The show, sponsored by Shannons Insurance, starts tomorrow at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) and yesterday local residents got a preview of some of the classic machines that will be on show when a few of them took a spin down Peel St.

Organised by the Tamworth West Rotary Club, the two-day automotive spectacular is not only the biggest to be staged in the city, it’s one of the largest undercover motor shows in Australia this year. 

Due to demand for more exhibition space, all seats in the TRECC have been removed for the first time to fit the record number of entries.

There’ll be classic cars, motorcycles, trucks and tractors, alongside some truly unique pieces, such as a Rolls Royce Dart engine from Tamworth airport and a rare Packard-manufactured 

version of the famous V-12 Merlin engine that powered the likes of the P-51 Mustang, the Curtis P-40 Kittyhawk and de Havilland Mosquito. 

Courtesy of Ross Pay, of Scone, the engine is still on its original World War II wooden mounting frame.

There’s also an original 1950 Sampson race car that ran at the Indianapolis event in Indiana, plus several show cars that have graced exhibitions in top metropolitan events across eastern Australia. 

Among such a large collection though, only three of the vehicles have been shown at the Tamworth show in recent years.

Enthusiasts will also get a look at a locally-built commercial boat, locomotives from the Tamworth Miniature Railway and a large collection of model aircraft.

Alongside the old, however, will also be some brand new machines from local dealers, and trade stands will be selling everything from tyres and model cars, to clothing and detailing equipment. 

Now in its fifth year, the show opens from 9am to 5pm tomorrow and 9am to closing time at 3pm on Sunday.