Classic cars at Valentine's show

Photo: BEN CAMPBELL

CAR NUT: Garry Boyce is decorating his 1957 Mercedes Benz 150 SL Roadster with a big bow and red roses for St Valentine’s Day at the New Zealand Classic Car Show on Sunday.

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Garry Boyce loves old cars.

That's why the Parnell resident has four fully-restored Mercedes Benz cars sitting in his garage.

Three others are in the process of being fixed up to add to the collection.

The Christchurch-born man, who left school at 15, describes himself as a
"petrolhead from way back".

He will once again be taking part in the annual New Zealand Classic Car Show on Sunday at the Ellerslie Racecourse.

He's heavily involved in the show and has been on the committee for the past six years.

In 2008 Mr Boyce's 1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL
won the prestigious NZ Classic Car Magazine Intermarque Concours d'Elegance trophy.

It was awarded the most points any car has received during the 37 years of the show.

The car was one of only 1800 1957 Mercedes Benz 300SLs ever made and there are just four in New Zealand.

Mr Boyce owns three of them.

"It's the sexiest motor car," he says.

The rusted corner of the original front bumper hanging on the wall of his garage shows the effort and time Mr Boyce has spent restoring his masterpiece.

"It's the result of 4000 hours of work over three and a half years," he says.

He makes some of his own parts and collects others from around the world. He has generated a large network over the years.

This year Mr Boyce isn't entering a car in the show.

Instead he's bringing along his 1957 Mercedes Benz 150 SL Roadster to be decorated with a big bow and a bunch of roses in celebration of St Valentine's Day.

He will be joining around 700 classic car owners from 72 participating car clubs all reflecting the "St Valentine's Day Classicar" theme.

"I always look forward to the show. It's the highlight of the classic car year."

Other cars that will be on show include Alfa Romeos, Aston Martins, Ferraris, Bentleys, Porsches and Lamborghinis.

The New Zealand Classic Car Show is on Sunday from 10am to 4pm at Ellerslie Racecourse.

Admission is $15 and children aged under 12 are free.

- © Fairfax NZ News