Rena Mercedes off to Christchurch

A Christchurch man has won an online bidding war for a luxury car recovered from the Rena wreck.

Adam Wright is due to arrive in Tauranga tomorrow before rolling out of the region on his new wheels _ a silver 2003 Mercedes C200 Kompressor.

Mr Wright won the online auction with a top bid of $13,851.

All proceeds from the sale of the car will go to the Tauranga branch of the Child Cancer Foundation.

The car was recovered off the bow of the Rena wreck. It was restored to pristine condition by local businesses before it was put up for auction on TradeMe.

Child Cancer Foundation fundraising and business development manager Delwynne Hahunga said the outcome of the auction was "awesome''.

"We would never have been able to do this if it wasn't for the support from local businesses so I want to say thank-you to them.''

Mr Wright is due to arrive in Tauranga about 1pm tomorrow.