When you have a giant, bright yellow 1974 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, what better than to drive it dressed as a pimp?
That was Mike Shaw and Harley Bedford's thinking when they went on tour yesterday as part of three days of events for the Oamerican and Allcomers Show in Oamaru, the big public event today at the Oamaru Showgrounds.
Mr Shaw bought the Cadillac about 12 months ago, in Christchurch, after searching on the internet for an American car he could afford.
While the price was ''reasonable'' - he did not want to say how much - fuelling the car's massive 472 cubic inch (7.8 litre) V8 engine is not. To fill the tank with 91-octane costs $1 short of $200. On a recent trip from Oamaru to Clyde it used $125 of fuel, one-way.
That does not worry Mr Shaw: ''It's the experience that counts.''
The Cadillac was first registered in New Zealand in 2004, after being brought out from the United States, although Mr Shaw does not know a lot of its history.
But one thing that intrigued him was the mascot on the front of the bonnet, a ''flying head''.
It was unusual on that model and he had not firmly identified where it came from. Research so far indicated a 1941 Cadillac model had a similar mascot.
One of the event's organisers, Jayne Jackson, said 15 cars took part in the tour, and about 30 gathered in the historic precinct for a cruise around Oamaru streets last night.
Today there is a public show at the Showgrounds, where more than 100 American and all-comers vehicles are expected.
Tomorrow, there will be a barbecue and farewell.
