By Jeremy Cook
An eclectic mix of some of southern Queensland’s most timeless vehicles rolled into the Stanthorpe on Saturday for the now-annual Monster Motor Show and Swap Meet.
Organisers estimated approximately 105 cars rolled through the gates of the Stanthorpe Showgrounds alongside old tractors, trucks and engines.
Saturday’s event marked the second year in which the Stanthorpe Historic Vehicle and Machinery Group had hosted the event but the first time the swapping component had been introduced. The group’s secretary Gary Ellis said attendance was higher than 2023, saying the swap meet “was received quite well”.
“Even though we only had maybe half a dozen to 10 swappers, the ones that did come along, they said they really enjoyed it,” Mr Ellis said.
“Motorbike numbers were down a bit this year, but again something to work on for next year to try and get the bike fellas to get excited and come along.”
Mr Ellis said car owners rolled in from all over south east Queensland and northern New South Wales.
“Quite a number of those people that come down from the coast in Brisbane, they actually drive past other car shows that are happening closer to them because they like coming to ours,” he said.
“It’s because of the nice, friendly country atmosphere and probably the eclectic mix of vehicles on display.”
Unsurprisingly a vintage vehicle lover himself, Mr Ellis’ 1947 Humber Super Snipe spent the day parked proudly on display by his side at the admin table.
Mr Ellis marveled at the versatile mix of vehicles on display, something which he said punters were really drawn to.
“One of the things they really liked [was] the really sort of eclectic mix of vehicles that were there,” he said.
“It’s not just the usual Australian Holden, falcon, valiant American muscle brigade. It [was] a wide broad spectrum.”
Parked among the diverse contingent of vehicles was the historic Wikner Ford Special which its owner Allora man Doug Partington proudly displayed for punters to admire.
Other vehicles included a 1936 Armstrong Siddeley Sedanca De Ville, thought to be the only one of its kind in Australia, a Ford Prefect, a Lotus Europa and a Nash Metropolitan among others.
Mr Ellis said plans were already underway to make next year’s event even bigger.
