Tucked away at 226 Coleraine Road, just north-west of the Hamilton city centre, is a labour of love that has evolved into one of the region's most surprising and extensive private collections: the Campe's Motor Museum. Far more than just a haven for car enthusiasts, the museum offers a fascinating journey through 20th-century history, showcasing the lifelong passion of local residents Glen and Margaret Campe.
The truth is the Playboy was built for her.
Built for the lass whose face is brown with the sun when the day is done of revel and romp and race.
She loves the cross of the wild and the tame.
There's a savor of links about that car of laughter and lilt and light a hint of old loves and saddle and quirt. It's a brawny thing-yet a graceful thing for the sweep of the Avenue.
Step into the Playboy when the hour grows dull with things gone dead and stale.
Then start for the land of real living with the spirit of the lass who rides, lean and rangy, into the red horizon of a Wyoming twilight.
The Jordan Playboy (Hemmings)
The Jordan Motor Car Company was an American automobile manufacturer founded in 1916 by Edward S. "Ned" Jordan in Cleveland, Ohio. Known for its stylish and innovative designs, the Jordan Motor Car Company produced vehicles that prioritised aesthetics over advanced engineering. Some notable models include:
- Sport Marine: A car designed for women, featuring "fashionably low" 32×4-inch wheels
- Tomboy: A model with a unique name reflecting the changing roles of women during the 1920s
- Playboy: A car named with a term that would later become iconic, symbolising freedom and style
The company used components from other manufacturers, including Continental engines, Timken axles, Bijur starters, and Bosch ignitions. Jordan cars were available in various colours, including "Apache Red", "Ocean Sand Grey", and "Liberty Blue". Despite its stylish offerings, the company struggled financially and ceased production in 1931 after intense competition and personal problems besetting Ned Jordan.
In recent years, a car enthusiast named Dylan Farmer reincorporated the Jordan Motor Car Company in Ohio, purchasing the trademarks and aiming to revive the Jordan brand, although the company's future remains uncertain.
The Red Dust Revival, a week-long event held in 2019 and 2022, brought the thrill of vintage motor racing to Lake Perkolilli, a dry lake bed in Western Australia. The event re-enacted the races that took place on the lake's hard, smooth surface between 1914 and 1939, where drivers reached speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour.
