Motorclassica heads for $100 million

Motorclassica, the Australian International Concours d’Elegance & Classic Motor Show, is on track to display more than $100 million of classic cars in Melbourne this October.

Confirmed concours entrants have already topped $50 million, with more than a dozen cars valued at more than $1 million each.

Motorclassica event director Paul Mathers said the quality of  concours entries confirmed Australia’s standing as a country respected around the world for its classic motoring scene.

“European and American collectors are showing strong interest, and several of the top cars are Australian, some of them from right here in Melbourne,” he said.

“The top estimate is more than $3 million for the 1928 Daimler Double Six limousine that’s coming from the USA, but some of the cars can only be defined as priceless – such as the unique 1937 Alfa Romeo Aerodinamica Spider coming from Germany.

“Local cars valued in excess of $1 million each include a 1927 Bugatti Type 37A, a 1936 Mercedes 540K Cabriolet and a gorgeous 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GT with Brianza body.”

Mr Mathers said the dollar value of the cars in many cases was secondary to their historical significance, rarity or sheer beauty.

“Consider the unique Alfa Aerospider with its remarkable history including an exciting escape from post-war communist Hungary – it even has the bullet holes to prove it,” he said.

“Then there is the 1964 Cooper Climax T70 which was McLaren Motor Racing’s first team car – not only was it the foundation of a great Grand Prix team, but it is a beautiful mid-engined race car from the era before wings and aero aids.

“For sheer stateliness, little beats the 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost with Roi des Belges coachwork, and for sports cars aficionados we have such supercars as the 1956 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing and 1966 Ferrari 275GTB.

“With each of these cars valued around a million dollars or more, and several of them coming from overseas especially for Motorclassica, this is a rare chance to see them all in one place.”

Motorclassica is a nine-day celebration of classic motoring with both static and on-road displays, inspired by overseas events such as Pebble Beach, Retromobile and Villa d’Este.

It begins with the Tour Australis rally from 16 to 21 October and culminates in the concours and classic motor show in the Royal Exhibition Building from 22 to 24 October and the free Picnic with the Classics at Argyle Square, Carlton on 23 and 24 October.