Aston Martins, Jaguars, MGs, Morgans, a clutch of Daimler's, Austin Healeys and even Triumphs were all happy to pose topless with their eagle eyed owners on standby to intervene at the first hint of a raindrop.

Organiser Graham Gittins said while the turn-out of 250 vehicles was slightly down on 2013 it was excellent when the weather forecast was taken into account.

The cars, as always, attracted hundreds of spectators ranging in age from eight months to 80 plus.

Some of the more humble offerings attracted a disproportionate amount of attention with some super cute Austin Healey "bug eye" Sprites making up in cuteness what they lacked in size and horsepower.

They weren't the only giant killers in the paddock.

The ACT Mini Car Club, which boasts a membership of about 65, was out in force with Wanniassa IT worker, Ken Lee's, Riley Elf the stand-out car in the lineup.

Mr Lee imported the car, which features a body style never sold new in this country, from New Zealand about eight years ago.

It is slightly longer than a standard Austin or Morris Mini, has a bigger boot and comes with tail fins.

Badged as either a Riley or a Wolseley Hornet, the cars were designed to appeal to class-conscious British buyers of the Mrs Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) variety who might not want to be seen at the shops in a working-class conveyance.

As it happens the British Motor Corporation, which later self-destructed under the British Leyland banner, need not have worried. Mr Lee said one of the great things about the original Mini was its universal appeal.

"The Mini transcended all class boundaries," he said. "It offered cheap transport while being super chic at the same time. Celebrities and poor students all drove them."

He fell in love with the cars while still at school and still owns the first Mini he ever drove.

It, like the Riley, is now part of a small fleet which includes a 1964 Mini Cooper replica Mr Lee regularly enters in historic racing events.

Motor sport is something the original Mini excelled at and, in addition to winning the Monte Carlo Rally four times from 1964 to 1967, the tiny cars blitzed what was then the Gallaher 500 endurance race at Bathurst's Mt Panorama circuit in 1966.

Morris Cooper S's took out the first nine places and 16 of the 41 finishers were Minis.

Stephen Parker, the vice chancellor at the University of Canberra and a car tragic who owns two Triumphs and two Jaguars, was the judge for the event.

His choice of "car I'd most like to take home" was an AC Aceca and the club display award went to Triumph.