Innholdsfortegnelse for #357 25-MAR i Just Cars

Organisers of Historic Winton, the annual all-historic race meeting at Winton Motor Raceway in regional Victoria, have announced this year’s paddock display themes, along with a major change to the event programme. Classic motorcycle and sidecar racing that has been a staple of Historic Winton since the beginning will not feature in the 48th edition on 24-25 May. The Austin 7 Club’s John Kessner explained that motorcycle insurers’ requests for upgraded safety standards and stringent track permit conditions at Winton Motor Raceway would require modifications to the existing facilities. “These works could impact Historic Winton car races and the feasibility of other motorsport events at the venue and will require lengthy deliberation,” Kessner said. “We have, therefore, suspended motorcycle racing at our event. The Austin 7 Club Inc will continue…

Geelong, as many will know, was the birthplace of Ford Australia. Local operations commenced in 1925 and Geelong was the home for Ford’s manufacturing and assembly operations in Victoria until the Broadmeadows plant opened in 1959. Despite Australian manufacturing ending almost a decade ago, the passion for Ford in Geelong remains strong, as evidenced by the response to an all-new, Ford-only event that debuted last year – the ‘Camp Quality Blue Oval Show n Shine’. Conducted by the Falcon GT Club Geelong as a fundraiser for Camp Quality, the 2024 Show n Shine saw 150 Ford vehicles attend, covering a diverse array of models and eras. That successful debut means the Camp Quality Blue Oval Show n Shine is returning in 2025. ALL FORDS THIS APRIL Open to all Australian,…

The biggest bombshell to hit Supercars for some time landed at the end of January, when Triple Eight Race Engineering (aka Red Bull Ampol Racing) announced they would be switching from the Chevrolet Camaro to Ford Mustangs next year, in partnership with Ford Performance. FIRST YEARS WITH FORD While Triple Eight Race Engineering has long been thought of as a Holden and (more recently) Chevrolet team under various names (Team Vodafone, Red Bull Racing Australia, Red Bull Holden Racing Team, Red Bull Ampol Racing, etc.), their roots are with Ford. From 2003 to 2009, Triple Eight ran Falcons, starting with Paul Radisich and Max Wilson before signing Craig Lowndes and Steve Ellery for the 2005 Supercars season, along with engineer Campbell Little from Stone Brothers Racing. While Lowndes was successful,…

Proving that rare, desirable cars are still out there, waiting to be found, an original, unrestored 1970 Ford XY Falcon GT that had been in storage for more than five decades featured in a timed online auction with Chicane Auctions this past January. Conducted from 16 to 30 January, the auction featured an attractive selection of cars, from an RHD-converted 1956 Ford Thunderbird to a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC and a pair of 1983 Porsche 911s – a modified SC cabriolet and genuine 930 Turbo. Australian-made cars in the boutique auction included a 1968 HK Monaro GTS 327, 1972 HQ Monaro GTS coupe, 1967 XR Falcon GT, 1972 XA Falcon GT sedan and a 2007 FPV BF Cobra R-Spec sedan. The history of the auction-topping XY Falcon GT started in…

Ford’s Mustang has returned to the Number 1 sales position in Australia for sports cars under $80,000. Outsold by the Subaru BRZ in this segment in 2023, the Mustang bettered its rival last year, selling 1,465 units to the BRZ’s 980. Notably, both were outsold by the BMW 2 Series coupe and convertible, which sit in a more expensive (sports cars over $80,000) segment and reached combined sales of 1,565 in 2024. Despite outselling the BRZ last year, Mustang sales in Australia were actually down on 2023’s total of 1,475. This has been part of a trend for the pony car since 2017, when 9,165 were sold. With 2024 marking a transition between the end of the S550 (2014-2023) and introduction of the S650 (2024-) Mustang generations, it may explain…

Well known for the ‘Elvis Festival’ that’s held every January, Parkes will celebrate another American icon this March when more than 100 Chevrolet Corvettes converge on the New South Wales town for the 2025 Corvette National Convention (CNC). The NSW Corvettes Unlimited Car Club are hosting this year’s CNC – Parkes Alive in 2025 - with three days of Corvette-only activities this 28-30 March. As Parkes and nearby Forbes were devastated by floods in 2022, the club selected this region for the CNC as a way to help those communities recover. A TRULY NATIONAL CONVENTION Based on the turnout for the 2023 CNC, Corvettes from every state and territory are expected for the 2025 CNC, which kicks off on Friday, 28 March with a meet and greet for registered entrants.…

1 THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE FALCON GT The Ford GTHO Register thegthoregister.com.au Following the GTHO Phase Registers and Falcon XC Cobra Hardtop Register, this new book tells the full story of the Australian Ford Falcon GT. Endorsed and licensed by the Ford Motor Company, every model is covered, from the 1967 XR GT to the 2014 FPV FG GT-F - the last to wear the legendary GT badge. Authored by Ross Vasse, this high-quality hardcover includes rare, never-before-published photographs, detailed specifications and untold stories, along with the GT’s technical milestones and performance achievements. Black and Gold Editions sold out. (Ford Australia) 100th Anniversary Collector’s Edition, limited to 1,000 copies, is selling fast. $275.00 (plus P & P) pre-order. To be released 30 September. ISBN: 978-1-7638212-3-1 2 VOLKSWAGEN CAMPER Veloce/Ellery…