Innholdsfortegnelse for #278 19-08 i Just Cars

After what’s seemed like years of concepts and teasers (actually, it has been YEARS!), the fourth-generation Supra was finally revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past January. To be released to selected markets later this year as a 2020 model, what Toyota are calling “a sports car in its purest form” is the first new Supra in 17 years. The upcoming model sticks to the established Supra ethos of a six-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels, with the 3.0-litre engine in the upcoming ‘A90’ generation Supra to feature a twin-scroll turbocharger matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. HAND OF GAZOO Officially, the new Supra is known as the ‘Toyota GR Supra’. GR, if you didn’t know, comes from GAZOO Racing, Toyota’s competition arm that runs…

Following the debut of their ‘BT62’ hypercar last year, Brabham Automotive announced in January that a ‘Road Compliance Conversion’ option will be available and that the BT62 will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. While the BT62 was launched as a track-only car, Brabham Automotive says the option of a conversion kit for road use in Europe was driven by customer demand, specifically those who want the convenience of driving their car to and from the track. Costing around $225,000 over the projected AU$1.5 million base cost of the Adelaide-built car, the Road Compliance Conversion will be undertaken in the UK and consists of an increased ride height, modified steering ratio, and the fitting of door locks and immobilisers. The conversion also includes air conditioning and…

It was once the rivalry that defined the Australian automotive market. Now, ‘Ford versus Holden’ has become a sideshow in an arena dominated by Japanese and Korean car brands. According to VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Australia’s new car market fell by 3.0 per cent in 2018 – the first reversal after three successive years of record sales. New vehicle sales still hit the one million mark, but the final tally of 1,153,111 was down on 2017’s all-time record of 1,189,116. The slump, albeit a minor one, was widespread, with many brands experiencing reversals, but Ford and Holden were hit harder than most, with Ford selling 69,081 vehicles for the year, down 11.6 percent on 2017, and Holden only 60,751; a hefty 32.7 per cent…

The new Mustang Shelby GT500 made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past January and, in a country where SUVs and pickups dominate, the Shelby drew more attention than just about anything else on show. Ford are boldly calling the new GT 500, which will be released in the US later this year as a 2020 model, the “most powerful street-legal Ford in history” and a triple threat that’ll dominate on the drag strip and race track, as well as the street. For the drag strip, the Shelby GT500 combines a – projected – 700+hp (520+kW) engine with a first-in-class dual-clutch transmission for 0-100km/h acceleration in the 3.5-second range and claimed quarter mile times under 11 seconds. At the track, the Shelby’s race-bred chassis,…

The Dutton Group, best known for Dutton Garage, their prestige, exotic, luxury and classic car dealership in Richmond (VIC), but with vehicle wholesaling, modern and vintage race car restoration and preservation services also in their portfolio, are the new owners of the Australian Targa Championship series. Completed in January, the deal will see Dutton Group responsible for running the CAMS Australian Targa Championship series, including the iconic Targa Tasmania, effective immediately. The change in ownership will deliver what’s been described as an exciting future for the Targa Championship, with expansion plans already in the mix for the next five years and a commitment to broaden the customer base of the tarmac rally series. “We would only sell Targa to the right buyer, a buyer that could continue expanding Targa, a…

This March will see the debut of an all-new concours event in the form of the inaugural Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance. Powered by Ferrari, and with the support of the InterContinental Hotel Double Bay, Perrier Jouët Champagne, Martell Cognac, Bentley Motors, St Hugo Wines, D’Marge, and the Royal Automobile Club of Australia, this all-new automotive event will be held at Lindesay, a National Trust property on the Sydney Harbour waterfront at Darling Point that dates back to 1834. Scheduled for this March 7th to 9th, the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance is an invitation-only event that will see 30 of Australia’s finest vehicles gathered on the lawns of Lindesay. With stylised gardens typical of its English counterparts and spectacular views of Sydney and the harbour, Lindesay will provide the ultimate setting…

Like most carmakers with a long history, BMW has found that tapping into that history can be profitable. The carmaker’s ‘BMW Group Classic’ division, which includes the BMW Museum, company archives and BMW Group Classic Services, has found a willing market amongst classic BMW owners looking to service, repair, or restore their cars using genuine, BMW-approved parts and fitted by trained BMW personnel. But while heritage operations are designed to grow business, they’re not always about profit. Sometimes, projects are taken on just for the pleasure of bringing a piece of the past back to life. Such was the case with this ‘BMW 1600 GT convertible’ pictured. While it may bear the BMW badge, its roots lie in another German carmaker, as well as an Italian coachbuilder. BROKEN GLAS Hans…

In the history of Chevy pickup trucks, the chapter on the 1955 ‘First Series’ models is intriguing – and short! These trucks, like the one pictured, were only on the market for a few months, then replaced by all-new models. In US pickup terms, that makes them relatively rare, so when you get a chance to look one over, it’s worth taking the time to do so. ADVANCE … To put the ’55 First Series Chevys in context, you have to go back to 1947. That’s when Chevrolet introduced their new ‘Advance Design’’ truck range. These were Chevy’s first all-new truck designs since 1941, and they actually beat main rivals Ford and Dodge to market by a year. But, in a forecast of what would happen eight years later, a…

With 24 super-keen interstate competitors, it was only a matter of time before the HTCAV’s championship trophy – the President’s Cup - left the state. In 2018, WA’s Darryl Hansen carried it off after a stellar year in his ’68 Mustang. For Hansen, the championship was a truly interstate affair. The man who lives in WA, keeps his car in Wagga, NSW, and drove every event in Victoria, edged out last year’s winner to become the 2018 HTCAV Champion. It’s a measure of Hansen’s enthusiasm that he entered eight HTCAV meetings to score a record points haul and win the President’s Cup. But, as the Championship is decided on a competitor’s best five results, three of those meetings were for nothing. Luckily, there were enough left over to stay just…

The iconic Mini marks its 60th Anniversary this year, so expect celebrations aplenty throughout 2019. Mini themselves have been first out of the blocks, announcing a ’60 Years Edition’ of the current model, defined by special features, detailing and colours. Based on the current Mini Cooper, Cooper D and Cooper S/SD, the 60 Years Edition will be offered in both 3-door and 5-door form, with four engine choices (two diesels and two petrols) ranging from 100kW to 141kW, matched to an auto transmission. All-new British Racing Green (officially ‘British Racing Green IV’) paint for the special edition is a nod to the Mini’s close connection to British motorsport. Optional colours include Midnight black metallic, Melting Silver metallic, Moonwalk Grey metallic and Mini Yours Lapisluxury Blue. To these colours, a choice…

A Brabham Formula 1 car with not only racing, but race-winning pedigree, will be one of the premier lots on offer at Bonhams Amelia Island auction this March. The car, a Brabham-Cosworth BT26A from the 1969 Grand Prix season, was the third such chassis built and actually started life as a BT26 in 1968 with the Australian-made Repco V8 engine. Repco V8s had delivered championships for Brabham in 1966 (Jack’s third and last driver’s title) and 1967 (with Denny Hulme driving), but the 1968 version proved unreliable, so was replaced with the Cosworth-Ford DFV V8 for 1969, with cars so powered being relabelled as BT26A. In BT26 spec, chassis #3 was driven on four occasions in 1968 – for four retirements - by Jochen Rindt, the posthumous F1 Driver’s World…

Ford’s 2-door XA-XC hardtops are not only icons of Aussie style, but icons of desirability, too. That desirability means it takes a hell of a lot for someone to agree to give one up. But for Darren Cardiff, the Director here at Jimmy’s Chop Shop, the opportunity to give Aussie athletes a sporting chance made giving away his dream machine an easy decision. CHILDHOOD DREAM In July, 2018, Darren rolled his recently-purchased ’78 XC Fairmont hardtop into the Jimmy’s Chop Shop workshop. An Aussie Ford hardtop had been Darren’s dream car since he was a kid, and he’d been actively on the hunt for two yeas before this one came up for sale. Looking her over on the hoist showed she was a very honest old girl. Tired, sure, and…

HARD-COPY PHOTOS AND PRODUCT DETAILS CAN BE POSTED TO: ‘JUST CARS WHAT’S HOT’, LOCKED BAG 34, GEELONG, VIC, 3220. NOTE: PROVIDED INFORMATION MUST INCLUDE RETAIL PRICE, AVAILABILITY/PURCHASE DETAILS, SIZING (WHERE RELEVANT), VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL SUITABILITY (WHERE RELEVANT) AND COMPANY CONTACT DETAILS (FULL BUSINESS NAME, CONTACT PHONE, EMAIL AND WEB ADDRESS). SUBMISSION OF PRODUCT DETAILS DOES NOT GUARANTEE PUBLICATION. 1 NAVMAN MiVUE STEALTH Navman navman.com.au Navman’s most discrete, sophisticated dash cam, the MiVUE Stealth is compact enough (4cm x 9cm) to sit behind the rear view mirror on most vehicles, even older ones. Delivering 2K Full HD footage at up to 1440p resolution, even in dark or rainy conditions, the Stealth can be set to different recording intervals and also takes a snapshot the moment an event is triggered, while the EZYSHARE…