Motoring enthusiast Neil Rooney, a member of the North Otago branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, bought the map about 12 years ago for less than $5.
It was a North Otago Motor Association road map of the Waitaki County and he thought it would be a shame if it fell into the hands of people who might not appreciate it.
He stored it in his garage and it was not until years later, when he was "fossicking around", that he rediscovered it and realised how significant it was.
The Vintage Car Club's national executive has called for branches to seek out as much information as possible on early motoring in their areas.
While the hand-drawn map bore no date, Mr Rooney believed it was more than 100 years old, given the settlements and estates marked on it.
He took it to conservator Lynn Campbell in Christchurch, who removed the rollers at each end and the linen backing and cleaned it.
He has been given instructions on how to frame it.
The map showed the southern portion of the county and Mr Rooney wanted to know if a map of the northern portion existed.
He was prepared to give the map to the North Otago branch of the Vintage Car Club if it paid for the restoration.
