Sitting in Robert Patton's Bethlehem garage is a beautiful 1951 Austin Sheerline, untouched as if it just rolled off the showroom floor.

Smooth lines, chrome headlamps, bur-walnut dashboard, full leather seats. Sitting inside you can smell the years and when the engine clicks over it's a symphony of 50's engineering.

Classic car lover Robert Patton is driving his 1951 Austin Sheerline to the Brits at the Beach Festival in October. Photo: David Tauranga.

Robert is eagerly awaiting October's arrival, and the return of the Brits at the Beach Festival in Whangamata.

The annual festival is jammed packed with classic British cars and motorbikes, good grub, and village fete styled entertainment.

The main draw card is the classic cars and motorcycles on show, and so far Jaguar, MG, Mini, plus Triumph and BSA motorcycles and some of the makes of vehicles registered already.

Robert says he can't wait to hit the road in his Sheerline and do the jaunt to Whangamata.

'This will be my first year heading to the festival and I'm really looking forward to it.

'I enjoy classic cars, looking at them, talking with the owners and learning their histories. The big part of owning a classic car is the social element that comes with it.”

Robert bought the Sheerline 11 years ago from a seller who had inherited it from his great-uncle.

The car had been part of the seller's life for years and it must have been 'a very difficult decision for him to part with it,” he says.

For good reasons too – this Sheerline is a truly unique two-and-a-half tonne beauty.

It is totally original and has never been restored, and at 63 years old it has done roughly 92,000 miles (148,060km).

The Sheerline has been looked after so well its original clutch was only replaced this year.

'It's a pleasure to drive. It doesn't have the standard features of cars these days like power steering or power assisted brakes,” says Robert.

'If you're going to have a classic car you want something that you have to drive, rather than getting into a car that drives itself. That's part of the fun of it.”

Growing up Robert's family drove around in Vauxhalls but from the moment he saw his first Sheerline he knew he had to have one.

He says the appeal for him is that the Sheerline is a 'very British and regal looking car”.

'From its era it is very similar to Bentley and Rolls Royce – it's a similar size, similar lines and quite imposing.

'In reality, this was more affordable than a Rolls Royce and it's often referred to as the ‘poor man's Bentley', so I guess I'm at the lower end of the pecking order,” he jokes.

Now into its fifth year Brits at the Beach organiser Colin McCabe says the festival keeps growing from strength to strength.

In 2013 it was estimated that 15,000 people showed and they're hoping for a bigger turnout this year.

'We offer punters so much that people can go from one thing to another, to another, and so on,” says Colin.

The festival is also much more than cars and motorcycles, and there's plenty of entertainment on offer, he says.

During the four day festival, events include a Whisky Dinner on Thursday, a jaunt to Grahamstown on Friday, the Grand Parade and Village Fete on Saturday, all topped off with a Sunday Drive.

Children will also be happy during Saturday's Village Fete with plenty of games, a mini-putt competition plus a Sherlock Holmes treasure hunt.

'The Village Fete features good grub, fete games, stalls and all of the cars and bikes on show. That's the big crowd pleaser.”

There will also be plenty of spot prizes to be given away, including a $1000 prize for best costume and the chance to in an MGF Sportcar simply purchasing a programme.

'Brits at the Beach is a lot of fun, they crowd goers are always in a good mood and very happy which is really nice. So we hope to see more people at the festival this year.”

The Brits at the Beach Festival will take place in and around Whangamata from October 2-5.

For more information or to register your vehicle visit www.britsatthebeach.co.nz