Aside from the 25 Belletts we had at the Bay to Birdwood, there were about 1700 OTHER cars that were there as well...
Tell me this is not the most ridiculously awesome Landcruiser you've ever seen?
Attachment:
Toyota Landcruiser wagon.JPG [ 73.16 KiB | Viewed 9457 times ]
And this has got to be one of the nicest RT40 Coronas...
Attachment:
Toyota Corona.JPG [ 83.11 KiB | Viewed 9454 times ]
The old Corona Mark II six cylinder sedan. I used to get driven to school in one of these every day!
Attachment:
Toyota Corona Mark II sedan.JPG [ 111.1 KiB | Viewed 9456 times ]
Keeping on the Jap stuff, this Prince Skyline was a recent immigrant, bought from a Victorian enthusiast. How good does it look with those Hustlers?
Attachment:
Prince Skyline - 01.JPG [ 81.92 KiB | Viewed 9453 times ]
Attachment:
Prince Skyline - 05.jpg [ 116.26 KiB | Viewed 9455 times ]
This Nissan wagon was pretty cool as well. The strange arrangement of the roll-down rear window was a sight to behold!
Attachment:
Nissan Six wagon - 01.JPG [ 82.22 KiB | Viewed 9453 times ]
Attachment:
Nissan Six wagon - 02.JPG [ 100.6 KiB | Viewed 9446 times ]
Not many of these Crown-fighting Datsun 260C's still floating around...
Attachment:
Datsun 260C.JPG [ 101.97 KiB | Viewed 9449 times ]
There were a few S600 and S800s. This convertible was a bit of alright.
Attachment:
Honda S600 convertible - 01.JPG [ 114.63 KiB | Viewed 9447 times ]
Attachment:
Honda S600 convertible - 02.jpg [ 90.07 KiB | Viewed 9445 times ]
The British were out in force as always. Here are a few of my picks!
The Reliant Scimitar is always a head-turner. They should make more wagonoid sports cars! I'd buy one!
Attachment:
Reliant Scimitar - 01.JPG [ 118.25 KiB | Viewed 9446 times ]
Attachment:
Reliant Scimitar - 02.jpg [ 99.63 KiB | Viewed 9439 times ]
I had to take a photo of this Marina. I spoke to the lady and it was her daily driver for about 17 years, however the husband wanted to enter the Bay to Birdwood, so it was dusted off and given a fresh set of rubber! She said it didn't normally get that kind of nice treatment when it was her daily! My mate is restoring one of these, so the photo is really for him. And me. Coz it's so bad, it's cool!
Attachment:
Morris Marina TC coupe - 01.JPG [ 118.36 KiB | Viewed 9439 times ]
I took a photo of this MG B GT V8 as it's the exact same specification and colour as the first ever 1:43-scale model I got, a late-1980's 1:43-scale Dinky-brand MG B GT V8. I guess I thought MG's were cool, so a V8 one would have to be cooler! Uh, I dunno about that.
Attachment:
Mg b gt v8.jpg [ 108.1 KiB | Viewed 9438 times ]
Europeans were everywhere as well. Highlights include:
Darren and Brooke's BMW 2002. I know it has appeared on this forum before, but it's pretty cool so it can appear again.
Attachment:
BMW 2002 - 01 - Darren and Brooke's.jpg [ 96.44 KiB | Viewed 9437 times ]
Actually, it's not as cool as this BMW, the Isetta.
Attachment:
BMW Isetta 300 - 1954 - 03.JPG [ 85.59 KiB | Viewed 9431 times ]
I don't think I've ever seen one of these in the metal and had to hike up a considerable hill in mud and the rain to check it out closely, but it's the impossibly compact-yet-beautiful Opel GT.
Attachment:
Opel GT - 01.JPG [ 97.93 KiB | Viewed 9433 times ]
Attachment:
Opel GT - 02.JPG [ 102.39 KiB | Viewed 9435 times ]
Oddities rubbing doorhandles with Italian thoroughbreds...
Attachment:
Lamborghini Urraco - 01.JPG [ 90.03 KiB | Viewed 9430 times ]
Back to Earth.... this Humber Sceptre Mark III was really cool. Totally not available here so foreign to our eyes, but very much a pimped out Hillman Hunter in reality!
Attachment:
Humber Sceptre Mark III - 1971 - Hillman Hunter-based - 01.JPG [ 109.53 KiB | Viewed 9432 times ]
Attachment:
Humber Sceptre Mark III - 1971 - Hillman Hunter-based - 02.jpg [ 112.57 KiB | Viewed 9432 times ]
This TC Ford Cortina was just so PURPLE!
Attachment:
Ford TC Cortina.JPG [ 110.03 KiB | Viewed 9435 times ]
The Aussies are always out in force at the Bay to Birdwood and I love Aussie cars. Unsure why I got into Belletts - probably because nobody else loves them (well, I thought that until I was involved in a forum with 120 members!).
This R-series Valiant was one of about 1007 built. They sold out in about 5 minutes flat and were replaced by the less dramatic S-series which missed out on the crazy cat's eyes taillights and the spare wheel impression in the bootlid. Damn!
Attachment:
Chrysler R-series Valiant.JPG [ 87.14 KiB | Viewed 9429 times ]
There were some hot Toranas here this year.
The LH Torana G-Pack was a tart-up package for the manual 6 cylinder to sell stripes to baby boomers who weren't allowed or couldn't afford to buy an sporty Torana SLR. Now people are restoring them! Killer! Pictured here with the lowest of the low, a Lotus Europa.
Attachment:
Holden LH Torana G-Pack with Lotus Europa.JPG [ 121.28 KiB | Viewed 9433 times ]
The toughest Torana around is the Torana SS hatch with the full A9X-spec body kit. This looks tough-as, however methinks he found he had a bit too much power on the muddy field that was the Birdwood National Motor Museum grounds.
Attachment:
Holden LX Torana SS hatch.JPG [ 73.48 KiB | Viewed 9433 times ]
The Holden Torana A9X Nationals were held at the same time as the Bellett Nationals. Sounds like a good idea! However, it might have only taken one or two of them to equal the value of our field! These genuine Torana A9X's are selling for about $75-$125k depending on provenance. Wish I'd bought one already...
Attachment:
Holden LX Torana A9X sedan - 01.JPG [ 112.37 KiB | Viewed 9435 times ]
I love my oddball cars and this Leyland P76 Targa Florio is pretty oddball. It was immaculate too. The Targa Florio was built to commemorate the P76's success in a stage of the Targa Florio rally in Italy. It was also a convenient way to get rid of some sporty alloy wheels and steering wheels that had been made for the stillborn Leyland P76 Force 7V coupe.
Attachment:
Leyland P76 Targa Florio - 01.JPG [ 129.75 KiB | Viewed 9437 times ]
This Ford Fairmont GT (yes, Fairmont GT) was made in South Africa. They only sold the Aussie-designed Falcon there as a Fairmont, so a Falcon GT wouldn't have made sense to them. This is one of the few Fairmont GTs that hasn't been modified into a Falcon GT replica, which pretty much ruins them, I reckon. Be a Fairmont GT and be proud!
Attachment:
Ford Fairmont GT - South African import - 01.JPG [ 99.35 KiB | Viewed 9429 times ]
Attachment:
Ford Fairmont GT - South African import - 02.jpg [ 78.72 KiB | Viewed 9430 times ]
As usual, there are tonnes of Yank tanks, but they don't fit in my camera.
Here is a picture that demonstrates the true meaning of the words Yank and Tank.
Attachment:
Oldsmobile sedan and coupe - 02.jpg [ 106.3 KiB | Viewed 9429 times ]
Finally, here's a fully restored International fire engine! This is owned by forum member Bettybellett. How much Autosol would you use polishing up this sucker?
Attachment:
International AA150 fire truck - Leigh Ragless - 01.JPG [ 104.5 KiB | Viewed 9425 times ]
Attachment:
International AA150 fire truck - Leigh Ragless - 02.JPG [ 100.06 KiB | Viewed 9424 times ]
Whew I think that's about it.
Cheers,
Dave
