Skyliner helps put shine on show

When Steve Panoho of Whangarei saw a 1958 Ford Fairlane retractable Skyliner advertised on Trade Me, his heart skipped a beat.

"I used to have a toy model (of the vehicle) when I was a kid so when I saw it I knew I had to have it."

Steve and his wife Bronwyn were displaying the car at the Hot Rod show held at Kensington Stadium in Whangarei over the weekend.

The Skyliner was one of 67 cars displayed by the Northern Street Rods club.

Sharon Paki, one of the organisers, said the show marked the club's 21st birthday and had attracted about 3000 people.

Thousands of hours of time had gone into preparing the vehicles for the show, she said.

"None of us have got fingerprints from all the polishing."

A portion of the show's profits will go to Project Promise, Mrs Paki said.

Before the Pahono's bought the car ten months ago, it was owned by the American Embassy in Japan.