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Saturday
13 and Sunday 14 May, 10am to 5pm, at the museum, at the corner of First
Street and Second Avenue, Moorabbin Airport, Melways 87 G 4 Held
each Autumn, Wings & Wheels
is the museum’s special annual event that celebrates the many links
between aviation and automobiles. In this context, names like
Rolls-Royce, Daimler-Benz and A line-up of exotic machinery in store
1922 Delage boat-tail roadster
A
massive, beautiful brute of awesome proportions, and a very rare hunk of
machinery. Powered by a Hispano-Suiza OHC V-8 World War One aero-engine
of 18,500cc (that’s right, 18.5 litres!) that developed 190bhp, it
could do 140mph.
1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
Impressive was hardly the word for
it! Impeccably restored, it won the 1979 Concours d’Elegance at
1925
Bugatti Type35C
The
fabled Type 35 was the most successful racer of them
all during the inter-war years. Winners of more than a thousand racing
events, they were also quite manageable road cars. Ettore Bugatti
supervised the design of aero-engines in
1931-32 Invicta S Type
Invicta’s
best-known model, the low-slung S Type was a genuine 100mph car of
140bhp. Multiple Monte Carlo Rally and Brooklands winners, only about 70
were ever built, and every one of them with custom coachwork. One of the
most expensive British sports cars of its time, Invicta was effectively
killed off in 1933 by the Depression.
1935 Mercedes-Benz 540K cabriolet
The K in 540K stands for mit kompressor, ie. supercharged, as if the chromed exhaust pipes
didn’t make it clear enough. This stupendous carriage was actually the
personal transport of Ernst Heinkel, a pioneer of jet aircraft.
Meticulously restored to superb condition, this masterpiece is the
epitome of Teutonic grandeur in the 1930s.
DEVAUX
SPORTS COUPE
An Australian original, this
ultra-stylish coupe emulates the high style of the French carrossiers
of the 1930s. Combining styling elements of a custom-built Talbot-Lago
and the Bugatti 57SC
ALTA
RACING CAR
Powered by a mainly aluminium
supercharged engine of 1100cc, the prototype of this British racing car
was built in 1928. The car was at the forefront of design in its time,
featuring a pre-selector gearbox, and raced successfully at Brooklands
and
1910
M.A.B.
A remarkable and extremely rare
example of a European racing car from the early World War One era, it
was powered by a huge Liberty aero-engine with chain drive to the rear
wheels. Brass fittings were in abundance, even the crank handle.
ALFA
ROMEO RACER Museum
member Bill Prowse’s dazzling red racer is based on the running gear
of an Alfa Romeo 1750GT Berlina. An original design built in Adelaide , its taut lines are the very essence of a classic Italian racer in the
tradition of the fabulous Ferraris of the 1950s.
The
spectacular automobiles seen above are just a few examples of the
standard of exhibits to be seen at Wings
& Wheels. As in past shows, the cars will be complemented by a
variety of motorcycles, trucks, engines and a lot more, We think you’ll be surprised at the
variety and the standard of the exhibits. What’s more, many of these
are rare items of their kind you won’t see anywhere else. Supporting a worthy cause
Due to the extraordinary stature of these exhibits, there will be
a slight increase on normal admissions for this event (see below) and
the proceeds will go towards the restoration of the museum’s recently
acquired Beaufort bomber. This is a project of national significance,
and considering you get to see a fantastic display and view the aircraft collection as well, it’s a real bargain.
Incidentally, the Beaufort nose section, including the entire cockpit,
is fully restored down to the last detail and already on display.
If
you haven’t been to Wings &
Wheels before, you’ll find that the special exhibits are so
numerous and varied they’re displayed all around the museum’s
compound and inside the hangar, so keen photographers have the
opportunity to get some interesting and unusual shots.
Conducted Admittances
(applicable
to this weekend only): Adults $10; children, pensioners and students $5;
Family $20. Parking
No
problem at all; no meters, no time limits and no more than about 100
metres from the front entrance. Disabled access
There
are no steps at all on the museum premises, only a few shallow ramps.
Refreshments
Light
refreshments, hot coffee and tea with biscuits or cake, cold drinks and
confectionery are available. Please note: adverse weather conditions
may limit external displays The
museum is grateful to the owners of these vehicles for making them
available for exhibition Main photo: Chester McKaige. Other photos and text: Ted Thomasson
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