Download - New Zealand Automobile Association

DRIVER“I love going to the old junkyardsover there, too. They’re quite hard tofind, but they often have such coolmemorabilia.”So much can be done by phoneand online these days that it’s notnecessary to travel to the US to buya classic car from there. Ben saysit does pay to be cautious, though,when buying from a private seller inanother country. He suggests buyersseek detailed close-up photos ofvehicles they’re interested in to makesure they’re in advertised condition.Ben also recommends havingvehicles properly inspected before“There was noengine, it was justa body. In retrospect,it was too ambitiousa project for me totake on back then.“proceeding with any purchase.“Don’t send large sums ofmoney on the basis of one or twophotos to someone you don’t know.You’re better to work through aninternational freight company.”A shipper can pick up the vehicle,put it in a container and sort out allthe paperwork. Buyers should alsobe prepared for hidden costs, suchas cleaning and MAF charges, overand above freight fees.When he’s not searching for newprojects or working on the carsthemselves, Ben likes to get behindthe wheel, with Lorraine at his side.They love taking long Kiwi road trips.One of their favourite drives is tothe annual Whangamata BeachHop festival in the Coromandel...the only hitch being trying to decidewhich car to take when there areso many choices. ←44 AA Directions Winter 2013