Organisers of the inaugural Motorclassica event in Melbourne, Australia, last year were amazed by the quality and diversity of the classic and vintage cars they were able to attract to an event in its first year. Two-and-a-half days of packed-out attendances proved to them that their decision to create Australia’s first International Concours d’Elegance and Classic Motor Show was the right one.

But, like a recording artist’s difficult follow-up album, the big challenge for organisers Exhibitions and Trade Fairs this year is to create a show that improves upon last year’s.
‘With the quality of 2011’s entries,

I believe we will be even bigger and better than last year,’ says event director and classic car enthusiast Paul Mathers.

‘The cars on display will be spectacular, beautiful and unexpected. There is a completely different look and feel from last year’s Concours, with lots more vintage and pre-war exhibits. We have also added extra features to the programme to increase the appeal.’

These include the ’61 Lounge, where guests will enjoy high tea and cocktails while celebrating some of the great cars launched in 1961; a new Auto Art Show featuring over a dozen Australian and international graphic and sculptural artists; and a special display of 150 vintage and veteran cars that will commence the RACV City to Country Club Rally from Motorclassica.

Motorclassica also welcomes aboard a brand new naming sponsor in RACV that, with almost two million members, is one of the largest motoring clubs in the world.

In addition, all the popular fixtures of last year’s Motorclassica are back, including Tour Classica, Picnic with the Classics, and the Collector Car Auction, presented by new auction partner Bonhams.

RACV Motorclassica will also celebrate 125 years of Mercedes-Benz, the 50th birthday of the Jaguar E-type, and 60 years of Porsche in Australia. Marking these occasions will be a display of Mercedes-Benz featuring the oldest genuine Benz in Australia, an 1896 Velo; a parade of Porsches including the famous 935 ‘Moby Dick’ and Derek Bell’s 1987 Le Mans-winning 962; and up to 50 E-types gathered on the Royal Exhibition Building forecourt.

Of course, the event is as much about the cars as the individuals who own them. Last year’s ‘Best in Show’ winner was a 1928 Daimler P 1 50 Limousine owned by Bob and Barb Lorkowski from Wisconsin in the USA. Interestingly, the car was first sold to New South Wales businessman, politician and philanthropist Sir Frederick Stewart in Sydney, where it was registered NSW 1. Only 12 of the 7.1-litre, four-tonne cars were built and, as most of them were melted down for England’s war effort, this one is believed to be the only survivor.

One of the more interesting entries for 2011 is a 1921 Ballot 2LS. This preservation class car with a magnificent patina has been in the same Australian family for 85 years and is one of only five remaining in the world. The Ballot joins a selection of other historic marques including Cord, Delage, Facel, Marmon, NSU, Salmson, SS, Sunbeam and Wanderer, all of which will share their time in the sun at the Australian International Concours d’Elegance.

Another interesting feature of RACV Motorclassica this year will be the start of Constantine Mandylas’s epic journey from Melbourne to Moscow in a Ford Model T – a journey of almost 20,000km across more than a dozen countries in four continents. Constantine, a Victoria-based enthusiast, is using his adventure to mark the anniversary of two epic motoring journeys in 1912 as well as the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Australia.

With a dedicated event team and Mathers at the helm, it is clear Motorclassica is keen to grow and improve on its success, creating its own history as much as it celebrates the history of others.

For more information and tickets, visit www.motorclassica.com.au.