Almost every community has a museum. Some are huge, command a large budget and are run by hundreds of staff. Others exist on a shoestring, the doors kept open by a band of dedicated volunteers. They tell our stories and history through the objects they contain. But even the smallest museum can contain an astonishing number of things and it can be hard to know where to start. We ask museum curators this question: If you could only show us three things in your museum, what would they be? This week Gosford Classic Car Museum’s gives their answer.
#ThreeThings you must see
1. Amphicar 770
It’s hard to imagine that in modern times an amphibious car would be produced for sale to the general public – but in the 1960s, anything and everything seemed possible. The quirky West German made vehicle was launched at a New York car show in 1961 and was out of production by 1965. The bright yellow model at Gosford Classic Car Museum was first sold in 1966 for a $3395 but today is worth a whopping $125,000.
There were many reasons for it’s short lived popularity, including modest performance compared to other cars and boats of the time, and also because of the onerous maintenance requirements. After every operation in water, it required greasing at 13 different points – one of which meant the removal of a back seat.
But the ability to travel on both land and water clearly had appeal for some. US President Lyndon B Johnson (1963-1969) is among the best known owners of the type. It’s said he took some delight in frightening visitors at his Texas farm by driving them downhill in his Amphicar, directly into his property’s lake, all the while shouting that he had malfunctioning brakes. It’s not known how many of Amphicars were sold in Australia, but there was at least one. It was owned by a pharmacist at Ettalong Beach in NSW, Rod Radford who used it to deliver products around the Brisbane Water estuary. In those days the lack of bridges made an amphibious car a real asset.
2. Aussie Invader III
It looks like the love child of The Space Shuttle and Luke Skywalker’s Land Speeder and you have to wonder if it should really be called a “car”. Not something you’d whip down to the shops in to pick up some milk. Nevertheless, this rather astonishing vehicle holds pride of place at the museum.
It broke the world land speed record in 1996-7 with Australian drag racing daredevil, Rosco McGlashan the wheel. It recorded a top speed of 1026kmph in 1996, beating a previously recorded top speed of 1018kmph. Unfortunately the weather changed before McGlashan was able to make the return pass, meaning the record was not officially set. The vehicle was bought by the museum in 1916, reputedly for around $350,000.
3. Alvis TB 14 Roadster
When it comes to sheer beauty in design, it’s hard to go passed this 1950 glamour puss. It’s almost the first thing you see as you walk into the museum, on your right just near the door – a vision in pale blue. It’s a rare thing too – just 100 of them ever made and just 17 of them thought to remain in existence. The two seater made by the British Alvis company features heavily cut away door tops on the rear hinged doors and very long sweeping front wings and a fold down windscreen.
The radiator grille was a controversial design element being pear shaped with the bottom side bulges concealing the headlights which consequentially were a long way from the side of the car. The front sidelights were mounted in the bumpers. Both right and left hand drive versions were made. The car could reach 130 kmph but at a price of £1,275 was well beyond the reach of most. Another feature of this car – which would undoubtedly horrify road safety experts today – is the liquor cabinet concealed in the passenger door. At least it’s not on the driver’s side. The car would still set you back a pretty penny today – listed for sale at almost $150K back in 2016.
What we loved
Gosford Classic Car Museum proudly boasts it’s the largest car museum in the southern hemisphere – and as you wander the cavernous interior of its West Gosford premises and its 450 vehicles, it’s easy to accept that’s true. It’s not your average museum in as much as many of the exhibits are also for sale, but nonetheless, it’s impressive. Total value of the exhibits is over $70 million. Most of the vehicles in the collection have been bought in Australia, and the rest come from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. It’s a visual smorgasbord for car enthusiasts that’s for sure.
Even if you don’t know your cylinders from your crankshafts you will still appreciate the beautiful designs, the history and the nostalgia contained within its walls. You will marvel and the who’s who of car-makers set out before you and the luxury vehicles you are unlikely to own but can still appreciate. You can get ’round it in a couple of hours depending on how much stopping to admire you do.
Eating and shopping
For the motoring enthusiast there is a well stocked gift shop which may well give you heart palpitations. There is a dining room attached to the cafe near the front entrance. It serves up a retro-1950s style diner menu – and there is quite a lot to choose from. It’s an automotive enthusiast nostalgic dining experience with the food production housed in a 1964 Airstream kitchen café. Everything from the classic cheese burger, to the all American hotdog with fries and soda. You can get tea and coffee.
Visting Gosford Classic Car Museum
Where: 3-13 Stockyard Place, West Gosford NSW.
When: It’s open Wednesday to Sunday 9am-5pm.
Cost: Adults $20, seniors $18, concession $15, kids 5-14 $15, kids under 4 free, Family $55.
Contact: info@gosfordclassiccarmuseum.com.au
