Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club's annual family show and swapmeet is returning to Cliff Road this Sunday – but be warned, attendees will view more than Model Ts and As.

While the club still honours vintage cars, a renaissance of sorts is happening within its membership – with baby boomers restoring and displaying vehicles they grew up in during the 1950s-1970s.

For Sunday's show-goers, this means newer classic cars to peruse – along with family entertainment, food, fun and the swapmeet for those keen to nab a car-themed bargain.

Meet Bruce Tait – who restored his 1955 FJ Holden to its original look that he'll park at the Cliff Rd clubrooms, comfortably alongside fellow ‘younger' classics.

'I joined the BOP Vintage Car Club four years ago when I went to one of their shows like they're having this weekend. I just thought it was all fuddy duddy vintage cars…well, I found some more modern cars – so I thought ‘I'll join this crowd and see how we get on'.”

Since then more modern cars – and their owners – have joined the club.

'The likes of Triumphs 2000s and stuff; there's quite a few sports cars,” says Bruce.

'There are still some Model Ts and As but we're trying to realise that a lot of people our age are getting into cars they had when they were young. So a few are turning up with Holden Toranas, Valiants, Mustangs; cars like that.”

This Sunday 7am-8am club members will park their beauties for the public to view from 8.30am – but Bruce says the swapmeet people – both sellers with trailer-loads of carpart ‘goodies' and buyers – will be there early 'because they are dead scared of missing out on a bargain!”

For families, is the cars, a bouncy castle and mini cars for kids, plus activities and merchandise at the club's stand. A morning tea inside the club will be on offer for a few dollars; outside a sausage sizzle and coffee van. Admission is $5 per person, or $15 per family. Swapmeet sales sites are $15.

Bruce can't wait to show his 55 Model Holden – and share how she got from Victoria, Australia, to the Port of Tauranga about eight years ago.

'I'd overheard my wife and my son, who lives in Wagga Wagga, talking about this car they were going to buy without me knowing. I said at the time: ‘I hope you know what you're doing'. But by that time it was virtually on the boat!”

Bruce and his son picked up the car from the POT. Then began two years of hard-but-satisfying yakka for Bruce, repairing and replacing parts before he could get her vinned and roadworthy.

'It became my spare time job – and my spare money job!” Learn more this Sunday!