Club History

The Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club Inc (MVEC) was established in 1985 to provide a focus for the dedicated souls throughout the Territory who had an interest in not only salvaging and restoring elderly vehicles, but for anybody who had an interest in vehicles of any make, model or vintage.

In the early days of the Club, very few elderly vehicles were in evidence in and around the Top End, principally because of the nature of the climate. When any vehicle passed its ‘use by date’ and was put down the back paddock or left in the back yard, the rigours of the climate soon reduced an otherwise original vehicle to a badly rusted pile of junk. Not only did the monsoonal rain start the rusting process, but the grass fires of the Dry hastened the decay. If this wasn’t enough, the very vigorous termite population generally finished the job. In recent years, with the growth of the major population centres, more and more interesting vehicles have arrived with their owners from the South and interest among the locals has been rekindled.

In 1998/99, negotiations with the NT Government led to the Club being granted a lease over the heritage listed QANTAS Hangar.

The Hangar is now the Club’s home and it has facilities for display, storage and restoration work. For a nominal fee, members can utilise space for their current restoration projects.