A great conversation-starter was asking people about the first car they owned. It inevitably sparked reminiscences that went to the heart of why so many people were enthusiastic about old cars.
Club vehicles did not need to fit the stereotype of vintage cars. He recalled the time a young man pointed proudly to his "old car'' - a 1970 XW Falcon parked across the road.
It highlighted how membership wasn't confined to owners of early 20th century cars. The Falcon would have qualified the owner to be a member of the club because it was built more than 30 years ago.
Mr Scott said finding a totally original car was what really rocked people's boat.
"Those cars are very sought after."
In his case however, the 1929 Ford AA tip truck picked up as a pile of bits from Fielding represented a ground-up restoration that began in 1986. Everything had rotted, leaving a chassis, engine and gearbox.
"It was virtually all rebuilt to original measurements."
Interestingly, the original measurements showed just how much the average height of people had increased since 1929. Mr Scott was an average build but the cab still felt a bit small.
"A tall guy would have trouble."
And whereas exotic cars tended to be saved, trucks of this vintage usually ended their days as farmers' hacks and were then parked under a belt of macrocarpa trees.
It made his truck quite rare in New Zealand and a real crowd-pleaser at shows: "It wins people's choice on a regular basis."
Mr Scott said all sorts of things prompted people to buy old vehicles.
"Years later, a couple will buy the car they had their honeymoon in."
Joining the vintage car club went far beyond the advantages of sourcing hard-to-find parts and accessing the impressive library in the Cliff Rd clubhouse. In fact, members did not need to own an old car - having an interest in cars and enjoying the social side of the club was enough, he said.
Mr Scott said the club catered for women: ''We can't bore them out of their skulls.
"Cars are a means to an end, a catalyst to bring people together. Everybody has memories of vehicles - people go back to the things that give them good vibes."
This infectious love of old cars thankfully extended to motorists not losing patience when club members took to the road.
"There is a lot of goodwill towards old cars."
Mr Scott liked the way this passion brought out the best in people, particularly when he encouraged children to wind the hand-operated winch that raised and lowered his truck's deck.
"Kids walk away with the biggest smile on their faces. Doing something like that makes their day, and everyone else got a warm fuzzy out of seeing it."
People also loved to hear vintage cars ticking over.
''It is a totally unique sound.''
The next chance for the public to get up close to some of the Bay's finest old cars will be at the Swap Meet and Car Show on November 12 at Cliff Rd.
Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club
- Founded August 17, 1958.
- Has 420 members.
- Social side includes club runs, get-togethers, film evenings.
- Anytime inquiries 021-664-341
