The combined Rotary Clubs of Kiama and Gerringong organised the first Kiama Car Spectacular and Swap Meet at the Kiama Showground on the New South Wales, Australia coast at the weekend.
Ford Mustangs were the most numerous but the British contingent showed some unusual models; two Marina Coupes, one with the Australian option of a 2.6 straight six, a pair of locally built Mokes, Trevor Cowan’s Austin-Healey BN4, and Dave Jones brought a beautifully restored 1951 Austin A70 Hampshire from Vincentia.
E-type Jag’, Rolls-Royce, Sunbeam Alpine, Minors, MGs and a MKII Zephyr also flew the flag for the Poms, with a Triumph 2000 Mk1 fitted with a hot V8 motor from a Leyland P76 a particular standout.
The Americans on display included a lone Corvette, ’59 Cadillac convertible, ’68 Camaro, ’56 Chevrolet Nomad, twenties Dodge and Essex Tourers, thirties Ford, Mercury and Chrysler sedans and my favourite, the 1963 Studebaker Avanti. John and Lorraine Grimson’s immaculate bronze 1939 Buick Century Sedan attracted plenty of lookers as it was for sale.
Europeans were not so common, a few Citroëns, 2CV, BX, and two DS’s outnumbered the lone Renault 8, Mercedes 300SE Coupe, PV Volvo and the mint Lamborghini Urraco S that was another crowd favourite, but the red VW Beetle showing off a fully chromed engine ran it close.
Of course there were the local Fords including L.J.Wilson’s Teal Blue ’71 Fairmont Falcon XY and several Holdens. The Illawarra Early Holden Club put on a fine display with a trio of sixties sedans next to a bright orange example of the surfer’s favourite Sandman panel van and Graham Daley’s 1974 hot yellow LH Torana SLR 5000.
If size matters the winner must be the red 1987 Peterbilt truck named Al’s Hot Rod Hauler’ complete with a lowered and flamed ’41 GMC pickup on the back.
There were several swap meet stalls as well and an impressive number of both show cars and visiting public, so hopefully this will become an annual event raising funds for charities supported by the Rotary Club.
