From rusty shell to gleaming show car
Bill Donald has always loved Zephyrs. His pride and joy - a 1955 MK1 Zephyr Six - was one of many prized cars on show in Taranaki this weekend.
The car was on display at the Taranaki Motorama event at New Plymouth’s East End Reserve on Saturday.
Donald’s Zephyr was once an old rusty shell that someone had dropped off at a rubbish dump, but over six and a half years he has lovingly restored the car back to it’s former glory.
‘‘I’ve had Zephyrs for 25 years and had a shed full of parts to use but I also bought some off Trade Me. I’ve always had an interest in cars, my first car in 1962 was a Zepyhr and I’ve been playing with them ever since.’’
Donald said the car wasn’t just for show and that he still liked to get it out a bit and drive it around when he got the chance, but he also had another black Zephyr at home which he’s had since 1993. He is a member of the Central Region Zephyr Zodiac Club and it was the first time he’d entered the car in a show.
The Taranaki Motorama event featured a vast array of hot rods, street cars, sprint boats, classic cars, trucks and motorbikes and event organiser Scott Ward was hoping it would become a yearly event.
‘‘The event is going good, it’s a big thing to put together but it’s good to see it all come together,’’ he said.
Ward was quick to acknowledge the army of volunteers who were helping at the show.
While difficult to put an exact number on how many cars entered the show he estimated it to be around 120.
‘‘We’ve had heaps of interest on Facebook from people wanting to bring their cars down. It doesn’t have to be a big American car either if you have real pride in it then bring it along.’’
All proceeds from the event went towards supporting the Taranaki Health Foundation’s Open Minds Project and Hardship to Kids Health Fund.