Classic Motorcycle Mecca is the latest motorcycle exhibit to open in the South, and comprises more than 300 motorcycles, including a rare Ducati Desmo 750 Super Sport, one of only four in New Zealand. It opened on Wednesday last week.
Collection manager Dave Roberts oversaw the collection in Nelson before it was moved to Invercargill to become a part of Transport World. It was one of the largest collections of classic motorcycles in the southern hemisphere, Mr Roberts said.
The entire project came together with the help of a good team, he said. There had been a huge interest in the collection since it opened, and it had attracted many motorcycle enthusiasts visiting Invercargill last month for the Burt Munro Challenge, he said.
One of the most popular attractions was an original Britten V1000 motorcycle.
A Ducati SuperSport 250 on display was one of only four in New Zealand.
The model had a production run of only 200 making it very rare.
The oldest bike was a 1902 Peugeot motorcycle and the collection continued through the ages to some Simms Corbin Custom motorcycles built this century. It also featured makes such as AJS, Ariel, BMW, Brough Superior, Harley-Davidson, Henderson and Indian. He felt the display livened up Invercargill, Mr Roberts said.
One point of difference of the Invercargill display compared with other transport displays throughout the world was how close people could get to the motorcycles.
In other countries, such as England, many bikes were kept ‘‘behind barriers’’, Mr Roberts said.
Transport World executive director Joc O’Donnell said in a statement she was excited the opening coincided with the Burt Munro Challenge.
The "amazing project" took over six months to complete, she said.
The bikes were transported to Invercargill and housed in two buildings that had been restored for the collection.
"We have loved creating the space in which to house these incredible bikes," she said.
The attraction is an extension of Transport World, which opened about a year ago, and is housed at a separate site also in Tay St.
