Me and my car:Tania Eastlake

Wedding and portrait photographer Tania Eastlake runs Sadie & Co with her partner, Simon Eves. Their restored 1971 VW Kombi van is also a photo booth. Picture / Ted Baghurst

Restored Kombi the perfect combo

What do you drive?

Photokombi, which basically is a mobile photo booth custom-built inside the back of our restored 1971 VW Kombi van. It operates in a similar way to traditional photo booths only you're sitting inside the van on an original, beautifully upholstered, Kombi bench seat.

And you have had it customised ...

Florence is a 1971 VW Microbus. Originally yellow with a brown and black interior she was taken back to bare metal and expertly put back together by the team at Auto Colour Matrix. The rear windows have been replaced with panels and interior walls built to separate the booth from the front and back compartments. The engine was replaced with a Beetle engine by the previous owner. We upgraded the gear shift and the team at Motor Works Group gave her a tune up but, mechanically, she was sound.

Why a Kombi?

I have always loved Kombi vans. The aesthetics and practicality are appealing but it's definitely the persona and lifestyle they represent that I love the most.

Main consideration when buying a car?

Before buying a classic car I was always about affordability, reliability and reputation. Now I appreciate the simplicity of older cars and how they are cared for. I no longer look so much at the car but more so the person who has cared for it.

Manual or automatic?

I was taught how to drive in a manual and feel like I have more control when driving them.

Favourite colour?

Now that Photokombi is painted in our own custom colour I have to say it's our shade of teal. But over the years I have always been drawn to black cars, they just look better.

First car?

It was the Mitsubishi Mirage hatch bought on the good advice of my dad.

Your dream car?

Tough but I think I would buy another Kombi van, this time a split screen and restored from top to toe to carry all the kids around in. It would be the ultimate "soccer mum" car!

Who taught you to drive?

My dad, who was a truck driver. He was a great teacher and insisted my sisters and I learned in a manual. From about age 12 he would make me drive round the truck yard parallel parking between all the trucks and had me drive his 18-wheeler saying if we could drive one of those, we could drive anything.

Most memorable road trip?

A lot of my school holidays were spent in the truck with dad driving the nightshift through the Desert Rd. My love of road trips and loud music definitely came from there.

What do you listen to?

The radio or I play my iPod. Either way, it's got to be loud and you have to sing all the words.

Tania Eastlake and Simon Eves with their 1971 Volkswagen Micro Bus. Photo / Ted Baghurst

What's a great day trip out of Auckland?

Simon and I love the East Coast for its long stretches of road and equally fun winding hills.

Would you rather drive in Auckland or take public transport?

If public transport were better, I'd rather take it if I needed to get to the city in peak hour; but nothing beats the freedom of driving.

Who else is allowed to drive your car?

Simon and I are the only ones who've driven her since the restoration.

How often do you clean your car?

Simon cleans her at least twice a week and she gets cleaned before and after every event.

Pet hate on the road?

I think unconfident drivers are dangerous. If everyone moved at the same pace and had faith in their own abilities, the roads would be a much happier place.

As told to Donna McIntyre