April is set to be a goodie for motorheads of all sorts in Southland, ranging from old "bangers" taking on a charitable road trip to Bluff to vintage enthusiasts celebrating Model A Fords in Fiordland.

Only days after a charity road trip of old "bangers" ends its course in Bluff, fans of the once-popular Model A Ford model will convene in Te Anau. 

The "Bangers to Bluff" road trip started off as a bizarre idea between a few members of Auckland's Half Moon Bay Rotary Club and has since turned into an annual cross-country charity road trip attracting people from around the world.

The car rally, currently in its fourth year, features participants taking a car worth $2000 or less from Auckland right through to Bluff.

This year's route in Southland takes the 15 participating cars from Queenstown through to Te Anau, with other stops in Tuatapere and Invercargill before ending in Bluff on Saturday (April 13).

Funds are raised through the car registrations, sponsorship, donations and the selling of the cars by auction in Invercargill with money being donated to Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand and brain injury education trust Hopeworks.

Event organiser Brian Hedge said the event has raised close to $160,000 since it first began.

"The slogan or mantra for the rally is a 'fun fundraiser' and this has been our appeal for participants. This year there are five repeats from last year, a testament to the enjoyment and satisfaction people get from this charitable event."

Participants from this year's event have come from as far as Australia, with other participants from Wellington, Auckland and Waihi. Drivers are able to swap out at any of the stops along the route, with only the car having to make the finish line.

"Two of the vehicles have swapped people in Wellington and we lost a vehicle in Wellington as they had an electrical problem in the Renault Vel Satis 2.0 Turbo," Mr Hedge said. 

"It was our most exotic sounding car, as were the four passengers when dressed in their French berets."

He said the oldest car taking part this year was a 1985 Holden Commodore VK Royale, which was one of only 1500 ever made.

Foveaux Ford Model A Restorers Club members John Tremaine (left), Leone Ward, Richard Savory, Coral Gordon, Susan Macpherson, Bill Crooks, and Ewan Macpherson meeting at the Fiordland Events Centre, where the upcoming National Model A Rally venue will be held. PHOTO: Claire Kaplan

Two days later in Te Anau, at least 135 Model A Fords (and 300 enthusiasts) are expected to convene in Te Anau for the 14th National Model A Rally. The last time the rally came to Southland was in Invercargill in 2003.

The Foveaux Ford Model A Restorers Club, the organisers of this year's event, said Te Anau was chosen as it was an opportunity to bring the rally to a different area and show off the incredible landscape.

Rally director John Tremaine said they would be visiting parts of the Southern Lakes region that drivers might otherwise never have gone were it not for the event, such as Walter Peak Station on Lake Wakatipu, Western Southland, or the South Arm of Lake Manapouri. 

The Model A was manufactured in the late 1920s and early 1930s. 

But despite its age, club members said it was rugged and reliable, and even formed part of the construction efforts on the Homer Tunnel. 

Club member Richard Savory called the Model A "the people's car".

"It seemed as though it was built to last. That's why there's so many of them still available."

The public will get a chance to see the cars on display at Lions Park on Wednesday (April 17). Other events, like themed dinners and prizegivings will be taking place over the four-day event. 

"When you get a whole group of us together, it's just a big ball," Mr Tremaine said.

People can find out more information on the Bangers to Bluff rally's route or donate via www.bangerstobluff.co.nz. 

The 14th National Model A Rally will take place from April 15-19. The rally venue is at the Fiordland Community Events Centre.

Foveaux Ford Model A Restorers Club members John Tremaine (left), Leone Ward, Richard Savory, Coral Gordon, Susan Macpherson, Bill Crooks, and Ewan Macpherson meeting at the Fiordland Events Centre, where the upcoming National Model A Rally venue will be held. PHOTO: Claire Kaplan