MOTORCLASSICA 2016

The seventh edition of Motorclassica, Australia’s automotive display of rare and exotic, historic, vintage, veteran, classic and collectable cars and motorcycles will be staged Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building over the 21-23 October weekend.

As well as the hundreds of vehicles displayed inside the Building, an additional 200+ vehicles will be on show each day in the Club Sandwich car club displays outside the main hall.

The event will begin on the Thursday evening with an exclusive opening night party, at which Mercedes-Benz will launch its newest luxury model. This year marks 130 years since the making of a car by Karl Benz and another by Gottlieb Daimler that eventually resulted in the birth of Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz will showcase a wide variety of models, from the 1896 Benz Velocipede, through the pre-war models, to the 300SLs of the 1950s and the highly desirable Ponton and Pagoda models of the modern era.

Key to the Mercedes’ display will be George Hetrel’s stunning 540K, said to be Australia’s first “million dollar car” when imported into Melbourne in the 1980s.

BMW also celebrates a milestone at Motorclassica this year, reaching its centenary of aircraft engine manufacturing that began in 1916. BMWs ranging from the beautiful art deco-inspired 326, 327 and 328, through to several rare models from the 1980s and ‘90s, including Jim Richards’ ATC-winning cars from 1985 and 1987 will be a feast for the eyes.

Motorclassica 2016 will also showcase displays honouring Rolls-Royce, Ducati, Carrozeria Touring Superleggera and 50 years of Mini Cooper’s domination of Mount Panorama in the 1966 Bathurst 500 mile race.

Another major highlight is that Motorclassica will host the annual Australian International Concours d’Elegance. As one of only two Australian events nominated in the prestigious International Historic Motoring Awards, the Australian International Concours d’Elegance shows rare, desirable and valuable collector cars and motorcycles from around Australia and the world.

The Concours recognises the best of the best in a number of event categories, with a trophy that’s a highly coveted prize in the collector car and motorcycle world.

If you can’t make it to the show, or simply want an early taste of what is there and to see the exhibits in motion, Tour Classica will see select Motorclassica exhibits drive in convoy through the streets of Melbourne’s CBD on Thursday morning.

The annual Collector Car & Memorabilia Auction, conducted by Theodore Bruce, is expected to feature over 100 lots of automotive ephemera and around 30 classic cars and motorcycles. A number of special, hand-picked collector cars and motorcycles, including a one-owner, 1935 Lagonda M45 Rapide, once the car of choice for World Land Speed record holder, Sir Malcolm Campbell.

For further information on Motorclassica or to purchase tickets, click onto www.motorclassica.com.au/