They were taking part in the 12th National Model A Meet, and have been based in Wanaka for the past week.
Some cars, with their velvet seats and shiny chrome, looked like they might be in better condition now than when they rolled off the production line 85 years ago.
But then there was Angus, a 1929 Model A tourer with attitude.
This vintage boy racer stood out from the pristine crowd because of its lack of lustre.
Its peeling paint and rust supported Christchurch owner Bruce Miles' story of a car with an 80 year history of ''hard work, abuse and neglect''.
The one time North Canterbury farm truck spent 40 years under a hedge before being rescued by Mr Miles about 20 years ago.
Although the body is rough, the running gear is in fine order, including the chassis that survived under the hedge thanks to generations of rats.
Mr Miles credits the rats for saving the chassis by building nests in it from sheep's wool. The lanolin in the wool had protected the metal.
The array of Model As on show, included phaetons, sedans, convertibles, coupes, cabriolets, town cars, station wagons, roadsters, trucks and one ''woody''.
Two had been converted to camper vans.
Most of the cars, many from the North Island, head home today.
