Car fans share the Alfa appeal
A national gathering of car enthusiasts met in Nelson for their annual meeting, going gaga over the 55 cars on display.
The Alfa Romeo Owners Club gathered at the World of WearableArt & Classic Cars Museum at Annesbrook for their Shine and Show meet, showing off Alfa Romeos both vintage and brand new.
The club meets every year, moving from town to town to give everyone a chance to host the event.
Long-time club members Carol Nicoll and Lynore Parkin said the appeal of Alfa Romeo cars for them was the Italian flair in the design, but the appeal of the club was the company.
‘‘We only see each other at these events. It’s really the people that bring us back every year,’’ Nicoll said.
Parkin said most Alfa Romeo club members were so invested, they had a ‘‘stable’’ of them.
‘‘If one breaks down, they’ll get out the spare,’’ she said.
One member had up to seven different models.
The New Zealand branch of the club has been operating for 44 years, usually meeting twice a year: once for the annual general meeting in different locations around the country, and once in Feilding for a race day.
Bruce Stewart, from Manawatu, said it was ‘‘glorious’’ to drive a vintage Alfa Romeo like his 1958 convertible.
‘‘The rule is, you have to drive it with the top down.’’
He said he had even once shipped an Alfa Romeo to Europe to take a continental road trip.
‘‘They get into your system,’’ he said.