Don Andreina organised for a group of CCers plus a few car club friends to gather for a visit to the annual Motorclassica Concours at the Royal Exhibition Building here in Melbourne. I thought it would be fun to play a game of “which one would I take home?”, so here (finally) are the cars our group picked as their favourites – no easy task here with the array of cars on display!
1955 Chrysler ST Special (Ghia). Paul has written before about many of the 1950’s Chrysler-Ghia concept and coachbuilt production cars and it was a pleasant surprise to see one at the show. While this car may be more restrained or conventional in some areas than some of the earlier models it is still just beautiful. If anything the lack of controversial front-end styling helps its cause.
It was larger than I had imagined these cars to be, as the reality of the 126″ wheelbase New Yorker chassis does not come across in photographs because of its proportions. This car featured in the 1955 Paris Motor Show when new and painted black, which I gather will be reinstated in the future. The car received the “Spirit of Motorclassica” award.
1935 Packard Super 8 3-Window Coupe. There were several Packards at the show, but the 1935 is my favourite era Packard and this coupe is just an elegant body style whether it be a humble Ford or a Lincoln. This car was given to Amelia Earheart and bears her initials on the bumper overriders. It won the Pre-War USA class.
One of the features of the show was the 50th anniversary of the Dino and they were well-favourited by our group. I’m going to assume that everyone is familiar with these, and now I will include this green example as a colour you don’t normally see, which also awarded best car in the Modern Classic Sports & Performance under 3 litre class.
The ‘Ferrari’ Dino was preceded by the Fiat Dino coupe, which was styled by Bertone. It is a very elegantly-styled car if not quite at the top level due to the rear seats raising the roofline and stretching the wheelbase.
The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso was a common choice from the group, as this was a beautiful example of the car and I don’t think there is a lot more to be said, apart from noting that this car was awarded Best of Show and Restoration of the Year (by Classic Auto Metal at Glengarry in the Tamar Valley region of the island state of Tasmania).
I don’t think it would be a surprise that the 1936 Cord 810 Westchester sedan made our ‘short list’, and again all that needs to be said has been done so many times.
Another iconic car is the Porsche 356, and there was a beautiful early example on show in a nice subtle beige (seen beside a 1972 911E).
The next nomination is one I can also get behind, because it nearly made my list too; a Bentley Continental S2 Flying Spur six light. While the Continental coupe lost its fastback with the arrival of the S-series Bentleys, while the Mulliner Park Ward-bodied Flying Spur could be compared to today’s CLS Mercedes, 6-series Gran Coupe BMW or Audi A7 as a much sportier saloon in contrast to the Rolls-Royce-clone standard sedans. Being a S2, this car has the new V8 that is still in production today. Incidentally the darker sedan to the right is another Continental sedan but not a Flying Spur, being a James Young-bodied car. Incidentally, these two cars took second and first in the Modern Classic (UK & Euro) category.
As I missed recording the details on the information boards it took some doing to establish which car was which; they are quite similar! This photo in the open air better shows the sleek lines of the Flying Spur.
The Maserati Mexico seen already was nominated as a car to take home, no real surprise as this was a fantastic example of the model.
BMW had a stand at Motorclassica, featuring their i8, i3 and M4 GTS and a special display of the retro-liveried M Hommage coupe alongside a replica 3.5 CSL race car. No prizes for guessing it was the latter car that caught the eye of one of our group (at least)!
The early Lamborghini Countach LP400 was also nominated, and at 40 years’ distance is better looking than the later be-winged and be-flared cars. (Yes those are the ‘eyelashes’ of a Miura photo-bombing the bottom of the frame)
This wing of the building was dedicated to supercars, and our next couple of nominations were in this area also; firstly the Ferrari 288 GTO which is the ideal combination of classic Ferrari looks and outrageous power levels. A shame that they only built 272!
Not far away was this 1981 512 Boxer Berlinetta, which got an honourable mention from one of the gang because the French Blue paint (one of just 11 in the colour) was just the wrong colour for the car – what do you think?
A couple of additional honourable mentions from the auction field were two of the ‘project cars’; this 1934 Packard V12 which would be sold for AUD$75,000 (plus fees). It appeared to be fairly complete and solid but needed “everything” doing to it.
Does anyone not want to see the engine? The manifold arrangement is interesting, with both intake and exhaust intertwining inside the vee.
Only a few feet away was this 1941 Cadillac sedan, a bargain by comparison at $12,000 plus fees and no doubt a much less daunting task to restore. No doubt that some people would be tempted to retain the current ‘patina’ aka severe surface rust over the entire body, and I can see that this gives it a sinister look but a true luxury car can only tolerate a small degree of shabbiness before ‘devil may care’ degenerates into ‘delinquent’.
Our final ‘take home’ nomination was a Lancia Flaminia 3C GTL which I didn’t photograph as it was on one of the vendor stands on the outer wall (Oldtimer Australia in Queensland) that I paid less attention to, so here is a photo from their website.
That will do for now, I may do another post on some of the more down-to-earth cars at the show unless you would like to see some more of the extraordinary cars at the show. But for now I will finish with what may have been the most significant car there; a 1928 Bugatti Type 37A grand prix car which won the 1930 and 1932 Australian Grand Prix. It was last raced in 1952, and has not been seen in public for 63 years! The body has been restored to preserve as much of the original metal and 1930s paintwork as possible.
Further Reading:
In-Motion Classics: Tour Classica
Car Show Classics: Motorclassica Mini Meet-Up (an overview of last year’s show)
Car Show Classics: American Cars at Motorclassica
Car Show Classics: Tales of the Unexpected from Motorclassica
Car Show Classics: Tales of the Extraordinary from Motorclassica
I always wondered how things might have developed for Chrysler had their 1957 cars been influenced by the Ghia prototypes instead of Exner’s wild ideas.
The Ghias were Exner’s original or variations on Exner’s original designs; his reputation as a top-notch stylist grew from these cars.
Indeed, but somewhere between that time and 57 he went mad. I DO like the 57 cars but they were a dead end unfortunately whereas the Ghia styling could be developed all the way into the 60s and, to me, would have helped Chrysler to stay in the game.
Well, plenty of creative people go mad at some point in their lives…blame Chrysler for not reining-in the mad genius on time.
So many choices but for me it comes down to two the as is Packard 12 or the 41 Caddy, and yes I’d leave it just like that and merely tidy up the interior and get it running properly and roadworthy, they’re only original once. There is a V12 Packard roughly that model in this town completely restored but the cost of that is totally beyond me so definitely the Cadillac would be my take home choice.
Excellent choice, Bryce! The Cadillac was remarkable for a) surviving intact, and b) being a RHD, just who was importing new Cadillacs after the start of WWII? Both points would mean little if the basic shape was not so attractive, I love the cars of this period. There was an allusion to use by US forces in the publicity but nothing was confirmed. As for tidying the interior, your first move would be to remove the spare rim from the rear bench, the leather of which was recoverable. I don’t know what’s wrong with some people.
Thanks to Don for organising the adventure and John for recording it. It was catered too!
I too find that Cadilllac intriguing. A 1941 model in RHD. Surely it came to Australia post war and was probably converted to RHD? I have seen photos of Douglas McArthur being driven around Brisbane during WW2 in various cars, but from memory they were LHD.
Just where would Cadilac be exporting RHD cars to in 1941 (assuming they even were)? Not Australia, nor UK and certainly not Hong Kong, Singapore or the Middle East (all of which were occupied or about to be by hostile forces). Even in the months leading up to invasion, cargo priorities would definitely favour military use. It would be very interesting to find out the history of this car.
1941 was two years into WW2 for Australia and sales of new cars like NZ ceased at outbreak in sept 39 I’d bet it arrived later post war and got converted.
Just for the record. Argentina and Uruguay kept driving on the left lane until 1945. Both countries were relatively well-off during those years and certainly imported a number of Cadillacs.
Spectacular cars, but I’ll let the rest of you guys take them home. I’d be more than satisfied with the building.
That is indeed gorgeous architecture!
Thanks for catching the back view of the Chrysler Ghia. Shows the Chryslerness as well as the Ghianess.
It’s too damn bad Chrysler didn’t build a thousand of these instead of a handful. Could have outdone the Corvette and T-bird.
Nice shots and writeup John. The Lusso will always be closest to my heart but the unbeflaredandspoilered Countach occupied the most of my time for any one car during the Motorclassica.
The Ghia was a revelation, didn’t understand how large these models are until I stood next to it, and what a beautiful example it was. As you point out, its restraint compared with other relatively contemporaneous Ghia Chryslers is a key to its success.
The proximity of the two Bentley Continentals was a great opportunity for comparison. Despite the MPW being a six light example and the JY being a ‘four’, it was the details that were most revealing; with the George Moseley-styled MPW demonstrating the mastery of its svelte and efficient contours, and the JY being relatively lacking due to some fussier exterior detailing.
Hopefully we can formalise a get-together for the Oz/NZ CC chapter next year.
Correction. Just had a closer look at the JY and it too has quarter windows aft of the rear doors.
Yes, that is why it was so hard to tell them apart! The main difference appears to be the rear haunches (echoes of the current Mercedes CLS actually), and minor differences to the roofline and boot/trunk.
IIRC it was the taillights I found most displeasing. They were surmounted by curious little pinched hoods.
That Chrysler is amazing. That said, I have to go with the Amelia Earheart Packard for my favorite. There’s no Duesenbergs there?
I guess it might be stereotyping, but you think of Australia as being a little island at the end of the earth and just don’t think of them as having car shows with the variety you would see in North America. then you see this and realize just how ignorant you are.
thank you for the beautiful cars and the lesson that great people and great cars exist in all corners of the globe!
French Blue is not a bad color for the 512BB; I think it just seems incongruous because the 512BB is fundamentally a mid-seventies design and French Blue seems like a very mid-eighties color. (I suspect that color would actually look pretty good on a 328 GTB or a Testarossa.)
The Chrysler ST Special is magnificent, although I have some reservations about that color. I imagine it looks better in the metal, but it doesn’t photograph well and I suspect it would be very lighting-sensitive.
I would say the colour is a little lighter in the flesh. I wouldn’t say it is a bad colour (I have a car in a similar shade), but I think it is wrong for this car. If not the original black, then a bright metallic colour would be appropriate, as I think this would have been the right era.
Simply wonderful. Cars and building. The 1955 Chrysler is art with a capital a: Art.
Now that the family and house guests are gone, I can sit quietly and savor these beautiful cars; and every one does qualify.
That particular Chrysler-Ghia is a bit more understated than average. Remarkable how a really big car like that can still look so right.
The French Blue works well for me on the BB. One of my favorite colors and cars combined for the first time, for me, anyway. Love it.
The original Countach never fails to amaze me. It gets the prize for the most changed car, in terms of how different the later ones come across.
Thanks for a wonderful guided tour. I wish I’d been there with you!
For me, the Chrysler Ghia, the Dino and the Countach.
The blue 512BB doesn’t work for me, especially against the unadorned Countach, but the Bentleys are very tempting.
And can you do a CC on that builing – it looks amazing!
Any photos of that James Young-bodied Bentley? Lovely group of cars!
Here is another from the south side of the Royal Exhibition Building in addition to the one posted above.
I couldn’t agree more with John’s comments on the Chrysler ST Special. In Valerio Moretti’s book, Ghia, p.194, the 2015 Motorclassica Chrysler Ghia ST Special, is pictured as was tradition for many newly completed Ghia cars, alongside Castello La Rocco Torino, and described as a 1954. The Paris Show car of the same likeness was exhibited October 1954, but touted as a 1955 model, alongside a 1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Special, which is an earlier design of almost identical Exner/Boano proportions, but as the predecessor, wears the original Exner style front end treatment of dominant Grill & inboard headlamps, of which at least a dozen GS-1’s were produced, sharing with their 1954 Detroit production siblings only taillights and trimmed bumpers.
In comparison this Motorclassica ST Special also wears ’54 trim, but tamed somewhat in the further more elegant application of Italian styling, perhaps a touch of Savonuzzi or even Michelotti, both designers collaborating with recessed “Egg crate” Grills and “Frenched’ headlights & fender treatment, along with a further exaggerated “Frua”style rear fender “hop up”, all plausible considering Michelotti’s & Frua’s contract work with Ghia & Ghia Aigle at this time, under Savonuzzi’s design management.
This ’54-‘55 ST is a far rarer transitional example, perhaps only 3-4 units made, making way for the final 1955 Chrysler Ghia ST Special, of which was exhibited with the Gilda at 1955 Torino auto Salon, Sharing trim components with the totally revised 1955 “100 million dollar look’ Chryslers, along with a wraparound windshield. These 1955 Variants of the specials were also rare, with only 2-3 made, some being convertibles.
This was an amazing time at Ghia Torino, with the collaboration of so many great names in design, So no doubt there is a touch of Boano, Chrysler’s Virgil Exner, Michelotti, Frua, Savonuzzi, Goggiola, Sartorelli, and many others in these later Chrysler Specials.
This Chrysler Ghia ST Special was a coup for Motorclassica, which is a world class Concours de Elegance, with many wonderful and historic cars existing downunder for the world to see. Certainly one of my favorites of this show. Worth a holiday to Melbourne next year guys!
Thanks for the comments Ghia Fan, I tried to avoid going down the Ghia rabbit-hole when I was writing this. I prefer the fastback rear of the red car in Paul’s ‘original’ post on the Chrysler Ghias, although perhaps more the shape and not on such a large car.
I agree with the comment about the show, they have done a fantastic job assembling a wonderful range of cars. Credit to the owners too, eg the owner of this year’s Cord also owned the one displayed last year as well as the Tucker from a few years back. I will have to make sure I have more time at the show next year.
@Chris M – well said on the expert simplicity!
Hi John,
I Probably did get a bit carried away on the Ghia thing, hence “Ghia Fan”, but I would also say that I concur with all the other Favorites as well, Loved the Fiat Dino’s!, Early Countach is the purist form also in my opinion, plus so many other great cars that I am sure you would find it hard not listing them all! Motorclassica is an important car show for Melbournian’s, as well as for Australia, our region, and the motoring world. There are some great cars downunder to share with the entire planet!…..I was thinking if they feature a coachbuilder every year, you could have a Ghia year! Ghia Ferrari’s, Ghia Maserati’s, Ghia VW’s, Ghia Fiat’s, Ghia Fords, Ghia Chryslers, Ghia…..Oops, Sorry, I could help myself!
That is a great suggestion, and a good point of difference from the usual featuring of makes.
What a wonderful assortment of cars–worthy candidates, every one! I think my personal favorite would be the Chrysler. Those lines have a beautiful simplicity to them, yet it’s the type of simplicity that is only attained by a master’s eye.
I do also like the retro livery on that BMW, though it’s outshined by its CSL neighbor.
A much belated comment, but thanks John for putting this great post together, and it was nice to put a (somewhat familiar…) face to the name, equally, great to meet Don too!
Looking back at these cars reminded me of a great day out, and some truly amazing machinery. Please follow up with the less exotic stuff once you get some time!
And that Ferrari colour – interestingly, both Holden and Chrysler (and probably Ford – I’ll defer to John’s better knowledge of such things…) here in Australia had a very similar colour available in the early-to-mid 1970s, but only for a short time. I think I still like the 512 in French Blue, as much as black or red probably encapsulates the era and intent of the car better!
Thanks Brad. Yes the 70s were the time for bright colours.