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Established in 1996, we are a group of passionate car enthusiasts who live and breathe American classic cars, and are based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Our mission in life is to provide an environment for other like minded car aficionados to savour and enjoy their American classics, without the rules and restrictions that seem to dog other areas of everyday lives. If you are an American classic car owner who feels the same as we do, we invite you to take a small journey through our site to see if this sounds like you. If you like what you see, and want to be involved, then send in a membership application. The only hard and fast condition of membership is that prospective members must own an American classic car that is over 25 years old at the time of joining, which must be of historical interest. |
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PLEASE NOTE: American Classic Car Club members are unable to provide classic vehicles for events such as weddings, birthdays, family outings etc, as our members are not licenced to do so. Thank you for your understanding.
Yeehaa In Piha!
A rare fine-weather weekend saw 14 cars registered for the November 15th run to the Piha Bowling Club for lunch and some casual Ends of lawn bowls. As Greg Beech was meeting us at the bowling club, and last minute entry from Kevin Forgesson also joining us for the cruise to Piha in his immaculate AMX Javelin, we still had 14 classics and two daily drivers departing Soljans Winery at 10.30am for the 50 minute cruise. Instead of meeting at Westgate shopping centre as we would normally do, because of this mid-morning departure time we opted to instead meet in Soljans carpark and avoid the mid-morning stop-start traffic chaos all trying to get out of Westgate together. Some members were pleased to discover that you can buy takeaway coffees at Soljans in the mornings, so pre-cruise morning tea refreshments were still catered for. Could be another good option for mid-morning kickoff’s out West. Once we were all out of Soljans carpark through the gaps in the SH16 Northbound traffic and out onto Taupaki Rd, the traffic was light to non-existent. The cruise took us through Taupaki, Waitakere and out on to the very scenic rural and bush roads of Bethells Rd, into Te Henga Rd and up the mountain, passing at the top the very burnt out Japanese car replete with Police evidence tape, past the spectacular cliff faces with the recent rockfalls still across a part of the road which was coned off for removal, winding back down onto Scenic Drive, and then South through the forests to Piha Rd. What a great view it is looking down across Auckland through the glimpses in the odd breaks in the bush along the top of the Waitakeres. There was very light traffic on Piha Rd making for a leisurely run down into Piha and arriving at the Club entrance to find Greg Beech and his Buick Electra waiting in the carpark to welcome us all together with Club President Kirk. What a great day for a cruise through the bush in the convertibles, eh Pete! The Bowling Club laid on what I can only describe as a restaurant-quality buffet lunch that you usually only find in a top CBD hotel, with roast pork and crackling, glazed roast ham, huge fillets of Salmon, pork mint sausages, baked cheese cauliflower, medley of pan-fried mixed vegetables, hot baby potatoes, a cold pasta salad, and lashings of cold salad components to assemble your own bespoke green salad. I didn’t see one single plate with anything left on it, and all for just $20 pp – what a bargain, can’t wait to go back again! Discounted drinks were able to be purchased at the Club Bar, and a very a pleasant afternoon was had in a peaceful bush and park surroundings, with casual lawn bowling by those who wanted to partake for the modest $5 green fees, or just sitting outside chatting under the verandah, enjoying the relaxed ambiance and being entertained by the action. Some members also took the opportunity for a stroll along the beach, and there was even one keen swimmer! It was good to see our members spread across the entire Green with all lanes in use for some considerable time. And judging by the various yeehaa’s there were some surprise results and closet lawn-bowlers discovered! Apart from he who shall remain nameless who knocked his teammates winning ball out of contention leaving the opposition to win! Watching all the bowling going on around us I think a great day was had by all. Many thanks to Greg Beech for once again organizing another fantastic day out at his Club and looking after us all so well. Might have to organize another informal bowling day out based on this successful outing. Cheers, Phil Officer Check out the day's photos here..... 
Bill Tweed Shed Raid - 25 October 2020
A warm and sunny pre-summer long weekend heralded the day for the shed raid to club member Bill Tweed's car collection. Although it clashed with the Caffiene & Classics meetup at Smales Farm, 20 classics and 40 members still managed to turn up for the start at Westgate shopping centre. Even though we were only there for 30 minutes waiting for all the participants to arrive, our real estate hogging American classics obviously attracted attention, with the security guard asking us how long we were going to be as the shops were opening soon. With our assurances that we were departing soon, he went away, but unbeknown to us that would not be the case for all. John Borrow's Thunderbird refused to start after most had departed, even after some tinkering from the mechanics in the club who stayed with him, but luckily an AA man was parked in the centre and tried to assist, but to no avail. He duly called up a towie, who arrived and hauled the T’Bird up on the back. You wouldn’t believe it, but the truck started up, and immediately blew it’s radiator, spewing steam and hot water, so another truck was called. However, after getting John’s T’Bird back off, it miraculously started, so he gingerly drove it home, not wishing to tempt fate later in the day. That was the excitement of the day over for some, with the rest spent viewing Bill’s collection partly stored in a lockup in Henderson, before heading on out to his house in Waimauku. This was a lovely setting with lots of grass and shade trees for what turned out to be a very hot afternoon. Bill has a number of cars in sheds on his residence, along with various motor bikes including a beautiful Ariel Square Four that he has recently purchased. Dave also debuted his latest acquisition to the Roper fleet, a very yellow ‘34 Ford Sedan hot rod, purchased from the South Island and driven up by himself and Neil. Dave Roper and Peter Lee had set up the BBQ’s, gazebo, along with all the ingredients for a great afternoon lunch supplied by the club. It was a very relaxing way to spend Sunday on the long Labour weekend, and the first proper club run not under any arduous restrictions for quite some time. Fingers crossed there will many more to come in the summer months ahead. Ciao4now, regards Russell Take a look at the day's outing here..... 
Caffeine and Gasoline Club Run – Sunday September 27th 2020
The Weather bureau had us all panicking that a ‘weather event of significance’ was due to strike the Country in general on Sunday September 27th – the very day of our planned Club activity, a run down to the North Waikato to take in the ‘other’ monthly car gathering, the Caffeine and Gasoline event at Hampton Downs, Te Kauwhata. I suspect that alone was enough to put many – most even – of our members off attending. Nevertheless, come the meeting point at the Southern Service Centre on Sunday morning, amid relatively calm, albeit overcast and blustery conditions a hardy half dozen, namely me, Pete & June Lee, Shawn Rutene, Ian Ferguson and Kevin Hunt, took the opportunity to refuel both cars and bodies, ready for whatever the day would bring. The cruise South proved uneventful, with the exception of the onset of horrendous rain the further South we got and by the time we pulled into Hampton Downs, it was in full swing with very gusty winds, violent even, and heavy rain…. not the sort of weather conducive to wandering around looking at a surprising variety of cars present! But I still did it, to get you the photos you will see elsewhere in our Gallery section. I must have been mad! It’s okay, you can thank me later…. Phil Stickney & Garry Cullen arrived from Waiuku in the Town Car not long after us and we all took over a table inside the Café at Hamptons, where a great time was had chilling out and just having a good old chin-wag. After that second round of refreshments, there was at least the Motorsport Museum within the Café (or perhaps that should be the other way around) to wander through. There’s some very cool stuff in here, I can tell you. And from the museum windows we stared in awe at Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand very impressive Motorsport preparation facility – world class! As quickly as it came, the weather dispersed and the sun came out – time for the others to take in the car park eye-candy. Pete, June and myself even wandered down to the race track itself, where a Clubmans meeting was taking place, so we watched a gaggle of BMW E30 race cars buzzing around for a while. But soon to was time to depart for home for most. A surprisingly enjoyable low-stress sort of day, despite the prevailing conditions. I think this monthly event at Hamptons would probably be quite the show in fine weather and I for one will be taking another look as the summer approaches. Rob Milligan Photos of the day can be seen here..... |
UPCOMING ACCCA EVENTS
Monday December 7 North Shore Rod & Custom Club Toy Run, Vellenoweth Green, St. Heliers from 5pm. Club gazebo will be there with tea/coffee, so bring a kid's present and a chair Sunday December 13 Xmas Picnic @ Bridgewater Estate, 561 Peak Road, Helensville. Meet at BP Northern Motorway, Silverdale from 10am for staggered departure from around 10.30am. Anyone unable to meet at the BP Northern Motorway, i.e. those coming from North, the venue will not be open prior to 11am so we recommend you wait at Caltex Dairy Flat, crn Albany Highway and Kahikatea Flats Rd and join the convoys from there. Main meal is catered by Bridgewater, therefore following charges apply: members $30 per head, non-members/guests $35 per head, member’s children under 12yo $15, non-members children under 12 yo $17.50/head. Bring a Christmas/summer themed dessert for afterwards, to share amongst the members. Absolutely NO BYO drinks (alcohol/softdrinks) as these will only be available from the venue at cost. RSVP to StarChiefRussell@gmail.com along with payment to club bank account ANZ 06-0273-0235649-00 no later than Friday December 4th. Saturday January 16 Kumeu Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival. Meet at club site at Showgrounds from 8am, parking on first come-first in basis. Tea/coffee/BBQ available, BYO meat/picnic/chair |