Flathead Fords converge on Lower Hutt for classic car meet

Nearly 40 traditional autos – Ford flathead V8s – converge on Reduce Hutt this 7 days.

The nationwide meet up with-up will take put every three several years in New Zealand, with classic motor vehicle homeowners from all over the region, as effectively as a number of from Australia and the US, established to attend.

Rae and Fred Mills arrived in Decreased Hutt from Houston, Texas, on Sunday. This is the third time in 9 several years they have travelled to New Zealand to participate in the Early Ford V8 Club’s nationwide meet-up.

“I’m likely to push typical cars and trucks. I’m going to have enjoyment,” explained Fred Mills.

Go through Far more:
* Kiwis lining up for new Range Rover and distinctive-version Mustangs
* Get started your engines, Frankton Thunder gears up for what could be its most significant 12 months yet
* Fords, Holdens, Chryslers and Mitsubishis: Police cars via the many years

The pair are avid traditional vehicle fanatics. Fred caught the bug from his father, and Rae joked she married into the lifestyle.

While transporting their very own classic V8 to New Zealand is a bit out of their price range, it will not be an difficulty. In excess of the future week, Fred and Rae will generate all over the location with the team.

Countrywide coordinator Bryan Cossey mentioned 36 Ford V8s would get there in Decreased Hutt from Sunday for the Early Ford V8 Club’s countrywide meeting.

On Monday, associates would park their motor vehicles at Dowse Square in Decrease Hutt for the general public to come and look at from 11am to 1pm, in advance of driving to Eastbourne.

“If any individual who desires to see the previous automobiles pushed on the street, cease on the side of the road and see them.”

Cossey claimed the Ford flathead was the initial V8 engine produced by Henry Ford, and was “just a common.” The cars and trucks could continue to keep up to the contemporary days vehicles and generate up to 95 to 100 kph on highways.

The only challenge was parking them in supermarkets, Cossey joked. The autos did not have ability steering, and expected “a little bit of arm muscle mass.”

The driver experienced owned his Ford V8 given that 2000 right after his brother-in-legislation acquired him interested. Cossey ultimately bought his individual auto.

Danny Nevill has been concerned in the club for 15 decades. He procured his 1949 Ford Reward pickup in 2012 and obtained it on the highway 4 decades later.

Nevill explained what he cherished about classic automobiles was the skill to discuss to onlookers.

“People just appreciate them. No subject what you do and where by you go, folks want to arrive up to you and discuss to you. It’s great.”