Rare Cars Start Arriving in Wellington for MTA Centenary

Rare Cars Start Arriving in Wellington for MTA Centenary - Car Show of the Century

MTA MEDIA RELEASE

Photo of Rinspeed concept car here Other photos available on request

Over the next few days over 150 of New Zealand’s most treasured, historic, fastest, greatest and latest cars will be brought in to Wellington for the MTA centenary Car Show of the Century.

For the first time in this country’s history the earliest cars will be lined up th the very latest. MTA Chief Executive Craig Pomare says “As we celebrate our centenary we thought it only fitting that we look forward as well as back.”

The MTA Car Show of the Century at the TSB Bank Arena opens its doors to the public on Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm. For just two days, people will be able to see everything from the very first car in New Zealand through to an autonomous, electric and intelligent car from Rinspeed in Switzerland. It’s the first time a Rinspeed concept car has been shown in Australasia.

“We have three displays and we are using these to honour and celebrate New Zealanders’ love for cars and the stories attached to some of our greatest and most loved cars. In one area, we focus on eight great kiwis and their cars and motorbikes – people like Burt Munro, John Britten and Denny Hulme. We also showcase the latest in technology from the big brands. In the Arena car park, 100 cars and motorbikes from private collections around the country will form a truly unique display. There has never been such a range of historic, well known and well-loved cars brought together in this way before.”

The centenary event includes a speakers programme. Speakers include the head of Rinspeed, the Swiss auto think tank that creates just one concept car a year. Its managing director Frank M Rinderknecht is joined by his Kiwi industrial designer Alain Brideson and they’ll talk about how they create the annual cutting edge car that is shown off at the world’s biggest car shows. Kiwi entrepreneur Ian Wright, who co-founded Tesla and then started developing electric powertrains for trucks, is the other keynote speaker. They’re backed up by otherse with an interest in the future and the history of cars.

The fun includes rides on the amphibious Aquada and Quadski (weather permitting), rides in electric vehicles, competitions and robot coding workshops with scientist Michelle Dickenson, aka Nano Girl.

The Car Show of the Century opens at 9am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $12 with children under 14 free.

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