National Motor Museum

Hood ornament from Austin A40 Devon. Now usually only fitted to luxury cars, hood ornaments were once fitted to most cars and were often beautifully sculpted. They began to be phased out in the 1960s as they posed a safety risk in the event of a crash.

This radiator is from a Peugeot Bébé (or Baby), a popular car from the early 1900s. Before automotive manufacturing took off in Australia, most cars on our roads were imported from France, Great Britain and the United States.

The Honda VFR 750R is a high performance Japanese sports motorcycle, with a top speed of almost 250 km/h. Only tuned versions of production motorcycles can compete in the World Superbike Championship, so Honda built a limited run of VFR 750Rs for public sale.

Seat from a 1921 Ner-A-Car Model A. This unusual motorcycle had many innovative features like its low-slung chassis, which protected riders from dirt from the road. Riding a motorcycle in regular clothing was a welcome change in the 1920s, so it was marketed as a low-cost alternative to the comfort of a motorcar.

Handlebars from a 1926 Harley Davidson JD Board Track Racer. By the early 1920s, Milwaukee-based Harley Davidson had become the biggest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. This Harley Davidson JD was used for board track racing, a competition where motorcycles raced along oval tracks with wooden flooring.

Wheel from a 1965 Benelli 250cc Racer. Italian manufacturer Benelli produced a range of successful racing motorcycles. This is a replica of the racer with which Australian racing champion Kel Carruthers won the 1969 MotoGP World Championship.

Shell Oil Can, 1920s-30s. Collectable objects from the petroleum industry, like fuel pumps, oil and petrol cans, enamel and tin signs and road maps are known as ‘petroliana’ and have an avid following among collectors of automobilia.