6000 at display

Press, 11 April 1977, Page 4

6000 at display

More than 6000 people crowded into the Lichfield Street car-park yesterday to see a hot rod display, organised by the Christchurch Rod Benders Club. The hot rods have converged on Christchurch from all parts of the country for the New Zealand Hot Rod Association’s annual street rod nationals.

,[ More than 160 hot rods, , including an 80-car convoy from the North Island, have met to form the biggest meeting of its type held in New Zealand. The. meeting coincides with the Christchurch Rod Benders Club’s twentieth anniversary, making it New; Zealand’s oldest hot rod' club. Hot rodding has become) very popular in New Zea-1 land, with 55 clubs through-! out the country. The majority of the 130 hot rods on display yesterday were based on pre-1948 American origin, according to a spokesman for the Christchurch Rod Benders Club. “There are also a number of ‘American Graffiti’-type 1955-1957) Chevrolets and Fords, espe-! daily in the rare body styles,” he said.

Some of the hot rods on display might fetch about $lO,OOO to $20,000 on the

American market, where 1! values are higher than in i New Zealand. This reflects the amount of time and effort that owners put into restoring the cars. The trend with the prei 1948 models is to restore the •| body work to original condi’•tion, and install modern run-ning-gear. Special custom paintwork is added to set ,!the hot rods off . ! Prize money for the hot ’•rod nationals totals more J than $lOOO, with additional i.special awards.

A scenic run on the Port Hills today will mark the final day of the meeting.