges.

We stopped for morning tea breaks, picnic lunches with views, and several unusual attractions. We visited an old gold mine, a unique narrow-gauge railroad, landscaped gardens and pottery workshops. We also paid visits to a few other vintage car collectors living in the area.

For me, cruising through such stunning scenery with over a dozen beautiful classical cars was an amazing adventure. The rally members were friendly and down-to-Earth. The Coromandel Peninsula one of the most beautiful regions I’ve seen in New Zealand thus far.

Please enjoy these 32 photos of vintage cars.

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