A classic car given new life by students

I Have a Dream, is dedicated to inspiring dreams and enabling futures – giving young people the tools, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.  Sometimes, those futures begin in the most unexpected places – like under the hood of a 1961 MGA Mark I.

When long-time I Have a Dream supporter, mentor, and MG enthusiast Dave Cotty decided it was time to part with his classic MGA, he saw an opportunity to make a lasting impact. By donating the car to I Have a Dream, Dave helped create an educational project in partnership with Tikipunga High School’s Automotive Trades Academy, one that would not only teach valuable skills, but also raise vital funds for both the Academy and I Have a Dream once complete.

Over a three-year period, the MG was lovingly restored by a group of students from the Academy under the expert guidance of tutor Matua Clint McEwen. 

Clint McEwen explained that although the MG wasn’t running when it arrived at the workshop, what could have been a major challenge quickly became a series of valuable teaching opportunities.

“As it was a classic car, we had to strip it down to the basics and deal with the little issues that cropped up. The harder you looked the more stuff needed to be done,” said Clint. “But because all cars run pretty much the same, getting an engine that’s kind of stripped away without all the fancy stuff on it makes it a bit easier.”

For Te Koha Williams-Burling, one of the students involved in the project, working on the MG marked a new kind of challenge. “It was the first time I had dealt with a vintage vehicle,” he said. “It was nothing like the modern cars I’ve helped with before, but it was amazing to work on.”

Through the supportive, hands-on environment of the Academy, Te Koha has since developed a wide range of automotive skills, from basic servicing and oil changes to welding. It’s a foundation he hopes to build on as he looks ahead to a career in the trades.

Another student, Tearii Kupa Wichman, echoed the excitement and pride the group feels as the car nears its auction date. “It’s been a long process,” he said. “But now that it’s finished, I’m excited to see how the auction goes.”

For Tearii, the Trades Academy represents more than just a class, it’s a pathway into the automotive industry. “It opens doors. Some of the past students are now working for companies like Toyota and Ford.”

Auction Update

The MG was auctioned prior to the Auckland MG Car Club’s Annual Meeting at the Remuera Club on Tuesday 30 September with auctioneering support provided by Webb’s Auctions Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia department. It was successfully sold for $28,000 on the night.

We would like to extend a huge thank you those above and everyone else who supported this project, including:

Whangārei MG enthusiast and restorer, Rob Sorenson, viewed the car and noted that it is mechanically very sound and a very good drive. It just needs some cosmetic work done to it.

“The advantages with buying something like this is that it’s a very straight car, rust free, bar a little surface rust here and there. It’s a good solid runner, warranted & registered, with all factory matching numbers. So, if you wanted to keep it as it is, with all the patina etc., then you could drive it, for the next however long and maintain it. Otherwise it’s a good solid base for a full on restoration project, to get it up to concourse.”

I Have a Dream CEO, Shane Gorst, sees the restoration as a powerful symbol of what’s possible. “This project shows what happens when passion, education, and opportunity come together. It’s not just a beautiful car – it’s a vehicle for change.”

Now ready for its next owner, the MGA stands as a testament to community, commitment, and the transformative power of learning. It’s more than horsepower – it’s a dream made real, and a future in motion.

As featured in the Sept-Oct edition of the
NZ Classic Driver magazine.

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