"That would be fairly terrifying doing 100km in one,'' Prince Henry Rally organiser Nevin Gough said yesterday.
Four pre-1919 vehicles left from Ross Home in Dunedin in the morning for Timaru, on an inland route through Twizel.
This year the rally hosted two Model T Fords, from 1918 and 1917, a 1915 Dodge and a 1914 Sunbeam.
Mr Gough, of Mosgiel, said the group would traverse 500km over three days to reach their destination.
"For the Model T the maximum cruising speed is 70kmh. It only has two gears. It's not exactly economical.''
"I got it in 2005. Before that I think it was a promotional vehicle for a brewery.
"They're a little bit trickier to drive than your normal car.
"A few people had it and struggled with it, then I got it and re-restored it.''
The rally hosted two cars from Mosgiel, one from Ashburton and one from Hawke's Bay.
In Timaru the cars would spend two days at the National Veteran Rally before being transported home, most on trailers.
As Ross Home resident and car enthusiast Trevor Rodger waved the starting flag, he expressed concern about the wellbeing of the drivers.
"They're going to be freezing in those open tops.''
