A fleet of eye-catching vehicles are set to star in a Dunedin car show.
Richard Stedman, of Concord, said he had always had a ‘‘soft spot’’ for the shape of a Holden FC and had always wanted to own one.
After searching throughout Australasia, he bought a 1959 Holden FC in Dunedin about 18 months ago.
The car was originally painted red and white but the former owner repainted it orange and white.
The orange colour had begun to grow on him.
The car attracted plenty of attention and people regularly gave him a ‘‘thumbs-up or a wave’’.
Since owning the car, he had put wing mirrors and bigger tyres on it and installed a radio and heater.
He converted the original vacuum window wipers to electric.
‘‘Vacuum wipers are a pain in the posterior — I’d rather have the home comforts.’’
The Otago Classic Motoring Club member is entering his 1959 Holden FC in next month’s Autospectacular 2018 at the Edgar Centre.
Autospectacular organising committee organiser Kevin Casey, of Dunedin, said the event was in its 40th year.
Nearly 300 vehicles would be on display, he said.
A special feature of the event this year is a celebration of 70 years of Holden.
A display would ‘‘embrace Monaros’’ to mark 50 years since the model was first produced.
A focus on Buicks would feature a ‘‘rare and valuable’’ 1954 Skylark convertible.
Jaguar would also be celebrated, including 70 years of the Jaguar XK.
The Southern Packard Club planned to show a range of vehicles from manufacturers including Alvis, Bentley, Cadillac, Darracq, Lagonda, Lorraine-Dietrich, Packard and Rolls-Royce.
Among about 30 ‘‘hot’’ Japanese cars would be a ‘‘stunning’’ Nissan Cedric.
Retired racing driver Paul Radisich would show the Ford Mondeo he won two New Zealand Rally Championships in.
A share of the proceeds from the event would be given to charity Heart Kids Otago.
Vehicles could be entered in the show until Wednesday.
★ To enter email caseyleadlights@xtra.co.nz, phone 453-0818 or visit www.otagoclassicmotoring.nz.
Autospectacular
★ Edgar Sports Centre ★ 9am-4pm, Saturday, September 8
