The 73-year-old West Coaster from the Grey Valley bought the Coupe when he was 18 and has added another four ''mint'' coupes to his collection, but kept the one he races in ''original condition''.
While there was some dazzling machinery, both young and old, at the hill climb, the battle-scarred coupe attracted much of the attention.
There is history in every panel, and inside on the roof, where the names of about 20 women are scratched. He won't say why, but admits women love the look of the car.
''They're beautiful,'' he said when asked about the attraction to Ford V8 coupes.
''Even women think so. I stopped at West Melton for petrol on the way here and a woman in her 30s came over and said what a beautiful car.
''They were the last of the milk bar kid cars.''
Yesterday was his third Ngapara hill climb, the second with an American-built V8 flathead racing engine he fitted about three years ago.
He was running about 1min 11sec - the quickest cars were under a minute. He has competed all round the South Island and also at Rod Millen's Leadfoot Festival, in Auckland.
Mr Gillman drove the car to the Ngapara event, leaving the Grey Valley on Friday and staying in Christchurch before driving on to Oamaru.
The car cruises comfortably at 100kmh and will go faster, thanks to an overdrive which operates on all three gears of the original transmission.
The hill climb attracted 55 entries, most from the Otago Sports Car Club and North Otago Vintage Car club.
Clerk of the course Ross Cameron said that was better than previous years, possibly due to it being the 50th anniversary of the event. A special parade included drivers who had competed at the first event.
