While the world’s largest traditional motor shows (Frankfurt, Detroit, Paris) are in the throes of death by a thousand cuts, major classic car events remain in rude good health. And the increased scale of Motorclassica 2018 is a perfect case in point.
This year, the historic Royal Exhibition Building, in the Carlton Gardens just outside Melbourne’s CBD, is literally filled to overflowing with stunning road and racing cars representing everything from early ‘brass era’ tourers to current exotics stamped with the words ‘future classic’ as they leave the production line.
Everywhere you look, amazing drool-worthy machines are lined up in a world-class collection of precious metal (fibreglass and carbon fibre).
With the nostalgia bug biting major brands hard, Motorclassica is the perfect launch point for cars like the new Alpine A110 and Ford’s limited edition ‘Bullitt’ Mustang.
Major sponsor, Mercedes-Benz used the show to mark 25 years since the launch of the C36 AMG, the first official collaboration between the three-pointed star and its in-house hot rodders from Affalterbach.
But it’s the sheer breadth of the cars on display that pokes the adrenaline gland and starts to take your breath away.
Biggest surprise of the opening night preview was a Tucker 48, one of only 51 manufactured before Preston Tucker’s post-war dream of challenging the big-three US manufacturers was snuffed out in 1949.
Oversteer’s top three starts with a perfect ‘Cameo Beige’ (soft pink) and white Holden FB station wagon, complete with venetian blinds, spiffy rear wheel spats and period Radio 3TR sticker on the back window.
That’s followed by a larger-than-life Cadillac Sports Pheaton V16 from 1930, mechanical star of 2013’s The Great Gatsby, and a show-stopping Lamborghini Miura P400S in bold metallic red.
Other highlights included a full grid of US muscle cars from the late 1960s and early ‘70s, highlighted by an original Chevy Camaro Z/28, Dodge Coronet with 440 Magnum ‘Six Pack’ power, and a take-no-prisoners Plymouth GTX.
The Australian Grand Prix is celebrating 90 years in 2018, and numerous F1 missiles were on show, including the iconic Williams FW07, the display example driven to four GP victories by 1980 world champ, Alan Jones.
New this year is a ‘Live Restoration Theatre’ with resto specialists, headed by guru Brian Tanti, working on cars and engines on site to give visitors an insight into the skills and quality of work required to keep classics in fine fettle.
Open today, Friday October 12th, and running until 5:00pm Sunday the 14th, Motorclassica 2018 is a must-see for anyone who dares to call themselves a petrolhead.
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