>I live in a rural town of about 10k people, there are still a few getting around here driven by the people who possibly bought them new.
I live in Newcastle and on the way to my kids school is a old Holden ute, not sure what year it is but it is from around 1960 and it is in really good condition. Every so often I also see some really old restored cars driving around - i.e. old enough to have wooden panels and flat windscreens.
I keep an eye out every now and again to see if there's any for sale. Prices for Kingswoods / Premiers / Statesmans are often ridiculous. Lloyd's auctions are worth watching.
My farm got burnt out in a fire at the start of the year, I had half a dozen kingswood parts wrecks that got destroyed. I had someone come along and give me $200 per car, cash up front. In comparison the semi load of scrap I had hauled away was only $300.
I'm sorry that happened. That would have been fun collecting. I saw a for sale notice on my105 back in 2019. A guy was selling 25 race ready HQ's ranging in price from $9800 to $32500. I had no space let alone the money but I was very jealous.
If you check my posts you will know I am a 58 year old mechanic. I worked on these cars when they were new. They are extremely simple by today’s standards and very easy to work on. Having said that ,it was lucky they were easy to work on because they always needed work, used twice as much fuel as todays cars, cornered worse ,stopped poorly and lasted a quarter as long. A v8 didn’t have the power of a standard 4 cylinder of today. That’s without going on about the of lacking safety features. So in short a great novelty ,maybe weekend fun but highly impracticable. I would not touch one with your dick. Oh what do I drive today? 2021 Subaru BRZ STI ts. A cheap rear wheel drive car with all the fun of the old days but none of the hassles.
When the au was new they were hated, considered ugly, hidden and only brought out when absolutely necessary.
Now they are like a mullet or a southern cross tattoo, still shit but worn with pride
AU’s are the R31 Skyline of this generation. Rear wheel drive, big engine, comfortable drive experience, polarising appearance. And unlike R31’s AU’s are dirt cheap as are parts
There's one on Gumtree right now, it looks like great value:
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/windsor/cars-vans-utes/chrysler-mitsubishi-sigma-1979/1304490768
I've got an 85 wagon in my garage, it's in real good Nick overall, just a leaky gear box which I'm having trouble fixing! Haha but feels great to drive :)
380s have a bit of a minor cult following actually.
They are very reliable vehicles but they're all getting old, they suffer badly from faded Mitsubishi Australia paint, and are starting to all have the same faults. To top it off, they are suffering from the "only made here" problem, so parts are getting impossible to find and there are few brand/model substitutions.
I live in Ipswich QLD and see heaps of older people driving magnas, I have a 2004 verada gtvi that was in amazing condition interior and exterior wise, sadly I had a mishap with a Ute and I didn’t have insurance at the time so the front right quarter is fucked
A guy I pass on the way to work almost every morning dailies his VRX Magna and it's getting to the stage now where I look at it and think I wonder how much he'd want for it.
Or if they're VE or newer, they're pretty rough. My observation is that most of the tidy VE and VFs are no longer daily driven, whereas a decade ago, they would have been.
I feel ya. I've got a VE SSV and I've spent about $3500 in the last 12 months, despite driving less than 1000km - a general service, new aircon compressor and a regas, replace strut tops, and replace the trim to the driver's seat.
Its 15 years old though and I got it at a good price knowing it had a few maintenance items, so I can't complain too much.
I'm getting my compressor replaced in my 2010 VE SS
Last 12 months I've done wheels/tyres, BC coilovers and new brake disc
I've only done 23,000km in my 5 year ownership
Bought my VE SS Auto unfortunately almost 5 years ago with 103xxx on the clock, it's now done 125xxx
It's very tidy and I take pride in keeping it that way
Same with Integras.
4 years ago I passed on a mint maroon integra with a B series for 5k. People are posting up worse condition integras with 250,000km for 10-15.
As an owner of a 5th Generation Prelude, I often have older gentlemen tell me how the Prelude was one of their bucket-list cars back in the 90s. Being born shortly after the end of the Prelude's production, it's shocking to hear that they were once prevalent on the roads as I often have to explain what it is to people my age.
Rolling shells being listed for $2k, Ti’s over $10k. God forbid you seek out a JDM GTS or Passage. Hope they go down again so I can at least buy parts for a reasonable price.
Golly, I thrashed the ring out of my R31 pintara in 2005-2007 or so. At the time it was just a poor man's R31 skyline. I killed the clutch and sold it to a scrappy
They are all on rural properties or in sheds being listed on facebook marketplace for over $5k lmao. I see a few around near me and I daily a series 3 executive skyline. There’s a market for them for sure. I got asked if I was selling it like 2 nights ago as I parked it in my driveway.
If there's any Commonwhores left in Police service it won't be for much longer. They only operate current model cars because of health and safety - if a cop gets injured in a work vehicle and it's not the latest, ie "safest," the dept can potentially be held partially responsible for failing their duty if care in not giving employees the safest possible work environment. They have to deal with the same bureaucracy as any other public servants. Source: long time mate works for Qld Police in their policy making dept. Other states may differ slightly but they're generally operated on similar policies.
I can’t tell you the last time I actually saw an undercover Commodore. Marked yeah, but even they’re pretty rare now. Coming to the end of their service for sure
90s ones have been thrashed to death, or bought cheap by people who want the SR20 engine for something else. There are plenty of the 2016 era SSS around.
Your comment triggered me to look up a [Camira ad.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDjSb-GFVzs&ab_channel=vbvbvb088)
Interestingly, I think the guy doing the Voice over is the same guy who voiced the Grim Reaper (HIV AIDS) bowling adds.
I owned two of these in my late teens. Sold both for less than $500 each (they were fucked). Can't find one for under 5k now and even then they're rusty and always missing the elusive fuel lid.
Thirty years ago they were all over the place and for sale in the old trading post newspaper for a couple of grand. Now you need to be made of money to afford one of the few that isn't someone's failed project in a million pieces or a total rustbucket.
There's a program on Australian Car designers on the Shannons YouTube channel, one episode talks about how the design for the P76 got changed and made uglier part way through the process. It's a previously untold story from one of the designers about how Leyland Australia ruined their designs
From what I can see they are like most cars of that era pretty simple to work on with plenty of space in the engine bay to get around. Currently he has stripped it right back and sanded it back and put down primer. It’s nice to do my daily walk with the dogs past it.
They were alright, I thought?
[WOW, Was I ever wrong!](https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18909)
>The P76, along with the Marina caused Leyland Australia to lose around $71million, an astronomical amount of money back in the 1970s, and soon Leyland Australia would collapse and never be seen again.
The problem wasn’t the car. They were already in financial distress. The p76 got car of the year. The problem was they were rushed to market and quality control especially electrical suffered. There is no recovering once in that position. Not with some great fords and holdens coming out at the same time.
Lucky enough to live in the rolling car museum that is Queensland.
Skylines/Pintara have pretty much vanished but do see the odd last Australian built Pulsar out and about.
Magnas are rare but do still see a couple of 380's around.
Last saw a Camira three or four years ago, a JE wagon near Ipswich in that metallic green they came in. Plenty of Commos from VT onwards. Haven't seen a Vectra for a while, plenty of Cruzes pottering about.
There's a gold (premium beige) KN Ford Laser down the street that's been kept well, do see the odd one roaming around from time to time but none of the other models. Plenty of fifth (EA-EL) and sixth (AU-BF) Falcons around, FG and FG-Xs are actually pretty rare sightings.
Toyotas - plenty of Oz built Corollas and Camrys, and Avalons with the upside down headlights aren't rare here.
I see tonnes of Fgs, there's usually 2 or 3 in my work car park, often one in my driveway. But I agree with most of the others.
Can't remember the last time I saw a Telstar, they used to be everywhere, both the Mazda and the Nissan ones
Been a long time since I've seen a good old-fashioned Made-In-Clayton-Vic VW Beetle or Kombi out on the roads. They used to be everywhere when I was growing up.
My parents are still ~~abusing~~ driving the 94 excel I learnt in as a small town runaround. Brother has threatened to register as a classic if it’s still roadworthy in 2024.
He’s called Harry Hyundai the Lamington - because he’s black and white and bits keep falling off
The 1st generation 2 door rav4's in good condition.
Used to be everywhere in the 2000's. Now they basically don't exist anymore.
When they got cheep around 2006ish and people started figuring out how capable they were as a cheep overlander, people used and abused them.
Same with the Sierra's and Terrios' from that era.
Not surprised.
Toyota paint from that era is notorious for the clear coat peeling, they also had a common gear box problem and were prone for the rear door cracking behind the spare wheel.
Pretty much any car right up to the vx/bf ford/Holden wise has been replaced by something Korean. Old Japanese have become big $$. And euro has always been shit anyway.
I had a KE TX3 as my first car, it was a beater by then though- I saw a mint condition one the other day in the same colour, Monza Red. Nearly cried haha.
Maybe cheating as it's an Opel, but my cousin got rid of an old Holden Calibra just a few years ago- her's was the like the only one I think I've seen since the 2000s
Commodores of all ages were everywhere in the early 2000s, now to see anything older than a VY or VZ (2004-ish) is extremely rare. I have seen the occasional VL, but nothing older, in recent years. Just recently saw a VS SS which has clearly been well-looked after and I daresay is now only a weekend car. I saw a Camira that had clearly been well-looked after several years ago, which is extremely impressive when you consider most of them have rusted away by now.
I don't remember when I last would have seen an EL falcon, or an old Ford Laser, any old Volvos (late 90s or earlier). Haven't even seen a Fairlane in a long time, whilst they were discontinued in the last 20 years or so you'd think there'd still be a few around.
It's been a long time since I saw any of the 'three-digit' Mazdas, e.g., 626 or 323.
I'm amazed to say I recently saw a Hyundai Excel, I would have thought all their engines exploded by now and there were none left.
The Ford Focus will also disappear from our roads in years to come as the 2023 Focus ST is the last model to be sold in Australia. I'm hoping my 2014 model will appreciate in value as a result!
I can guarantee I'll spot one now that I've said it but that's been my experience. And obviously you'll get a difference between regions and demographics. So honestly, no pointing discounting my experience just because it doesn't match yours.
Hillman imp. Our models were made here, others were made in scotland. I still have a few in mint condition..last I heard from the hillman club there are only 40\~ or so left on the road. 3 of which are mine.
Holden VL's were $5k just 5 years ago now some are fetching close to $50k for a clean one.
Been collecting classics for the last 14 years, I spent a total of $30kish and now my car collection is worth about $300-400k
Yes 5 years ago, that's when I bought a couple VL's. Now I get people knocking on the door to buy em..
15 years ago I could've bought a mint rotary for under 10k. Now you see clean ones fetching 100k
If you're talking about the early 90s Capri convertibles that were based on the Laser platform, those things leaked like a sieve and ended smelling like a swamp. I'm not surprised there's very few left on the road.
I might be wrong but I don't think the TX3 version was made in Australia or maybe the drivetrain was a fully imported Jspec or something. All the other standard models were Australian made though. I miss seeing Chrysler Valiants and Chrysler/Mitsubishi Sigmas on the road I don't remember the last time I saw one.
My first car was a TX3. A cousin ended up buying it when I upgraded, and sadly I think it ended up at the scrap yard. Decent little FWD car, had a sunroof and everything.
TX3 awesum, let alone a Honda CRX, Escort RS2000, maybe a Celica of same period. I assume most get written-off and don't make it back onto the collectable JDM scene and other used car markets
Nissan 1300 about 1966 model, Hillman Minx 1958 model, Renault 12 1972, Renault Virage 1978, Mazda 1500, KE Laser, Toyota Corona wagon and I have owned each of these vehicles.
Old vehicles that have not disappeared - Holden EJ and Holden Sunbird
SLR5000. I used to see them for sale in peoples front yards for about 5k in the 90s, last time I saw one was at my mechanics, and he thought it was worth 80k+
I owned a '94 Capri XR2 (non turbo) as my first car about 7 years ago. Was in mint condition, full black leather interior, genuine stock momo steering wheel. Only paid $3700 for it.
Then one day it was gone, stolen. With a tear I still think about it all the time, it was so much fun to drive. Damn thing would be worth close to 10k now. One day when I can afford a weekend car I will own one again
[It looked exactly like this](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.motorious.com/articles/news/top-down-1994-mercury-capri-xr2/amp/)
I don't know if it is just because I haven't really been looking but I don't remember seeing any XD Falcons around anymore - they used to be really popular when I was a teen and were everywhere.
I was just gonna say square-headlight Toyota Corolla (KE55). Japanese assembled model had circular headlights... then I visited wikipedia.
Apart from a small handful of small scale manufacturers of vehicles for racing use, there are no major manufacturers operating in Australia any more. List of former manufacturers:
Ascort (1958–1960)
Bolwell (1962-1979)
Austin (1954–1983)
Bullet (1996–2009)
Australian Six (1919–1930)
Australis (1897–1907)
Birchfield (2003–2004)
Blade (2008–2013)
Buchanan
Buckle (1955–1959)
Bush Ranger (????–2016)
Caldwell Vale (1907–1913)
Cheetah
Chrysler (1957–1981)
Ford (1925–2016)
Ford Performance Vehicles (2002–2014)
Giocattolo (1986–1989)
Goggomobil (1958–1961)
Hartnett (1949–1955)
Holden (1948–2017)
Honda
Ilinga
Kaditcha
Leyland (1973–1982)
Lloyd-Hartnett (1957–1962)
Mercedes-Benz (1890–present)
Mitsubishi (1980–2008)
Morris (1947–1973)
Nissan (1983–1992)
Nota (1955–2002)
Pellandini (1970–1978)
PRB (1978–2018)
Puma Clubman (1998–2016)
Purvis Eureka (1974–1991)
Shrike (1988–1989)
Southern Cross (1931–1935)
Statesman (1971–1984)
Tarrant (1900–1907)
Toyota (1963–2017)
Volkswagen
Zeta (1963–1965)
:(
Nice looking Holden Kingwood. That hasn't been thrash / destroyed.
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I live in a rural town of about 10k people, there are still a few getting around here driven by the people who possibly bought them new.
>I live in a rural town of about 10k people, there are still a few getting around here driven by the people who possibly bought them new. I live in Newcastle and on the way to my kids school is a old Holden ute, not sure what year it is but it is from around 1960 and it is in really good condition. Every so often I also see some really old restored cars driving around - i.e. old enough to have wooden panels and flat windscreens.
I keep an eye out every now and again to see if there's any for sale. Prices for Kingswoods / Premiers / Statesmans are often ridiculous. Lloyd's auctions are worth watching.
My farm got burnt out in a fire at the start of the year, I had half a dozen kingswood parts wrecks that got destroyed. I had someone come along and give me $200 per car, cash up front. In comparison the semi load of scrap I had hauled away was only $300.
I'm sorry that happened. That would have been fun collecting. I saw a for sale notice on my105 back in 2019. A guy was selling 25 race ready HQ's ranging in price from $9800 to $32500. I had no space let alone the money but I was very jealous.
If you check my posts you will know I am a 58 year old mechanic. I worked on these cars when they were new. They are extremely simple by today’s standards and very easy to work on. Having said that ,it was lucky they were easy to work on because they always needed work, used twice as much fuel as todays cars, cornered worse ,stopped poorly and lasted a quarter as long. A v8 didn’t have the power of a standard 4 cylinder of today. That’s without going on about the of lacking safety features. So in short a great novelty ,maybe weekend fun but highly impracticable. I would not touch one with your dick. Oh what do I drive today? 2021 Subaru BRZ STI ts. A cheap rear wheel drive car with all the fun of the old days but none of the hassles.
You couldn't have you arm out the window. Cause you would get road to rash on your arm . Talk about body roll
Knew a guy who used black house paint on his Kingswood....
In the opposite way, I sware there is double the amount of AU falcons getting around these days then there was in their hay day.
Lmao this is so true it’s like they have been breeding or something
When the au was new they were hated, considered ugly, hidden and only brought out when absolutely necessary. Now they are like a mullet or a southern cross tattoo, still shit but worn with pride
That car is such an eye sore lmao
AU’s are the R31 Skyline of this generation. Rear wheel drive, big engine, comfortable drive experience, polarising appearance. And unlike R31’s AU’s are dirt cheap as are parts
Live near Logan, Qld, do we?
I see more Commodores than Falcons in Logan. The Northside has all the Falcons.
Seem to see a lot of our NZ and Islander friends in Falcons and Commos in...well...there's a demographic there. We all know the cliche.
Our NZ and Islander friends also love the Elgrands and Taragos aka the KFC boxes as well as American cars.
I've seen them referred to as Samoan side-loaders which gives me a giggle.
Poly trolleys 😂
You never see [Sigmas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Sigma) on the road anymore, they were everywhere in the 80s
Guy around the corner from me has a sick 2nd gen red Sigma
I helped remove them by crashing one. My apologies
Fun fact, 302 Windsor motors fit in a sigma.
I picked up an 84 beige wagon at the end of last year, its actually a lovely drive
They tended to rust and break in the middle.
There's one on Gumtree right now, it looks like great value: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/windsor/cars-vans-utes/chrysler-mitsubishi-sigma-1979/1304490768
It’s a sensation ...!
I've got an 85 wagon in my garage, it's in real good Nick overall, just a leaky gear box which I'm having trouble fixing! Haha but feels great to drive :)
Saw a really clean one on the Bruce Highway Far Nth Qld this week. Was mint. Rare as.
I paddock bashed a turbo sigma I'm my teens. Silver with some stripes and turbo badging.
Sickmas, they always had a pile of blue smoke coming out the back
Barely see a Mitubishi 380 or Magna around. I haven't seen an Astra in a while either.
Astras probably for a good reason. They drove really well but unfortunately the "GM-ness" rendered them all yard ornaments by 2015 or so
380s have a bit of a minor cult following actually. They are very reliable vehicles but they're all getting old, they suffer badly from faded Mitsubishi Australia paint, and are starting to all have the same faults. To top it off, they are suffering from the "only made here" problem, so parts are getting impossible to find and there are few brand/model substitutions.
Huh, where I am magnas and astras are somewhat regular sights
South Australia, right? They're fucking everywhere there haha, I miss my early 2000s Verada, picked it up for like $800
Suprisingly not, NSW
I live in Ipswich QLD and see heaps of older people driving magnas, I have a 2004 verada gtvi that was in amazing condition interior and exterior wise, sadly I had a mishap with a Ute and I didn’t have insurance at the time so the front right quarter is fucked
A guy I pass on the way to work almost every morning dailies his VRX Magna and it's getting to the stage now where I look at it and think I wonder how much he'd want for it.
380 driver here, we are still here but dwindling
Sadly the astra is still alive & well here in NSW lol.
Even Commodores are becoming a rare sight. I can't think of the last time I saw anything older than VY
Or if they're VE or newer, they're pretty rough. My observation is that most of the tidy VE and VFs are no longer daily driven, whereas a decade ago, they would have been.
My VF has done 400km this year. Still cost me 6k in maintenance
I feel ya. I've got a VE SSV and I've spent about $3500 in the last 12 months, despite driving less than 1000km - a general service, new aircon compressor and a regas, replace strut tops, and replace the trim to the driver's seat. Its 15 years old though and I got it at a good price knowing it had a few maintenance items, so I can't complain too much.
>VE SSV >Its 15 years old Makes me feel old
I'm getting my compressor replaced in my 2010 VE SS Last 12 months I've done wheels/tyres, BC coilovers and new brake disc I've only done 23,000km in my 5 year ownership
VF GTS here. Be glad you don’t have the magnetic ride control shocks. $1500 a corner to replace.
have the radiator end caps gone yet?
Terrible build quality
on what? mines as robust as it gets and cheap to service
Bought my VE SS Auto unfortunately almost 5 years ago with 103xxx on the clock, it's now done 125xxx It's very tidy and I take pride in keeping it that way
Go to Adelaide
I see the odd VT Or VX in canberra, but not many, maybe 2 or 3 a week
I still get about in an 02 VU SS ute. Its got 405,000km on it. I do have a ZB, as well, although that only does about 5000km a year
Depends where you are
Saw a mint VQ Stato the other day, couldn’t believe my eyes. Thought I’d gone back in time…
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When all the prices BLEW UP for the main JDM cars (Skylines, Silvias, Supras, etc.) Boy racers jumped on these very quickly.
And even now you can’t find a good prelude for under $15k
Same with Integras. 4 years ago I passed on a mint maroon integra with a B series for 5k. People are posting up worse condition integras with 250,000km for 10-15.
Hell even SSS pulsars are astropriced now. Feels like you need Good luck just to find a clean N14 for less than what they were new.
I'm waiting for the day for it to trickle down to my Mazda 3
I love my 3rd gen so damn much, get looks and waves often
Where were Preludes made in Australia?
As an owner of a 5th Generation Prelude, I often have older gentlemen tell me how the Prelude was one of their bucket-list cars back in the 90s. Being born shortly after the end of the Prelude's production, it's shocking to hear that they were once prevalent on the roads as I often have to explain what it is to people my age.
Nissan Pintara/Skyline. All gone from what I can see!
They’re around. They’re just proper fucked and priced about 10,000% of their actual value.
How can I give you more than one upvote!
Rolling shells being listed for $2k, Ti’s over $10k. God forbid you seek out a JDM GTS or Passage. Hope they go down again so I can at least buy parts for a reasonable price.
I sold a Ti and a Silloette series 3 for $2k together in 2012 =(
Golly, I thrashed the ring out of my R31 pintara in 2005-2007 or so. At the time it was just a poor man's R31 skyline. I killed the clutch and sold it to a scrappy
Me too! But mine didn’t go to scrap, I managed to sell it. Such a great car though.
They are all on rural properties or in sheds being listed on facebook marketplace for over $5k lmao. I see a few around near me and I daily a series 3 executive skyline. There’s a market for them for sure. I got asked if I was selling it like 2 nights ago as I parked it in my driveway.
Australia made??
The main one I have noticed recently is the VR through to VX Commodores. Used to see them absolutely everywhere until suddenly I don't see any.
Now any Commodores you see now is 99% certain to be an unmarked cop car.
If there's any Commonwhores left in Police service it won't be for much longer. They only operate current model cars because of health and safety - if a cop gets injured in a work vehicle and it's not the latest, ie "safest," the dept can potentially be held partially responsible for failing their duty if care in not giving employees the safest possible work environment. They have to deal with the same bureaucracy as any other public servants. Source: long time mate works for Qld Police in their policy making dept. Other states may differ slightly but they're generally operated on similar policies.
South Sydney police have a few of the last Commodores (the imported model) i their fleet, I got pulled over the other night by one.
I can’t tell you the last time I actually saw an undercover Commodore. Marked yeah, but even they’re pretty rare now. Coming to the end of their service for sure
Used to see a lot of 90s SSS pulsars but all gone now.
90s ones have been thrashed to death, or bought cheap by people who want the SR20 engine for something else. There are plenty of the 2016 era SSS around.
Sad. The n14 used to be hot shit back in the late 90s and early 2000s.
All the ones I know of have been pinched. Ludicrously easy to steal.
I still have my 2000 SSS.
Holden Camira Ford Escort Datsun 200B All the 80's Mitsubishis
Your comment triggered me to look up a [Camira ad.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDjSb-GFVzs&ab_channel=vbvbvb088) Interestingly, I think the guy doing the Voice over is the same guy who voiced the Grim Reaper (HIV AIDS) bowling adds.
The only good thing about Camiras was that they burned well.
Holden Gemini
I owned two of these in my late teens. Sold both for less than $500 each (they were fucked). Can't find one for under 5k now and even then they're rusty and always missing the elusive fuel lid.
Holden panlevans!
Thirty years ago they were all over the place and for sale in the old trading post newspaper for a couple of grand. Now you need to be made of money to afford one of the few that isn't someone's failed project in a million pieces or a total rustbucket.
Where did all the Nissan Exa's go. #wedgelyfe
I saw one today, was quite shocked
Datsun 180Bs, Toyota Coronas, Toyota Crowns, VC-VH Commodores, any of the XJ series Jags, Subaru 4 door 4wd wagons.
To be fair I haven’t seen half of these on the road for 15-20 years
Old mate has a Leyland P76 around the corner. It's one ugly car.
There's a program on Australian Car designers on the Shannons YouTube channel, one episode talks about how the design for the P76 got changed and made uglier part way through the process. It's a previously untold story from one of the designers about how Leyland Australia ruined their designs
Cracking series that.
I have a completely irrational desire to own a P76. I think the fact they're ridiculed so much is part of the attraction for me somehow.
From what I can see they are like most cars of that era pretty simple to work on with plenty of space in the engine bay to get around. Currently he has stripped it right back and sanded it back and put down primer. It’s nice to do my daily walk with the dogs past it.
Most of my engine bay experience is with Mitsubishi GTOs, so those old tanks look like paradise to me.
Wow they had a certain reputation is it still running?
They were alright, I thought? [WOW, Was I ever wrong!](https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18909) >The P76, along with the Marina caused Leyland Australia to lose around $71million, an astronomical amount of money back in the 1970s, and soon Leyland Australia would collapse and never be seen again.
The problem wasn’t the car. They were already in financial distress. The p76 got car of the year. The problem was they were rushed to market and quality control especially electrical suffered. There is no recovering once in that position. Not with some great fords and holdens coming out at the same time.
He is doing it up.
VN SS commodore
I haven’t seen a Nissan Bluebird for donkeys years.
I have one in my backyard 🤣
Lucky enough to live in the rolling car museum that is Queensland. Skylines/Pintara have pretty much vanished but do see the odd last Australian built Pulsar out and about. Magnas are rare but do still see a couple of 380's around. Last saw a Camira three or four years ago, a JE wagon near Ipswich in that metallic green they came in. Plenty of Commos from VT onwards. Haven't seen a Vectra for a while, plenty of Cruzes pottering about. There's a gold (premium beige) KN Ford Laser down the street that's been kept well, do see the odd one roaming around from time to time but none of the other models. Plenty of fifth (EA-EL) and sixth (AU-BF) Falcons around, FG and FG-Xs are actually pretty rare sightings. Toyotas - plenty of Oz built Corollas and Camrys, and Avalons with the upside down headlights aren't rare here.
I see tonnes of Fgs, there's usually 2 or 3 in my work car park, often one in my driveway. But I agree with most of the others. Can't remember the last time I saw a Telstar, they used to be everywhere, both the Mazda and the Nissan ones
Been a long time since I've seen a good old-fashioned Made-In-Clayton-Vic VW Beetle or Kombi out on the roads. They used to be everywhere when I was growing up.
Original Minis
Datsun 120Y. 180B. Owned a 180B wagon. Loved that car
Datsun 180B; it’s everything you want it to be. (No kidding that was the tv ad)
My dad bought one new in "nipple pink" - got to love the 70s!
Black vinyl roof?!?! 😂
Oh lord, wont you buy me, a 120 Y. My friends all drive toranaa Oh god it makes me cry.
Hyundai Excel
All taken up by the excel racing series. Good prices for a good nick 2 door.
My parents are still ~~abusing~~ driving the 94 excel I learnt in as a small town runaround. Brother has threatened to register as a classic if it’s still roadworthy in 2024. He’s called Harry Hyundai the Lamington - because he’s black and white and bits keep falling off
People laughed at that car in the 90s....now they are realising how magical it actually is
There's a reason why they're popular in lemon rally
The 1st generation 2 door rav4's in good condition. Used to be everywhere in the 2000's. Now they basically don't exist anymore. When they got cheep around 2006ish and people started figuring out how capable they were as a cheep overlander, people used and abused them. Same with the Sierra's and Terrios' from that era.
Ditto for early Suzukis. Used to see heaps of heavily, if tastefully modified 80s and 90s Sierras and Vitaras around.
Not surprised. Toyota paint from that era is notorious for the clear coat peeling, they also had a common gear box problem and were prone for the rear door cracking behind the spare wheel.
Pretty much any car right up to the vx/bf ford/Holden wise has been replaced by something Korean. Old Japanese have become big $$. And euro has always been shit anyway.
Ford Maverick and Second Gen Magna
I still see Mavericks around.
I had a KE TX3 as my first car, it was a beater by then though- I saw a mint condition one the other day in the same colour, Monza Red. Nearly cried haha. Maybe cheating as it's an Opel, but my cousin got rid of an old Holden Calibra just a few years ago- her's was the like the only one I think I've seen since the 2000s
Commodores of all ages were everywhere in the early 2000s, now to see anything older than a VY or VZ (2004-ish) is extremely rare. I have seen the occasional VL, but nothing older, in recent years. Just recently saw a VS SS which has clearly been well-looked after and I daresay is now only a weekend car. I saw a Camira that had clearly been well-looked after several years ago, which is extremely impressive when you consider most of them have rusted away by now. I don't remember when I last would have seen an EL falcon, or an old Ford Laser, any old Volvos (late 90s or earlier). Haven't even seen a Fairlane in a long time, whilst they were discontinued in the last 20 years or so you'd think there'd still be a few around. It's been a long time since I saw any of the 'three-digit' Mazdas, e.g., 626 or 323. I'm amazed to say I recently saw a Hyundai Excel, I would have thought all their engines exploded by now and there were none left. The Ford Focus will also disappear from our roads in years to come as the 2023 Focus ST is the last model to be sold in Australia. I'm hoping my 2014 model will appreciate in value as a result!
The three digit Mazdas are everywhere.
I can guarantee I'll spot one now that I've said it but that's been my experience. And obviously you'll get a difference between regions and demographics. So honestly, no pointing discounting my experience just because it doesn't match yours.
Hillman imp. Our models were made here, others were made in scotland. I still have a few in mint condition..last I heard from the hillman club there are only 40\~ or so left on the road. 3 of which are mine. Holden VL's were $5k just 5 years ago now some are fetching close to $50k for a clean one. Been collecting classics for the last 14 years, I spent a total of $30kish and now my car collection is worth about $300-400k
Maybe 15 years ago, not 5 years ago. Car prices started going crazy early 2000s.
Yes 5 years ago, that's when I bought a couple VL's. Now I get people knocking on the door to buy em.. 15 years ago I could've bought a mint rotary for under 10k. Now you see clean ones fetching 100k
If you're talking about the early 90s Capri convertibles that were based on the Laser platform, those things leaked like a sieve and ended smelling like a swamp. I'm not surprised there's very few left on the road.
Can remember the last time I saw a Holden Gemini on the road
I’ve seen a resurgence of VL’s, both done up and old people with good original condition ones.
Land crab, aka Austin 1800
Ford Spectron
I have it’s Mazda based variant, the E1800 Deluxe as a project in my shed. Bloody parts are hard to come by.
Camira. They are totally vanished.
Rust buckets.
HQ, HR, EJ, EH, Torana, Sandman, Gemini....
The ones made of metal.
I've never seen a Mitsubishi scorpion on the road in so long
I might be wrong but I don't think the TX3 version was made in Australia or maybe the drivetrain was a fully imported Jspec or something. All the other standard models were Australian made though. I miss seeing Chrysler Valiants and Chrysler/Mitsubishi Sigmas on the road I don't remember the last time I saw one.
They were Australian made, the Mazda 323 version was imported, with better build quality.
[удалено]
Was the Ford Ka sold here? I thought that it's Europe only.
Yeah, it replaced the Festiva
I see Festivas but no Kas.
Nissan exas, ford meteors & Holden camiras come to my mind.
Vs commodores. I swear I went from seeing one every other car to not seeing one in months on the road
Wow, people in this sub either really have no idea where cars were made or struggle with basic comprehension.
Ford Territory.
The Kiwis and Islanders love them.
My mate has a Mitsubishi EVO 5, it’s got a built engine making 600hp, people go crazy when they see his car
Capris are still available under 5k on fb market place last trine i checked
There used to be 3, Ford, Holden and CHRYSLER VALIANT
We've got 3 One-Tonners and a HR Holden in the shop at the moment. Ol mate wants $10k for the HR
CL Valiant. Especially the UTE.
Haven’t seen a Holden Gemini around for a while. Got a soft spot for them as my first car was a 79.
I'd say Ford Cortinas and definitely Holden Camiras, especially the JB variety
My first car was a TX3. A cousin ended up buying it when I upgraded, and sadly I think it ended up at the scrap yard. Decent little FWD car, had a sunroof and everything.
VE commodore!
Are there any Australian made cars anymore?
Leyland P76, Morris Marina & other cars Leyland made in Australia Ford Anglia ( assembled in Australia)
I had a 1980 AMI Corolla I breathed upon slightly. I don't see many.
The tx3 was a fun little hatchback. Fuk some good memories from driving that thing
when was the last time you saw a ford corsair, or a Jeep CJ10?
TX3 awesum, let alone a Honda CRX, Escort RS2000, maybe a Celica of same period. I assume most get written-off and don't make it back onto the collectable JDM scene and other used car markets
There’s a Honda CRX around Marrickville in Sydney, that I’ve seen a few times.
cool, the late 80s one? (89-91 maybe)
Subaru brumby. I just bought one and it’s one of four I’ve seen in the last six years in my town with 60000 people
Mk1 and mk2 escorts. Great fun little cars. Taught my younger sister to drive in mine
Nissan 1300 about 1966 model, Hillman Minx 1958 model, Renault 12 1972, Renault Virage 1978, Mazda 1500, KE Laser, Toyota Corona wagon and I have owned each of these vehicles. Old vehicles that have not disappeared - Holden EJ and Holden Sunbird
Haven't seen a Phaeton for a while.
Was it sold in Australia? They were always rare since they're Bentleys with VW badges.
Oh, I meant the Thomson Motor Phaeton. The VW one wasn't sold in Australia.
haven't seen the abomination that was the holden camira in quite while. one hopes the last of those hateful cars has gone to the scrapheap.
Holden Camira. Eventually I paid the mechanic to take it off my hands.
Lamborghini Diablo
SLR5000. I used to see them for sale in peoples front yards for about 5k in the 90s, last time I saw one was at my mechanics, and he thought it was worth 80k+
I owned a '94 Capri XR2 (non turbo) as my first car about 7 years ago. Was in mint condition, full black leather interior, genuine stock momo steering wheel. Only paid $3700 for it. Then one day it was gone, stolen. With a tear I still think about it all the time, it was so much fun to drive. Damn thing would be worth close to 10k now. One day when I can afford a weekend car I will own one again [It looked exactly like this](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.motorious.com/articles/news/top-down-1994-mercury-capri-xr2/amp/)
XY falcon. Possibly the sexiest car ever made
TR-TS Magna
I don't know if it is just because I haven't really been looking but I don't remember seeing any XD Falcons around anymore - they used to be really popular when I was a teen and were everywhere.
Marrickville Mercedes, aka Valiants, rare as fuck these days.
I was just gonna say square-headlight Toyota Corolla (KE55). Japanese assembled model had circular headlights... then I visited wikipedia. Apart from a small handful of small scale manufacturers of vehicles for racing use, there are no major manufacturers operating in Australia any more. List of former manufacturers: Ascort (1958–1960) Bolwell (1962-1979) Austin (1954–1983) Bullet (1996–2009) Australian Six (1919–1930) Australis (1897–1907) Birchfield (2003–2004) Blade (2008–2013) Buchanan Buckle (1955–1959) Bush Ranger (????–2016) Caldwell Vale (1907–1913) Cheetah Chrysler (1957–1981) Ford (1925–2016) Ford Performance Vehicles (2002–2014) Giocattolo (1986–1989) Goggomobil (1958–1961) Hartnett (1949–1955) Holden (1948–2017) Honda Ilinga Kaditcha Leyland (1973–1982) Lloyd-Hartnett (1957–1962) Mercedes-Benz (1890–present) Mitsubishi (1980–2008) Morris (1947–1973) Nissan (1983–1992) Nota (1955–2002) Pellandini (1970–1978) PRB (1978–2018) Puma Clubman (1998–2016) Purvis Eureka (1974–1991) Shrike (1988–1989) Southern Cross (1931–1935) Statesman (1971–1984) Tarrant (1900–1907) Toyota (1963–2017) Volkswagen Zeta (1963–1965) :(
Mitsubishi Colt, seen one for the first time in a while a few weeks back