National Motor Museum, Birdwood facts for kids
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| Established | 1964 |
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| Location |
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| Type | Automobile museum |
The National Motor Museum is a super cool place in the Adelaide Hills of Birdwood, South Australia. It's a museum all about the history of cars, motorbikes, and other vehicles in Australia! It used to be called 'The Old Mill' or 'Birdwood Mill' because of where it started. This museum is part of the History Trust of South Australia.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The National Motor Museum began in 1964 when two friends, Jack Kaines and Len Vigar, bought some old mill buildings. They opened it as a museum the very next year, in 1965. At first, it was known as the Birdwood Mill Pioneer, Art and Motor Museum.
Changes Over the Years
In 1970, a private company took over the museum. Then, in 1976, the government of South Australia bought it. Since 1982, the museum has been looked after by the History Trust of South Australia.
The Bay to Birdwood Event
In 1980, a group called the Federation of Vintage Car Clubs (SA) had a great idea. They asked Donald Chisholm, who was the museum's manager, to help start a classic car run. This event would be called the Bay to Birdwood. Mr. Chisholm agreed to help organize it. He also suggested creating a special trophy for the "Concours d'Elegance" award. This trophy was designed to look like the Shearer Steam Car, which is still on display at the museum!
What You Can See at the Museum
The National Motor Museum is Australia's biggest motor museum! It has more than 350 vehicles on display. You can see a huge and important collection of cars, motorcycles, and trucks. The museum is in a modern building right next to its original home, "The Old Mill."
The Bay to Birdwood Finish Line
The museum is also the exciting finish line for the yearly Bay to Birdwood event. In this event, owners drive their amazing vintage, veteran, and classic cars from the coast of Adelaide all the way to the Adelaide Hills. The journey ends at the museum, where a fun festival is held and trophies are given out.
Awesome Vehicles on Display
Here are just some of the cool cars and motorbikes you might see at the museum:
Cars and Trucks
- 1897 Peugeot Type 17 chassis
- 1899 Shearer Steam Carriage
- 1900 De Dion-Bouton Type E Vis-à-vis
- 1904 Ohlmeyer 'Jigger' Tourer
- 1907 Rover 6hp
- 1908 Talbot
- 1909 Merryweather Fire Engine
- 1910 Daimler Landaulette
- 1913 Newton Bennett 12 hp Tourer
- 1913 Renault Two Seater
- 1914 Dixi R12 Tourer
- 1919 Lincoln Six Tourer
- 1920 Palm Tourer
- 1921 Ford Model T
- 1924 Summit Tourer
- 1925 Straker Squire
- 1925 Rolls-Royce 20 hp coupe
- 1925 Hudson Super Six Phaeton
- 1926 Graham Brothers truck
- 1926 Garford flat top truck
- 1927 Packard 5.26 sedan
- 1928 Erskine Model 50 Coupe
- 1928 Dodge Series 128 'Fast Four'
- 1928 Ford Model A Tourer
- 1929 Essex Challenger sedan
- 1929 Austin 7 Tourer
- 1934 Ford V8 coupe utility (unrestored)
- 1935 Chevrolet delivery van
- 1936 Dodge LE 30 Drapers van
- 1936 Leyland Badger
- 1937 Chevrolet Standard sedan
- 1937 Morris 8/40 Series II sedan
- 1939 Willys Overland Model 77 sedan
- 1939 Diamond T Bus
- 1941 Ford One Tonne Utility
- 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster
- 1948 Hartnett prototype
- 1949 Hillman Minx
- 1952 Vanguard Overland custom rebodied off-roader
- 1952 Edith 197cc Villiers (unrestored shell)
- 1956 Land Rover Series 1 LWB Station Wagon (one of two driven by the Leyland brothers in the film Wheels Across a Wilderness)
- 1956 Rover Model 75
- 1958 Holden FC Special Station Sedan
- 1958 Land Rover Series 1 short wheelbase off-roader
- 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan
- 1959 Chrysler Royal AP2
- 1961 Toyota Tiara RT20 sedan
- 1962 Ford Anglia 105E
- 1963 Zeta Runabout
- 1963 Lightburn Zeta Sports
- 1963 Lightburn Station sedan
- 1965 Zeta Sports
- 1966 Ford Falcon 500 sedan
- 1968 Holden Brougham
- 1969 Holden Panel Van 'Midnight Express'
- 1971 Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T38 coupe racer
- 1972 Kenworth W902 truck
- 1974 Holden Kingswood
- 1974 Datsun 260Z
- 1974 Holden Torana supercharged drag car
- 1976 Holden Sandman
- 1976 Datsun 120Y sedan
- 1976 Rover 3500 P6B
- 1977 Holden Torana A9X hatchback
- 1977 Leyland Mini Moke
- 1978 Leyland Mini 1275 LS
- 1978 Leyland Mini panel van
- 1980 HDT Commodore Brock Group A
- 1980 Telecom Australia Phone Car
- 1982 Mitsubishi L300 people mover van
- 1983 Mitsubishi Magna sedan prototype
- 1983 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 wagon
- 1986 Holden Piazza Turbo coupe
- 1991 Holden Caprice
- 1996 Mitsubishi Verada wagon test mule
- 1998 Toyota Prius sedan
- 2000 Chevrolet Lumina sedan (based on Holden Commodore)
- 2000 Holden ECOmmodore sedan (VX) concept car
- 2000 Toyota WiLL Vi
- 2004 Pontiac GTO (based on Holden Monaro)
- 2008 Mitsubishi 380 Series III Premier sedan
Motorbikes
- 1904 Minerva
- 1910 Matchless
- 1918 Favourite
- 1920 Harley Davidson Sport Twin
- 1923 Matchless H-2 with side chair
- 1923 Waratah
- 1927 Indian Scout
- 1930 BSA S30
- 1936 Brough-Superior Model SS80
- 1948 Vincent Series B Rapide
- 1949 Velocette Mk8 KTT
- 1960 Mazda Three Wheeler
- 1964 Honda Monkey CZ100
- 1966 BMW R60/2
- 1969 Benelli 250cc racer
- 1972 Honda CB 750
- 1981 Kawasaki KLX250B
- 1983 KMZ Dnepr Custom Cruzer replica
More to Explore
- List of automobile museums
