THE National Automobile Museum of Tasmania's new feature display - Enthusiasts' Choice: Evolution and Beyond - offers a unique glimpse at contrasting attitudes towards classic vehicles.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For some, originality is valued above all else, and the faded patina of age is an irreplaceable asset.
Others lovingly restore their vehicles to better-than-new condition.
Then there are the enthusiasts to whom the original vehicle is merely a starting point for an entirely unique design.
The new display reflects this by showing original vehicles alongside their modified counterparts.
Some of history's most famous race and rally cars resulted from individuals tweaking and modifying ordinary vehicles, while one-off coachbuilt wonders have often influenced standard design.
In the spirit of diversity in the classic car world, the display features five very different vehicles.
The EH Holden featured in the display is one of the most sensational modified cars ever built in Tasmania, having won awards at some of Australia's most renowned custom and modified car events.
The MGA on show boasts a 3.5-litre V8, which was never originally offered by the company.
The "Alfabino", meanwhile, is a unique convertible coupe with a moulded fibreglass body. Based on the original Fiat 500, the Alfabino features Alfa Romeo running gear, and represents an extremely high standard of modification.
At the centre of the display is the fabulous Aston Martin DBSZ, which is a modern, handcrafted, completely re-bodied interpretation of the legendary Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato.
Two superb cafe racer motorcycles complete the display. The classic BMW R90S features alongside a Triton motorcycle, the Triumph-Norton hybrid, mostly privately built during the 1960s.
