Motorclassica opens to the public

Classic car show set to fill void left by AIMS?

Motorclassica threatens to spill out of its home at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition buildings in this, its fourth year.

The entire lower level of the iconic premises has been filled with classic cars from as long ago as the late 19th Century. Sponsors this year include the RACV, the City of Melbourne, Lorbek Luxury Cars, Theodore Bruce and Fairfax media.

Car companies present include Morgan, Caterham, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, which took the opportunity to present its new W222 S-Class to the Australian public attending Motorclassica. For its part, Jaguar rolled out examples of the F-TYPE and XFR-S.

Mercedes-Benz officials have told motoring.com.au that they are pleased with the feedback received for the S-Class, just from those attending the launch reception last night. Asked whether Mercedes-Benz Australia would return next year, possibly with another local premiere, Benz spokesman David McCarthy said: "We'll know by Sunday."

In addition to being a classic car show – with a handful of new prestige/luxury models on display also – Motorclassica is a Concours d'Elegance. Many of the cars on display (and motorbikes too) are to be judged for their appearance and originality in the Concours, in different categories.

Starting with the oldest, Class C1 comprises 'Antique, Veteran and Edwardian' cars built between 1890 and 1919. One of the outstanding examples in this class is the black Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost from 1912.

Class C2 encompasses 'Vintage' vehicles built between 1920 and 1929, among them two examples of Vauxhall 30/98. In Class C3 ('Pre-War' from 1930 to 1945), competing vehicles include a wonderful Studebaker Commander Custom Roadster, a quaint Singer Le Mans and an exquisite MG F-Type.

'Post-War Classics (British and European)' are catered for in Class C4A. Covering the period from 1945 to the mid-sixties, the category features a full-sized edition of everyone's favourite 'Matchbox' model from their 1970s youth – the Iso Grifo, powered by a 427CID Chevy V8 and finished in the same metallic blue as the scale model car. In the same category is a reproduction Aston Martin DB4 Zagato in black from 1959.

Two early Corvettes stand out in Class C4B for 'Post-War Classic (American and Australia)'. Both cars are early (C1 generation) models from 1954 and 1959. Joining them in the category is a 1959 Plymouth Fury in the same colour scheme as the car appearing in the film adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel, 'Christine'.

A rare Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide from 1962 and a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II exemplify the 'Modern Classic' cars contesting Class C5A. Aston Martin is a popular marque among Class C5B for 'Modern Classic (GT)' cars, a good example being the 1970 DB6 Mk2 shown here.

In the category of 'Modern Classic (Performance three-litre and under)' – Class C5C – a 1978 Lamborghini Urraco and a beautiful metallic green Alfa Romeo Montreal took our eye, as did the Ferrari 275 GTB, Jaguar E-Type coupe and Lamborghini Miura in Class C5D, 'Modern Classic (Performance over three-litre)'.

Two final car categories are Class P ('Preservation), in which a De Soto Air Flow was entered, and the 'Contemporary' class, numbering four recent Corvettes, three Lamborghinis and a McLaren F1.

Motorclassica is open at the Royal Exhibition Buildings across the weekend.

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Written byCarsales Staff

Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists

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