Innholdsfortegnelse for #308 21-12 i Just Cars

After making headlines around Australia last year when it emerged from a Queensland farm and sold at auction for over $300,000, the ‘Chicken Coupe’ 1973 XA Falcon GT hardtop is now being restored. RARE BIRD Gaining its nickname for the decades it spent in a shed fronted by chicken wire, the Chicken Coupe was no ordinary Falcon GT. For starters, it was RPO 83 equipped, meaning it carried performance parts originally intended for Ford’s abandoned GT-HO Phase IV programme, like extractors and a 780cfm Holley carburettor. This was on top of the standard GT gear that included a 351 Cleveland V8, Toploader four-speed manual gearbox and 9-inch diff. This car was also heavily optioned from the factory, fitted with electric windows, power steering, intermittent wipers and tinted windows, while mag…

Shannons Timed Online Autumn Auction saw the usual premium makes and models sell for high prices, with a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT350 topping the vehicle lots with a $350,000 final price. Other results that met or slightly exceeded pre-auction expectations included $162,500 for a restored 1970 Ford XW Falcon GT, $125,000 for a 2002 Mazda RX-7 Spirit R and $81,500 for a 1971 Holden LC Torana GTR, while $153,000 for a low-kilometre 2017 HSV GTS-R reflected the new level of demand for the last Commodore-based HSV cars amongst collectors. Of more interest, though, were the surprise results in the April auction, which were led by an HD Holden Premier sedan that exceeded all expectations. 1965 HOLDEN HD PREMIER X2 While the HD series has its devotees amongst the classic Holden…

Last year, Midstate Mopars was one of many car shows around the country to be cancelled or ‘go virtual’ due to COVID-19. But things are looking brighter in 2021 and Midstate Mopars will be back in Bendigo this June as a live show. Hosted by the Central Victorian Chrysler Club Inc., Midstate Mopars will be the first opportunity for the Chrysler faithful to get together and celebrate all things Mopar in 2021. TWO-DAY SHOW The 14th Annual Midstate Mopars is scheduled for Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 June, with Saturday consisting of a cruise through the district, while Sunday will be the popular show & shine in Bendigo’s Town Hall precinct. The Saturday cruise leaves from Lake Weerona for Heathcote to take in that town’s community market and shops, with…

With the Prix d’Honneur being a peer-judged award, there were numerous contenders in play, from untouched survivors to pin-sharp restorations, but all agreed that the 1936 Delage D6-70 with reproduction Figoni et Falaschi coachwork had the best story behind it. In the late 1930s, Parisian coachbuilders Figoni et Falaschi bodied a handful of Delage and Delahaye automobiles, starting with this car. Its first owner, Louis Gerard, gave Figoni et Falaschi the seemingly contradictory objectives of creating a car that could be a concours winner and 24 Hours of LeMans champion. The resulting bodywork, shaped in aluminium and fitted to a Delage 3-litre six-cylinder chassis, was a masterpiece of Art Deco streamlined styling, with tightly-wrapped front wheels and spats on the rear to increase the car’s ability to cut through the…

Incredibly clean inside and out, this US Falcon Futura shows what Aussies might have got if the Falcon hardtop was introduced on the XL Series instead of the XM. Ford USA introduced the Futura for the 1963 model year, replacing the Falcon Deluxe. Two-door hardtops debuted that year, too, as did a 260ci V8 as an option. This ‘Challenger’ V8 was standard in the Sprint hardtop and convertible. The car featured isn’t a Sprint (despite the badged steering wheel), but is close to it in every other way, with a two-door hardtop body, V8 engine and bucket seat interior. This mild custom sits low and rolls on a set of Cragar alloys, but what sets this example apart from other early US Falcons is that it’s been converted to right-hand drive.…

On the eve of the Shanghai Auto Show, MG unveiled a new concept inspired by the company’s long history in sporty roadsters. Dubbed the ‘Cyberster,’ the concept is no reproduction of the classic T Series, MGA, MGB or Midget, but rather an exploration of where the idea of a two-seat MG roadster could be taken in the future. It’s a new move for the modern, Chinese-owned MG and certainly a deviation from the city cars, small hatchbacks and compact SUVs with which the brand has enjoyed success in recent years. “The Cyberster is a bold statement that looks strongly into MG’s future, touching on our heritage but more importantly building on our technology and advanced design,” said Carl Gotham, Director of SAIC Design Advanced London. “Cyberster is a hugely exciting…

In our April Classic and Collectable Car Auction, we were fortunate to receive a consignment of HSV vehicles that formed part of a collection. We were very proud that the collector chose to auction his treasured cars through Grays. Covering vehicles from the late 1990s to the end of Commodore-based production in 2017, the six-car HSV collection focussed on some of the more high-end HSV offerings (no Clubsports, for example) and included vehicles that were rare or had significance in HSV history. All six vehicles were consigned with no reserve, too, making them particularly tempting for buyers. That being said, the market is very much awake to HSV values these days, thanks to some recent high-profile auction results, so the chances of securing an absolute bargain were slim. GTS TO…

Bendigo is the golden heart of Victoria, but there’s much more to the central Victorian city than its mining history, with parks and gardens, the arts and cultural precinct, numerous festivals, heritage architecture and vintage trams, abundant restaurants, a thriving multicultural community and nearby wineries amongst its many attractions. While Bendigo has been home to Midstate Mopars since its inception, the city has increasingly become a preferred destination for other car clubs to hold their events, too. One reason for this lies in the city’s location; two hours’ by road from Melbourne and slightly less by air from Sydney, making it ideal for day trips. For those coming from further away, there are abundant accommodation options – from self-contained apartments to B&Bs, farm stays and conventional motels – with over 4,500…

Running a car show is tough under COVID, but organisers of the 2021 All Ford Day proved it can be done. The largest gathering of Ford vehicles in Australia, All Ford Day is an event that’s closely linked to Geelong’s own history with Ford and a feature of the Geelong events calendar for the past 30 years. Despite the uncertainties for events under COVID, Ford aficionados were hungry for the All Ford Day’s return and organisers of this year’s event didn’t disappoint, delivering a new show at a new venue on a new date for an all-new look and feel. COPING WITH COVID At the start of last year, COVID-19 was something we were reading about in the news, but only a few weeks after the 2020 All Ford Day…

One of the more unusual products to come from Ford Australia, the Landau tried to bring the “personal luxury car” concept from the US to the local market. Combining a Falcon hardtop body and running gear with lights, trim and other fittings from the luxury LTD sedan, the Landau was loaded up from the factory, with only full leather trim and a cassette deck on the options list. Despite all the extra kit and an automatic transmission, the Landau was still pretty quick, thanks to its standard 351 V8. It was also one of the very first Australian-made cars to be fitted with four-wheel disc brakes as standard. This ’75 Landau has recently been restored, with minor rust removed, a repaint in Tropic Gold and a new brown vinyl top fitted.…

After 15 years of service, Subaru are discontinuing the EJ25 flat four turbo engine that powers the current WRX STI. To mark its passing, Subaru are releasing a special WRX STI ‘EJ25 Final Edition’ that will be available to order online and through the 24-member Subaru STI dealer network. Strictly limited to just 75 vehicles – 30 via subaru.com.au and 45 through STI dealerships – the Final Edition will be the last WRX STI to use the EJ25 engine before an all-new powerplant arrives for the fifth generation WRX STI, which is due sometime in 2022. “We’re getting towards the last in line for fourth gen STI, which has served us so well since launch in 2014,” said Subaru Australia General Manager, Blair Read. “This final edition pays tribute to…

The taint of eco-friendly-only application comes from early ventures like the Toyota Prius which was a tree-hugger’s best friend – and also an extremely successful hybrid model. But since then we’ve seen makers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz use the idea of a hybrid electric system and improve it so that it’s more about kilowatts and torque than just being green. The most common system now in European models is a 48-volt system. This is a combination of things like a 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack stored in the boot or under the back seats of the vehicle, and a ‘mild-hybrid starter generator’ which replaces the alternator and starter motor (under the bonnet) and a low-voltage DC/DC convertor. But, and here’s where it might get confusing, vehicles fitted with a 48-volt system…

To co-opt Jaguar’s famous advertising line, the 2021 AXA Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance was an event with ‘grace, space and pace’. Grace could be applied to just about the entire concours field. Space acknowledged the beautiful gardens of Sydney harbourside mansion, Swifts, where this year’s concours was held, while Pace was perhaps best represented by McLaren’s stunning new Elva roadster, which made its Southern Hemisphere debut at the event. Jaguar’s slogan was particularly appropriate for this year’s concours, as it celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the iconic E-Type. No less than nine examples were on display at the concours, including a modern ‘Eagle’ reproduction and Lightweight replica – a fitting tribute to the iconic sports car’s 60th birthday. This elite group also included an E-Type that I had previously owned,…

It’s great to see something different at a car show and they don’t get much more different than this C1965 Falcon Club Wagon. Yes, it is a ‘Falcon,’ even though the Econoline name is better known and would be the tag these vans would later adopt. Like the VW Transporter that inspired it, the Club Wagon’s forward control configuration maximised interior space, which in this instance could be for either passengers or cargo. This one’s been modified, including the incorporation of a 289 V8, which is a real squeeze in the doghouse between the front seats that was only ever intended for a six-cylinder engine. Of more interest is the Hurst Lightning Rod shifter. Developed from drag racing and briefly offered on some GM Cars in the mid-1980s, the cluster…

We missed this neatly detailed and finely finished F1 pickup on our way into this year’s All Ford Day, but it certainly caught our attention on the way out. With a chrome grille and bumpers rarely seen on these pickups when new, this 1949-model F1 was finished in gunmetal metallic paint, enhanced by a set of 20-inch American Racing alloys. At the rear, the customised tub featured smoothed sides and a metal floor, with custom tail lights and tailgate fitted, while the fuel filler was neatly incorporated into the offside front corner of the tub. In the cabin, there was custom trim and a right-hand drive conversion. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find out what was under the bonnet of this pickup, but given the twin pipes exiting the rear, we’re guessing some…

Mark Johnson at MJR Motorsport in Lilydale, Victoria, has recently made changes to his business model so he can concentrate on supporting his customers who regularly compete in motor racing events, both in Victoria and interstate. Mark is now working on his own, so is able to prioritise his time providing race car preparation, from full engine rebuilds to required fabrication and suspension set up and changes. He also specialises in classic car servicing and recently serviced and replaced the clutch on a ZF trans axle 1972 De Tomaso Pantera. Mark also works on historic touring cars, including Group N, Group A and Group C. The photo shows Mark at Mt. Panorama with customer Al McKelvie’s 1968 Trans Am Mustang that was driven in the Group N historic touring car…