Out-of-office: Whanganui district councillor Charlie Anderson’s love of vintage cars

Whanganui district councillor Charlie Anderson has collected vintage cars for over 40 years. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

Over the summer break, the Chronicle is catching up with locals who have passions outside of work.

Today, Fin Ocheduszko Brown visits Whanganui district councillor Charlie Anderson and surveys his vintage car collection.

Charlie Anderson began collecting vintage cars about 40 years ago.

The Whanganui district councillor’s first purchase was a Daimler Sovereign in the early 1980s.

The 1973 car was a vintage vehicle at the time.

“My wife drove the kids to school in it, I never got rid of it – I don’t know why, but I’m pleased I didn’t,” he said.

“It just grew from that one.”

Since then he’s added a 1930 Ford Model A, 1987 V12 XJS Jaguar, a 1970 P5B Rover and a 1962 PA Vauxhall to his stable.

Anderson grew up in Castlecliff and his father was the general manager for the Western Buildings Society.

He said his love for cars started at an early age.

“When I was a kid, I loved them, I knew every car on the road,” Anderson said.

“[My brother and I] were obsessed. We knew how [many] horsepower kilowatts each car had and how fast they could go.”

He said his parents inspired him to get his current Vauxhall as he remembers driving in their car when he was a child.

(Left to right): Anderson poses with his Daimler, Jaguar and Ford Model A. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

The first three vintage cars were all similar shades of burgundy.

“It was a pure coincidence. One of my mates gives me a lot of s*** about it but it was a fluke – an absolute fluke,” he said.

Anderson said the car he drives that gets the most attention is the oldest in the collection – the nearly 100-year-old 1930 Ford Model A.

“A lot of smiles in that. It’s interesting that the people that notice them are really old people or little kids.

“A lot of people can relate to them, and little kids see them and go, ‘Oh, wow, look at that’.”

Anderson estimates he spends two hours each day working on the cars.

“I’ve always wanted them but could never afford them, but now I can so I’ve pursued them,” he said.

When asked about his favourite, he hesitated and pointed to the XJS Jaguar.

“It’s just cool, man. It goes like there’s no tomorrow and it’s so smooth.

“The biggest thing my dad said was, ‘If you’re going to get a car, you’ve got to see the bonnet’.”

He said the Jaguar’s V12 3.5L engine made for a thrilling ride and was by far the fastest car out of the five.

He said it is no match for his current car, a 2009 Ford Falcon.

“That leaves them all for dead off the mark.”

Anderson said he gets his cars through Trade Me and all have come from the North Island.

He tells the story of collecting his Rover.

“I left here at quarter to four in the morning, hit Auckland [during] rush-hour traffic, went to Whangārei, loaded it and came back the same day at about half past 10 that night – it was a long day.”

Anderson said his family all love the collection, particularly his grandchildren.

“Well, they want to drive them, of course. They can’t wait” he said.

Anderson is a member of the Whanganui Vintage Car Club, which meets monthly.

He would love to get his hands of a Ford Model A coupe, but is trying to resist the temptation.

Anderson's 1970 P5B Rover was the same car Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II rode in. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

He said his favourite thing about the cars is the history and stories they tell.

He referenced the Rover’s famous passengers, such as Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II.

“They have a lot of history.

“It goes quick – I tell you, it goes fast, so enjoy it.”