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Head to Mangawhai

28 November, 2019

The first Saturday of the year will often see classic cars, hot rods, and bikes converging for the annual Black Swamp Rod Run in Mangawhai. The chance to cruise in company around some of Northland’s picturesque coastline followed by a fun afternoon in the Olive Grove with music, food, and plenty of shade usually attracts more than 200 cars.

Register ($20) on the day from 9am —  Saturday, 4 January 2020 — at Mangawhai Domain, Moir St. The cruise starts at 10.45am, heading to Waipu before returning to Mangawhai’s Black Swamp Road Olive Grove for an afternoon of family fun, usually in the sun. Hot food and cold drinks are available.
Thanks to the event’s growing popularity, entry to the Black Swamp Road Olive Grove will be limited to registered event cars.

Members of the public are invited to check out the cars from 9–10.45am for a gold coin donation to Otamatea High School. For more information, call Sandra on 027 531 0788.

Twin peaks – 1990 BMW M325i pairing

5 June, 2025

The endearing E30 range has spawned a few modern classics and the poster car is undeniably the homologation-special M3. But what if you want M3 looks, genuine sporting character, and a sensible price tag? The obvious answer is the M325i, the best E30 model to be sold new in New Zealand between 1987 and 1991. With an M-Tech body kit, upgraded factory specification, and right-hand drive layout, it’s no wonder these finely honed cars are so highly prized. They have, in fact, been on collectors’ radars for many years now.
It’s hard to find significantly better examples than the near-identical Brilliant Red cars assembled here. These are post-facelift M-Technic II models and both were registered locally in May 1990. A minor difference in their specifications is one has silvery-grey velour throughout the cabin and the other darker grey upholstery. Other than that, after 30 years on Kiwi roads, it’s not easy to tell the cars apart from 10 paces.

Britannia rules the roads – Royal Tour Cars – part 1

30 May, 2025

Today we take royal tours for granted, but once upon a time, or at any time before the 20th century, it was impossible for our monarchs to visit their downunder dominions because of the distances involved and the unreliable transport.
The advent of steam power for ships and trains, the evolution of the motor car and, finally, the arrival of passenger air travel shrank their world, and ours, considerably, and the royal tour became a feature of the empire and the Commonwealth.
The first British royal visitor to Aotearoa, New Zealand, was Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1920. During his 28-day tour, he travelled mostly by the royal train, which was both safer and more convenient for royal personages. A variety of best-available cars were used locally. Ideally, these would be Daimlers.