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[url]http://www.actmotorclubs.org.au/go/shannons-wheels-expo[/url]
A very hot day (well into the 30Cs) but otherwise clear skies and sunny weather in which to view the enormous number of entries, reputed to be around 1,000 vehicles of all descriptions
Please forgive my mediocre photography skills as we begin with some beautful 'Brass Era' Veterans
De Dion Bouton
Swift 1912
Overland 1912
Ford Model T (x2)
Hupmobile (x2) very tasteful resto
Maxwell (antecedant of Buick)
Peugeot modele 1905 500cc
De Dion Bouton note the rear entry
FIAT 1914 52B 2813CC 28hp (x3)
One of the charms of car events like these is meeting the proud owners, who can't resist walking up and voulunteering info to anyone who shows an interest in their machine. I spent a good 15 minutes chatting with an elderly gent regarding this FIAT. He enthused about the quailty engineering and design flair as evinced by its extensive use of lightweight aluminium componentry including (IIRC) for engine, gearbox & differential - not bad for 1914!
The lightweight Amilcar sports racer with wooden decked Boat Tail coachwork
Frazer Nash (x2) featuring its famous chain drive
Sunbeam (x2)
The Sunbeam's owner was another very friendly chap who just walked up and started talking, kindly inviting me to sit in his car. A fascinating bloke originally from the Netherlands ("I been here fordy tree yeers") then after a while said he had 'something special' to show me and delved under the front seat of this Sunbeam, only to produce this incredible antique flintlock gun .. circa 1625 :eek:
1929 Durant D66 or Six-Sixty-Six (x4) no doubt a rare car. William Crapo Durant was the business genius who founded General Motors
Dodge Brothers (x2) of the year preceding the Chrysler buyout. These were a well regarded machine. In the metal this car has a really pleasing style about it (not captured well in these pics alas) which was enhanced by a particularly sympathetic restoration. It represented itself just like a well kept original-build - not in any way overdone, overchromed or over-restored to the max with that modern overglossy and ill-befitting 'two pack' paint etc
This magnificent Packard (x4) with a 1934 Buick on the left in the rear pic. Note lovely styling detail in headlight lens & rim (pic #1)
Only slightly less imposing is this lineup of very attractive same-year Buicks (a Phaeton between two Roadsters) do you like the cute wind deflectors for the rumble seats? :cool:
1939 Buick Coupe (x2) shows its unusual 'insect' face. Their finely spaced grille filigree and mis-positioned opening meant these '39s were prone to overheating
Another 1939 Buick Coupe displays the optional and by then rare Six Wheel Equip aka Dual Sidemounts (twin external spare tyres) and by this time its easy to see the trouble designers were having in accomodating this feature into the shorter front ends as styling trends evolved. For Buick this would be about the final year for this desirable option
Great looking Nash with its funky closely-spaced headlights and towering chest-high bonnet. I liked its visage enough to attempt an 'arty' :o juxtapose against a '59 'king of the fins' Cadillac Coupe DeVille
wonderful stuff....
The Buick car club was out in force with many on display. I'll wrap up their depiction with the Special Coupe from 1941 (x3) imo one of Buick's best-ever years for styling
Dodge sedan from 1933 or thereabouts
The unique to Australia Holden-bodied Chevrolet Coupe Utility, this example one of 1484 built in Melbourne in 1940 on imported chassis. GM-Holden's passenger car-based coupe utilities were offered in Chevrolet and Pontiac versions and preceding the America's 1959 Chevrolet El Camino debut by many decades. They also sold Roadster Utilities. Holden began offering car-based Pontiac Coupe Utilites in 1929 and ceased with the 1953 Chevrolet, which was replaced by Holden's ute version of their own passenger car
I'll chuck in this 1952 Malvern Star bicycle with front suspension and also equipped with the interesting BSA 'Winged Wheel' a pinion-drive 35cc engine integral with the rear wheel. Adjacent to it is an unusual all-plastic Itera pushbike from Europe in the 1980s, apparently a flop in sales and function
Bentley heralds a change of flavour into a sample of the huge British contingent. I'm unsure what specific model ..?
Even more truck-like ;) is this 1953 Albion Ant, once a common sight and I have driven similar
Yes it's a genuine 1948 Land Rover 80" their first year of production. Hopefully my pics (x2) hint at the faultless restoration of this example, it was simply superb. Early L/Rs were extremely popular in Australia in the 1950s & '60s, before the japanese 4X4 onslaught. Of special interest is that very early Land Rovers like this 1948 feature a form of [i]'constant' all wheel drive[/i] - they do not offer the choice of 2WD or 4WD
Aston Martin twincam exposed, forgot which model ..?
The wonderful Bristol 403
[quote=henk4]wonderful stuff.... [/quote]
:) Thank you
Wow, just wow :eek:
Fantastic.
A mix from the Fifties beginning with the mighty Hillman Husky
This unrestored Austin Hampshire A70 still in good original condition and wearing 'period style' wintertread tyres. Rust is no problem in dry inland Australia (very low humidity) even long-term, and no road salting in winter
Poor long-distance pic shows just some of the big Armstong Siddeley lineup
Some Froggies (x3) for Ferrer, opening with the Peugeot 203 Van, then the replacement model the 403 van with 203 sedan on the right. Last pic the 403 underbonnet featuring their nicely presented hemi-head 4cyl, with what looks like a neat drilled cover for the voltage regulator
Apologies for decapitating the first of these Renault 4CV (x2) here better known as the Renault 750. I always wanted one of these charmers
Aussie built Ford Mainline Coupe Utes (x2) of the early to mid 1950s followed by similar era Holden FJ ute
Old Holdens with the above FJ ute at left, then a 1966-67 HR Special, the 1956-57 FE Special and rear of 1953-56 FJ Special sedan
Locally built mid '50s Dodge Kingsway badge with unusual 'Crusader' ensignia attached, I've never seen that model ID before - any info or clues?
Chrysler Australia could not afford to keep retooling their low-volume sellers to keep pace with the constant yearly US model changes so they replaced their identical-bodied rebadge lineup of Dodge Kingsway/Desoto Diplomat/Plymouth Cranbrook with one model, the unique to Oz 1957-62 Chrysler Royal. These befinned monsters still used the old style P-25 body mid-section (eg Dodge Kingsway etc) but were tarted up with a mishmash of later-model US mudguards, lights, trim and anything else Chrysler could lay their hands on in an attempt to created to create the illusion of a completely new design, the Royal AP1. There were three AP (eg Australian Production) model-series, eventually in three bodystyles - Royal sedan, Wayfarer ute and the super rare Plainsman wagon. This particular sedan pictured is the 2nd of the three AP model-series and thus designated AP2, which were famous for featuring an [i]additional[/i] set of towering fiberglass fins which rode atop the metal originals. Believe it of not these extra fins were supposedly a 'mandatory option' or somesuch, and I've never seen AP2s denuded of their secondary layer of fins. Those interested can use "wayfarer' to UCP search for my pic of the excellent AP3 ute version. Btw I once had an AP3 V8 in black, these had the super kitch triple-rocket tail-lights :p
Veedubs galore, an early Karmann Ghia and Kombi
Somebody's idea of a Morris Minor :confused:
Into the Sixties with this tidy HR Holden Special (x2) it's powered by the 126hp 186cid OHV I-6 and delightful [i]Three On The Tree[/i] gearshift. Optional was a twin-carby 'X2' version with 140hp, the intro of LSD and fragile four-on-the-floor gearbox supplied by Opel. Don't you miss those starkly bare albeit chromey dashboards with the sharp metal edges?
Same era but in sharp contrast to our tough but primitive HR is this neat Renault 16, an advanced and highly versatile car which debuted in 1965. Unlike the sparse Holden the Renault had standard equip like cornering and brakes, although lean-angles were similar in both cars :D
This fully restored Tatra 603 was probably the same one recently sold for surprisingly little at auction in Sydney
Rear-engined air-cooled hemi-head V8 :cool:
A very interesting car indeed is this Prince Skyline from approx 1967 or so. From my long past and fading memory it's likely to be one of the now exceptionally rare GTA or GTB homologation specials that were built for Japanese production-car racing, also retailed and campaigned in Australia by Prince especially for the big endurance events like the Surfers Paradise 12 Hour, Bathurst 500 and Sandown 12 Hour. These cars featured a 5-speed transmission and IIRC were capable of around 125mph. Check those 6V triple carbies plus the battery mounted inside the boot which is also stuffed with a big long-range tank fed by a special filler. This local Canberra car presents as a great piece of 1960s production racing history and is in truly as-new showroom condition
Into the early 1970s and another japanese 6cyl sedan is this (x2) Toyota Crown. Despite the weird (but now interesting) styling this particular model generation was reasonably popular here when new but oddly they've all seemed to disappear and are now a very seldom seen vehicle, while the earlier version of Crowns are much more prevalent. Even less common is the dramatically styled pillarless coupe variant. Perhaps the survivors have all been shipped back off to japan as has been the fate of many old Oz-sold jappers. This example was quite tidy and apart from the mags and Supra 5-speed it looked to be a pretty original old car, was for sale @ $3,500 ono with 'tons of spares'
Third and final model of the first generation is this 1970-71 HG Holden Monaro GTS 350 with 2-speed powerglide. Not exactingly original but a neat example nevertheless. These early Munros had good success in production-racing and bring serious money today especially the big 350 V8 manuals with long-range tank
Holden's opposition the much loved 1971 XY model Ford Falcon GT featuring 351 Cleveland V8 power and its famous Shaker protruding through the bonnet (in shadow unfortunately). Most believe the XY is the best of all Falcon GT models, a great allround family/touring sedan with the big 163 litre petrol tank and power to burn
Well there were hundreds of other fascinating bits of machinery to see but this is the point where my camera cried enough and I was fortunate to snap this fantastic little Elfin Clubman. I was initially attracted by a brutish looking '72 XA Falcon GT parked off in the distance, only to wander over and realise it was playing mere towmaster to the Clubman. With Oz-made Elfin now celebrating their 50th anniversary this is obviously a very early model, it looked ace and amazingly includes the original canvas roof
Hope you found my thread of interest and thanks for looking! :)
Brilliant thread and pics nota
love the pics Nota, and thanks for the descriptions since i'd have no idea otherwise..
[QUOTE=nota;679114]
The wonderful Bristol 403
[/QUOTE]
the license plate reads 401, and probably with a reason:)
[QUOTE=nota;679204]A very interesting car indeed is this Prince Skyline from approx 1967 or so. From my long past and fading memory it's likely to be one of the now exceptionally rare GTA or GTB homologation specials that were built for Japanese production-car racing, also retailed and campaigned in Australia by Prince especially for the big endurance events like the Surfers Paradise 12 Hour, Bathurst 500 and Sandown 12 Hour. These cars featured a 5-speed transmission and IIRC were capable of around 125mph. Check those 6V triple carbies plus the battery mounted inside the boot which is also stuffed with a big long-range tank fed by a special filler. This local Canberra car presents as a great piece of 1960s production racing history and is in truly as-new showroom condition[/QUOTE]
the original predecessor of the Skyline GTR:)
Great stuff Nota. Especially the older pre-50s stuff which I have limited knowledge of.
Great write as usual nota, top stuff d00d. I was there as well, however my photos aren't really of any of the old classic stuff, more the really shiny stuff.
[QUOTE=2ndclasscitizen;679338]Great write as usual nota, top stuff d00d. I was there as well, however my photos aren't really of any of the old classic stuff, more the really shiny stuff.[/QUOTE]
A warm thanks to you and those other fellow UCP'ers for the kind words, it really is appreciated :)
As far as I'm concerned you're welcome to blast away with your later model pics and enhance this thread - go for your life mate!
[QUOTE=nota;679346]A warm thanks to you and those other fellow UCP'ers for the kind words, it really is appreciated :)[/QUOTE]No probs dude, are you going to be attending Auto Italia?
[QUOTE=nota;679346]As far as I'm concerned you're welcome to blast away with your later model pics and enhance this thread - go for your life mate![/QUOTE]
Cool dude, I'll do that then
Lotus 7, turbo rotary Lotus 7, 350 Chev powered Volvo 242, Alpine GTA, AC Cobra
Turbo-rotary Holden Gemini, BMW M3, Holden Torana SL/R5000, Holden Monaro GTS, Holden EH
Chrslyer Valiant Regal, Mercedes-Benz Lowrider, Leyland P76, HDT VH Commodore
Holden Torana SS Hatchback, Holden Torana GTR, Holden VK Commodore
Holden VK Commodore, Suzuki Swift GTi (no photoshop on this, it's paint was just ridiculously shiny), Ford Cortina, Chevy sedan (not sure what year,) VK SS Group A
E55 AMG, SLK55 AMG, Holden VK Commodore
Holden Monaro GTS Sedan, Ford Falcon, WW2 Jeep, HArlery-Davidson Street Rod, Mercedes-Benz 300CE AMG
Holden Gemini Coupe, older Holden sedan of some description, Corvette Stingray Convertible, Hot Rods
Chevrolet Camaro, Supercharged V8 Kingswood, Dodge Coronet, Toyota Celica
Toyota Celicas, Shelby Mustang GT500
Shelby Mustang GT500, another Mustang, Chevy Camaro
Chevy Camaro, VW Kombi, 996 911 Turbo, Ferrari 308GT/4.
And that's it y'all.
Great stuff guys well done great pic's:)
Do you have any photos of the XA towing and/or more of the Elfin??