36 replies to this topic

[GeoffR]

A few pics from the NAMT today, including a couple of collectible Falcons. I had never previously heard of the silver Gallaher Falcons ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tsrwright]

I don't get it; how can it be the national motor museum of Tasmania?

[Ray Bell]

Gallaher cigarettes had a number of those XR Falcon GTs in silver as rep's (or executives'?) cars...

Yes, Terry, there's also a 'National Motor Museum' (or similar) at Inverell... and a proud sign on an old Bedford beside the highway at Armidale saying one will be on that site.

The sign is starting to fade.




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Edited by Ray Bell, 30 March 2017 - 23:13.

[GeoffR]

I don't get it; how can it be the national motor museum of Tasmania?

 

The Tasmanian museum was established in 1987 by Geoff Smedley. The Bathurst National museum was established in 1988, maybe the Tasmanian one was the first National museum??

 

Apologies for the typo in the subject heading, should be 'Automobile' .....

Edited by GeoffR, 30 March 2017 - 09:43.

[Tim Murray]

Apologies for the typo in the subject heading, should be 'Automobile' .....

My fault, Geoff - now sorted. Sincere apologies.

[GeoffR]

My fault, Geoff - now sorted. Sincere apologies.

 

Thanks Tim, my clumsy fingers to blame though ......

[Ray Bell]

Now we're being more specific...

The Bathurst museum is the 'National Motor Racing Museum'.

The Inverell museum is the 'National Transport Museum'.

[DanTra2858]

Ray is the Inverell Museum run by Ron Thorpe?

[Dick Willis]

no

[Ray Bell]

It's run by some kind of committee, I would guess...

The local Council would have a part (they own the property) and the Car Club too.

Ron Thorp certainly had a part in the establishment as a Car Club member. He has, or had when I last spoke to him about it, about a dozen cars which he rotates between the museum and his hangars at home.

[Lee Nicolle]

Dont forget the oldest,, National Motor Museum at Birdwood ! I will be there next weekend, 9/4 for the Rock and Roll Rendevous. Always a very good day with lots of cars and people out.

 

 The silver XR GT as well as the SA registered gold one almost certainly came from Garry Watson here in Adelaide who died a few years back.

He had 4 or5 XR GTs All genuine.

The one he drove regularly [gold] was a very hotted up one and it screamed. 8500 all the time. The rest were all basically stock.

If The Gallagher silver one is from him it is genuine and immaculate

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 30 March 2017 - 21:41.

[cooper997]

The Launceston museum is a great setup that the Tasmanian car enthusiasts that run it can be proud of. I visited in 2005, and if I can find my photos I might try to add here.

 

Assuming the silver XR Falcon GT is the real deal, it should be one of around 8 cars built for Gallaher Tobacco with red stripes in place of the mainly gold cars black. They also had 'GT' signage on the doors, actually to promote Gallaher's GT branded cigarettes of the era. It was of course the second (and final) year the company sponsored the 500 mile race at Bathurst.

 

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

There is a lot of Ford 'folklore' about the XR GT colours...

Yes, the majority were gold, but Gallaher were not the only buyer to get a silver car if I recall correctly.

[Lee Nicolle]

Stephen is correct, all XR GTs were gold. Except the Gallagher silver ones and reputedly a white one for Geoghans. Though some 'experts' say that it was not a GT or a gold one painted white. 

And no I have no idea, but do know quite a few GT tragics.

They were all 289 manual,, except for one auto. Though I do believe that car has been converted in its early life.

[Ray Bell]

The Firth/Gibson car was green, there was a red one for Bob Jane, the Geoghegans and Greg Cusack had white...

The Great Race book says there were 12 cars for Gallaher in silver.

All of these were from the factory.




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Edited by Ray Bell, 31 March 2017 - 06:00.

[tsrwright]

I still reckon that while you can have a national motor museum you can't have a national motor museum of Tasmania. This appropriation of the term 'national' is phony. Brits have the same problem I believe.

[Paul Hamilton]

I still reckon that while you can have a national motor museum you can't have a national motor museum of Tasmania. This appropriation of the term 'national' is phony. Brits have the same problem I believe.

 

I agree with your logic, Terry, but I think the case was lost many years ago when one of the most prominent art galleries in Australia was called The National Gallery of Victoria.  I suspect that probably predates federation but neither Tasmania or Victoria were ever independent nations!! 

[SJ Lambert]

Well, after all, Melbourne is just a suburb of Launceston!

[Ray Bell]

So the coach captain said when delivering his speech to the journos arriving on a flight from Melbourne...

Describing how the Batman expedition went to scout out and acquire Port Phillip Bay's lands departed George Town to find a place to make a settlement there, he proudly proclaimed, "We, gentlemen, are your ancestors!"

And according to Geoff. they needed to register a name in a hurry and one of his friends in the deal came up with the present title.

[GeoffR]

When I posted these pics I never intended that it would become a discussion as to which museum has the rightful title to the word 'National', it was just appreciation of some classic cars.

 

And according to Geoff. they needed to register a name in a hurry and one of his friends in the deal came up with the present title.

 

I assume that Ray is quoting here Geoff Smedley, well known Tasmanian motorsport identity and one of the the founders of the LAMT.

[GeoffR]

A few more pics from the NAMT .....

 

 

 

 

 

[Ray Bell]

Yes, I did mean Geoff Smedley...

It was a good opportunity for me to catch up with him. A great engineer and thinker, a proper gentleman.

[Lola5000]

GeoffR any photos of the Silver Cloud Rolls Royce ? or the alfa Romeo GTV?

[Lee Nicolle]

A few more pics from the NAMT .....

 

 

 

 

 

I presume the Nascar in the background belongs to the Talledaga Tasmanian, Robin Best?

[GeoffR]

GeoffR any photos of the Silver Cloud Rolls Royce ? or the alfa Romeo GTV?

 

Sorry Lola, I was operating on limited camera battery life, saw the Rollers and the GTV but no pics unfortunately  

[GeoffR]

I presume the Nascar in the background belongs to the Talledaga Tasmanian, Robin Best?

 

Yes, the Nascar is the ex late Robin Best car

[DanTra2858]

Realy who cars about the name, the thing that has been forgotten is that it is a establishment that houses a WONDERFULL selection of cars & if you climb the stairs to the first floor there is a extreamly wonderfull selections of Motorbikes.

Do you go to look at the name of the place or the contents that it houses?

[timbo]

Realy who cars about the name, the thing that has been forgotten is that it is a establishment that houses a WONDERFULL selection of cars & if you climb the stairs to the first floor there is a extreamly wonderfull selections of Motorbikes.

Do you go to look at the name of the place or the contents that it houses?

And just to confuse the issue further, the motor museum at Birdwood Sth Australia, is called the National Motor Museum.

I am currently planning a UK holiday after I visit the Isle of Man Classic TT in August this year, and I will just happen to stumble across the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, and also the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, in Warwickshire. As DanTra says, don't worry about the name so much, as just give the place a visit. Actually, given the number of motor and aircraft museums I will be visiting, I may have to copy a few photo's of countryside England off the internet and pretend I have been looking at the scenery during my UK tour just to keep the family happy.

Edited by timbo, 01 April 2017 - 04:49.

[Lee Nicolle]

I too will be having a look at some museums mid May to mid June. 

If anyone has suggestions for some good ones I wish to know, as I am sure Timbo is too.

[Lola5000]

Sorry Lola, I was operating on limited camera battery life, saw the Rollers and the GTV but no pics unfortunately  

Roller? for a cricket pitch or a Rolls Royce Motorcar ?

[GeoffR]

Roller? for a cricket pitch or a Rolls Royce Motorcar ?

 

Ha ha, shouldn't use slang should I!   Yes, there were Rolls Royce motor cars there.

[Lola5000]

Ha ha, shouldn't use slang should I!   Yes, there were Rolls Royce motor cars there.

All in fun..thank you for the photos on my list next time in Tasmania.As is the wooden boat festival.

[tsrwright]

I agree with your logic, Terry, but I think the case was lost many years ago when one of the most prominent art galleries in Australia was called The National Gallery of Victoria.  I suspect that probably predates federation but neither Tasmania or Victoria were ever independent nations!! 

 

 And then we have the Australian Museum in Sydney and fairly recently the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

[Ray Bell]

There is, however, some claim to rights for the one in the National Capital...

Which dates back to about 1985. Yeah I guess that's 'fairly recent'.

[GeoffR]

As is the wooden boat festival.

 

Speaking of wooden boats ........

 

[Lee Nicolle]

All in fun..thank you for the photos on my list next time in Tasmania.As is the wooden boat festival.

Decent wooden boat festival at Goolwa SA in about Febuary.

[terry mcgrath]

A number of Ian Cummins cars

If any car museum was to be National it would have to be Birdwood