The Corowa plumber had always wanted to own a rod and when he found an aquamarine-coloured Chevrolet with flames painted on its bonnet he knew it was for him.

“I saw it on the internet and bought it at Ballarat,” Mr Holmes said.

“I was going to go and look at others at Geelong and Cranbourne but decided this would be the one and didn’t go to the other places.”

The Cabriolet, which cost $37,000 and has since been at car shows at Yarrawonga, Mulwala, Culcairn and Jindera, will make its hometown debut when it appears in the Wangaratta Rod and Custom Club’s rod run in Corowa this weekend.

Mr Holmes expects plenty of comments, although he admits he can’t answer every question.

“I’m not mechanically minded, I’m only a plumber,” he said.

“All I can tell them is it’s a 351 Cleveland Ford motor.”

The rod run, which began yesterday, is held every two years with more than 100 entrants expected.

There is a parade in Sanger Street tonight and a show ’n’ shine at Bangerang Park from 11am to 2pm tomorrow.

Club president Peter Dickins said profits would be donated to the Corowa Search and Rescue Squad.