From royal families to presidents and status symbols of their time, vintage car lovers, history buffs and engineering enthusiasts from around the country will be thrilled with the variety of vehicles on display at Palmer Motorama.
The Sunshine Coast’s newest tourist attraction located at the Palmer Coolum Resort on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, officially opened to resort guests and the public on Saturday, November 30, 2013, and houses 100 vehicles from Clive Palmer’s personal multi-million dollar collection.
Palmer Motorama museum curator Dylan Higgins said the museum will allow eager car buffs to feast their eyes on the classic and the classy, with a spectacular range of vehicles on display.
“We have been able to track many of the vehicles’ history back to previous and original owners and have also been able to map out their previous journeys, homes as well as some interesting stories from their past,” he said.
“We have one particular vehicle, a Bugatti Type 57 from the 1930’s, that has had several different owners and has travelled all over the world. Starting off in the Netherlands, this Type 57 spent some time in Mexico and then went on to travel all over Europe. We actually have a photo of the son of the original owner, who still lives in the Netherlands, with the car as a young boy.
“Another interesting vehicle, and a fact that comes with it, is the 1928 Horch 8-305 Tourer, which is the historic Audi forerunner. Founder August Horch started his own car company in 1899 and while his brand experienced strong growth, a bitter legal battle in 1909 forced Horch to register another brand name for his business – enter Audi.
“Everything about Palmer Motorama’s 1928 Horch 8-305 Tourer oozes style and grandeur; little surprise show that even back in the late 1920’s the model was aimed at an exclusive market of customers who wanted to show off its power.”
Mr Higgins said the 100 vehicles on display provide guests with the opportunity to view some of the rarest motorcars in existence, though not all are from a bygone era.
He said some vehicles hail from more recent times but are still rich in history, luxury and relevance.
“One example is the arctic white 1999 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph that was purchased specifically for display at Palmer Motorama,” Mr Higgins said.
“This stunning ‘Roller’ is a prime example of turn-of-the-century luxury that is not only fit for royalty, this particular ‘Roller’s first owner was a member of the Royal Family of Dubai and was ordered from new with a range of add-ons like a large sunroof, a rear seat entertainment system, chrome wheels and more.
“Starting at $USD220,000 the Silver Seraph was one of the most expensive cars of its day and only 1,570 were produced before Rolls Royce introduced the Phantom. This is just one of the 11 Rolls Royces on display at Palmer Motorama.”
Palmer Motorama at Palmer Coolum Resort, 1 Warren Road, Coolum Beach, opened to the public on Saturday, November 30, 2013 and will remain as a permanent exhibit at the resort.
Open to resort guests and the general public from 10.00am – 6.00pm, seven days a week, admission prices for one adult is $37.50, children (aged 5-14) $19.00 or a family pass (two adults and three children) for $100. For more information contact Palmer Coolum Resort on (07) 5446 1234.