The clock seemed to turn back more than a century as the thrumming of vintage car engines filled the Octagon on Saturday.
One by one, the fleet of 29 cars, one truck, two motorcycles and a fire engine launched themselves down Princes St - waved off by an appreciative crowd of about 200 - to start the 61st Dunedin to Brighton veteran vehicle run.
Some departed slowly, others with a blast of their horn or a swirl of exhaust fumes, while one motorcycle rider was forced to jump the queue after committing early to the push startto fire up his machine.
Organiser Tony Devereux, of the Otago branch of the Vintage Car Club, said this year's fleet of vehicles was an improvement on last year's.
About half the 33 vehicles were from Dunedin, and the rest from around the South Island, including four from Nelson, Mr Devereux said.
This year's fleet included a 1912 Ford T Roadster, a 1906 Cadillac Roadster and a 1916 Dennis fire engine, but the oldest vehicle remained the 1900 Wolseley Voiturette, owned by Colin Winter, of Dunedin.
Mr Winter's vehicle was the only one to have taken part in all 61 rallies, beginning when it was owned by Mr Winter's father.
Mr Devereux said keeping the 115-year-old vehicle on the road - and ready to start each time - was an impressive effort. The hobby bordered on an ''obsession'' for most owners.''
Most of these cars have been restored from something that didn't look anything like this, so there's a treasure hunt involved [for parts].''
It's a very interesting thing to do to put together a vehicle from 100 years ago,'' he said.
