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Up to 900 classic and historic American vehicles, from Superbirds and Shelbys to
Cadillacs and Corvettes, will converge on Flemington Racecourse for the annual
Shannons American Motoring Show on Sunday April 6.
Although open to all vehicles manufactured in North (and South) America, this
year’s featured vehicle is the Model T Ford – ‘the car that put the world on
wheels’ – which celebrates its 100th anniversary worldwide in 2008.
Henry Ford’s built his first Model T for sale on October 1, 1908, when it
became the first low-priced, mass-produced automobile with standard,
interchangeable parts. Equipped with a 15kW, four-cylinder engine, it had a top
speed of about 72km/h, weighed 543kg and gulped fuel at the rate of 22
litres/100km.
The moving assembly line for the Model T revolutionised manufacturing and
more than 15 Million Model Ts had been sold by the time production of the model
formally finished on May 26, 1927.
Model T Fords also played a major role in opening up inland Australia early
this century and some spectacular variants will be seen in the Shannons American
Car Show.
The Show will also commemorate the Centenary of the founding of General
Motors in 1908 with the acquisition of Buick and Oldsmobile. On the local front,
it will celebrate the founding of the Lincoln Mercury Club.
Displays by many car clubs will be another major feature of this year’s Show,
which will be held in the Nursery Car Park (entry via Epsom Road), with gates
open for display cars from 8.30-11.00am and for spectators from 10.00am. The
Show closes at 3.30 pm
Trophies will be awarded for a number of categories, including for ‘Car of
the Show’, which will be made to pre-entered competitors only. Car of the show
entries will be parked in a special reserved display area.
An entry fee of $20 will apply and entries can be made prior to the Show or
on the day up until 9.30am. An entry form can be downloaded from the website www.aomc.asn.au or by phone from the Show’s
enquiry number (03) 9890 0524.
Cars for sale are welcome to display in a specially-designated area.
Admission costs $10 for display cars and spectators, with children free.
Club Displays are welcomed and space can be booked by contacting via Philip
on (03) 9807 9096.
The Jump Devils Rock and Roll band will perform, while there will be trade
and food stalls.
Show organisers are asking visitors to leave their dogs at home.
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