Imagine it’s 1930. You point this 1925 Bean Tourer toward Alice Springs and simply set off.
No highway, no air-conditioning. Just a canvas hood, balloon tyres, a hand-throttle, and the open road. That’s exactly what two ambitious women did, long before most Australians would dream of tackling the outback by car.
But adventure was already in this marque’s DNA.
Around the same time, the famous “Sundowner” Bean – a 14 HP long-chassis tourer with a 2.3-litre side-valve engine – was making headlines.
In 1926, Francis Birtles and his co-driver drove it 5,500 kilometres from Darwin to Melbourne (and back again the next month). Then, confident in the Bean’s grit, Birtles shipped it to London and drove it solo the 26,000 kilometres home to Melbourne. It became one of the great endurance feats of its era, proving that these sturdy British cars were far tougher than their modest horsepower suggested.
This particular 1925 Bean 14 Tourer began life as a South Australian police car before being acquired by those two pioneering women, who used it as private transport and, later, as a tourist vehicle.
In the 1960s, it was rescued and painstakingly restored by motor trimmer and coachbuilder Bob Bean, who rebuilt everything he could by hand. His craftsmanship earned the car show awards and the No. 1 spot on the Alice Springs Vintage Car Club Register.
And yes – it seems only fitting that a Bean ended up in a Bean family.
After 15 quiet years off the road, Bob’s family relocated it to Tasmania and undertook extensive work to bring it back to life.
In 2026, this remarkable Bean will once again take its rightful place on display.
Now imagine circling Australia… in this Citroën
The Bean isn’t the only vehicle at this year’s show with outback grit in its bloodline.
The early 1920s were full of ambitious drivers tackling impossible journeys. One of the greatest happened in 1925, when a Citroën became the first car to circumnavigate Australia.
Dover-based builder Jacob Ellis has recreated this piece of history with his fully registered 1923 Citroën tribute vehicle. Built in honour of that original endurance run, it captures the spirit of the journey that proved a car could conquer the entire continent.
Seeing it alongside the Bean is a rare glimpse into the remarkable engineering (and courage) behind Australia’s earliest long-distance motoring feats.
If you love it, why not show it?
Vehicle pre-entries for the 2026 SeaRoad Devonport Motor Show are now open… and they’re completely FREE.
If it’s something you’re proud of, we want to see it in our 20th anniversary show.
Pre-entry not only secures your spot in the lineup, but also gives you and one passenger free admission on the day as a thank-you for helping make the show what it is.
For the browsers, the builders, and the curious
Thanks to the Veteran Car Club of Australia (North-West Tasmania), the 2026 Motor Show will include a dedicated Swap Meet area.
Stallholders will be lining Victoria Parade between James Street and Gloucester Avenue, offering everything from classic parts to rare finds and motoring memorabilia. It’s the perfect spot to uncover a hard-to-find component, pick up a project piece, or simply browse the treasures others have brought along.
Entry to the Swap Meet area is free for the public.
If you’re interested in hosting a stall, contact VCCA representative Doug Eastley on 0427 490 540 to book your spot.
Your 2026 SeaRoad Motor Show guide
When: Sunday 22 March 2026, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Where: Aikenhead Point, Devonport (northern end of Victoria Parade)
Vehicle entry:
- FREE pre-entry until 15 March
- Includes FREE admission for driver and one passenger
Gate entry:
- Adults: $15
- Children under 16 and student card holders: FREE
On the day: Enjoy food trucks, coffee vans, trade displays, a VCCA swap meet, family entertainment, rides and face painting (vendor charges apply).
More information: As we count down to show day, stay tuned for updates and announcements on our website and through Facebook and Instagram.
20 snapshots from 20 show years
#1 – The very first Motor Show had just 60 vehicles… and zero idea it would one day attract thousands.
#2 – 2017 holds the crown for our biggest turnout ever. 669 vehicles and almost 7,000 spectators poured in… not surprising, given the star of the show was the unforgettable Holden EFIJY concept car.
#3 – Each year, roughly 700 metres of temporary fencing is installed and dismantled. That’s enough to stretch from Aikenhead Point all the way to the Eli.
#4 – For a brief, glorious era (2011–12), the Motor Show even had its own Saturday night gala, with tuxes, dresses, and all.
#5 – 2018 delivered the show’s saddest moment when heavy rain forced a cancellation that wiped out a year of work overnight.
#6 – Before the DCC installed underground irrigation, a dedicated team of volunteers watered Aikenhead Point every day for around 6 weeks to keep the lawns green for the show.
#7 – Spectators and exhibitors consume a phenomenal 1,600 coffees on show day.
#8 – One of the biggest horsepower monsters to ever hit the Motor Show was the Envy XC Falcon in 2016… a 1977 hardtop pushing over 800 horsepower.
#9 – The first time the show cracked the 500-vehicle mark was in 2014, when 513 vehicles rolled in.
#10 – Since 2013, the Motor Show has produced its own calendar so enthusiasts can enjoy standout vehicles all year long.
#11 – It takes two committee members two full days to measure and mark the hundreds of parking spots you see on show day.
#12 – Over 20 years, the Motor Show has travelled through 4 different venues: Roundhouse Park, the paranaple Centre, Market Square and adjoining streets, and now Aikenhead Point.
#13 – 140 bikes rolled in for the 2022 show, making it the biggest motorcycle turnout in Motor Show history.
#14 – To make Motor Show magic, the Rotary Club of Devonport North volunteer committee handles thousands of emails, fields hundreds of phone calls, and holds around 100 meetings every year.
#15 – The biggest single-marque turnout ever was in 2017, with 233 Holdens proudly on display.
#16 – The Motor Show officially earned statewide recognition in 2012 with an Australia Day Community Event Award.
#17 – 2019 gave us our first indoor display. 12 cars went up the paranaple Centre’s lift, unknowingly rehearsing for the fully indoor, COVID-era expo to come 2 years later.
#18 – Around 80 volunteers roll up their sleeves on show day to bring the event to life.
#19 – Our longest serving committee member (and current Chair) is Rod Owers, who has dedicated an incredible 19 years to the Motor Show as part of the organising team.
#20 – Across 19 shows (2007–2025), the Motor Show has welcomed 7,526 vehicle entries. If not for the 2020 COVID cancellation and modified expo in 2021, we would’ve sailed past 8,000 already.
SeaRoad Devonport Motor Show is supported by
the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania