Motors & Masterpieces will live up to its name with a Golden Age showcase of our nation’s most special and rare automotive examples, which are set to capture the imaginations of visitors to the Melbourne Showgrounds from November 22-24.
One of ten different categories at the event, the Golden Age will focus on the early automotive pioneers, with a spotlight on the unique craftsmanship evident in machines built prior to 1930.
The Golden Age was an incredible time in motoring circles - it saw tremendous innovation that became rapidly accessible to the masses and spurned significant global cultural impact.
The development of the earliest cars saw the concept of horseless carriages morph from an oddity to a practical tool - the 1908 Ford Model T was particularly influential in making cars affordable via new-found mass production techniques.
Designs quickly evolved, from rudimentary to functional.
Car culture quickly blossomed, too, with ownership representing freedom and a fresh level of social status.
Elsewhere, the expansion and improvement of the world’s road network brought people closer together, and outside of the auto manufacturers themselves, allied industries flourished.
Throughout the period of the Golden Age, local Australian coachworks developed their own bodies and styling, which resulted in many unique pieces.
At Motors & Masterpieces, expect to see examples that originated from the top manufacturers of the day from across the globe.
Possibilities include early Fords, General Motors’ finest in the form of Chevrolets, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles and Buicks, plus examples from Chrysler, Packard, Hudson, Studebaker, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Peugeot, Citroen, Alfa Romeo, and many more.
The Golden Age laid the foundations of the modern automotive world we all now take for granted, and at Motors & Masterpieces, we can marvel at the finest examples that have stood the test of time.