40 vintage cars to motor into Taupo

From an incredibly rare 1910 Alldays and Onions to a 1979 Holden Sunbird - there'll be something for everyone at the Taupo Vintage Car Club's 45th Vintage Car Rally this weekend.

The event is one of the highlights in the Taupo Car Club's calendar featuring more than 40 cars and drivers, most from out of town.

Club spokesman Graham Mock said the addition of the 1910 Alldays and Onions vehicle, coming from Taranaki, was a major coup as it was extremely rare.

About 10 locals will also take part, including Bruce Jefferies with his 1912 Model T Ford.

A century old and still going strong, the car is a familiar sight around Taupo and is often part of Taupo's Christmas Parade as well as charity event Cruising For A Cause.

The car was found in bits in a loft in the late 1970s and underwent a total rebuild before being sold to Ralph Blyde of Matamata.

Over the next 21 years, Mr Blyde rallied the car from one end of New Zealand to the other, enjoying his veteran motoring, and it was only due to ill health that he considered selling.

Mr Jefferies was chosen as the car's new owner and has had it since 2004.

Since then he's taken it on various trips including the 90th Anniversary Northland Parliamentary Tour, the Vintage Car Club International Rally at Wanganui and the 19th Annual Model T Rally at Feilding.

This Saturday, the public will get a chance to view the cars before they leave for Mangakino. The cars will be parked in front of the Goodyear Auto Centre in Runanga St from 8am with the first cars leaving on the rally about 8.30am. The cars will leave at intervals with the last car away just before 9.30am. Cars and drivers will be at the lake reserve at Mangakino before returning to Taupo.

There are other events as part of the weekend. People will be able to see the rally cars on Sunday morning from 9.30am outside the clubrooms in Hickling Park.

All cars have to be more than 30 years old, with the most modern car the 1979 Holden Sunbird.

Taupo Vintage Car Club has 75 members and more than 100 cars and holds a club run once a month.

 

Email: rebecca.malcolm@dailypost.co.nz