Classic Willys Americar worth $90,000 rolls near Norsewood

The $90,000 1941 Willys Americar rolled down a bank at Norsewood though driver Bruce McKenzie from Christchurch was uninjured. Photo / Christine McKay

It was an expensive drive home from the beachhop in Whangamata for the Christchurch owner of a $90,000 classic car.

A front tyre on Bruce McKenzie's 1941 Willys Americar blew on State Highway 2 at Norsewood Monday morning and the car veered off the road and rolled.

"It became unmanageable," Mr McKenzie told the Dannevirke News.

McKenzie built the car and spent eight years working on it.

Bruce McKenzie won best hot rod at the Waihi Beach Hop with his classic Willys Americar. Photo / Facebook

"I was only doing 85km/h and this is a very big nuisance," he said.

Highway Patrol officer Bruce Wotherspoon, who is based at Ohakea, and a fellow officer from Waipukurau were at the scene.

"He's very lucky the blackberry slowed him down," Wotherspoon said.

"If he'd hit a tree it would have been a very different story."

Mr Wotherspoon said it was also lucky the accident happened close to the Norsewood Volunteer Fire Brigade who were first on the scene and were able to give minor first aid to Mr McKenzie as well as controlling traffic on the highway.

As he waited for a tow truck, McKenzie, who reckoned he was lucky to come out "unscathed," was busy calling his insurance company.