Young drag racers exhibited a "nonchalant attitude" when Cape Town traffic officials clamped down on them at the weekend, the city's traffic services reports.

Spokeswoman Merle Lourens said 23 vehicles were suspended from use when officials targeted a parking area in Gatesville nicknamed Indiana, which was notorious for drag racing.

The vehicles were found to have been modified in ways that made them dangerous to operate on a public road, and would now have to be taken for fresh roadworthiness tests.

"VW Golfs, Hondas and the BMW 3 series are the most popular vehicles for fitting with illegal exhaust pipes and dropped suspensions," she said.

A Nissan 1400 light delivery vehicle was found with a Toyota 16 valve engine fitted in it.

"Clearly this is not according to the manufacturers' specifications," Lourens said.

"The drivers of these vehicles, estimated to be between the ages of 20 to 30 years old, exhibited a nonchalant attitude toward the situation."

The officials issued fines including 39 for unlicensed drivers, 27 related to number plates, ten for driving without safety belts, 21 for smooth tyres, 24 for illegal lights fitted to the vehicles and 33 for other offences.