Getting involved in old cars

Press, 6 October 1988, Page 38

Getting involved in old cars

An immaculately-res-tored vintage vehicle never fails to attract attention. It is sometimes difficult, however, to know if the admiration is just for the restored object. The thousands of hours of dedication which were usually necessary to achieve the final result deserve admiration also. There are many ways to become involved in restoring a vehicle. A pile of old parts, or even a complete vehicle, may have been inherited. A wreck, or the remains of a wreck may have been found behind a shed and the former owner was only too pleased to see the end of a pile of junk. Once the pieces, or

whatever, are carted to your home the first job is to find an out-of-site location to store them in the meantime. Pieces of rusty mudguards or old radiators lying around the front lawn or among the flower plots for six months are unlikely to attract much sympathy for your vintage car project. It is probably best to start off by seeking advice from someone who has already successfully restored a vehicle. Better still, join a club such as The Vintage Car Club and meet numerous experienced people who are willing to offer assistance. Members can often

help with spare parts and can introduce you to people who can do the occasional professional job when necessary. The biggest investment in any restoration project is time. The work might take years to complete, but when it is finished, there is the pleasure of taking it out and motoring in real style. It is interesting to note that The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand originated in Christchurch. By 1946 there were cars on New Zealand’s roads that had gone out of production. In that year, eight students from Canterbury University met to

discuss the problem of keeping ageing motor vehicles in running order. Spare parts, tyres and even petrol, were often unavailable following the Second World War. In an effort to keep their old cars on the move, the students formed The Vintage Vehicle Association as a new university club. Two years later, the club broke its ties with the university and became The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand.