16 June, 2026:
A prized vehicle from Clive Palmer’s renowned private collection has taken out two major awards at RACQ MotorFest 2026, held at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Sunday 14 June.
The 1938 Mercedes 540K was named winner of the Veteran/Vintage Classic Pre-1960 category before going on to secure the Grand Prize Judges’ Choice Award. The awards add to a growing list of accolades for Mr Palmer’s collection, which includes more than 1,000 historic cars, motorcycles and motoring artefacts spanning more than a century of automotive history.
Mr Palmer said the recognition reflected the dedication required to preserve and maintain historically significant vehicles. “These cars are an important part of motoring history and it is pleasing to see them recognised by fellow enthusiasts and judges who appreciate their significance,” he said. “Every vehicle has its own story and represents a unique chapter in the development of automotive engineering and design.”
The award-winning Mercedes was among hundreds of vehicles on display at RACQ MotorFest, one of Queensland’s largest annual gatherings of classic, vintage and collector vehicles. The RACQ MotorFest success comes ahead of the upcoming Palmer Motorama Gold Coast Concours Display to be held at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre from June 26-28.
The exhibition will feature some of the collection’s most significant vehicles, including rare Bugatti, Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz models drawn from one of the world’s largest private automotive collections. It also comes as work continues on Mr Palmer’s planned automotive museum near Lowood, west of Brisbane. The museum, which is set to become Australia’s largest, will eventually house more than 1,000 cars and 300 motorcycles, preserving an extensive collection of motoring history for future generations.
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Video Above: The Somerset region will be home to Australia’s biggest car museum, after the council approved a development application by controversial businessman Clive Palmer.
The mining billionaire abandoned plans to build a huge vintage car and motorcycle museum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. However, Somerset Regional Council has approved the Museum for West Road, Patrick Estate, just south of Lake Wivenhoe.
The Museum proposal includes 923 car display bays, 278 motorcycles, 10 short-term accommodation units, caretaker’s dwelling, food kiosk, cafe, gift shop and workshop. That would make it Australia’s largest car museum.
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