One of the Marysville’s oldest former ‘residents’ will help the bushfire-ravaged community get back on its feet at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

The stylish 1927 Packard 426 Roadster was part of the former Marysville Museum Collection and was one of a number of classic vehicles originally housed in one of the few buildings in the township to escape Black Saturday.

The Packard and 10 other special vehicles from the Museum had already been consigned to Shannons annual Melbourne Motor Show Auction on Monday March 9 and were moved into Shannons showroom before the fires. However around 10 other vehicles and many items of automotive memorabilia remained in the township and survived the blaze.

To support the community in its rebuilding, the Collection’s owner, Melbourne motoring enthusiast and businessman Dean Laidlaw, plans to give $20,000 from the proceeds of the Packard’s sale to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

The vehicle, which is in largely unrestored condition, was previously owned by a noted New South Wales Packard enthusiast and is being offered for sale unreserved. 
Because of its rarity and classic style, Shannons expect it to sell in the $30,000-$45,000 price range.

"Miraculously, the building in which the vehicles were housed was virtually untouched," said Mr. Laidlaw, who purchased the collection six months ago following the Museum’s closure to the public at the end of 2007.

"I was planning to re-stock it with vehicles from my own collection and to re-open it for car clubs and other groups, but now I think it has a better purpose in the immediate future."

He has since offered the building to the local authorities to use as a workshop or a command centre during the rebuilding of Marysville.

Other vehicles from the Marysville collection to go under the hammer in the auction include a stately 1909 Wolseley Siddeley 14HP ‘Roi De Belges’ Tourer, a 1915 Ford Model T Board Runner, a 1926 Packard Tourer, a 1928 Rugby Roadster Utility, a fully-restored 1934 British Chevrolet Tray Truck, a 1949 MG TC Special, a 1951 48-215 (FX) Holden and a 1960 Vauxhall Victor.

The Marysville cars are amongst 50 vehicles and 60 items of automotive memorabilia in the Shannons Auction.

All lots will be on display in the MEC’s Concourse area free to the public throughout the Motor Show from 5pm to 10pm Friday February 27, 10am to 10pm from Saturday February 28 to Sunday March 8 and from 10am until 6pm on Monday March 9. The auction starts at 2.30pm on Monday March 9.