Driving in style: rent-a-classic with GT Classic Car Hire

16 December, 2016

Many readers would love to own a classic car themselves, that’s a given, but not all will have one to call their own — perhaps they do not want the associated costs, the hassle of maintenance, or simply because it’s out of the budget.

If that’s you, don’t fret, as GT Classic Car Hire New Zealand, located in Christchurch, has just the opportunity for you. 

Proudly owned by Jon Everitt, a passionate Alfa Romeo fan and Italian car collector, the service provides the perfect way to travel the beautiful roadways in the South Island in style, and for those with a wedding or other special event coming up, to enhance your day. 

The firm boasts a four-car fleet of Alfa Romeos from the 105 series, ranging from the ’60s to ’90s. Each has been refurbished to the highest standards, and includes modern elements like USB charging ports and electronic ignition to make the  vehicles reliable, and the experience pleasurable. Additional accessories can be hired, including bike racks, roof racks, and picnic hampers filled with New Zealand produce. 

The company plans to add additional marques to its range to satisfy non-Alfa lovers, too. Meanwhile pricing varies depending on your needs. Head to gtclassiccarhire.co.nz for further information, and booking enquiries.

Polishing to perfection

The secret to a show-stopping finish is colour sanding, no matter which paint system you use. Even a good painter, no matter how experienced or talented — like my mate Bruce Haye, CEO at Ace Panel and Paint in Whitianga — can’t shoot to a perfect mirror finish. To get that level of perfection, you need to colour sand.
It used to be called ‘rubbing out’ or ‘cutting’, and it was done with pastes that came in cans. They worked — sort of — but the compounds really just rounded off imperfections instead of eliminating them, and they removed a lot of paint in the process. But now your new finish can be made flawless, thanks to microfine sandpapers that come in 1000, 1500, 2000, and even 2500 grit ranges, and Farecla G3 polish — available from automotive paint suppliers.

NZ Classic Car magazine, March/April 2026 issue 404, on sale now

BMW’s flagship techno showcase
The supermodel 1995 BMW 840Ci is simply elegant and perfectly engineered.
BMW’s 840 Ci flagship Coupe provides superb comfort and equipment packaged in a stylish body, with grand-touring performance and surprisingly competent handling for its size.
It’s the kind of machine that stands apart from the start. When BMW first unveiled its flagship Grand Tourer at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show, the automotive world blinked twice. Sleek, low, and impossibly modern for its era, it combined drama with a sort of purposeful understatement. This silhouette still looks striking today, long after its peers have faded into obscurity.
Initially offered with a range of engines, the model you’re reading about is the V8 iteration, featuring a 4.0-litre eight-cylinder heart under its long bonnet and a smooth five-speed automatic at the back. It wasn’t about blistering sprint times so much as effortless velocity. There was power on tap, sure, but the way it delivered thrust felt unhurried and measured – the automotive equivalent of a deep exhale on a long drive.
Poster 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, C2