It took three years, but a Christchurch car restorer has finally unveiled his beloved "caroplane" to the world.

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Click on photo for more views of the Kamikaze Coupe.

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Tich Findlay spent about 2500 hours studying aircraft so he could turn his 1938 Chevrolet - purchased 15 years ago - into a car that looked like a World War II fighter plane.

There were numerous creation attempts before the finished product, which has a HZ Holden Monaro floorplan, was displayed at the Muscle Car Madness show in Rangiora last weekend, driving - or should that be flying - away with the Peoples' Choice Award.

"My wife didn't see much of me," he said. "I used to wake her up in the middle of the night and give her a coffee at 2am when I got ideas. Now she doesn't drink coffee. She hates it."

Findlay, a professional car restorer, made the parts himself.

He said the response had been "phenomenal", with people taking pictures of his car and some offering to buy it from him. However, he was not ready to sell yet.

"I want to have some fun with it. I'm going to get it registered and [take] it out for milk or a coffee on Sundays."

The Muscle Car Madness event is in its 23rd year.

Organiser Craig Stare said car enthusiasts came from all over New Zealand to participate, and estimated more than 10,000 people attended this year's event.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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