Pat Pascoe, of Nelson, with his 1962 Austin Healey near Wanaka on the 2007 Mainland tour. Photo by Marjorie Cook.
The 1600km tour runs on different South Island routes. It starts this year on October 16, in Invercargill, and travels through Southland, Central Otago and Canterbury, before finishing in Christchurch on October 23.
The tour will take in points of interest along the way, including Milford Sound, Queenstown, the Dart and Rees Valleys, Cromwell and Bannockburn, Wanaka and Tarras, Mr Mehrtens said.
The number of entries was pleasing but well down on previous tours, which had attracted up to 70 vehicles.
Mr Mehrtens attributed fewer entries to the economy, but said the tour would "still be a party on wheels".
