{"id":524,"date":"2018-02-14T03:42:52","date_gmt":"2018-02-14T03:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intermarque.org\/?p=524"},"modified":"2018-02-14T12:50:30","modified_gmt":"2018-02-14T12:50:30","slug":"pipedreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intermarque.org\/index.php\/2018\/02\/14\/pipedreams\/","title":{"rendered":"Pipedreams Down Under"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past November, InterMarque member (and MN Citro\u00ebn Club president)\u00a0<\/span>Michael Barone led a Pipedreams Tour* to Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though the history of organ music is pretty much centered in Europe,\u00a0<\/span>Australia has its own interesting indigenous organ-building tradition.\u00a0<\/span>Australia can boast the world\u2019s largest mechanically operated pipe organ <\/span>(Sydney Town Hall<\/a>, 160 ranks of pipes), largest mechanical action pipe organ (Sydney Opera House Concert Hall<\/a>, 205 ranks of pipes), and largest collection of nearly original late 19th century British pipe organs (more than at home in\u00a0<\/span>England)<\/span><\/p>\n

But though the organic attractions were numerous with more than 45\u00a0<\/span>instruments seen, heard, and played over 12 days, Barone\u2019s eyes kept watch\u00a0<\/span>for other things. For instance, as a way of serving the considerable\u00a0<\/span>homeless population in Sydney, the Municipal Shower Bus, a novel idea,\u00a0<\/span>made it possible for people living on the streets to maintain a semblance\u00a0<\/span>of personal hygiene. \u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/www.Onevoice.org.au\/mobile<\/span><\/a>\u00a0showers. This\u00a0<\/span>was, without question, the most utilitarian vehicle spotted in Australia, but it was not alone.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Both Toyota and Holden (https:\/\/www.holden.com.au\/cars\/ute<\/a>) marketed a vehicle very similar to the Chevy El <\/span>Camino\/Ford Ranchero concept, in Australia. \u00a0Most of these car\/trucks were rather elegant, though other versions with stake-bed and even panel-van rear ends, were less photogenic.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>And, of course, one hoped to see a Citroen on the road. One was spotted: a 1971 DS Safari being put to good use in the transport of a table strapped to the roof.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Some run-of-the-mill Ferraris, Lotuses, Lamborghinis, Bentley\u00a0<\/span>Continentals and other common exotica were spotted, too, but did not\u00a0<\/span>warrant photo-documentation. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t