OLD BUT COMFORTABLE: Laurie Cocker with his vintage Cadillac. PHOTO/NEIL JONES 101015WCNJCAD1
OLD BUT COMFORTABLE: Laurie Cocker with his vintage Cadillac. PHOTO/NEIL JONES 101015WCNJCAD1
Laurie Cocker has travelled from Bluff to Cape Reinga several times in his car.
He claims it's more comfortable than most cars but you have to wrap up warmly to travel in it, because it has no doors.
Mr Cocker's car is a 1906 Cadillac, and it will be makingan appearance at the Cadillac La Salle Club of New Zealand nationals in Wanganui next weekend.
Mr Cocker, who is based in the Manawatu township of Rongotea, bought the car by tender in 1991 after seeing it advertised in a car magazine.
Because it is dated pre-1918 it is classed as a veteran car, and it's this quality that appeals to Mr Cocker, rather than the fact it's a Cadillac.
"I used to mess around with old tractors, but now I mess around with the car. There's always something to tinker around with, always something to fix - that's part of the fun of it," he said.
The car has a one-cylinder, 1.6 litre engine, 10 horsepower (less than most modern lawnmowers), two gears, and a top cruising speed of 60km/h. It takes 91 octane petrol, but Mr Cocker said it will run on anything from white spirits (67 octane) to avgas (130 octane).
Mr Cocker has travelled 100,000km in the car. This includes four trips to Bluff, two trips to Cape Reinga - and many places in between. He gets it out at least once a week.
"With this car, all you need is time. But it is more of an achievement to get somewhere without problems. If there are problems, though, you can often fix them on the side of the road."
There are up to 18 Cadillacs of this age still running in New Zealand, of varying body styles. Mr Cocker's is the only delivery van in New Zealand.
The 1906 Cadillac is one of six Cadillacs on display at Ignition showrooms in Purnell St ahead of the nationals, which begin on October 16.
