Drizzly delight: Rotorua Lakefront Car Show raises an estimated $1500 for St John

Zephyrs and Zodiacs were some of the delights on show at the Lakefront on Sunday. Photo / Supplied

A drizzle of rain was no setback for the hundreds of vintage cars which lined the Lakefront at the weekend.

The ninth annual Rotorua Lakefront Car Show was held on Sunday at the Rotorua Village Green raising an estimated $1500 for St John ambulance services.

A 1947 American Packard Clipper. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua Vintage and Veteran Car Club chairman David Tomlinson said 400 cars were looking spick and span for the show.

"We had a drizzly start and a warm sunny finish and hundreds of members of the public come through.

"We've had nothing but great feedback from exhibitors and the public."

The informal car show was open to any individuals or clubs to display their vehicles.

A steampunk motorbike was on show. Photo / Supplied

Drivers displaying their cars were asked for a gold coin with all proceeds donated to St John Rotorua.

The car show was free for spectators but they were also invited to make a donation.

"We had a 1925 Delage, I think that might have been the oldest car. We had a lot of American cars, Australian cars, Europeans, Japanese."

A French 1925 Delage. Photo / Supplied

Last year more than 450 cars turned up on the day - a turnout Tomlinson would have loved to see this year.

"We probably would have done a lot better if we hadn't had a wet start - we have had few convertible cars here today. I think we would have had another 40 to 50 convertibles.

"But we are looking forward to bigger and better in our 10th anniversary show next year."

Tomlinson said there were many of the regular local cars that came out for the day with a mix of many cars he had never seen before.

He believes the attraction to vintage cars was the history and stories they had to tell.

"People think 'oh I remember that from when I was a child' or they bring their grandkids and say 'that's what I learnt to drive in'. It's part of our history and why people are here."

Tomlinson said Rotorua's St John was a great cause for the show to get behind because they were always in need of funding support and, "everyone in Rotorua could potentially need them one day".

"We've used St John for every show. They are a very important service and they need public funding to help keep them going."