Theyre not the sorts of vehicles you buy off a factory lineup theyre highly modified and a lot of thought and design goes into hotting up a classic machine.

Being light weight and having a high engine performance are always key components, as are the look and feel of the car, when choosing a new baby.

The most sought-after early classic models are usually the 28 Model T and A Fords, the 32 Roadster, the 37 Lincoln Zephyr, the 33 ZZ Top Eliminator Coupe, and the late 30s Ford and 40s Chevrolet Pickups.

And there were plenty of these specimens to salivate over at todays show and shine on Bowra St.

It was clear that this years lineup promised quality over sheer quantity.

With that in mind, we hit the streets to find out how what caught your eye.

Like a bowerbird, Kye Riddington was instantly drawn to the bluest of buggies.

But his heart was categorically won over by a racing red Hot Wheels rod with high-backed seats.

Its just so cool, and it looks like it would be fun to ride in, he said.

For proud 38 Ford Pickup owner Dick Norman, the overall stance and comportment of a car is what does it for him.

And of course the finish is important. I judge the door gaps too to see how they line up; if theyre symmetrical, he said.

But for young Nicole Tarrant, bright colours are the new black.

She would much prefer to be seen in a vivacious head-turner with an eye-popping paint job than a boring black car anyday.

And I really like all the inventions that people have come up with this year theres one with an invisible man in the driver seat and another with a hand coming out of it, she said.

Cop an eyeful of Valla Beach local Peter Armytages wacky racer:

Peter said hes been working on his Pink Panther for the past 10 years and is constantly adding new gadgets to it.

I get the kids in with the bubbles, scare the hell out of them with the spider, and then pee on them, he chuckled.

Dr Paul Foster was out admiring the Pickups and flawless paint job on a low-lying Lincoln Zephyr.

I just like the plain old pickup utes they used to be for paddock-bashing and now theyre worth a fortune. Im not really into the Ford T-Buckets, he said.

While Harry Adams was absorbed in checking out the custom paint jobs.

I love the flames on this one. And I like being able to see the motors and the wheels Im interested in seeing what makes them go, he said.

Christina and Robyn were incredibly diplomatic finding they couldnt choose favourites but were instead generally marvelling at how much pride and money has gone into doing up some of these beautiful pieces of the past.

I just love the class of them. And its so good that theyre here, Robyn said.

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