At DRIVESHARE, we love sharing the unique stories behind the classic cars on our global platform. This week, we’re travelling all the way to New Zealand to hear from Charmain and her stunning 1965 Ford Mustang, which has become a bit of a local celebrity in Auckland.
How did your passion for classic cars begin?
I’ve always loved old cars since childhood. I would always gravitate toward the oldest car on the street and admire them. After moving to New Zealand 15 years ago, my interest grew even more when I saw classic cars driving around every weekend. The little seaside village where I live hosts a successful classic car and music festival every January. I’d mark this date in my calendar and walk down to the village to take hundreds of photos, which I’d admire for months afterward.
How did you come to own your 1965 Ford Mustang?
One day, friends invited us to a week-long car festival called Americarna in New Plymouth, Taranaki. When we got to the event, I saw a red 1965 Ford Mustang coupe and fell head over heels. My friends knew the owner, so we were introduced. The first words that came out of my mouth were, “How much for the red Mustang?” The owner laughed and said it wasn’t for sale. On the second day, I asked again, but he said it wasn’t for sale. The third day, I asked again, and this time he said he’d think about it. This carried on for a few more days until he broke down and agreed to sell it to me.
I took it for a test drive, but I couldn’t really drive it because it’s a manual gearbox, left-hand drive, and a V8 engine. We drive right-hand vehicles in New Zealand, and mostly automatic. After embarrassing myself, I got my husband to test drive it, and he did much better. I bought it right there and took it home the next day. After a 7-hour drive through perilous mountain roads, we got it home and knew we had made the right decision.
What drew you to this specific car?
I’ve always loved classic cars, and when I saw that red Mustang, I couldn’t get it out of my head. It was love at first sight.
How has this car impacted your life?
From the moment I brought it home, it’s brought so much joy into our lives. I learned to drive it like a pro and started chauffeuring weddings and special events. The Mustang has also done commercials for Viltrox Fujifilm and Krispy Kreme donuts, been in a few music videos, and done a lot of weddings, birthday parties, and school balls. I feel like my Mustang is a little bit famous in New Zealand!
What inspired you to list your Mustang for hire?
One Saturday night, I was figuring out how I could make some extra money, and it dawned on me that I had a beautiful Mustang sitting in my garage. I knew others loved it as much as I did. I Googled classic car hire and came across BookAclassic, part of DRIVESHARE. I didn’t think twice before listing my Mustang. My thinking was, let me try this out, and if it works, great—if it doesn’t, I haven’t lost anything.
What are some of your most memorable experiences with the car?
One of the most memorable experiences was driving it home after the festival, through mountain roads. That’s when I knew I’d made the right decision. Another highlight has been seeing how happy it makes people at weddings and events. The car has been part of so many special moments, and it’s amazing to see how much joy it brings to others.
How do you store and maintain your car?
I store the Mustang in the garage and handle most of the upkeep myself. I make sure it’s in top condition for every event or shoot.
For more details or to book a ride, find Charmain's Mustang on BookAclassic, check out her 2018 Mustang GT V8, and follow her on Instagram. And to list your own amazing car, head to DRIVESHARE in the US and BookAclassic in the UK Europe, New Zealand and other territories.
