Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 83 i Australian Muscle Car

V8 Supercars does itself no favours sometimes with its ridiculous PR spin and awkward phrasing of public announcements. Such was the case with its latest Bathurst 12-Hour bombshell which, after the 2015 test day scheduling farce, again left many race fans questioning its motives. Exhibit A, your honour: the opening line of the announcement. “In a landmark agreement for GT Racing in Australia, Supercars Events, in partnership with Bathurst Regional Council, has acquired the rights to manage the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour Event at Mount Panorama from 2016, bringing its specialist major events expertise to the growing fixture.” Reading this had me wondering what “acquire the rights to manage” actually meant. This phrasing suggested the company’s events arm had merely won the contract to run a race owned by someone…

Where have the young guns gone? Could somebody please pass me that set of steps? I need to climb onto my high horse this month – and this time I’ll be looking forward, not back. What’s exercising the Gibson mind right now is this question: where have all the young guns gone? Or, putting it another way, where are all the young guns in Australian motor racing supposed to go right now? Channel-hopping on Fox the other day I came across the Shannons Nationals at Phillip Island. Have a look at that, I thought: this is supposed to be a Gold Star round, but it’s a Formula 3 race with half a dozen drivers on the grid. That’s terrible! And it got me wondering: where’s our sport going? To me…

1-2, thank you It was unquestionably Ford’s finest hour at Bathurst. And arguably the defining image of the company’s 90-year history in Australia. Ford fans will forever remember the two Falcons crossing the finishing line together, just centimetres apart, on Sunday October 2, 1977 to win the Hardie-Ferodo 1000. On the flipside, they are the machines that Holden fans still see in their deepest and darkest of automotive nightmares. Close your eyes and you can hear their 351 cubic-inch Cleveland V8 powerplants rumbling around Mount Panorama, having left the Toranas in their tyre tracks. Open your eyes and you can instantly recognise the simple white Moffat Ford Dealers livery with red and blue stripes running from nose to tail. Just one flash and any muscle car fanatic or Australian race…

AMC: What was it like to drive a V8 Supercar at the Nurburgring? MR: It’s a handful. One thing we found there, which we don’t have here, is compression. They have a place called the Fox Hole, and I remember one of the first times I went down there in the V8, it was just that fast. I mustn’t have had my crotch straps done up tightly enough, because at the next corner, when I’ve gone for the brakes, my foot is off the side of the pedal – because my body had slid down so far that my foot was now wrongly positioned. I nearly crashed. It shocked me – I couldn’t believe how much I’d moved in the car. It’s really hard to describe what…

RESTRICTED TO OPEN-MINDED READERS ONLY. Strong thought-provoking content, myths debunked, facts only, no nudity. Bang for your Buck Ford’s XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III is the king of Australian muscle cars, right? In terms of its outright performance and macho street presence, that may well be the case. But when it comes to bang for your bucks, the Phase III was a fair way down the grid. In offering money propositions the 1970s, GM-H had it all over the performance car competition. The weapons of choice were all from the Torana range of sporty hot rods. All were priced to sell and included a limited-slip differential (LSD) as part of the standard equipment specification. Holden was deadly serious about bringing performance products at bargain basement prices to market. Initially, six-cylinder…

In our Sacred Sites feature on defunct drag strips (AMC #80) we gave credit to Queensland businessman and race track builder Keith Williams for establishing the Savanna Dragway and speedway complex at Townsville in 1969. However, we have since been contacted by Townsville businessmen Alan and Denis Brosnan and put straight on the long-lost facility’s origins. Denis explained that the track was in fact the brainchild of local grazier and business identity Rex Goodsell. Goodsell had been a member of the Townsville Show Society when that body cancelled the running of speedway events at the Showground. He declared that he thought that the young people of the town should have access to a venue where such racing could take place, and encouraged by friends who had an interest in racing…

Some muscle cars are bought by loving owners who pamper them like members of the family. Other muscle cars, though, aren’t so lucky. Some get stolen, smashed or thrashed. Some get parked and lost under a layer of dust in an old shed, others get left outside to brave the elements and slowly rust away. Sad, but true. We eyeball plenty of beautifully maintained and/or fully restored muscle classics in AMC, but as serious car pervs we have to admit there’s few things more intriguing – or exciting – than spotting an old classic in a paddock, or a shed, or under a shady tree, that’s seen better days and in need of some TLC. Some are beyond saving, but they all have a story to tell. So, get out…

There is something uniquely Australian in the 2016 Shelby Mustang GT350R set for release in the USA. It’s carbon-fibre wheels made in Geelong by Carbon Revolution. The high-tech and high-cost rims are currently only set for the Shelby GT350R version of the Mustang, but there is nothing – beyond a hefty pricetag – to stop people updating their ’Stang with an aftermarket set. Ford says that the wheels cut more than twenty kilograms from the unsprung weight of the Mustang, which gives a measurable improvement to both the ride and cornering performance. Carbon Revolution has made big strides in less than five years, going from a top-end dream into a production reality. Predictably, it first showed its road-ready products on a Porsche 911 but is now moving to boost production…

Holden has not given up on the Commodore despite the inevitable run-up to its factory closure in Adelaide in 2017. It’s still working to keep the car fresh, adding value and interest on a month-by-month plan that’s also keeping people interested in its V8-powered halo cars. It’s put the Storm pack onto the SV6 and SS – sedan, ute and wagon – and is pressing ahead with plans for a running series of upgrades, including a major final tweak in the first half of next year. Meanhwile, Holden Special Vehicles is also keeping up the pressure, using the 25th anniversary of the ClubSport to introduce a limited-edition R8 model. Only 100 cars were created for Australia – with another eight for New Zealand – and the most obvious change is…

With the Australian International Motor Show now dead and seemingly buried, the mantle of this country’s biggest indoor car show has passed to Meguiar’s MotorEx. The Sydney Olympic Park extravaganza attracted 26,742 spectators over the last weekend in July to see 450 showstoppers and 100 traders displayed over 50,000 square metres. AMC headed straight to Movie Car Mania to view the 30-strong line-up of famous TV and film cars. This display, the largest of its kind ever seen in Australia, came together to celebrate the attendance of Hollywood movie car legend, George Barris. The custom car king attracted a rock star-like following all weekend. “I was so thrilled to finally visit Australia because more Aussies visit my workshop than from any other country,” said Barris, who turns 90 later this…

AMC Reader: Terry BromleyMuscle car: XY GT (with no nickname)Hometown: Geraldton, WA What is it? “A JG33 1971 XY GT.” When did you buy it? “I purchased it off Australian Muscle Car Sales’ Mike Selby approximately 12 years ago. At that stage it was still painted red.” Why did you buy it? “Mike told me it should be painted Yellow Ochre – as in, it rolled off the production line that colour – and not red. Because the first XY Falcon I owned in 1971 was Yellow Ochre I wanted to retrace my past. I took it home to Geraldton, Western Australia, performed a full rotisserie resto from red to Yellow Ochre.” What do you know about its life? “The ACCHs report [ED: Australian Classic Car History Services]…

Quick Dick yarn overdue About bloody time. I have been a proud owner of a Dick Johnson Grand Prix for 20 years and to date there has been very little printed about them anywhere. As always your article (in AMC #82) was full of accurate information and facts that was second to none. If l had to be critical, the only incorrect statement was about the Modern Motor article as if you look closely there were two different cars used. One had pinstriping. To see Glenn Webster’s Grand Prix on the cover was the icing on the cake. Recently Man and Machine’s Glenn Everitt drove one on his show and had nothing but praise for them. At the last DJR open day there were three parked together which was a…

Item No.18572 Available 3rd Quarter 2015 GS monogrammed three spoke deep dish steering wheel and dash featuring GT instrumentation and bucket front seats. Plenty of detail inside! 1/18 Scale Model Diecast Replica The 302 engine has an amazing level of detail, including etched metal bonnet hinges, finely moulded hoses, tubing and fine graphics. The Grand Sport Rally Pack was a factory option available on a range of models. With a single tick on the order form the customer could add several ‘sporty’ features to their new Ford without going to the expense of buying the GT. The features included GS side stripe and badging, GS insignia on a three spoke - deep dished steering wheel, GT dash featuring speedometer, tachometer, odometer, oil pressure, water temperature and fuel gauges and stainless…

The 1977 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 featured the most cosmopolitan driver entry in the event’s 18-year history to that point with local stars joined by a long list of internationals. Among the drivers from overseas were: Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, partnered with Janet Guthrie (#17); Le Mans winners Jacky Ickx (#1) and Henri Pescarolo (#5); Englishman John Fitzpatrick (#7); reigning Japanese Touring Car Champion Yoshimi Katayama; and English Vauxhall touring car ace Gerry Marshall teamed with South African Basil von Rooyen (#24). All up 28 cars fronted for outright honours: 17 Toranas and 11 Falcons. This was 10 more than in 1976, when just three Falcons took on 15 Toranas. Of the 28 V8s, at least 12 entries were well-credentialed enough to fight for a podium. Leading teams included:…

In AMC #82 we went on the hunt for one-off signature edition specials mentioned elsewhere in that Star Cars-themed issue. We drew a blank on several fronts, however one AMC reader, Shane Allen, dropped us a line to say that he owns no less than three Peter Brock-prepared Fords. Two of these have special significance to the short-lived Austech Automotive Developments Pty Ltd of Brock and business partner Alan Gow, which was renamed the Brock Motor Company when Gow sold his share to transport magnate and Sierra-era co-driver Tony Noske. Shane owns a 1990 E-series Falcon that was Noske’s personal vehicle. It was originally owned by Noske’s Kalari Transport business and Shane tells us that it’s the very car featured in a Brock Motor Company sales brochure. The Tasmanian is…

An overdue and very welcome mechanical update has finally transformed the Chrysler 300C into a car that performance-focussed Falcon and Commodore drivers will be happy to look at driving New steering, rear-suspension changes and improvements to noise suppression mean the 2015 gangsta car drives better than ever before, even with the basic 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine turning the back wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Once the Hemi-powered SRT8 picks up the same chassis package in September it should transform the car. The 2015 update to the 300C includes, if its possible, an even bigger grille but the bad news is prices that are up – reflecting the fall in the Australian dollar over recent months – with a bottom line from $49,000. Predictably, the 300C’s infotainment system is even…

But wait there’s more! AMC issue #82 featured six race-driver signature edition models that helped sprinkle stardust over model ranges and generate showroom traffic. The holy half-dozen we featured in detail were the HB Brabham Torana, VG Stirling Moss Special Valiant, Dick Johnson Grand Prix Turbo, Peter Brock EA Falcon, Perfect Pete’s Blue Meanie and the Wayne Gardner Commodore. Also highlighted in that issue were ‘Star Cars’ that wore the names of Allan Moffat, Marcos Ambrose, Russell Ingall, John Goss, Craig Lowndes and John French. It was by no means a complete list and we challenged readers to point out others released over the last 50-odd years. So strap yourself in while we provide an additional grab-bag of racing driver specials. We start with the king... of the mountain and…

In what has to be a world record for a road-going Holden VB/VC Commodore, John Harvey’s old HDT company car has sold at auction for $125,000. The two-tone green machine was the headline act at Shannons’ Winter Classic Auction in early August. It was the second of two VB-based prototypes built as rolling testbeds for the fledgling Holden Dealer Team Special Vehicles. The first was an Atlantis Blue manual and the second is the Brockmobile you see here. It started life as a 4.2-litre V8, before being converted at HDT HQ with a warmed-over 5.0-litre V8 and bodykit. The two-tone Malachite/Sage Green car, updated with VC front grille and taillights was AMC favourite John Harvey’s regular transport, before it was dropped off at Les Vagg Holden in Pennant Hills, NSW.…

Green around the gills Picture this. I’m wafting down the Hume Highway, heading south from Wangaratta to that hotbed of touring car action, Winton Motor Raceway. The year is 1989 and I’m driving the hottest Aussie muscle car of the day, the new SV5000 from Holden Special Vehicles. But this is the practice day for the Australian Touring Car Championship and I know the police will be out in force, so I’m glued to the speed limit and taking things so easy that the dark green Commodore – the first HSV car with a pricetag that tops $50,000 – is barely ticking over. I’m so bored, in fact, that I’m running in tight team formation with another member of the motoring press. It’s David Segal, now best known as manager…

Among Colin Russell’s many racing achievements was building the engine that won the first Bathurst classic run over 1000 kays. That was in 1973, as a key member of Ford’s factory squad. When Ford disbanded its Lot 6 Mahoneys Road-based works team at season’s end Russell continued helping the privateer Moffat team. By 1977 he was a TAFE teacher by day, moonlighting as MFDT’s diff and gearbox guru. “Every night after work – being TAFE – I’d head to the Toorak workshop until midnight,” Colin explained to AMC. “I’d always done diffs for Allan. In fact, he had one diff – as in the same physical centre – that he ran for six years. It was only for Bathurst, so it only got used once a year on a Sunday!…

At the end of 2003, the Bathurst 24 Hour was run for the last time. This left longtime racing identity Mal Rose somewhat in the lurch: he had three Mitsubishi Mirage Cup cars which he’d converted for 24-hour racing, but now had nowhere to race them. Then a friend said to him: ‘why don’t you run them at the Nurburgring?’ To which Mal replied: ‘what’s that?’ “I’m being honest when I say this,” Rose admits to us today, “but I’d never heard of the Nurburgring!” The friend gave Mal a highlights DVD of the Nurburgring 24 Hour. One year after his video introduction to the famous old German circuit, Rose would be there in person with his Mirages and a squad of drivers. It was the beginning of a journey…

Photographs show the VY Commodore sometimes running with bonnet-mounted driving lights and sometimes without. As Rose explains, this was because they ran different bonnets for day and night running. “We had the four driving lights on the front of one bonnet, all set, and when it got dark, we’d change bonnets at the pitstop. We had everything set up so it was quick release, with a quick plug in for the lights. The way I saw it, the lights could get wiped out during daylight hours getting hit by rocks or whatever, and you’d get a bit of an aero gain by not having the lights sticking up all race. “At the Bathurst 24 Hour we’d noticed some of the Europeans had brought with them these super bright xenon lights…

New Zealand’s Bay Park could hardly have been further removed from Mount Panorama. The North Island circuit consisted of three tight turns, one sweeper and three medium length straights. But the simple 2.14km layout worked a treat and spectators could see the bulk of the action at close quarters. And action there was. Bay Park hosted some of the most ferocious muscle car battles of the 1970s, when an eclectic and ever-changing selection of visiting racecars from Australia often took on an equally diverse group of Kiwi machines. The circuit was rough and ready but so were many of the cars that raced there. Located at Tauranga, today the country’s fifth biggest city, in the Bay of Plenty region, Bay Park was a black-listed track. It received no favours from…