68 New Zealand Classic Car | themotorhood.com
T
he late Edward Douglas-Scott-
Montagu, third Baron Montagu
of Beaulieu, did more than open
a motor museum, pursuing a
lifelong passion for automobiles
and doing much to preserve older cars and
encourage their following. His enthusiasm
was obvious when I met him on his first visit
to New Zealand in 1964.
In what has been a year of significant
anniversaries, in 2019, the National Motor
Museum, Beaulieu, formerly the Montagu
Motor Museum, celebrates 60 years since
first opening its doors — although a handful
of cars were displayed in Palace House
from 1952.
The outstanding automotive collection
housed at Beaulieu near the New Forest in
Hampshire stands as a worthy tribute to
Lord Montagu, one of the most controversial
and iconic aristocrats of the 20th century.Edward Montagu had a full life. His passions
included British heritage, music, sport,
and film. He was also a member of the
House of Lords for more than half a century.
Lord Montagu was a great motoring man,
and his extensive world travels included
three visits to New Zealand in support of
the cause of historic motoring. Photographer
Jack Inwood and I joined several vintage
and veteran car enthusiasts at Auckland’s
Whenuapai airport to welcome him in March- On this debut visit, he wanted to bring
“the international side of the movement”
to New Zealand, and said that, despite our
isolation, there was no reason for clubs here
to feel out on a limb. He was impressed by
the claim that New Zealand and Australia
had more vintage cars per capita than any
other country.
Lord and Lady Montagu opened a section
of the Museum of Transport and Technology
(Motat) at Western Springs in Auckland, gave
lectures in main centres, and attended vintage
and veteran rallies in Palmerston North
and Taumarunui.
Montagu returned the following year with a
1913 Prince Henry Vauxhall to win his class
in the sixth International Vintage Car Rally,
which included the newly built–but–still
unsealed Haast Pass, connecting Hokitika
and Wanaka. Len Southward was the overall
winner in his 1912 Buick. The rally saw a
remarkably robust 288 cars from a total entry
of 294 complete the 2090km journey in
Christchurch.
This was New Zealand’s first international
rally sanctioned by the Fédération
Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA),
the first down-under FIVA rally, one of the
earliest to be held outside Europe, and a
coup for the organizers. Word spread, and, in
1972, for the second international rally heldMOTORMAN
Words and photos: Donn AndersonHISTORIC
COLLECTION
THAT FOUND A
STATELY HOME
LORD MONTAGU COMBINED HIS
LOVE OF CLASSIC CARS AND
HIS HISTORIC HOME IN HIS
REINVENTION OF CLASSIC CAR
MUSEUMS