Pristine and patina

SEVERAL EVENTS PLAY A SUPPORTING ROLE TO THE BRISBANE Truck Show and putting the trucks of yesteryear in the spotlight is the Heritage Truck Association Australia Inc. annual show.

Staged on the Ron Lynes Oval at the Rocklea Showgrounds, the 2023 show was an impressive trucking history display with exhibits as old as a 1914 Fiat 35hp which featured solid rubber tyres.

The feature theme of the 2023 show was the celebration of Mack Trucks Australia turning 60-years-old with a roughly 100-strong lineup of classic Mack models and recent special edition trucks lined up on the oval.

There were some rarities including Autocar, AEC, Oshkosh, Scammell and Diamond T among the ranks of well-represented

Kenworth, Mercedes-Benz, Mack and International marques.

The presentation of trucks at the HTA show ranges from sparkling concours condition to proudly bearing the scars of long working careers in tough Aussie conditions.

The Heritage Truck Association Australia Inc. was formed in 2002 to cater for the growing interest in historic trucks and the Rocklea show celebrates the contribution of the men and women who drove and lived with these great machines of the past.

The association’s mission is “keeping old wheels turning” and many of the trucks on show had been driven to Rocklea to offer a contrast to the latest technology on display at the Brisbane Truck Show. T&D