The Holden Statesman and Ford Fairlane were more than simply bigger Commodores and Falcons, they were Australia’s answer to luxury on four wheels, symbols of quiet success and Aussie pride. These oversized but understated sedans were for the boss, the politician, the bloke who’d made it without needing to shout about it —  they were built for the times. They were more than just roomy interiors and analog clocks; they were a mark of status in a simpler time, when “made in Australia” still had real meaning.

In this episode, we’ll explore how the Statesman and Fairlane went from local luxury to nostalgic relics, what they meant to a generation chasing the Aussie dream, and why they still hold a place in our hearts — even if our tastes have shifted to hatchbacks and SUVs.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Russell Howcroft
• Harvey Miller
• Owners Rob & Martin

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.
Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode.

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Oh la la... what can we say about French cars? They were baguettes on wheels, a rolling slice of European flair that somehow found their way into Australia’s heart.

Whether it was the chic Citroën DS or the oddball Renault 4CV, these cars had something special — sophistication with a side of quirk. Sure, they were unpredictable and a bit unreliable, but that’s what made them memorable.

In this episode, we explore how these eccentric Frenchies not only survived Aussie roads but also found their tribe of equally strange and cool drivers — academics, architects, maths teachers, comedians, rock stars, and anyone who doesn’t just watch movies, but films.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Laura Cook and the National Museum of Australia
• Rob Hirst
• James Ward and drive.com.au

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.
Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode.

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The Mini Moke wasn't just a car, it was an oddball on wheels, automotive fun in its simplest form.

Originally designed as an army runabout, it never quite made the cut... but somehow found its place in beach towns, resorts, a few Bond films, and even Bass Strait.

With no doors, no roof, and barely even an engine, somehow it defied the odds and became a cult classic, perfect for sun-soaked adventures in places like Magnetic Island and the Gold Coast.

The Moke was a ride of cheap thrills, a sense of adventure, and a cheeky personality in a comically small package.

In this episode, discover how a car that wasn’t very good at anything somehow became kind of perfect for everything — if you didn’t mind a bit of sunburn along the way.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Watto
• Ben
• Hans Tholstrup

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer:  eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s funny what becomes a cult classic.

The Subaru Brumby wasn’t built to turn heads, but it became an icon anyway. In a market dominated by Fords and Holdens, this little workhorse quietly carved out its own niche by doing what it did best — working hard and going pretty much anywhere. Some might even say it’s the greatest ute ever made.
Compact, all-wheel drive, and tough as old saddles, the Brumby wasn’t just a farm favourite — it became a rural legend, bashing through paddocks and earning its stripes kilometre after kilometre.

In this episode, hear how the Brumby surprised us all to earn its cult status, and in an era of oversized pickup trucks, why people keep begging for Subaru to end the Brumby’s spell and bring it back into the stable.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Farmer Jo
• Sophia
• Trent Nikolic

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer:  eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many of us, our journey with a car starts in a showroom. But for some individuals, it starts in a shed.

The fibreglass build-it-yourself kit cars of the 70s offered a chance to swap the rule book for some brand new parts and plans. Outlandish original designs, luxury replicas and sporty looks were all on the table for a fraction of the price - provided you didn’t mind spending hundreds of hours working for it…

In this episode, hear from those who don’t mind thinking ‘out of the box’ when it comes to what they want from a car, and from the entrepreneur who made his name building the Australian kit car that would go down in history - the Purvis Eureka.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Alan C Purvis and his family
• Alex
• Paul Duignan and Transport NSW
• Paul Patton and the PECCA

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer:  eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Nissan Skyline GTR is no ordinary car, it’s a Japanese engineering masterpiece that redefined the supercar genre. From dominating Bathurst to becoming a digital icon on PlayStation screens, the GTR earned its legendary status.

With its twin turbos, all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, the Skyline GTR was a car that bridged worlds — from the real to the virtual, from Japan’s streets to Hollywood stardom. It was the dream machine for a new generation, a car that felt both unreachable and yet somehow still within grasp.

In this episode, hear how the Skyline GTR earned its fearsome nickname, Godzilla, and became a global phenomenon that left a permanent mark on car culture worldwide.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Craig Lieberman
• Matt Simmons
• Paul Maric

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer:  eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. The spokesperson featured in this episode, Paul Maric, is not an employee and is sponsored by eBay specifically for the purposes of this episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The panel van wasn’t just a vehicle — it was an oh-so-70s symbol of youth, freedom, and surf. Born as a humble workhorse, it transformed into something legendary, thanks to the van clubs that sprouted across Australia.

Loud, colourful, and endlessly customisable, they had room for everything — a surfboard, a bed, a quadraphonic sound system, and maybe even a bar. Dealer’s choice.

They were also as much about the party (and what happened in the back…) as they were about the road. “If this van’s a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’…” became part of its more complex legacy.

Cars are freedom on four wheels, but panel vans? They took that freedom to a whole new level.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Doug Willis
• Anna Krien
• Kathy Lette

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode.

 

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Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday. The '70s was a tale of two decades for Ford. Its early track triumphs faded into the rearview mirror as the '80s loomed. Fed up with pouring cash into racing for dwindling returns, Ford did the unthinkable... and might have gotten away with it were it not for a band of die-hard Ford employees.

Working in secret, they risked it all to ensure the Blue Oval would still face off against Holden on the track, sparking what may be the greatest underdog story in Australian sporting history.

Special thanks to:

• Rob Draper and his father, the late great Wayne Draper

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ford Falcon wasn't just a car — it was an Australian icon, a symbol of homegrown muscle, pride, and family friendliness that thundered down our roads, dominated our racetracks, put the "falc" in falcodore, and — let's face it — made for one hell of a taxi. 

In this episode, discover how the Falcon evolved from its 'trim, taut, terrific' beginnings into the ultimate supercar - the highly revered GTHO Phase III. Hear how it burned its image into Aussie folklore through a legendary drive and the most iconic photo of our muscle car era.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Mel Nichols
• Paul Maric

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer:  eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. The spokesperson featured in this episode, Paul Maric, is not an employee and is sponsored by eBay specifically for the purposes of this episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think about it - every car you see on the road is like a chapter in Australia's big book of stories. Our cars aren't just ways to get from A to B - they're time capsules on wheels, each one telling a story about who we are and where we've been.

In season 2 of Cars That Made Australia, Tim 'Rosso' Ross jumps behind the wheel once again to tell the stories of the people who drove them and the people who rode in them.

New episodes drop weekly, starting Thursday, September 5th, 2024.

Thanks to eBay: Shop on eBay.com.au where you can find parts for every project car from sellers you can trust.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.