Going old school: Very Vintage Day Out 2019

21 August, 2019

 


 

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 Jack Daniels Miss Pinup New Zealand beauty pageant — united by the appreciation of all things vintage, pinup, and rockabilly.

Now in its eight year, 2019 sees a full programme of entertainment including live bands, dancers, a new Show Vehicle Display Hall for up to 90 vehicles, military displays, makeovers, as well as over 90 vendors on site selling a huge range of Vintage, Retro, Rockabilly and Pin Up products. The Friday night even has a 1940s Military-themed dance with big band Tuxedo Swing playing

If you’re keen to display your vehicle, you’ll receive free undercover parking on the day in Hall 1, free entry into the event for the driver and be in the draw for a mystery prize pack from NZV8 magazine and Jack Daniels — simply visit the Very Vintage Day Out vehicle registration page.

Tickets can be purchased online at Eventfinda for $22, or on the door at $25.

Saturday, 19 October
Very Vintage Day Out 2019
ASB Showgrounds, Auckland

You’re the one that I want – 1973 Datsun 240K GT

In the early 1970s, Clark Caldow was a young sales rep travelling the North Island and doing big miles annually. He loved driving. In 1975 the firm he worked for asked Clark what he wanted for his new car, and Clark chose a brand-new Datsun 240K GT. The two-door car arrived, and Clark was smitten, or in his own words, he was “pole vaulting.”
Clark drove it all over the country, racking up thousands of miles. “It had quite a bit of pep with its SOHC 128 hp (96kW) of power mated to a four-speed manual gearbox,” he says. Weighing in at 1240kg meant the power to weight ratio was good for the time and its length at almost 4.5 metres meant it had good street presence.
Clark has been a car enthusiast all his life, and decided around nine years ago to look for one of these coupes. By sheer luck he very quickly found a mint example refurbished by an aircraft engineer, but it was in Perth.

The originals – the Ledgerwood Collection

Thanks to Central Otago’s dry climate, it’s no surprise to find that Wanaka couple Jim and Daphne Ledgerwood are steadily developing an incredible collection of amazing coupes. ‘The Originals’ they have are as per factory new condition, and their aim is to keep them for everyone to see how it was done back in the day—pure nostalgia.
An occasional email from Jim usually reveals another gleaming addition. The collectors also have an impressive display of American pickups. It’s our gain and US enthusiasts’ loss, as car agent’s adverts proclaim, “Sorry you missed out. Gone to New Zealand!” Some of Jim and Daphne’s cars are almost part of the family, hence their nicknames.