You’re driving a Mustang?
It’s a blue 1965 Ford Mustang. Dad picked it up five years ago after selling two Mk3 Zephyrs we had sitting in the garage for my entire life. One was for parts and the other he had always said he was going fix up for my 16th birthday. But neither Dad or I knew how to fix up a car and on my 16th birthday the two Zephyrs were in the same state they’d been in my whole life. So, we sold them to buy a car that was already fixed up.
Why a Mustang?
A woman used to drive a red one around Pakuranga when I was a kid and I always liked it. And it was cheaper than a 64 Cadillac Impala in the same condition, my other vintage car crush. I don’t drive it often because it’s a left-hand drive and it handles like a tank. No power steering makes for a work-out when turning corners, too. But I love how it’s low and it’s perfect for driving with an elbow poking out the window on a sunny Sunday.
If you had to describe this car as a celebrity?
Actor Rob Lowe. It’s an older model car that can still turn heads, it’s not the biggest and best or most well-known of the vintage cars but it still looks better than most other older cars.
Any other vehicles in your garage?
My daily drive is a 2005 Honda Fit that I bought in 2014. I had saved $13,000 for a Mazda Axela but when I saw the Honda for $5000 I decided I’d rather have the other $8000 to spend on other things. Five years later the Honda still does the job, but I now wish I had a nicer ride. My first car was a 1990 Honda Prelude. That was fun to drive, it felt like a go-cart. I gave it to my cousin once he got his licence and someone in a truck reversed over the front of it when he was at rugby practice.
Who taught you to drive?
I got my learners the day I turned 15, my restricted six months later and my full six months after that. My grandfather would take me out for lessons. He was pretty ruthless; he made me drive on the motorway my second time behind the wheel and I remember almost crashing when we came up to the roundabout in Newmarket, braking and indicating and looking right all at the same time was too advanced.
Any tips for young drivers?
Don’t text and drive, even if you’re in rolling traffic or on an empty road, anything can happen in the second you take your eyes off the road. A couple of Fridays ago, I had an accident. I reached down to adjust the mat under my feet and, in that second I took my eyes off the road, the car in front had slammed on their brakes. It was nothing serious but it’s gonna cost me money. Texting is way worse because not only do you take your eyes off the road, you’re thinking about what you’re saying.
Dream vehicle?
Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren etc. I love the way they turn heads and makes the haters salty. But I’ve always liked the idea of a family of cars ... a Porsche Panamera as a family car, a 911 as a personal car and a Macan for the wife. Something more realistic would be one of the new Ford Mustangs.
It’s Sunday and you feel like going for a drive?
Usually to New World to get the weekly shopping done early and pick up ingredients for a big breakfast. Then probably Piha or Muriwai for a day at the beach with my wife and son.
Strangest printable thing you’ve done in a car?
I worked at the Pakuranga Plaza 10 years ago and I lived five minutes’ walk away. My flatmate also worked at the plaza for a different retailer. One day he parked his car in the underground car park. The car was old and he couldn’t get it started again after his shift so he walked home and ended up leaving his car there for six months. We used it every day to have our smoko breaks. The security guard eventually realised the car had been there for six months and made an offer on it. My mate made $200 that day.