The Coromandel's roads are bumper-to-bumper with classic cars and hot rods in what can be only described as a pilgrimage of petrol heads.

The 2015 Repco Beach Hop is now in full swing with thousands of car enthusiasts and vintage lovers journeying to the Peninsula for five days of cars and hot rods, music, comedy, and more.

Car lovers in their thousands are travelling on Coromandel roads today either taking part in, or making their way to, the 2015 Repco Beach Hop. Photo: Claire Rogers

This year is the 15th birthday of the annual event which is the largest five day festival that takes place here in New Zealand.

In 2014, more than 100,000 people flocked to Whangamata and its surrounds, while also generating $7 million for the local economy.

Making the pilgrimage today is Bay Roddders Club member Gordon Cromb who says it's been an absolutely fantastic day out on the road.

'I've been out in Tairua today and it was a great drive,” says Gordon. 'There were a heck of cars out on the road today, just bumper-to-bumper.

'We left from Tauranga and it must've taken a couple of hours for people to make the journey because of the quantity of classic cars and hot rods.

'Everybody looks like they're having an absolute blast, many smiling people who are just going with the flow.”

Gordon made the jaunt to the Coromandel in his prized 1957 Buick Special Estate Wagon – one of 1,500 produced worldwide and the only one of its kind in New Zealand.

When asked what it is that turns his engine over about his Buick he says simply: 'It's just one cool car.”

'There's actually been a heap of nice looking Buicks here, it's brilliant. It's great to pull up and have a chat with them about their vehicles.

"But in truth we'll stop and chat to anybody and everybody about their cars, we even talk to Mustang owners,” he jokes.

Gordon will be staying on right up to the end of the festival on Sunday and says he's most looking forward to the Castrol Edge Thundercruise to Onemana Beach tomorrow.

'I've just always like it, I've got a retro caravan to go in behind the Buick so we park that up every year, pull out the barbecue, put the gazebo up and have a ball.”

Today's events saw the Repco Kick Off Party at Tairua, NZ Petrolhead Vintage Market at Whangamata Memorial Hall, and the RV Direct Retro Caravan Campground at Whangamata Area School.

Tonight it'll be Bands in the Bars featuring an amazing line up, the Amediate Engineering Nostalgia Quiz Night at the Whangamata Club, and the DTM Wheels Classic Comedy Night.

Tomorrow it's another full on day with the Castrol Edge Thundercruise to Onemana Beach plus the Hop Idol Heats from 7pm at El Barrio.

Are you attending the 2015 Repco Beach Hop? Send us your photos and comments by emailing david@thesun.co.nz

Bay Rodders Club member Gordon Cromb's 1957 Buick Special Estate Wagon. Photo: Gordon Cromb/Facebook

This Betty Boop Retro Caravan is up for grabs during the 2015 Repco Beach Hop. Photo: Supplied

Photos: Claire Rogers