Car enthusiasts celebrate New Year at annual Tour d'Orange

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) -- Classic, exotic, antique, even smart cars were on display at this year's 12th annual Tour d'Orange.

More than 500 Orange County car lovers started the New Year off by showing off and checking out classic and custom vehicles at the celebration, before driving off for a scenic tour across the region.

"It's so eclectic, it's incredible. You'll never see this type of show anywhere. It's a real anomaly for sure," Yorba Linda resident Marty Hobivian said.

Bernt Karlsson brought his custom-made truck to the event for the first time -- a rare chance for him to show it off.

"Front end is a Camaro 2013. The center part of the car is a Pontiac G8, 4-door, so I cut it in half. I installed the back end from an Australian Ute," Wildomar resident Karlsson said.

After checking out the other cars, drivers went out on the open road. Each was handed directions to a scenic route through Orange County.

"It's very majestic. We go by the ocean. We go inland. We go by the Irvine Lake area through there," Hobivian said.

The caravan of vehicles covers a 70-mile stretch on quiet back roads, giving these men and women a chance to soak in the first day of 2015.

"Simple, non-competitive event that involves vehicles and great people starting the New Year's out," event organizer Marc Greeley said.