Pebble Beach, meet Noosa Beach. Separated by over 10,000km of Pacific Ocean, these glitzy Californian and Queensland playgrounds are both now home to remarkable Concours d’Elegance events.
Brimming with high-value collector cars micro-analysed by white glove-wearing judges, this year’s inaugural Noosa Concours was modelled on the famed Pebble Beach event; albeit with a welcome Aussie accent.
Elitist stuffiness was largely kept at bay as thousands of locals in shorts and thongs strolled past the millionaire’s row of over 50 classics and moderns. The organisers insisted the event was kept free for all.
Seriously big-ticket stuff rolled into town. A Mercedes 300 SL Coupe. Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7. Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster. Ferrari Daytona. Ferrari 250GT Lusso. Bugatti Type 37. An automotive sweet shop of desirability; an historical snapshot of benchmark marques and models.
Several of the Australian-owned vehicles at Noosa would qualify for “the most discriminatingly curated selection” at Pebble Beach. That’s not my uneducated opinion, but that of Sandra Button, Chairperson of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
One of the Noosa organisers, Alliance Airlines boss Steve Padgett, arranged for Sandra and husband Martin (another expert judge) to fly in for the weekend. Having concours royalty on hand gave Noosa the ultimate validation.
For the first time in its history, Noosa’s famed Hastings Street was shut down for the spectacle. Shaded by pandanus trees on a tropical winter’s day, thousands of enthusiasts lined the glamorous shopping strip for the rolling show.
Esta historia es de la edición Issue 482 de Unique Cars.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Issue 482 de Unique Cars.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
SHANNONS HOT LAPS AT NÜRBURGRING
SHANNONS latest promotion has something any car enthusiast can only dream of.
READER RIDES
HAS THERE EVER BEEN A CONCEPT CAR SO UNLIKELY TO REACH PRODUCTION? THIS AUSSIE-BASED PLYMOUTH PROWLER IS PROOF THEY TRULY EXIST
GM'S JEWEL
ROB HAS DISCOVERED THERE’S MUCH MORE TO CADILLAC’S EARLY HISTORY THAN V16 ENGINES, TAIL FINS AND ELVIS PRESLEY’S PINK FLEET
UNDER THE WEATHER
RUST NEVER SLEEPS, SO AT LONG LAST GLENN TORRENS PROTECTS HIS BOMBODORE'S PATINA
CLASSIC CLUBMAN
MARK CURREY FOUND HIMSELF JUMPING IN THE PROVERBIAL DEEP END WHEN HE AND HIS BROTHER CRAIG TACKLED THE RESTO
MUSEUM OF VEHICLE EVOLUTION
NESTLED IN the Goulbourn Valley in Central Victoria, just south of Shepparton, is the Museum of Vehicle Evolution or MOVE for short. Recognised as one of the leading museums in the country.
TAKE A DASH!
DESIGN-FOR-MANUFACTURE GIVES NO THOUGHT TO THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK ON THE DAMN THINGS
The LITTLE BULL
LAMBORGHINI V12S WERE THE BEDROOM POSTER FAVOURITES, BUT SANT AGATA'S V8 URRACO IS THE LESSER-KNOWN BABY SUPERMODEL
SHELBY MUSTANG MARKET REVIEW
Carroll Shelby created the business model, followed in the early 1980s by Peter Brock, for selling modified versions of popular road cars with the blessing of, but no direct involvement from the manufacturer.
SNAKE CATCHER!
SHELBY AND FORD GO HAND IN HAND, BUT THE 69 GT MODELS WERE THE END OF THE ROAD AS CARROLL WAVED GOODBYE, TO THE BLUE OVAL BRAND