Nostalgic charm: The Very Vintage Day Out

1 October, 2018

 

It can sometimes be difficult to reconcile your hobbies with those of your partner, but the Very Vintage Day Out neatly straddles the divide with an awesome vehicle display featuring classic cars, muscle cars, and hot rods from the ’30s to the ’60s, as well as the Miss Pinup New Zealand beauty pageant, a bake-off, dressmaking competition, and the ‘Photo Safari’ — united by the appreciation of all things vintage, pinup, and rockabilly.

The event will display vehicles from a multitude of car clubs, including the American Muscle Car Club, Manukau Rod and Custom Club, Hibiscus Rodders, Trouble Bound Hot Rod Club, South Pacific Packards, and Auckland Hot Rod Club. They’re also opening the floor for other enthusiasts to display their period vehicles. If you’re keen to display yours, head to their registration page to register your vehicle for either day — each driver will receive a complimentary pass to the day’s event.

Now in its seventh year, the Very Vintage Day Out continues to cater to those passionate about pin up, tattoo art, retro fashion, and the cars that go along with it. Whether you’re just curious, or a diehard vintage aficionado — or your partner is — it promises to be a fantastic day out, with live music, a fully licenced bar, and great cars.

The Very Vintage Day Out takes place 3 and 4 November at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland. Head to veryvintage.co.nz for more info and to grab your tickets.

Lunch with… Jim Palmer

In the 1960s, Hamilton’s Jim Palmer won the prestigious ‘Gold Star’ four times and was the first resident New Zealander home in the New Zealand Grand Prix on five consecutive occasions. He shared the podium with Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart, and Chris Amon. The extent of his domination of the open-wheeler scene in New Zealand will probably never be matched or exceeded. Yet he’s always been modest about his achievements.

NZ Classic Car magazine, May/June 2025 issue 399, on sale now

Who would have thought it would become such a worldwide motorsport star when Ford introduced the humble Escort in 1967?
Its popularity, particularly in Mark 1 form, is now of iconic status. Our cover story for this issue is on a 1968 Ford Escort Mark 1, Alan Mann Racing Tribute. We talked with the owner of this very special Escort, finished in tribute also to the owner’s father.
“Most children love speed, and motorsport typically comes courtesy of a parent, and Elliott is no different. His engineer father, Mark, had a love for motorcycles and going fast; however, when children came along, he swapped two wheels for four, in the form of two Ford Escorts.
Little did Mark know it at the time, but the humble Escort was about to weave its way into the family fabric once and for all.
After emigrating from London to New Zealand, Elliott recalled one evening when he was 14 being invited to tag along by his father, helping a friend convert an Escort road car into a racing car. This was the pivotal moment when Elliott remembers the motorsport bug taking over. He knew he had to have his own one.”