Why do Kiwis collect old cars, motorbikes and the like?

While pontificating pundits talk about heritage, culture and history, Clarkson, Hammond and May got it right with their Cool Wall. Kiwis buy collectibles because in their eyes, they are cool. And cool is very much in the eye of the beholder. Some are cool because when they were new, the collector was 12 years old and thought it was the coolest thing they had ever seen. They drew pictures of it in their school notebook, even bought a poster for their bedroom wall. And finally, decades later, with some spare cash to spend, they buy one. Some find a fully-restored one, but most go on the hunt, buy it and begin restoring it to glory.

“My dad had one of these. I learned to drive in it.” — That sentiment is at the heart of many collections.

For the next collector, it was their dad’s car back in the day – sometimes it actually was their dad’s car which dad thought was cool enough to park it in the barn rather than trade in or tow to the wrecking yard. Now, a grown adult doing well in their job, with some extra dosh, they restore their memory and live it.

Collectibles are beautiful. They’re raw. They don’t beep, buzz, or drive themselves. In a world that’s increasingly digital and disconnected from the mechanical, collectibles are thrilling in their imperfection.

Collecting is often inseparable from restoring. These aren’t just vehicles — they’re projects, puzzles, and personal triumphs. Collectors master obsolete technologies and rebuild parts by hand or source them globally. In the process they meet folks who share their interest — genuine, not packaged experiences. 

From classic car clubs to Sunday swap meets, the culture around collectibles is strong and self-sustaining. It’s social, intergenerational, and built on mutual respect for knowledge and craftsmanship. For many Kiwis, it’s a key part of their social life and identity.

New Zealand has a rich motoring history tied to rural life, DIY culture, and a long tradition of ingenuity. Restoring and preserving old vehicles connects people to their families, their past, and a time when self-reliance and hands-on skill were essential.

In short, finding, buying, restoring and enjoying a collectible, be it a car, a motorcycle, a military vehicle or London double-decker bus, makes life interesting for for the collector. Unlike art collecting which hangs on a wall or sits on the lawn, vehicles are dynamic, they move, and they interact with the world. They become the object of conversation when out on a drive. And in many cases, they are more open, more interactive with the road. In short, they are cool and they are fun.