When Melissa Hannan rolls up in her '59 Chevrolet Parkwood, a rare gem in the car world, most men wonder where the bloke who owns such a beast of a vehicle is.

"If there's a guy in the front seat, males go up and talk to him like it's his car. It doesn't bother me; I can laugh about it."

Hannan gets a certain amount of satisfaction in setting them straight."My friend and I went out in it a couple of weeks ago, and we stopped at a café and saw a couple of guys walking around it.

"When we jumped in, they were pretty shocked. They were mind-blown that these two girls were getting into this massive car. They weren't expecting that!"

Not only does Hannan own the car, but she also imported it, restored it, and, as a qualified mechanic, got it ready to roll on New Zealand roads.

Hannan describes the car as her "pride and joy".

"I have had it for about nine years now. I brought it in from the States as a project.

"It wasn't going, and the windows were smashed; there was no motor."

Hannan said she was initially shy about the amount of attention the vehicle attracted, but she was becoming more confident about sharing its back-story.

"Now I can say this is mine and I built this.

"So many people will buy cars that have been already built, but for me, bringing the car in, being able to build it and being the only owner here has made mine special."

Hannan spent six months getting the car on the road, and after chipping away with modifications every year, the vehicle is at a point where she is happy with it.

"I've been from Auckland to Wellington, Milford Sound and the Caitlins.

"It's my road trip vehicle.

"It's the most reliable car I've ever owned."

The car is rare in New Zealand, with one other in Christchurch Hannan is aware of.

She has taken the vehicle to beach hops and Muscle Car Madness in Christchurch, through which Hannan has met like-minded people.

Having moved to Christchurch from Auckland three years ago, the car community in the South Island has been welcoming, she said.

"All my friends down here are through the car community. Some I've been lucky to meet through social media.

"While Hannan works in a predominantly male-dominated field, she finds her male co-workers supportive of a female in the workshop.

"You get familiar with people and they just accept you.

"Lacking the physical strength for the job can sometimes be a challenge, but Hannan says there's always a solution.

"There are so many tools now that if you are not strong enough, there's normally a tool for the job.

"With 16 years of experience, Hannan wanted to use her skills for good.

When she isn't working as a mechanic at her day job at Car Solutions in Christchurch, she runs Girls N Gasoline, teaching classes to women in essential vehicle maintenance.

The classes, which are limited to eight women, include lessons on checking and topping up oil, engine coolant, power steering, brake fluid, and air filters and how to change them.

"We teach them how to jump-start a car, change wiper blades and light bulbs, jack up a car, check tyre pressure, and change a wheel.

"It's just basic stuff you need to correctly maintain your vehicle and ensure nothing goes wrong with it.

"Hannan runs the classes in cities and regional towns throughout the country.

She often receives positive feedback from women following the class, who tell her how much more confident they are in their vehicles.

"I love being able to empower women and teach them something.

"The classes are fun, and I enjoy spending time with these ladies and getting to know them.

"I try to make it fun and enjoyable for them and myself because I don't want to feel like I'm working when I'm doing this on my weekends."

By Claire Inkson