'Is it a cool story about old cars that usually don't go?” asks Steve Cartwright.

It's actually a cool story about a fiesta of VWs, a celebration of Beetles, buggys and bajas, a carnival of Kombis.

All of them going and all of them worth probably 10 to a dozen times more than when they rolled off the production line half a century ago.

It's The Bay of Plenty Volkswagen Club's Run to the Sun – an event which proved such a hit on debut last year, the organisers – including Steve – are doing it all again next month. On the weekend beginning Friday, March 10, they meet at Mount Maunganui's Phoenix Carpark.

And everyone knows old Vee-Dubs never break down. Some just don't run as well as they might.

Last year more than 100 VWs arrived at the Mount's Phoenix Carpark for the Bay of Plenty Volkswagen Club's Show and Shine – owners show off their stuff and everyone who has owned, thought of owning or has ridden a VW, wanders aimlessly and adoringly.

'I don't know what the fascination is with old Volkswagens,” says Steve. 'Personally, I've always had an interest in old cars and for some reason I ended up with a Volkswagen.” A 1968 Kombi for which he paid $15,000.

The Kombi served him well. He doubled his money when he sold it. That was six months ago and when the BoPVW Club organiser shows up at Phoenix Carpark for this year's Show and Shine he'll be driving the old work Toyota. 'I am shopping around for another VW, no rush; the right one will come along at the right time.”

And the right one can cost a lot of money – from $50,000, $60,000 or $70,000 – the price of a reasonable range brand new ‘Euro'. 'The flashest Kombis are the split-window models, going for massive money.”

Is it the car, or is it the people? Steve would suggest the people. 'I was involved with hotrods for a while but for some reason the scene always seemed the same.

'So I ended up buying a VW and the best part of owning that vehicle was the people I have met.”

Last year Phoenix Carpark was crammed with both VWs and aficionados. 'We were turning cars away. 'They were parked in places they should be parked and we physically couldn't fit any more in. Cars we didn't know existed showed up.”

The BoPVW Club's Run to the Sun weekend is still in the planning and will feature some of the country's best-looking Beetles, Kombis, buggys and baja bugs.

Owners gather at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park on Friday, March 10. The cars will exhibit at the Show and Shine at the Phoenix Carpark from 10am-2pm on Saturday, March 11. And VW owners exhibiting their cars will be charged $10 and the viewing public will be asked to make a gold coin donation. All proceeds go to the coastguard, which will also hold a display.

That Saturday night the VWers gather at a local restaurant and bar before heading off on a Sunday cruise the following morning.

Do you want to be part of the VW family and weekend? Go to the club's Facebook page ‘Run to the Sun NZ 10-12 March 2017'.

It's a month out from the encore Run to the Sun and already 80 owners are registered. 'There will be many more on the day I reckon,” says Steve.