Australian Classic Cars

BF Exclusive: 1976 Ford XB Falcon 8-Seat Station Wagon

With the demise of the vehicle manufacturing industry, Australian buyers constantly seek locally produced models from Ford, Holden, and Chrysler to park in their garages. These represent an appreciating asset, and many are extraordinarily practical. That is the case… more»

Cheap Wheels? 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta

The 1981 model year was the swan song for the second-generation Chevy Camaro. After 12 years in production, the design had run its course (sales were down by more than half in just two years). The Berlinetta was the… more»

Title Winning Classic: 1977 Holden Torana A9X Group C

Motorsport history is full of David versus Goliath stories, but none are better personified (autofied?) than by this 1977 Holden Toarana A9X Group C. It was one of two cars used by a privateer racer to defeat the Holden… more»

Huge Collection of True Barn Finds: Take a Browse

An actual barn. Full of barn finds. That’s what’s up for auction in this mega-sale. Three sets of lots total to 230+ cars, with the only proviso being that these cars are in the Netherlands. This tip comes to… more»

Amazing Aussie Barn Find: 1968 Holden Monaro GTS 327

Bundaberg is a beautiful city in sunny Queensland, Australia. The locals are warm and welcoming, and its mills produce some of the world’s finest sugar. It is also the location of one of the country’s great barn finds. It… more»

1-of-275: 1970 Holden HT Monaro GTS 350

While the Australian and American muscle car scenes of the 1960s and early 1970s shared many characteristics, the cars produced Down Under were generally motivated by a different need. Companies like Holden, Ford, and Chrysler (Valiant) sought a double-edged… more»

Historic Bathurst Winner: 2021 Holden ZB Commodore Supercar

On Saturday, March 11th, 2023, Australian motorsport entered a brave new world. Not only did it see a new generation of vehicles take to the grid for the first race of the 2023 season, but it was the first… more»

International Connections: 2018 Holden ZB Commodore Supercar

For decades, Australian motorsport has focused on sedan racing as its staple. Open-wheelers have never gained traction, except for the Australian Grand Prix and the Indycar round that used to run on Queensland’s Gold Coast. The premier category is… more»

Historic Racer: 1975 Holden Monaro Sports Sedan

We see the occasional Australian classic at Barn Finds, but it is a rare opportunity when three legendary vehicles appear in the same auction. I’ve been privileged to cover the other two, but the 1975 Holden Monaro Sports Sedan… more»

1-of-33: 1978 Holden Torana A9X Hatchback

The Australian muscle car scene marches to a different drummer than the United States. Lower sales volumes and import duties meant that local manufacturers utilized standard passenger car bodies married to the most powerful engine in their local armory…. more»

Legendary Survivor: 1980 Ford Falcon XD “Allan Moffat Racing”

For American readers, the name Allan Moffat may spark a vague memory in the depths of their minds. For Australians, he is a man of legendary status. He was the country’s first genuine professional racing driver, and his career… more»

Police Edition: 1976 Chrysler Valiant Charger 770

It is common for law enforcement agencies to fight fire with fire when choosing vehicles for pursuit purposes, and the situation was no different in Australia than in other countries. During the early 1970s, they preferred the Ford Falcon… more»

Stunning Tribute: 1980 Holden WB Panel Van Sandman Tribute

Australia followed many western countries with the adoption of vans as multi-purpose vehicles. While many saw commercial service, some owners personalized their Van to reflect their planned use. Holden saw the marketing benefit, releasing the HQ “Sandman” van in… more»

1-of-1: 2005 Holden VZ Commodore SS Ute “Brock Enhanced”

Australian performance car enthusiasts are a pretty parochial bunch. They tend to favor either Ford or Holden products, although there is a smaller but no less passionate group with a love for Mopar metal. For those who love their… more»

1-of-1: 1973 Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop

While it is true that many Australian muscle cars evolved from sedans, there are a few notable exceptions. The Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop is one and is also a relatively rare beast. A short production period for the… more»

Famous or Infamous? 1973 Holden Torana XU-1

While it is possible to draw some parallels, the Australian and American performance car scenes followed very different paths. Many American manufacturers based their high-performance models on Hardtop or Coupe variants. Lower sales volumes Down Under saw companies like… more»

Barn Finds