There's a small convoy of a distinct type of car coming to Tauranga this weekend. But they're bound to make a big impression.

The northern branch of the Jowett Car Club is holding its annual weekend away in Tauranga – and members will be showcasing their unique ‘ladies' to the public at Classic Flyers tomorrow from 12.30 and 2pm.

Jowett Car Club member and event organiser Alan Stanley says about 12 Jowetts will be on show, including Tauranga member Gaven Armit with his 1951 Jowett Jupiter Sports Car – and hopefully fellow Tauranga member Kelvin Green will bring his 1951 Jowett Javelin.

'Kelvin has had his car in parts recently, rebuilding the engine and brakes, so hopefully he can get it there on the day. Kelvin had Jowetts many, many moons ago when we used to come to Tauranga – and he's recently joined the club.”

Alan says the trip is the club's local Auckland to Taupo run – and its return to Tauranga sparks fond memories of the club's earlier visits.

'When we first started having these weekends away, maybe 40 years ago, there was a lady in town called Mrs Compton.

'When Baypark was a race track rather than a dirt track – she booked that and we used to tear around there.

'She'd organise a lot of local cars and we'd meet out at Wairoa River. So we had these weekends away for about five years. And when she died, we started going everywhere.”

Now the club will return to its original getaway spot. And Alan says the public will find interest in the 60-year-old ‘ladies'.

He says Jowett Cars were first made in Bradford, England, in 1910, and production continued until 1953.

Tauranga member Gaven Armit's 1951 Jowett Jupiter sports car.

'The vehicles that will be remembered most in New Zealand are the Javelin saloon, Jupiter sports car and the little two cylinder Bradford trucks and vans, all of the 1948-1953 era.

'All models had the trademark horizontally – opposed to flat – engine.

'The Jowett popularity was most prominent in 1951 and the majority of cars are 1951 models and these are the cars that will be making the trip to Tauranga.”

Alan has a Jowett himself – and says his love for the badge came about 50 years ago.

'I've got one because I had one since I was 22 – and I'm 71 now.

'My brother-in-law came up from Christchurch in one of these cars – and I saw a car I could afford. It had leather seats, and all of instrument s and it went like the clappers – so I bought one for £140.”

So what's special about them? 'They are very different to other cars because they were the first modern car after the war from Britain.

'All of the Austins, Morrises and all those cars people know they were still using old technology – and the Jowetts had torsion bar suspension, it was the first car with the curved windscreen, it's got full-leather seats, it's got an engine that goes sideways instead of up and down a bit like a Porsche – and so it was quite revolutionary in their day.

'They are sort of a bit different and one of the downsides of this is a lot of mechanics don't know about them, so you tend to do all of your own work.”

Alan predicts people will come along tomorrow 'and they will clutching a photo or have some old books they will want to give to us – or they tell me they had their first sexual experience in the back of one of these,” he jokes.

The public are invited to view the Jowett cars tomorrow, November 26, at Classic Flyers, Mount Maunganui, from 12.30pm and 2pm.

For further information about Jowett cars see: www.jowettnz.net or call Alan on 021 827 148.