Mangatainoka Motors Classics Day brings in the Veterans

Francis Pointon is a bit of a classic car enthusiast.

He started off working as a motor mechanic in the 1970s and began collecting vintage and classic cars.

“I had friends who were into vintage cars,” he says.

Francis brought along his 1918 Essex to Tui Breweries Mangatainoka Motors vintage and classics day last weekend, the last for the year of monthly show days at the brewery which give collectors and enthusiasts the chance to show off their pride and joy for fellow enthusiasts and members of the public.

Francis says his Essex is the oldest in New Zealand and he came across it 10 years ago.

It was restored in the 1990s.

The Essex was produced by the Essex Motor Company from 1918 until 1922 and then trading under Hudson Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan, until 1933.

“They used the Essex range to make a cheaper range of cars,” Francis says.

The car was also known to set speed records, although Francis, who came up from the Wairarapa for the day, kept to Route 52 so he could cruise along under the speed limit and not hold up traffic on the state highway.