Motor Show Seeks 1925 Catalogue

MELBOURNE, Australia – November 26, 2008: Melbourne Motor Show is celebrating its 75th annual Show with a quest to find a catalogue from the very first International Motor Show in Melbourne in 1925.

A special reward package will be offered to anyone who can supply the Motor Show with the treasured first edition.

Motor Show director Russ Tyrie said 1925 was one of very few years for which the original catalogue was not safely on file.

"We have them for all but five of the 74 shows to date," he said.

"If you look at the catalogue from 1926, it's a treasure trove of automotive history.

"Of the 68 marques from 1926, only 12 remain in production, and only eight in Australia, so the automotive landscape has changed enormously during the life of the Motor Show.

"We had Alvis, Hudson and Minerva, Packard, Studebaker and Wolseley - all long gone."

Most of the first 29 Shows were staged in April and May, before moving in 1964 to its now-traditional timeslot in February-March.

The catalogues missing from the archives are 1925, 1932, 1934, 1935 and 1938.

Anyone who can help with a missing catalogue should email catalogue@motorshow.com.au.

Melbourne International Motor Show is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic).