COOLANGATTA was host to a flurry of activity yesterday, as hot-rodders showcased their prized classic cars.

Hundreds of car enthusiasts lined the streets of Marine Pde as part of a sideshow cruise, a wind-down to the Australian Street Rod Federation Nationals at Southport Parklands.

Everything from muscle cars to modified trucks filled the street and tourists on Easter holidays joined in the fun, thrilled to see a fine collection of polished chrome and oversized engines.

Tony Murray from Victoria was the proud owner of a 1948 Chevrolet Loadmaster, which had won the People's Choice Award at the federation nationals.

"It's been terrific, there were over 1000 entrants," he said.

Mr Murray had travelled north with 15 other hot rod enthusiasts from the Thunderbirds Hotrod Club and said the camaraderie he had experienced was certainly something special.

"There were 16 members here and wives and kids and grandkids, three generations came up," he said.

He said that his truck was modified extensively and always attracted quite a bit of attention.

"I had truckies waving to me all the way up here," he said.

"It's a single cab, but it's been stretched 32 inches on a C30 chassis, a '48 model with a '54 grill and a '52 Cadillac front bumper bar.

"I've been into cars forever, for a long time."

Mr Murray said Coolangatta was a great place to be at the end of his unusual, but interesting, Easter holiday.