The former Green Island resident returned to Dunedin on Saturday to participate in the rally and show the car that carries his name.
While he no longer lives in Mitchell St - he has since moved to Christchurch - Mr Mitchell told the Otago Daily Times in 1978 he hoped one day to drive his Mitchell car along Mitchell St.
"That would be nice," he said.
But his old house no longer stands. It was destroyed in the Abbotsford slip shortly after he moved to Christchurch.
The restoration project began in 1978 after the car was discovered abandoned down a farm bank after serving time as a four-wheel farm trailer. He located an engine five years later and other parts have come from as far afield as Australia and the United States. It is one of seven Mitchells known to be in New Zealand.
"We are a rare breed," he said, but an even rarer car was present at the rally.
A 1900 Wolseley Voiturette is believed to be the only one of its type in the world.
Owner Colin Winter (62) has attended every one of the 55 car rallies, first with his late father Mervyn and for the last 30 years with his wife Judy, in a car nicknamed "Grandmother".
"It is great fun and I will keep going on them until it is the turn of my son."
Twenty-eight vehicles, with many owners dressed in period costume, left from the Octagon in Dunedin on Saturday morning, much to the delight of a large influx of cruise ship visitors.
Travelling first to the Brighton Domain, the fleet of colourful cars then visited Mosgiel, with a few punctured tyres, before taking part in the grand parade at the annual A and P show.
Cars from as far as Christchurch and Invercargill participated in the rally weekend, which was organised by the Otago branch of the New Zealand Vintage Car Club. Festivities concluded with a prize-giving at Glenfalloch Gardens yesterday.
