Car Cache

[By Murray Dewhurst in Otaihanga and Paeroa]   

A collection of kiwi cars completed over the last year, viewed in age order. 

That’s an 1895 Benz Aero above – New Zealand’s oldest car – sketched at the Southward Museum in Otaihanga. Driving must have been a different experience in those days!

This racing Stutz placed well at Indianapolis in 1915 and 1919 before heading down here to take out the New Zealand Motor Cup for three years in a row.

I’d only read about these Czech beasts previously so it was pretty cool to see one in the flesh. Hard to believe the Tatra is ten years older than the ’46 Mercury below! The world’s first aero designed car, with an air-cooled 3 litre V8 sitting off the back of the rear axle they could get along at over 150 kph – incredible for 1936.

Interesting to get up close and personal with the Mercury though. So much chrome! I’m told they were basically upmarket Fords and this one absolutely bristles with shiny decoration the standard Fords didn’t have.

A crusty DS Citroen and Borgward Isabella parked together like some exotic yard sculpture were accompanied by an equally rustic looking airstream style caravan on a back street of Paeroa. It was good fun painting all that mat rustiness.

Not such a ‘classic’ car this one, just our family car, but interesting
to draw anyway, especially when sitting within a metre of the front
bumper Flaf and Lapin style.