Napier's streets crowded for procession of vintage vehicles

Thousands lined Napier's inner streets for the Vintage Car Parade today. Photo/Warren Buckland

Napier's inner city streets were lined with people, sometimes three rows deep, to witness hundreds of vintage cars this afternoon.

To celebrate the Tremains Art Deco Festival's 30th year, this year's Vintage Car Parade showcased 30 of "simply the best" pre-1946 cars from around New Zealand and the world.

Led by the Royal New Zealand Navy Band, the parade featured many interesting vehicles including New Zealand's oldest car, the 1895 Benz; 1934 Cadillac V16 Town Cabriolet, first owned by Marlene Dietrich; 1935 Duesenberg J Phaeton, previously owned by Carole Lombard; 1935 Packard S8 3 window Coupe, previously owned by Amelia Earhart.

Among the drivers was Tony Campbell, from Queenstown, in a 1929 Delage which had been in his family for most of its life.

His father had bought it from a second cousin in 1933 for £50 and brought it to New Zealand in 1938.

However, he sold it not long after due to have other expenses he needed to pay for.

Mr Campbell said he spotted the car on the street 14 years later in Auckland in 1952 in a dilapidated state.

"I just happened to see it."

He knew it was his old family car instantly, there is only one other like it in the country, and managed to convince the reluctant owners to sell it back to him for £100.

Once the car was finally back where it belonged, Mr Campbell restored it and now drives it whenever he can to get coffee, to the Art Deco Festival and to vintage car rallies around the country.

New Zealand's other 1929 Delage sold recently for about $200,000 and Mr Campbell's is in better condition with a better history, he said.

Te Puke resident Daryl Nitschke watched the parade with interest alongside his mother's 1924 Douglas which he had previously entered.

"I love the variety of vehicles and seeing people dressed up in the crowd," he said.

"This is the nearest you'll ever get to stepping back in time.

"It makes me realise how much standards have slipped over the years with people going into town in their pyjamas and slippers nowadays."

The Vintage Car Parade with about 300 vehicles started at Clive Square at 12.30pm and ended at Napier Sound Shell at 2.30pm.