Classic cars put on show for good cause

Keeron Elliot, of Dunedin, with his 1956 Thunderbird convertible at the Army Drill Hall, South...
Keeron Elliot, of Dunedin, with his 1956 Thunderbird convertible at the Army Drill Hall, South Dunedin, on Saturday. Photo by Peter McIntosh
There were no parades but there was some top brass, and chrome on show at the Army Drill Hall, South Dunedin, on Saturday.

Car enthusiasts, including members of the Stateside Streeters, Con-rodders and Otago Early Falcon and Fairlane Club, had assembled the 57 vintage and classic American and Australian cars for a good cause.

Stateside Streeters president Dave Dougherty, of Dunedin, said the show was organised to support a Dunedin car club member whose wife recently had serious health problems.

Mr Dougherty said the show was "thrown together in under a week" and exhibitors were pleased to help out.

"One car owner had not had his car out for years and took two days of work to prepare it.

Another guy who didn't have a car in the show gave me $100.

It's been a great response," he said.

Mr Dougherty said there were many reasons why enthusiasts bought large American cars.

He appreciated their unusual styling features "and all that chrome".

"Many of the owners have grey hair now, and have the money and time to buy or restore the cars they always dreamed of owning," he said.

Many people in the clubs enjoyed completing long restoration projects to a high standard.

Completing his red 1962 Dodge Dart convertible had taken more than five years.

Cars on display ranged from a recently restored 1927 Packard through to "muscle cars" of the 1970s and 1980s.

A car with immediate nostalgia value was a 1969 Dodge Charger, complete with a dashboard mounted plaque showing it had been prepared for the 2005 film version of the well-known Dukes of Hazzard television series.

Also at the show was the modified 1959 Impala Sports Coupe, owned by Dunedin couple Barry and Liz Carmichael, which won the New Zealand Street Machine Award and the People's Choice trophy at the New Zealand Street Rod Nationals held in in March.

 

 

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