Pair's lucky escape after cliff plunge

A crane was used to salvage the 1926 Ford. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A couple in a vintage Model T Ford fell backwards off a three-storey-high cliff in Tauranga as fellow car club members watched in horror.

The accident happened as members of the Model T Ford Club of New Zealand were parking in a line on the grass verge above the harbour.

One of the drivers failed to stop while reversing into position and went over the edge.

As the 1926 Model T fell, the 57-year-old driver and his 56-year-old wife were thrown from the car, which landed upside down near the bottom of the cliff face.

Both are understood to have ended up in a pile of bracken on the cliff side next to their overturned car, valued at between $20,000 and $25,000.

The woman received fractures in the fall but the husband walked away.

Sergeant Wayne Lambert of Tauranga police said it was astounding that the couple were not more seriously injured.

Keith Phare, who was travelling with the club during a holiday from Canada, said he watched in disbelief as the car fell down the cliff.

"He was just backing up to get in line and he just kept on backing."

Mr Phare said onlookers did not even have time to yell at the couple to stop. "It just happened too quickly."

When he saw the driver standing over his injured wife, Mr Phare said he initially mistook him for someone else going to the couple's aid.

A crane was used to lift the car and the driver is understood to have told ambulance staff he would be able to rebuild it.

Model T Ford:

Aka: Tin Lizzie
First built in 1908
Colour: Any, as long as it's black*
Top speed: 70km/h.

* Henry Ford's famous quote. Other colours were available in limited editions.

- APN