The stage is set for the inaugural Motors & Masterpieces automotive festival, which opens tomorrow at the Melbourne Showgrounds and runs until Sunday afternoon.

Held largely indoors, the event opens to the public from 10am to 5pm daily, with visitors to be greeted by over 200 brilliant machines spanning 120 years of automotive change, from the vintage through to modern supercars.

Starting with a 1904 Fabrique Nationale motorcycle, the premium collection covers generations of engineering and styling evolution, culminating in 2024 build modern marvels such as the incredible Porsche 911-based Singer DLS.

At the festival’s heart will be cars and motorcycles displayed along ten key theme lines, with concours and outright Best in Show honours set to be hotly contested.

The showcase will also include special displays focusing on the ‘Wheels of the Silver Screen’, bringing back memories of James Bond, Magnum PI, Knight Rider, Mad Max, Bullitt, Back to the Future and more.

Elsewhere, 110 years of Maserati is celebrated, while a Rolls Royce and Bentley showcase will delight enthusiasts.

Leading off the ten event classes, Swinging London covers the best of British motoring, with a dozen marques represented from AC to Sunbeam, with models ranging from the Jaguar E Type to the Mini Cooper and beyond.

Hearts will race in La Dolce Vita, which includes half a dozen of Italy’s best-known makes, including a sensational array of Ferrari and Lamborghini’s finest, from the Testarossa to the Countach, Diablo and beyond.

Continental Classics will be home to brilliant examples from Germany and France, focusing on the best of Porsche and Mercedes Benz supported by BMW, Renault and Messerschmitt.

In Monaco Glitz, the modern supercar comes to the forefront, with a tasty selection of premium models from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Porsche and more.

Highlights will include a McLaren Speedtail, a Ferrari Enzo plus the Australian public premiere of the Lamborghini Revuelto.

Big American iron stars in California Dreaming, with entered vehicles covering Detroit’s hero cars, including a range of highly desirable examples from Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Chrysler and Lincoln.

In Great Southern Land, Australian classics, such as rare examples from Holden and Chrysler, will be joined by oddities such as the Goggomobile Dart!

For Japanese Domestic Market lovers, the Tokyo Lights category will feature shining examples from Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Datsun, Prince and Mazda.

The Golden Age will celebrate the foundation days of motoring, with featured vehicles dating back to a 1910 Willys Overlander Model 40, alongside other stunning automotive pioneers.

The next step in the evolution of the automobile is covered in High Society, with stunning pre-1950 examples from marques such as AC, Singer, Plymouth, DeSoto, Bentley, Delage and more.

Rounding out the classes, Chequered Flag combines a range of competition-bred machinery, from modern GT racers to a classic Brabham open-wheeler.

A range of specials will also be on show alongside a selection of barn find and preservation samples.

For two-wheeled enthusiasts, the event will feature machines dating over a century and cover the breadth of the motorcycle world.

Expect fine examples from Honda, Laverda, Ducati, Indian, Fabrique Nationale, Norton, Benelli, Kawasaki, Triumph, MV Agusta and more.

The event will also feature a significant presence from car clubs, with a wide array of displays from various marques and interest groups each day.

In addition to the array of assembled machinery, the event will showcase the flair of the Australian automotive community’s best creative talent by collaborating with Lennox St. Gallery for the Art and Photography Competition, with $10,000 in prize money on the line across the two categories.

Also, the event will feature a series of panel discussions encompassing a range of topics pertinent to the classic car and motorcycle movement, as hosted by Glenn Ridge.

Complimenting the assortment of displays and activities, numerous allied trade stands will feature key products and services.

Entry tickets for the event and further information are available at www.motorsandmasterpieces.com.

Motors & Masterpieces Stage Schedule

Friday, November 22^nd

11:00am – Preservation vs Restoration

1:00pm – State of the Classic Car Market

Saturday, November 23rd

11:00am – The Future of Australia’s Historical Vehicle Sector

12:00pm – State of the Classic Car Market

1:00pm – Preservation vs Restoration

3:00pm – The Future of Australia’s Historical Vehicle Sector

Sunday, November 24^th

11:00am – Preservation vs Restoration

1:00pm – State of the Classic Car Market

2:00pm – Art & Photography Competition Awards

2:15pm – Concours Awards Presentation