Why rent a classic car from RentAClassic?
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.
Robert Louis Stevenson, novelist and poetOur Journey
Kia Ora, I’m Stephen Tanner and I formed RentAClassic in 2012, six years after I came to visit New Zealand with my eldest son James. Ostensibly we were touring the country to see if it could fulfill a lifelong dream about relocating the family from the UK, but what a great excuse for a driving holiday too! The country and people exceeded our expectations but our rental car certainly didn’t. I couldn’t believe my choice was limited to driving such a boring blandmobile across such stunning surroundings on uncrowded roads. And so I decided if we did make it over, others should get the opportunity to enjoy some quality characterful cars that complemented the wonderful driving environment. And now we love hearing our customers share their stories…..and how much more they enjoyed their rental cars!
The journey is the reward.
Chinese proverb
Our Services
RentAClassic Car Tours – Escorted ‘Drive 5’ Day & Multi-day Tours
RentAClassic not only hire out premium sports and convertible cars that you get to drive, we can take you on guided day tours too. Our ‘Drive 5’ trips escort you round wonderful locations in the Top of the South Island, with you swapping between and getting to drive up to 5 different cars for the day! We go on set days or we can arrange custom dates for groups. Come and sample true motoring delights at www.nzroadtrips.co.nz
Roam James Chauffeur Tours
Would you rather be driven in one of our cars for a few hours, as a treat for an individual, or to arrive somewhere in style? We’re licensed to drive you in any of our cars. Or want to tour in luxury on an itinerary lasting hours or weeks, with a safe, friendly driver to look after you? We offer a chauffeur driven service in any of our cars – find out more at www.roamjames.co.nz
RentAClassic – Self drive classic (and modern) sports and convertible car hire
RentAClassic aims to provide you with an experience you’ll remember for all the right reasons. Car rental doesn’t have to be boring or just a means of getting from A to B, the journey itself can be so much more. We only hire cars we love to own, and we look after them as if we were driving them ourselves because that’s indeed what we get a kick out of doing. And given my family depends on them as well, you can be sure they’re maintained to the highest standards. The 1972 MG BGT has been in the family for over 50 years, and is perhaps THE classic everyday British sports car. The 1999 Saab 9-3 convertible has been owned for far less but is a timeless and elegant design. Is the the Saab a true classic? Well maybe not by an age definition, but it does come from the last millennium and they sadly don’t make them anymore so that helps! Stephen Bayley well known UK design commentator noted Saabs had inimitable presence and that “Driving topless is one of life’s pleasures; enjoy the Saab Convertible while you can“. Our definition is if it’s a car that’s characterful, different and desirable, it’s a classic, and on that count we think all our cars more hit the mark. Driving a car roofless involves all your senses, it makes you feel more a part of the world you’re journeying through – and what a glorious part of the world to feel part of…
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain, Author
Like the mix of classic, retro and modern cars we rent out? Like to spend some time reading entertaining insights about them? There’s a whole new magazine all about buying, owning and enjoying the kind of classics we do too. Classic. Retro. Modern. features articles on Morris Marinas and the Lexus SC430, the Jensen Interceptor alongside the Fiat Panda, the Ford Puma rubbing bumpers with the Citroen GS. It has stories about those who designed cars, rallied them, and enjoy them as daily drives.
There’s stunning photography, features on both ordinary and extraordinary cars, owners and their classics, wonderful period adverts and tongue in cheek humour, plus a regular column by an irregular guy, ( I wonder who that could be….), on Kiwiana Classics. Available in digital or monthly print editions, it’s the perfect real world stories antidote to unaffordable auction houses and go faster glossies with all shiny metal you can’t afford….
Helping drivers to drive safer and be entertained – the Drive Alive Podcast
We all like to think we’re good drivers, but we can always learn to be better drivers, which in turn makes our roads safer and more enjoyable for all. So RentAClassic contributes to doing just that in our local community. I help out at the Open Road Driver Training scheme run by the Red Cross in Nelson, where I help mentor newly arrived refugees to pass their driving test. Having a driving licence means they’ve got a far better chance of re-settling their families in the community and getting local employment. To date we’ve helped 5 people pass, and they only passed on 1 or 2 grey hairs to me!
I also host a live show on Fresh FM Community Radio called Drive Alive. We talk about roadcraft tips and techniques to help make us all better drivers, what are good and bad habits, road safety and our love hate relationships with cars. I also interview interesting people about their driving experiences and car histories, or their involvement in transport, from NZTA and Council Road Managers, Police motorcyclists and Chauffeurs, to truck drivers and cycling campaigners. And we also play some pretty cool driving music along the lines of these best ever driving songs IMHO!
Tune in every second Wednesday evening at 8pm on 104.8/107.2 FM in Nelson, 95.0 in Golden Bay or 88.9 in Blenheim, or download the podcasts from the Fresh FM website, iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Got some great motoring tales to tell yourself or opinions to voice? Get in touch via the contact form, you don’t have to be local to be on the show.