Cars That Made Australia

The Holden Statesman and Ford Fairlane were more than simply bigger Commodores and Falcons, they were Australia’s answer to luxury on four wheels, symbols of quiet success and Aussie pride. These oversized but understated sedans were for the boss, the politician, the bloke who’d made it without needing to shout about it — they were built for the times. They were more than just roomy interiors and analog clocks; they were a mark of status in a simpler time, when “made in Australia” still had real meaning. In this episode, we’ll explore how the Statesman and Fairlane went from local luxury to nostalgic relics, what they meant to a generation chasing the Aussie dream, and why they still hold a place in our hearts — even if our tastes have shifted to hatchbacks and SUVs. Special thanks to: Tony Davis Russell Howcroft Harvey Miller Owners Rob & Martin Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mini Moke wasn't just a car, it was an oddball on wheels, automotive fun in its simplest form. Originally designed as an army runabout, it never quite made the cut... but somehow found its place in beach towns, resorts, a few Bond films, and even Bass Strait. With no doors, no roof, and barely even an engine, somehow it defied the odds and became a cult classic, perfect for sun-soaked adventures in places like Magnetic Island and the Gold Coast. The Moke was a ride of cheap thrills, a sense of adventure, and a cheeky personality in a comically small package. In this episode, discover how a car that wasn’t very good at anything somehow became kind of perfect for everything — if you didn’t mind a bit of sunburn along the way.Special thanks to: Tony Davis Watto Ben Hans Tholstrup Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust. Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many of us, our journey with a car starts in a showroom. But for some individuals, it starts in a shed. The fibreglass build-it-yourself kit cars of the 70s offered a chance to swap the rule book for some brand new parts and plans. Outlandish original designs, luxury replicas and sporty looks were all on the table for a fraction of the price - provided you didn’t mind spending hundreds of hours working for it…In this episode, hear from those who don’t mind thinking ‘out of the box’ when it comes to what they want from a car, and from the entrepreneur who made his name building the Australian kit car that would go down in history - the Purvis Eureka. Special thanks to: Tony Davis Alan C Purvis and his family Alex Paul Duignan and Transport NSW Paul Patton and the PECCA Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust. Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The panel van wasn’t just a vehicle — it was an oh-so-70s symbol of youth, freedom, and surf. Born as a humble workhorse, it transformed into something legendary, thanks to the van clubs that sprouted across Australia. Loud, colourful, and endlessly customisable, they had room for everything — a surfboard, a bed, a quadraphonic sound system, and maybe even a bar. Dealer’s choice. They were also as much about the party (and what happened in the back…) as they were about the road. “If this van’s a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’…” became part of its more complex legacy. Cars are freedom on four wheels, but panel vans? They took that freedom to a whole new level. Special thanks to: Tony Davis Doug Willis Anna Krien Kathy Lette Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust. Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ford Falcon wasn't just a car — it was an Australian icon, a symbol of homegrown muscle, pride, and family friendliness that thundered down our roads, dominated our racetracks, put the "falc" in falcodore, and — let's face it — made for one hell of a taxi. In this episode, discover how the Falcon evolved from its 'trim, taut, terrific' beginnings into the ultimate supercar - the highly revered GTHO Phase III. Hear how it burned its image into Aussie folklore through a legendary drive and the most iconic photo of our muscle car era. Special thanks to: Tony Davis Mel Nichols Paul Maric Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust. Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. The spokesperson featured in this episode, Paul Maric, is not an employee and is sponsored by eBay specifically for the purposes of this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm built for the bends at Burthst and the Aussie bogan looking to burn some rubber - what am I? If you answered "Holden Torana", you'd be bang on. From humble beginnings, the Torana grew to become one of the most collectible Australian cars of all time - largely thanks to Brockie's legendary exploits at Bathurst. The Torana is more than just a compact classic, it's a working-class hero that stands as an emblem of Australia's proud automotive history, a golden era of Australian motoring on the road and on the racetrack.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1970s, often dubbed the "decade that style forgot", when Australia's automotive and suburban landscapes shared similar levels of austerity. Our locally made gas-guzzlers were overshadowed by the growing popularity of cheap, reliable, fuel-efficient imports from Japan. The cars were as boring as they were brown... but we lapped them up. The Datsun 180B was an unpretentious suburban stalwart and lays claim to being the 'best of the boring'. Hear how the Datto came to define the decade and laugh at the time Merrick & Rosso tried to buy one from a questionable character...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Australia said "Hi to Hyundai", we welcomed a car that changed the game. While others were affordable, the Excel was cheap, giving more people the chance to buy a brand-new set of wheels than ever before. In this episode, hear from the colourful businessmen who took a punt that paid off as Aussies everyone snapped up a new car from a new country at a new low price, drive away, no more to pay... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the colossal, designed-and-made-in-Australia family sedan with a boot big enough to hold a 44-gallon drum. Revolutionary in design, it won the coveted Wheels Car Of The Year award in 1973. It's also Australia's most infamous lemon, a badly built butt of many jokes, a victim of bad timing on top of its own ambition. Despite its status as one of the most maligned cars we've ever made, there are scores of loyal fans who defend the Leyland P76 and its legacy, warts and all. In this episode, hear how the P76 came to life, came apart, and came to be endearingly remembered as a loveable lemon, a car that lives up to its claim of being anything but average... And hey, if it really was as bad as they said it was, why did Merrick and Rosso buy two of them? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.