2019 ACT Marques in the park

This weekend I planned to drive down to Canberra for the MB Spares and Service clearance sale.   Originally I was going to do a Saturday day trip, but I noticed that the Marques in the park show was running the next day.   From what I read this is a fairly large, but still informal show, with normally a few hundred cars in attendance.

I decided to make a weekend of it – stay down Saturday evening and then attend the show Sunday morning.   It worked out quite well – I attended the show from 9Am to 11:30 and then headed back to Sydney.    I stayed in the same hotel as the ACT German Car show.   The Woden hotel that offers reasonable prices and loads of secure undercover parking.   The show itself is held in a park in Belconnen near a lake.  A great spot and easy to get to.

Packard

The show was quite good – everything from a rare Bentley Continental (the real one, not the VW) to pre-war Packards to a beat up old Camry.    Some of the highlights for me were:

  • The 50’s Ford Convertible with the folding metal roof – 40 years before the SLK.   I saw a similar car the Concours D’Elegance of America.  Given how rare these cars are, it is great to see one in Australia.
  • A Chrysler 300H.  I prefer the rear end of the G, the H is still a very impressive automobile and the dashboard is almost out of the Jetsons.
  • The Pre-war Packards.   The 1927 model even had a spot to carry your motorcycle!
  • A lovely red Austin 3 Litre.  These cars are rarely seen in Australia.
  • A black Corvair Coupe.  The Coupe has such elegant lines.  One of the most innovative cars to come out of the United States in the post war era.
  • Seeing a 220SE Cabriolet parked next to its contemporary – a 230SL.
  • Getting a tour of all the clever touches of a 1967 VW Microbus camper.

If you’re in Canberra,  the Marques in the park show is well worth stopping by.   I’m glad I went and checked it out.   If I go again, I will drive my car into the display field.   This show is rather informal, you don’t need to be a club member to participate.    I like these informal shows.

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