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| Fiat 600 Multipla (1956 -1969) Review |
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The history of the automobile is littered with glorious flops ... this is not one them. What you are looking at is a Fiat 600 Multipla. It is pure design genius seating six passengers in a body length of 3.531 mm. If you visited Italy in the 1960s or 70s you probably rode in a Fiat Multipla which dominated the Italian taxi scene in that era.
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| 1936 Chrysler Airflow C11 Imperial Limousine |
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One of the most enigmatic cars of all time is Chrysler’s Airflow. It is listed number seven on Time Magazine’s list of all time worst cars. At the same time Chrysler Airflow is also listed number two in Time’s list of most important car of all time. To put the Airflow into some perspective Time also rates the Car of the Century, Ford’s Model T as the second worst car of all time and gives it a billing of the most important car of all time.
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| 1947 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible |
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Even though Ford, GM and Chrysler mass produced the ‘woody’ style of car in the post-war period, woodies had been around as a decorative item since the early 1920s - possibly earlier - in the form of the torpedo or boat-tail cars. These featured a tapered rear deck and sides that bore close resemblance to the bow of a highly polished timber skiff and similarly finished power boats. Mahogany was the preferred timber with its magnificent depth of colour and patterns.
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| 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet C |
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Watch just about any WW2 documentary with Berlin parade footage and you will probably see an impressive German convertible containing senior members of the Third Reich. In most cases that car will be a Mercedes-Benz 540K. Around 12 of these vehicles were special cars developed on an extended chassis for the Nazi elite as six-seater convertible saloons.
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| 1937 Cord Model 812 Review |
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This 1937 Cord 812 Winchester sedan is proof when art meets automobile, magical things happen. We found the Cord 812 at this year’s RACV Motorclassica held in Melbourne’s Exhibition Buildings.
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| 1963 Alvis TD21 Series 11 Review |
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There’s something very British about the design of this British-built 1963 Alvis TD21 Series 11 coupe. A hint of Aston Martin perhaps ... a conservative Aston DB4 around the profile and roof line. Without doubt it is British, it was however designed in Switzerland by Hermann Graber.
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| 1940 S.S. Jaguar 2.5 Litre Saloon |
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There is an old saying that you don’t ‘get a second chance at a first impression.’ That adage really sums up this vehicle, a 1940 SS Jaguar 2.5 litre saloon. We spotted the car at the 2011 RACQ Motorfest in Brisbane on July 17. This SS saloon was the 1939-built version of the 1935 SS Jaguar saloon, the first to wear the Jaguar name produced by Sir William Lyon’s S.S. Cars Ltd.
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| 1923 Bugatti Type 32 Review |
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It borders on the ridiculous that this blob of a car could have had any influence on the development of the automobile in any way, shape or form. Even it’s nickname - the tank - is unflattering and creates images the first machines of that name launched on the battlefields of Europe during the Great War of 1914 - 1918.
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| Schlumpf Collection |
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It has been stated the Schlumpf Collection is to the automobile what the Louvre is to art. The Schlumpf Collection is situated at Cite' de l'automobile at Mulhouse, a town in the south-east corner of France, just a 20 minute drive in a vintage Bugatti from the Swiss border. In lay terms this is the French International Automobile Museum. But this is no ordinary collection. It is simply mind-blowing.
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| Armstrong Siddeley Whitley Review |
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For British manufacturer Armstrong Siddeley the post WW2 period was a time of reflection and pro-active production. The company was the first British maker to launch a new post-war car. When it did launch those vehicles it reflected on its own past and the role the company played in winning the war. Hence the Armstrong Siddeley Whitley.
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| Nash Metropolitan |
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Selling the concept of economical cars to the American public has always been as difficult as asking Colonel Gaddafi to walk away. Yet, back in the post-war era of the early 1950s the American motoring public were asked to consider buying the small Nash Metropolitan. In many ways this little Nash was unique.
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| Ford 8 Review |
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Anyone who recalls the Ford Anglia of the early 1950s will see the strong resemblance to this Ford Model Y which was commonly called the Ford 8. Despite it’s English appearance and the use of the ‘8‘ it is neither a British design, nor does it have a V8 or straight 8 under the bonnet. It was one of the most influential cars in Ford history.
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| Lotus Europa Review |
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Lotus - the name evokes not only strong emotions but reality: Lotus is about the pure art of speed and handling on four wheels. The company was founded by British engineering genius, Colin Chapman. Our featured car is the Lotus Europa, the world’s first mass-production mid-engined car. We found this 1970 example at the last MacLean’s Bridge meet actually held at MacLean’s Bridge, south of Brisbane in 2010.
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| Riley Elf Review |
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If you have not seen a Riley Elf before you would swear someone has taken it upon themselves to weld a boot onto a Mini - and the end result is, well, a bit amateurish. These are commonly known as a `booted Mini’ and were produced by BMC for Wolseley and Riley to capitalise on the success of the Morris Mini. Wolseley and Riley were upmarket divisions of BMC. Our featured car is the Riley Elf Mk 111.
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| 1929 4.5 Litre Bentley Le Mans Tourer |
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Charleville in central western Queensland can be full of shocks ... usually floods. When we passed through this delightful city in July 2010 there was not a drop of water in sight, but something just as surprising: a 1929 Bentley 4 1/2 litre Le Mans tourer, parked in front of a motel, and wearing the dust and scars of travelling in the Great Australian Outback. Surely this was not the way to treat a marque that was sold by Southebys of London for 122,500 British Pounds back in 1996?
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| NZ Trekka Review And History |
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New Zealand has a few icons - the haka, eathquakes, rugby, the shy little Kiwi, jetboats, some of the most beautiful scenery on earth ... but not the Trekka. This Land Rover look-alike is a real head-turner. People look the other way.
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| Pembleton Grasshopper Super Sport |
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It’s called the Pembleton Grasshopper Super Sport ... built by an Aussie, using a British design and chassis with French running gear. To confuse matters even further is it a car less a wheel or a bike with an extra wheel? If it’s a bike how come it has a steering wheel? If it’s a car how come it does not have four wheels?
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| 1962 Mercedes 300SL Roadster Review |
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If there's a car that sets cold hearts aflutter, that screams `ICON' at ear-splitting decibels , it is the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. It's a sports machine like no other ... apart, of course, from the new Mercedes AMG 300SLS Gullwing we recently reviewed. It is a brave manufacturer that seeks to re-create in 21st century terms perhaps the most iconic sports car in history. We think they have done it ... bloody well.
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| 1939 Chevrolet Master 85 Coupe Review |
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This somewhat innocent in appearance 1939 Chevrolet Master 85 Coupe could easily be viewed as one of the world's more remarkable models: a car that helped shape the driving prowess of a man who was arguably the world's greatest race car driver. For it was in this model Chevrolet this racer first experienced major success behind the wheel.
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| 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Coupe |
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For sheer, unadulterated automotive extravagance it's hard to go past this 1959 Dodge Custom Royal. It's one with the lot, a super-supreme, the full-monty ... about motoring's last big fling before some common sense prevailed. It is simply magnificent.
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| 1934 Cadillac 355D V8 Town Sedan Review |
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It is great story of survival that one of the iconic names in automotive history - Cadillac – not only exists, but manufactured this magnificent 1934 Cadillac 355D V8 town sedan. Just two years earlier, in 1932, Cadillac was at the crossroads.
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| 1933 REO Speedwagon Review |
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Any trip in the Australian outback is likely to turn up a number of wonders ... like this 1933 REO Speedwagon. We found this classic flatbed at the Truck Museum in Winton, in far central west Queensland. For many people the only REO Speedwagon they know is an American rock band, who liked the name so much they called themselves after a truck.
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| 1966 Jensen C-V8 |
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When you look at this 1966 Jensen C-V8 you will either love or hate the headlights. There's no middle ground. We found the car at the 2010 RACQ Brisbane Motorfest. It was not hard to spot with controversial styling that jumps out at you like an after-dark street gang. By far the most interesting aspect though are the slanted headlights.
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| 1966 Toyota Sports 800 History And Review |
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On the eve of Toyota ... oops, Lexus bringing the Lexus LFA supercar to market it was interesting to spot Toyota's first production sports car – the Toyota Sports 800 – at the recent RACQ MotorFest in Brisbane. These are a rarity outside Japan.
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| 1916 Jeffrey Quad 4WD Truck |
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When we think of four wheel drive vehicles and their history we tend to go back as far as Jeep and Land Rover. Yet, putting power to all four wheels is almost as old as the modern concept of combining the internal combustion engine and four-wheeled carriages. In a recent trip into western Queensland we were lucky enough to stumble across a 1916 – or thereabouts - Jeffrey Quad 4WD two-tonne truck.
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| 1950 Armstrong Siddeley Station Coupe History |
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From the front it looks like any other early 1950s Armstrong Siddeley ... graceful, stylish and British to it's bootstraps. Yet, the image hides quite an un-British, decidedly colonial secret. This is a ute – or as Armstrong Siddeley called it, a Station Coupe.
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| Standard Coventry Rail Motor Ambulance circa 1929 |
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Charleville in Queensland's outback channel country is probably best known for it's floods more than it's famines. When the rains come, Charleville goes under, even as recently as earlier this year when the levee built to protect the town, trapped floodwaters on the wrong side. There's nothing new about Charleville flooding ... nor for that matter the nearby towns of Morven, Cunnamulla and Quilpie.
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| JWF Milano 1959 Review |
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On name alone you'd assume the JWF Milano is of Italian heritage. It's not. Instead it was part of an Australian culture that saw a raft of one-off sporting cars built out of fibreglass on a variety of chassis. JWF primarily used Austin Seven underpinnings – but not always. Those not familiar with the JWF name may have heard of others in this same industry, such as Bolwell and Buchanan.
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| 1954 Lancia Aurelia History and Review |
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It is said necessity is the mother of invention and that truism is no more apparent in the automobile world than this beautiful Pininfarina-designed 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 series 4GT Coupe. When Lancia decided to produce the Aurelia they made a key decision that would impact on car makers the world over.
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| 1964 Iso Rivolta History and Review |
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The GM 327 cubic inch engine holds a soft spot for many Aussie hearts, particularly those who follow the Holden brand and in particular the first Bathurst 1968 Monaro coupe, the HK 327. For others, the 5.4 litre engine powered Chevrolet offerings such as the Corvette, Bel Air and Impala.
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| 1948 Jaguar Mk IV Drophead Coupe |
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Mk IV Jaguars hold a special place in Jaguar history. They were the first cars with Jaguar badging as the manufacturer thanks to events in Germany between 1939-45. Those events include the name of Hitler's body guard troops, the SS or Schutzstaffel. Until 1945 Jaguar was a model name of SS Car Ltd that used the Jaguar name with the SS 90 and SS 100 pre-war two seater sports models as well as it's saloon range.
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| 1955 Cadillac Eldorado: History and Review |
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If you have a quick glimpse at the front of this 1955 Cadillac El Dorado you'll notice twin, chromed domes that add style and curvature to the front bumper. They earned the name `Dagmars' when the first of the El Dorado's was launched two years earlier. On that first model the Dagmar's were even bigger, but for the 1955 model they were toned down.
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| 1947 Ford Mercury Eight Coupe - Review |
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When Peter Clark was a younger bloke he almost exclusively drove V8s. The likes of 1939 Ford, 1938 Ford DeLuxe, 1946 Oldsmobile and 1955 Pontiac. There was also an A-Model Ford in there somewhere, although that was a four. After years as an itinerant worker he decided to settle down and one of the first goals was to get back into his favoured transport, one of the classic early V8s.
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| 1970 Cadillac de Ville Convertible Review |
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To me there's always been something mysterious about Cadillac. One moment you have a car so outrageous it starts a design trend that lasts more than a decade – then it moves the other way to ultra conservatism. As perhaps America's premium luxury brand, Cadillac is both innovative and an anachronism.
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| MGA Review And History (1955 -62) |
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One of the great pleasures of being an Aussie baby-boomer was growing up in the 1950s and 60s. We were witnesses to motoring history seeing the evolution of cars from pre-war design to contemporary cars such as the MGA. We then lived through the fins era and twin headlights, push-button autos, four-on-the-floor, car radios and drive-in movies. We were lucky.
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| 1977 Fiat 124 Sport Spider |
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When it comes to automobiles we owe the Americans a lot of thanks... no, not for those massive, gas-guzzling, chrome plated, two-tonne, raucous V8-powered, soft-suspension, handle-like-a-truck. gaudy, finned monstrosities we all love. There's another group of cars the US is responsible for: ones that appeal to those yanks who have a sensitive new-age appreciation of fine machinery.
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| 1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint |
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When it comes to classic, elegant, beauty it does not get much better than this 1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint. We found the car at the last classic car show to be held at Macleans Bridge, south of Brisbane, on Mother's Day, 2010.
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| 1932 Rover 10/25 Sedan: Review |
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The Rover 10/25 which was built between 1929 -32 is these days somewhat of a rare animal. And, there's a good reason for that. They were unpopular when they were built and as such failed to capture the hearts of anyone to the extent few people thought they were worth saving.
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| 1951 Jowett Jupiter Review |
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As a car-mad kid growing up in Melbourne I recall seeing the occasional Jowett Javelin on the roads. But, not once did I see the Javelin's sports car sibling, the Jupiter. There was a good reason for this. Only 28 were ever brought into Australia.
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| Ford Model TT Pickup (1926) |
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The beginnings of light trucks go back to the start of automobile civilisation itself. It was quickly realised the automobile had a practical purpose other than carrying passengers. Which brings us to our featured vehicle, the Ford TT. No, that's not a typo – the TT was a variant of the Model T – perhaps the most important car of the 20th century.
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| Nissan Cedric (1965) Review |
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I can already hear the muffled guffaws and the not so subtle outright raucous laughter as I put pen to paper – or more correctly finger to keyboard – to write about this 1965 Nissan Cedric. Even in 1960 they were regarded as something of a joke. The main complaint was not about the car. Its that name that all and sundry Aussies got a giggle from.
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| Aston Martin DB5 Swapped For Postage Stamp |
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It is not unusual for a classic car owner to swap his car for a piece of paper – usually one marked `Bank Cheque' with several zeros on the end of the payment figure. If it were, for instance, an Aston Martin DB5, you would think the figure would contain at least four zeros and more than likely five.
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| 1963 Daimler SP250 Review |
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Can anything good come out of a car crash? In most cases, no. But, if it happens to be a classic Daimler SP250 C Specification, that answer might be a yes. This car is owned by British-born Derek McConnell, who knows a lot about this rare breed of British sports cars. His example has just 76,000 miles on the clock ... thanks to a front-end crash that saw the car in pieces and sidelined for 36 years.
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| Ford Model T History |
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What, you may ask, is left to write about the Ford Model T ? The most influential car of the 20th century has been the subject of books, films, documentaries, and articles since Henry Ford took the concept of an assembly line to its ultimate conclusion. That concept not only revolutionised the car the industry, but set standards for manufacturing world-wide. What is left to write about the Model T is the personal experiences.
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| 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Pickup |
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These days there seem to be as many sport or recreational utilities as workhorse utes on our roads. It was not always that way with there being a clear delineation between work vehicles and passenger cars up until the mid 1950s. All that changed mainly thanks to our featured ute, this 1955 Chevrolet Cameo.
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| 1938 Morris 8 Tourer Series 1 |
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There is nothing new in the current (2010) trend towards smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. As circumstances change, so do wants. Our featured car is a 1938 Morris 8 that claimed 6.3 litres/100 km or 45 miles per gallon in the old money. That's well below the latest Holden Commodore with it's lean and green SIDI engine that claims 9.3 litres/100km.
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| Volkswagen Kombi History |
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With Volkswagen Australia recently launching it's latest upgrade of the commercial range including Multivan, Transporter and Caravelle it took my mind back to the days when these were simply called `Kombis'. Our family had a close connection with VW with my late father, Roy purchasing the first VW Kombi in Adelaide in 1953.
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| 1936 Singer Bantam |
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New Zealand – land of the long white cloud – and repository of all things unusual when it comes to classic cars. Take this 1936 Singer Bantam. Very few Singers were imported into New Zealand and this one is unique in that it has a drop-down boot to house the spare wheel.
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| 1928 Chrysler Six |
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The makeshift car park opposite the Cardrona Hotel in the Central Otago district of New Zealand's South Island says it all. This 1928 Chrysler Six has pulling power – power to pull up travelers that is. The old girl is the star attraction at the historic Cardrona Hotel on the magnificent Crown Range Road between Wanaka and Queenstown.
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| 1971 Mercedes Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet |
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Within the realms of large V8-powered cabriolets – a rare breed these days – there are few automobiles in the post war period that can hold a candle to this magnificent Mercedes Benz 280SE 3.5 litre. It is breathtaking in the extreme, a fusion of timber and leather interior, magnificent chrome highlights and has a road presence that exudes luxury and power.
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| 1937 Daimler EL24 mini limousine |
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When, in 1937 or thereabouts, the fine City of Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island decided to acquire a car – one of dignity and poise - for mayoral use, the choice was fairly simple. After all, Christchurch was declared a city by Royal Decree in 1856 and 1937 was the year King George V1 was crowned. The King's favoured means of transport became Daimler so the choice of Daimler as a mayoral carriage was in keeping with choices made by the King himself.
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| 1928 Falcon Knight 12 |
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Say the word `Falcon' and most people think of the enduring Ford Falcon manufactured in Australia since 1960. But in another time in a different place Falcon was a car manufacturer in it's own right, putting aside the financial interest of John North Willys, of Willys Overland fame.
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| 1929 Chevrolet Stovebolt Six Roadster |
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The cut-throat nature of vehicle manufacture is as old as the industry itself. Keeping one step ahead of rivals is critical if you are going to compete. The main exception to this rule was Ford's Model T. Production started in 1908 and ending in 1927, when the Model A was launched. But in the 19 years of Model T production the changes to the vehicle were minimal. So how did the Model T survive so long when competitors were advancing in leaps and bounds?
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| Ford Thunderbird 1961-63 report |
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You might well ask what a classic American muscle car and the Great Australian shed have in common? Besides doubling in many cases as a garage for the car, the most obvious link is the third generation Ford Thunderbird. The manufacturer of Titan garages and carports uses a red-third generation T-Bird as key marketing tool for their line up of sheds in Australia ... along with a couple of knockabout blokes.
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| 1927 Rugby Tourer |
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How do cars get their names? In many cases it's the obvious ... particularly in the early days of the horseless carriage. Austin, Morris, Studebaker, Ford, Chrysler, Rolls-Royce – to name a few were all named after the company founder(s). Even our own Holden was no different. Then there are the different brands within a make. Of all the car names one of the more unusual is the Rugby.
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| Chevrolet Sloper (Coupe) 1939 |
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From the front, Noel and Lyn Neuendorf's 1939 Chevrolet looks typical of that era's American sedans - it sits fairly high, has a long, prominent bonnet, almost vertical grille and head lamps perched inboard on the mudguards. Step to one side and it becomes obvious its not a sedan, but a coupe which we called a `sloper'. Not just any old coupe, but a design unique to Australia not only used on GM Holden product but also some Chrysler and Ford vehicles too.
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| Rambler Model G Roadster 1904 |
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For the past couple of years the annual Gold Coast Antique Fair – a Rotary-run Gold Coast institution held at Conrad Jupiters Hotel and Casino – has added an extra dimension to the fair with the holding of a car show. Old cars – old stuff, together, that makes sense. This year's show, held during the Australia Day weekend, featured more than 30 classic cars, and the undoubted star of the display was the RACQ's own Belle of the Ball, a 1904 Rambler Model G Roadster.
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| Chrysler 66 Coupe - 1930 |
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You could never mistake this Chrysler 66 for anything but a child of the 1930s. Picture gangsters, gas street lamps and Josephine Baker performing the Charleston at the Follies Bergere. The year 1930 was a momentous year for Chrysler founder, Walter P. Chrysler. Not only was the 66 launched, but also the Chrysler 70. And, oh, he also opened the classic art deco tower, the Chrysler Building in Lexington Avenue, Manhattan.
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| 1927 Rolls-Royce 20hp |
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The name Rolls-Royce is synonymous with anything and everything classy. You think of rich dark leather, fine timbers and even ivory fittings. The paint work alone seems to be thicker than the metal on some modern cars. Then there's the engines, so quiet and refined you could balance a cup of tea on the bonnet without stirring a ripple. Or perhaps, being a Roller, that should be a flute of sparking Moet.
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| Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) |
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Unless you were a witness to Mercedes-Benz history in 1963 it is hard to believe this car, a Mercedes-Benz 230 SL – commonly called a `Pagoda' – is a descendant of the shape that defines Mercedes sports cars, the 300 SL.
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| Ferrari Corsa Indianapolis 1953 |
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Ferrari Classiche, the specialist division set up in Maranello to provide owners of historic Ferraris with restoration, maintenance, supply of parts and issues Certificates of authenticity, has completed the restoration of the unique Corsa Indianapolis single-seater, a one-off built in 1953.
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| 1914 Humber Humberette |
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These days it's pretty simple. To start a car you simply turn a key or push a button. Anyone can do it. Spare a thought then for the pioneering motorists who had no such luxury. Their key was called a crank handle and fitted into the front of the engine under the radiator. After all the starter settings were made, and the car was out of gear, the idea was to turn the crank handle which turned the engine over to make it `fire'.
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| 1954 Morris Minor Custom Coupe |
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The annual Morris Clubs of Australia Concours is hardly a likely venue to find an American classic ... but as we all know anything can happen at car shows.
Yet there it was, tucked away next to a Morris 8 and surrounded by a bevy of Minor 1000s and Minor utes.
A car inspired by Nick Matranga's 1940 Mercury Coupe.
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| Humber Super Snipe 1949 and 1959 |
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At a quick glance you'd swear this is an American car, but despite the strong lines, prominent bonnet and lashings of chrome ... its not. It's an early build Mk II 1949 Humber Super Snipe, Humber being British to it's core. Sadly, Humber is no longer with us. Writing stories about classic British cars is a lot like being a professional obituary writer.
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| Morris Traveller |
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The Morris Traveller reminds us a little bit of Superman ... it wears it's underwear on the outside.
A derivative of the Alec Issigonis designed Morris Minor, the Traveller is a van that uses a timber framework on the outside to support the canopy.
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| Bedford K Series Truck 1951 |
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It's rare that workhorses like this 1951 Bedford truck are given any recognition. They are normally put out to pasture – literally left in a paddock – to rust in peace.
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| 1924 Austin 20/4 Tourer Review |
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Two of the car brands synonymous with the beginnings of the British motor industry – Wolseley and Austin – owe their existence to the harsh Australian outback. The outback is one of the cruelest environments on Earth.
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| Chevrolet Superior K Utility, 1926 |
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There's something special about seeing a vehicle that has been kept in near original condition – for all intents and purposes looking like it did in the era in which was used – but with the patina of life reflecting its own peculiar history. Lately we have seen a few cars like this with two stand-outs, David Lear's 1927 20 hp Rolls-Royce and this vehicle, John McPhail's 1926 Chevrolet.
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| 1937 Vauxhall 25 GY Wingham Cabriolet |
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Car shows never cease to amaze. We recently attended the Military Jeep Club of Queensland's annual show at Canungra Showgrounds in the Gold Coast Hinterland. It's a mecca for military vehicles – not just Jeeps – but including Studebaker US6, Chevrolet Blitz, Land Rover, Dodges, military ambulances, Ford Jeeps and all types military motorcycles and sidecars.
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| Buick Eight Woody 1937 |
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It's interesting the woody station wagon is so entrenched in folklore as the preferred transport of 1950 American surfers that the vehicle's origins have been largely overlooked. So where did the term `station wagon' originate? That answer later. The reason the woody took off with surfers was a simple matter of size and being affordable.
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| Chrysler New Yorker (1953) |
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It takes a great deal of confidence – or perhaps arrogance – to name a car after one of the world's great cities. And perhaps that was Chrysler's thinking in 1938. As the Sinatra anthem says, `If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere'. In reverse it means the world's toughest nut to crack is New York. So to name a car a New Yorker meant Chrysler well and truly put its head on the chopping block.
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| Desoto Adventurer 1960 |
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I'm a great fan of classic car shows, but not because I get to see the cars I grew up with in Melbourne in the 1950s and 60s. It's great to see those vehicles, but to me the real thrill is getting up close and personal with the cars we didn't see in Australia. Cars that were not brought into Australia for various reasons. One of those is our featured yank tank, a 1960 Desoto Adventurer which we spotted in 2009 at an All Chrysler Day at Mt Gravatt Showgrounds, near Brisbane .
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| 1953 FJ Holden Coupe |
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Probably the most recognisable Australian hot rod ever built is Holden's contemporary take on the iconic FJ Holden, the awesome EFIJY.
Since being let loose at the 2005 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, EFIJY in has become an international star leading US hot rod parades and taking centre stage as a crowd-puller at international motor shows. What is remarkable about EFIGY is that people who have never seen a FJ Holden still appreciate the the car. Simply for what it is, not it's metamorphis from a high-riding, gangly design that can be traced to pre-WW2.
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| Daimler Straight 8 V26 Limousine 1934 |
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Owning a car that was not only a witness to history, but part of that history, has to be a buzz. Meet `George' a 1934 Straight Eight Daimler V26 limousine whose rich leather seats may have hosted the best of royal butts, possibly some of those at the 1937 coronation of King George VI.
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| Studebaker Avanti |
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There's only so often car makers can play automotive catch-up and survive. Henry Ford did it with the Model-T which lasted almost 20 years without major changes. Another American manufacturer, Studebaker was not so lucky. Yet, in the process of trying to go forward Studebaker of Southbend, Ohio went backward and created one of the great automotive tragedies. Studebaker Avanti. In some ways the Avanti was akin to a gamblers last big bet. A whopping, do-it-or-die, punt.
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| Mercedes-Benz 190SL (1957) |
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In 1957 if you were a Mercedes-Benz buyer – of which there were few in Australia – you could have the power and glory or you could have the glory only. This was determined by the thickness of your wallet and your willingness to climb over obstacles. Those well-heeled enough, and nimble to boot, could fork out a king's ransom and get into a 300SL – the famed `gullwing' Mercedes-Benz.
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| Austin-Healey 100 Review and History |
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It is well documented how Donald Healey took a car he called the Healey Hundred – the `Hundred' referring to the fact the car would do 100 mph (160 km/h) - to the 1952 London Motor Show. To BMC's chairman and managing director, Leonard Lord the car must have been like live bait to a hungry shark.
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| Vauxhall Velox Caleche 1950 |
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If you mention you happened to see a Caleche most people will stare at you blankly. If pressed they might hazard a guess that it was a French car. Yet, the Caleche was an Australian-built convertible variant of the Vauxhall Velox and Wyvern ... dating to 1938. The word `Caleche' has various meanings but in general terms means a fashionable horse-drawn carriage or the folded hood of a horse-drawn carriage. Either way it points to a convertible.
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| Austin Healey BJ8 (Mk3) |
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One of the great names in traditional sports cars is Austin Healey. There's a certain aura around the brand, in particular the six cylinder models that were introduced in 1956, and especially the last model, the BJ8 featured here.
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| FJ Holden |
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It is impossible to write about Holden's iconic FJ model without at least mentioning EFIJY – the contemporary take on this classic Aussie car. The decision to have design fun with an early Holden must have lead the design team to an interesting decision. Do we re re-create the first Holden 48-215 (FX) or do we instead look at the FJ as the basis for a one-off concept? Although there were plenty of minor differences between the FX and FJ, let's face it there's only one that matters.
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| 1931 MG C-Type Midget |
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MG buff Ross Kelly takes great pleasure from time to time informing Ford Falcon GT HO Phase 111 owners that there's nothing all that special about having a genuine 150 mp/h car. Remember, the GT HO – the world's fastest four door production car with a souped-up 351 cubic inch V8 ? It remains an Australian legend. Yet, as Ross is quick to point out there was an MG in 1934 that broke 151 mp/h.
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| Ford Dingo |
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We often hear how important the car manufacturing industry is to Australia, but there was a time when it's significance went well beyond ensuring our local automobiles were suited to Australian conditions. It could well be argued those same circumstances are an on-going need for Australia. Back in the dark early days of WW2 the local car industry provided what the Federal Government could not. Motor industry manufacturing.
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| Austin Champ 4WD Review 1955 |
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I still clearly recall my first ride in an Austin Champ. It was at Puckapunyal, a military training camp north of Melbourne. It must have been around 1963 and I was at `Pucka' with the Oakleigh Technical School cadet corps.
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| RMB And RMC Rileys |
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The RM Rileys may have been designed after WW2, but the overall appearance of the car was of a graceful pre-war marque. For this reason the RM – R for Riley, M for Motors - series was always going being to be either short lived, or low production, despite the obvious: these were magnificent automobiles.
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| 1961-62 R and S Series Valiants |
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If ever there was a cat set among the Australian motoring pigeons it came in the guise of the 1961 R Series Valiant (RV1). The pigeons were the XK Falcon and Holden's EK sedan.
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| 1928 Plymouth |
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The sign just about says it all: The most used and abused vintage car in Aussie. What the sign doesn't say is that this 1928 Plymouth is also the star of just about every show it enters. It is dirty, dusty, greasy, oily, bedraggled, unkempt, seemingly unloved ... a disgrace really. It is also magnificent.
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| 1957 Ford Thunderbird |
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It's a fairly audacious move to use a ship's porthole as a car window, but that's just what Ford did when it facelifted the Thunderbird in 1956.
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| 1937 Riley Lynx |
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There's nothing like an `All British' day to bring out the not-so bashful Poms driving the remnants of a long-lost car industry. While we like to lampoon the Yanks and their car manufacturers, at least they have a motor industry, albeit debt laden and, until recently, direction-less.
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| 1932 Lanchester Golf Coupe |
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The sight of a Lanchester car in Australia is about as common a winning Lotto ticket. Yet, there it was, a 1932 Lanchester golf coupe sitting there among the Jaguars at the All British Car Day held in Brisbane. It is magnificent, the body finished in brown and the mudguards, roof and wheels in a matching cream.
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| 1969 Mk 3 MG Midget |
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When Mike Breen's wife asked the question, “if we were to buy a classic car what type would it be?”, Mike did not have to think twice. Like many blokes he had harboured a dream of one day owning a car he would have liked to have had in his youth. Then marriage and kids (five of them) came along and the car was put on a long back-burner. Now, with the family nest just about empty, the time had come to consider a classic. Mike's choice was a MG Midget.
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| 1952 Citroen Traction Avant |
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When we think historically of front wheel drives in Australia we generally bring to mind the ubiquitous Mini.
Until mid-1959 when the Mini hit the roads, our cars were almost 100 per cent rear wheel drive: whether it be Holden, Ford and Chrysler locally, all the American marques and the Brits and Europeans.
With one exception. In 1934 French maker Citroen released the Traction Avant.
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| 1958 Austin Healey `Bug Eye' Sprite |
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While the term `bug eye' may sound derogatory – and probably is – it allowed the little Austin Healey Sprite sports car to create its own personality when first introduced. Making a splash with new car product is an expensive business, so the addition of the add-on style head lights to the bonnet had an immediate impact. Once seen, the car was unlikely to be forgotten. Makers these days crave that sort of instant recognition.
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| 1968 HK Holden Monaro |
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Forget the occasional tiff between Sydney and Melbourne, the real Australian rivalry is between Ford and Holden ... and it accelerates to a head once a year in October. The arena is called Mt Panorama and the event is called `Bathurst' after the nearby township. Bathurst has hosted this major event – it is more than just a long distance car race – since 1963, but genuine rivalry did not surface until 1967.
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| Triumph TR3 History (1957-61) |
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With it's classic lines there's no doubt the Triumph TR2 and TR 3 owe a lot to car designs of the mid 1930s. The teardrop style sweeping front and rear mudguards and cut away door give the cars a classic appearance and hints of the first attempts at streamlining mainstream cars, particularly by the French. To our eye there is a lot of Delage in the aesthetics of these British built Triumph sports cars.
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| Alfa Romeo G1 1920-21 |
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This Australian-based car is the sole surviving example of the first automobile to be designed specifically as an Alfa Romeo.
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| 1931 MG M Type Midget (Boat-Tail) |
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When you see the solar cars race across Australia each year they just about all have one thing in common: a sleek tail designed to reduce drag. The tails go by various names, but are basically a teardrop shape. The tapered rear end allows the car the slip through the air without creating a vacuum, which tends to hold the car back.
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| 1938 Packard Super 8 limousine |
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One of the issues in collecting classic cars is previous ownership. If you had two identical Cadillacs there's no doubt the one owned by Elvis would be more valuable than the other that had no-name owners. In addition it is fascinating just to know who the previous owners were, even if they were not on the list of the rich and famous.
With that background we introduce you to Edmund. Edmund's a Packard. A BIG Packard at that ... more than six metres in length. He's a 16th Series 1938 Model 1604 Super 8, seven passenger limousine.
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| BMW Isetta |
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It's official: The ultra-light car is back.
Alfa Romeo has just added to the proliferation of ultra-small cars with the new Mito. It follows on from the smart fortwo, Fiat 500 and the Nissan Micra. It's unlikely, however, that cars will ever get as small as this little beauty: a BMW Isetta. These were miniature cars. They had close-together rear wheels, were bubble shaped and you enter by the front door.
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| 1938 Ford Lincoln Zephyr |
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Take a close look at this car, for its influence on the modern automobile cannot be underestimated.
It's a 1938 Lincoln Zephyr V12, four door sedan. But, it's not what's under the bonnet, or the suicide doors, that make the car significant.
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| 1980 Leyland Mini Moke |
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If you went to Magnetic Island, off the coast of Townsville, in the 1960s through to the 1980s besides the natural beauty of the place you would be struck by one phenomena: the Mini Moke.
It seemed every second car on the island was a Moke – with good reason. They were an ideal tropical resort vehicle. They swarmed over the island like a disturbed ants nest. With the island's narrow roads between the bays and laid-back tropical lifestyle the rag top Moke fitted into island living like a G & T at 5.00 pm.
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| 1973 Leyland P76 History/Review |
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If you you want to pick an argument with a Leyland P76 owner, just call the car a `lemon.'
Then either run, or have plenty of facts to back up your statement. History tells us the P76 was a primarily victim of bad timing.
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| 1951 Studebaker Champion Business Coupe |
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f you look at the car as an art form then there's little doubt the 1951 Studebaker Champion coupe is more Picasso than Monet. It's about as subtle as a kick in the shins. Closer to art deco than any practical form of transport should be.
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| 1957 Buick Century Caballero |
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Think of station wagons and your thoughts immediately go to the practicalities of motoring. How big the is cargo area? How much can it tow? How large is the engine?
For years the wagon was the ultimate family vehicle. In recent times the practical wagon has undergone a metamorphosis and many are called `sportwagons.'
Estate's like Audi's RS 4 Avant and for that matter the classy looking Holden Commodore wagon. But, for mine this 1957 Buick Caballero takes the cake in the wagon stakes.
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| 1971 Buick Riviera Boattail |
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If you mention Buick Riviera to any enthusiast they talk will inevitably focus on one model. The boattail.
Which is interesting as this unique car was considered a flop. In that assessment it enjoys a similar infamy as the Edsel Ford. Cars that polarise buyers to the extent it reduces sales. Yet, in the passage of time they become collector items, highly sought after for not just uniqueness, but also rarity.
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| 1941 Cadillac V8 |
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There's something about celebrities and their cars.
Right now in Hollywood it's the done thing to rock up at the Oscars in a hybrid. The rest of the time they cruise around in gas guzzling Hummers or the like. But, that's Hollywood. It's about perception. Which brings us to the point of what happens to the wheels of choice of the celebs when they are finished with the fad car of the day and move on to the next one. Back in the 1920s there was no one bigger in Hollywood than Gladys Louise Smith.
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| 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Door Coupe |
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With the popularity of the classic 1957 Chevrolet it's easy to overlook earlier and later Bel Air models.
The '57 Chevvy is simply a stunning vehicle and a significant part of the evolution of the Bel Air model. It gets the balance of fins and side flash just right. As always though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Chevs either side of the 1957 model are just as impressive in their own right.
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| 1957 Chevrolet Utility History |
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When Leo Janssen decided to take one of the most iconic Chevrolet cars and turn it into a ute, he had one goal in mind: It must look like it emerged from the factory.
That car was the 1957 Chevrolet, probably the most collectible Chev of all time. Certainly in Australia
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| 1960 Jaguar XK150S |
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For Jaguar the small badge on the boot of the XK150S fixed head coupe says it all.
Le Mans winner: 1951, 53,55,56,57. The halcyon days of motor sport for the British maker. A time when Jaguar dominated the world's oldest sports car endurance race and boasted the world's fastest production car, the XK120.
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| 1930s Mercedes-Benz Race Car Transporters |
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Stuttgart - The classic racing "Silver Arrows" by Mercedes-Benz are icons of the 1930s. Racing cars such as the W 25, the W 125, the W 154 and the W 165 have all acquired the status of legends, as have drivers like Manfred von Brauchitsch, Rudolf Caracciola and Hermann Lang. They were right at the forefront of the motor racing world in those days.
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| 2009 Peugeot 308CC/Eclipse 401 |
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Peugeot will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its invention of the retractable steel roof when it launches the new 308 CC next month.
The 308 CC was first unveiled in Australia at Sydney’s Australian International Motor Show last year, and was the star of Peugeot’s stand at the Melbourne International Motor Show earlier this year.
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| Mercedes-Benz crash at the 1939 Belgian Grand Prix |
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June 26 2009
Stuttgart – It was 70 years ago yesterday when Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows racing driver John Richard Beattie Seaman drove his final race for the legendary grand prix team.
The Englishman, who made his Silver Arrow racing debut in the Tripoli Grand Prix on 9 May 1937, sadly succumbed to fatal injuries sustained at the 1939 Belgian Grand Prix in Spa. He was 26.
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| 1955 Buick Roadmaster Convertible |
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US TV personality Jay Leno has one. In fact it was the first car in his not insubstantial collection: A 1955 Buick Roadmaster. Even Jay would cast an envious eye over this Australian convertible variant.
We spied it at the Cleveland Auto Extravaganza near Brisbane earlier this year.
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| BMW 700 - The Car That Saved The Company |
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It's tough out there right now: Just ask the execs at GM and Chrysler.
And, if you think other vehicle manufacturers are rubbing their hands with glee at the sound of the B-word, forget it.
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| 1934 Bentley Park Ward drop head coupe |
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Ask anyone what a 1934 Bentley looks like and you're likely to get a variety of answers.
Perhaps the irony of this is that they all left the Derby factory in almost identical guise: That would be as a chassis form with just the bonnet and radiator attached.
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| 1963 EH Holden |
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With GM Holden last year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Holden to roll of the Fisherman's Bend production line, is still seems to this scribbler the Holden I know started with the 1963 EH.
To me the EH was a turning point. Maybe it was the new engines, the smart new design. Possibly a combination of both.
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| Porsche 356 Review And Images |
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Automotive history is littered with the corpses of failed car companies.
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| 1958 Holden FC |
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Remember the story of the bloke who liked the shaver so much he bought the company?
Well, there's a new twist to this logic.
GM Holden's vice president and chairman, Mark Reuss, liked the company so much he bought the car.
Not just any Holden: a classic.
An immaculate 1956 FC Holden.
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| 1967 Jaguar XJ13 History |
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Chances are most people, unless they are Jaguar die hards, have never heard of the XJ13.
It's a rare beast.
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| Cadillac's classic 1959 Coupe de Ville |
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As a kid growing up in the 1960s in Melbourne I was exposed to a myriad of cars, many of them American, but few Cadillacs.
No doubt they were too expensive and most Aussie families were on beer budgets while the Caddy required a champers taste with a wallet to match.
But, we did hear about about them, just about every time we turned on the radio.
For Cadillacs are just about the most popular car when it comes to song lyrics.
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| Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray 1964 |
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When you look at this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray it's not hard to imagine why it's up there as an American classic.
In looks alone it's as tough as it gets out of Uncle Sam.
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| Renault 4CV 750 - France's Beetle Kept A Secret |
Ever wondered what a French equivalent to a Volkswagen Beetle may look like?
After all the French are renown as designing their cars `by committee.'
Well, here's the result of a Beetle-inspired French design.
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| Volvo 1800E - Saints And Mad Hatters |
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In the post WW2 era there have been few car manufacturers ridiculed as much as Volvo.
Volvo drivers, just for being Volvo drivers, have also copped a fair amount of stick.
The origins of the satire were sowed by Volvo itself when it produced safe and slow boxes starting with the 142/144/145 series.
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| A Salute To Diggers and Jeeps - Anzac Day |
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On Anzac Day, April 25, in just about every town in Australia we gather to pay our respect to our diggers and fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen and women.
It's a day that stops the nation as we reflect on who we are and where we have come from and the sacrifices that have enabled us to live the lives we lead today.
Lives and freedom that give us the ability to follow our passions in life, like restoring automobiles.
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| Boxster’s Ancestor Celebrates 40 Years |
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Porsche rarely describes it this way, but the mid-engined Porsche 914 that was nearly a Volkswagen’ and is the direct production predecessor of the enormously successful Boxster roadster turns 40 this year. Back in the mid-60s, VW was looking for a successor to its then-dated Karmann Ghia sports coupe, while Porsche at the same time wanted a more affordable sports car beneath the 911.
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| Ford Model A |
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The early history of the Ford Motor Co., is to great extent a reflection of its autocratic leadership under the `old man' Henry Ford.
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| 1959 Ford Fairlane - The `Tank' Turns 50 |
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THE TANK TURNS 50: Fifty years ago this was a different world ... witnessed now by this gas-guzzling, gi-normous, magnificent 1959 Ford Fairlane. How long is it? Try 19 feet in the old money or 5.79 meters in the new. Big enough to hold the annual general meeting of the Gold Coast Restorers Club in the boot ...
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| Hermann Lang - Silver Arrow Legend 100 This Month |
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SILVER ARROW LEGEND 100 THIS MONTH: Hermann Lang was born on 6 April 1909 in Cannstatt near Stuttgart. In the 1930s, he was one of the great racing drivers of the famous Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows. After the Second World War in 1952, he celebrated a keenly awaited comeback in the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing coupé.
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| Volkswagen Australian Country Buggy |
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With apologies to anyone who may happen to own one of these vehicles, could this be the ugliest car to be given birth in an Australian factory?
A car that only its designer could love!
If that were the case there would be no Australian Country Buggies left.
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| 1948 Holden 48-215 (FX) |
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At around 60 years of age you would think they'd let an old girl like this FX Holden rust in peace.
But no, she's out there for all the world to see, perhaps Australia's most observed 48-215 Holden.
She appears to be tickled pink about that.
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| Audi History |
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German luxury carmaker, Audi, is celebrating its centenary in July 2009.
In Australia the main celebration will be the opening of the $50 million Audi Lighthouse facility in Sydney.
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| 100 Years Of Suzuki Excellence |
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In its 100 year history, Suzuki has developed an outstanding reputation for manufacturing a range of cars, 4WDs, motorcycles and marine products offering excellent value for money and exceptional reliability.
Continually striving to improve the breed through competition motorsport, Suzuki has racked up a string of world titles on two and four wheels and is now one of the 10 largest automotive manufacturers on the planet.
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| Ford Falcon XP Coupe - Ford's Falcon a 1960's icon |
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While most of us remember September 11 for all the wrong reasons, at Ford Australia this date has significant importance.
It was on this date in 1960 the first Ford Falcon went on sale.
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| 'E-Class Evolution' At The Mercedes-Benz Museum |
'E-Class Evolution' At The Mercedes-Benz Museum
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| Hudson Essex 1929 - Golden Oldies Spice Up Gingertown |
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About the last place you'd expect to find a car collection is in a theme park ... built around ginger.
The Ginger Factory on Queensland's Sunshine Coast has taken this root, used extensively in Asian cooking, and turned it into a multi-million dollar business.
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| 1934 Terraplane History/Review |
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It's an evocative name: Terraplane.
In 1933 it might also have been known in the US as Terrorplane.
For the 1933 Terraplane 8 was the transport of choice of gangster, John Dillinger.
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| 1958 Ford Edsel - Fit For A King |
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Whenever I travel I am always lookout for car museums.
Inevitably, every car has a story and those that reside in museums usually have interesting automobile `lives'.
In a recent visit to Laos we visited the former royal capital of Luang Prabang, in central northern Laos, an hour or so flight north east of the capital, Vientiane.
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| 1998 Caterham Super Seven |
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Much has been said about `aspirational' cars. Vehicles we aspire to own.
There's many a refrigerator door and office wall adorned with photographs of the car we would buy when I, 'win Lotto.'
For many years I recall going to my mate Daryl Wilson's house and inevitably picking up his 1/18th scale model of a Caterham Super Seven.
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| For MG All Roads Lead To Beijing |
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You know the world's gone a little crazy when British icon, MG, is owned by Chinese interests.
The bottom line is if the Chinese hadn't picked up the name, then it would more than likely be yet another car company sent to the big garage in the sky.
The history of MG has been one of turmoil.
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| Holden FB 1959 EK 1961 History |
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FINS.... you gotta love `em.
We did in the 1950s when the US car makers appeared to be in some form of competition to see who could produce the car with the largest tail fins ... or the oddest shape.
Like any fad, fins were relatively short-lived.
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| Jaguar Mark V |
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When I think of a 1948 Jaguar, my mind immediately reflects on the XK 120.
With good reason.
The XK 120 DNA led directly through XK 140 and XK 150 to the XKE or E-Type, one of the most beautiful sports cars ever built.
Surprisingly, the XK 120 was easily outsold in 1948 by another Jaguar, a car the XK 120 shared the display with at the 1948 London Motor Show.
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| Morris Minor - Optimistic Morrie Led The Way |
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While the name Alec Issigonis is most recognised as the designer of the original `Mini' this Turkish-born car genius was no one-hit wonder.
The new Mini, now owned by BMW, lives on as testament to his enduring design.
Issigonis was also responsible for the design of the best known Morris of all time, the Morris Minor.
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| Studebaker Commander - When Chrome Domes Ruled The Roost |
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If there was one US company to rival Chrysler for innovative --- read outrageous --- car designs it was Studebaker.
It was anything goes on the drawing boards at Raymond Loewy Associates, the firm that designed Studebakers from 1938-1955.
That Loewy got away with the designs he did was no doubt due to the fact Studebaker was a small, lean, independent manufacturer.
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| Studebaker US6 Truck |
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Nino Culotta (John O'Grady) was right: We are a weird mob.
If you think some blokes have problems with she indoors over car restorations, just imagine the kitchen table discussions about restoring one of these monsters.
The restoration of a Studebaker US6 truck cannot be undertaken in your normal garden-variety garage.
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| Talbot's Golden Era Of Exploration |
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Car Museums almost always have a centrepiece ....a vehicle that is not only special, but achieved a remarkable feat in its working life.
The National Motor Museum, at Birdwood, outside Handorf in the Adelaide Hills, is no exception.
Our motoring past is rich with achievements, thanks to our pioneering spirit.
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| 1948 Fargo Utility - Far From Dodgy |
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Any early American car manufacturer that has made it into the 21 st century is bound to have rollicking roller coaster story.
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| Good Ol' Beach Boys Lead To Buggy |
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Necessity, it is said, is the mother of invention.
After WW2 Californian Bruce Meyers saw a typical heavy American V8 powered cars on the beach, he knew there had to be a better vehicle.
A lighter car that could float across sand, rather than bog down in it.
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| Packard 1958 - Opera House On Wheels |
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Could this be the car that inspired Jorn Utzon's Sydney Opera House design?
Looking at this photograph, it's difficult not to see some similarity.
We talk specifically about cars and their fins in another article, but this set of fins belong to a Packardbaker.
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| BMW 75 Years Of Roadsters |
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At the Berlin Motor Show in 1934, BMW presented its first roadster – the six-cylinder 315/1 - which went on to become one of the serious contenders in the sports car market of its time and the forbearer of the modern Z4 Roadster.
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| 2009 Pebble Beach Ferraris |
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For many automotive historians, the sleek, compact styling of the 1949 166 MM Touring Barchettas helped to define the Ferrari brand, creating its legend and mystique and drawing legions of fans worldwide. Just 25 of these cars were built and the Concours will reunite 10 of them.
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| Bentley Speed Six |
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This week, as the Brooklands track celebrates its centenary, the most famous of the vintage Bentley racing cars are reunited at the circuit for the first time in the company of the very latest Bentley Brooklands coupe.
Bentley’s proud sporting pedigree, forged by the exploits of the immortal Bentley Boys on this famous racetrack in the 1920s and 30s, was the inspiration for the new Bentley Brooklands coupe, capturing all the style, power and splendour of that era.
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| Amazon Wagon From Another Planet |
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Believe it or not, young Swedes grow up dreaming of modifying their Volvos; taking a few inches out of the ride height, adding some pork to the treads and dropping in a late-model drivetrain.
But a twin-cam, 24-valve 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine from an early '90 Volvo 960 sitting inside the perfect body of a 1967 Amazon two-door wagon is rare even in Sweden. Oh, and the turbocharged six is pushing out 600hp.
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