Thousands of motoring enthusiasts descended on the Melbourne Showgrounds over the weekend for the inaugural Motors & Masterpieces automotive festival, with a brilliant 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL E9 claiming overall Best of Show honours from a field of over 200 premium vehicles spamming from the vintage to modern supercars.

Owned by Max Roberts, the ‘Batmobile’ stood out from the field, resplendent in its BMW white, blue and red livery.

Among the other major winners of the event, presented by the Vehicle Transport Group, the Spirit of Motors & Masterpieces award was presented to a magnificent 1910 Willys Overland Model 40, the result of a multi-generational restoration from the Johnson family.

Contrasting the pioneering Willys, a multi-million-dollar 2020 McLaren Speedtail was a showstopper in being awarded the People’s Choice Award.

The subject of preservation versus restoration was at the forefront of discussions throughout the event’s panel sessions, with John Gove’s 1991 Maserati Biturbo Spyder claiming best preservation, while Christine and Alan Cini’s brilliant 1973 Holden Torana GTR XU-1 earned best restoration.

At the event, vehicles were split into ten distinct categories, each focusing on a specific time period, subject matter, or geographical origin, showcasing the distinct styling and engineering prowess of generations of motoring evolution.

In Swinging London, a sparkling 1963 Bentley Continental Flying Spur was top of the pops, while a 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT was the toast of La Dolce Vita, featuring the best of post-war Italian motoring.

Meanwhile, in Continental Classics, a 1970 Mercedes Benz 280SL beat the best representatives from mainland Europe.

An immense 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II was the best of breed in the California Dreaming division, while an eye-catching 1971 Toyota Celica GT claimed the Tokyo Lights class.

Australia’s finest came out to play in Great Southern Land, with a 1971 Ford Falcon XY GT taking home the honours.

The Golden Age of pioneering vehicles was won by a magnificent 1924 Bentley 4 ½ Litre Vanden Plas Tourer, while the standout from the High Society field was a spotless 1931 Delage D8S.

In the Monaco Glitz division for modern supercars, a 2004 TVR Tuscan Speed Six S Mk I was judged top of the class, while in Chequered Flag, celebrating the motorsport breed, a 1968 Brabham BT23E stood on top of the podium.

Motorcycles were also well represented, with a fine field assembled for the event.

Best of Show honours went to a brilliant 1972 MV Agusta 750S, while the best European bike was a 1973 Laverda 750 SF2, and the best American machine was a 1934 Indian Chief.

The best of British was judged to be a fine 1972 Norton Commando, while the best preservation example was awarded to a 1975 Benelli 750 SEI.

The Lennox St. Gallery Art and Photography competition attracted hundreds of entries, with $10,000 in cash prizes split between the various winners.

In the photography division, Simon Anderson won by depicting a 1932 Ford Roadster Hot Rod, while Mark Walsh’s garaged Citroën DS was highly commended.

The painting and sculpture section attracted diverse entries, with Lewis Thomas’s painting of ‘Bluebird on Lake Eyre’ winning from Terry Lawrie’s ‘Headlight Hornet’ coffee table lamp.

Other event highlights included a significant display of car club vehicles, while the event kicked off with a VIP cocktail party on Friday night.

Further details on the event can be found at www.motorsandmasterpieces.com.