Motors & Masterpieces launched with classics

The team behind Melbourne’s renowned Motorclassica event is reinventing the classic and premium car show, which will be replaced by Motors & Masterpieces festival to be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds over November 22-24.

Officially launched at the Fox Classic Car Collection in Melbourne last night, the new event is set to feature hundreds of rare and desirable cars and motorcycles, tracing automotive design from its beginnings to hypercars of the future.

Two early entrants at bookends of the motoring spectrum were unveiled at the launch of Motors & Masterpieces, namely a classic 1925 Bugatti Type 23 Brescia and a jaw-dropping Ferrari Daytona SP3 – one-of-599 model that carried a local retail price tag of over $3.8 million.

Curated by the team behind Motorclassica, which was hosted at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building for over a decade, Motors & Masterpieces will take on a slightly different format for its inaugural event.

Following the lead of the Paris classic car show Rétromobile, vehicles will be split along various theme lines, with each section complimented by bespoke entertainment and sideshows.

“Following the announcement of Motors & Masterpieces, we have been humbled by the response from the motoring public who are genuinely excited to be involved,” said chief curator Mark Jansen.

“By defining the various themes that we will be showcasing, we expect to be able to fill the Melbourne Showgrounds with some of the most beautiful and historically significant machines from these shores and beyond.

“Our aim is to curate a truly unique collection that will set Motors & Masterpieces apart.”

Leading the 10-class structure, La Dolce Vita will celebrate classic Italian motoring, while California Dreaming will feature exuberant entries from the post-war era of American heavy metal.

Tokyo Lights will celebrate more recent Japanese engineering, while Swinging London will focus on the best of British, contrasting Continental Classics, which will host vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz Gullwing and Porsche 356.

Australian manufacturing will be in the spotlight in the Great Southern Land category, while the Golden Age display will feature the unique craftsmanship of machinery built prior to 1930.

High Society will be home to machines from the 1930s and ’40s, while Monaco Glitz will showcase the best modern supercars.

Finally, Chequered Flag will cater to a wide array of motorsport racers.

Beyond the Concours-judged sections, the Melbourne Showgrounds event will feature a wide array of special displays, including from key manufacturers and car clubs, plus automotive artwork, trade stands and exhibits.

Additionally, the venue's road network will be pressed into service for a series of ride-and-drive opportunities for attendees to sample.

Concours and general vehicle entries for the event are currently being accepted, with details available at www.motorsandmasterpieces.com.

Images: Caspar Darcy-Fox/Mark Walker

Related: Motors & Masterpieces to replace Motorclassica

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