Unique Cars Australia

Unique Cars showcases Australia’s finest vintage, classic, modified & luxury cars

Unique Cars Australia1 min read
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Unique Cars Australia2 min read
Garage Art!
AN ODDBALL auction listing raised some interest amongst the UC team in the form of a 1944 Continental W670 7-Cylinder Radial engine. This particular example was believed to be a military surplus engine and at a later stage of its life was mounted on
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
President Johnson’s Lincoln Continental
A 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible owned by Lyndon B Johnson sold for $300,000, on the Bring a Trailer website recently. the arctic white with beige leather trim convertible was sold new to The LBJ Company of Austin, Texas, and used by President
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
Unique Cars
EDITOR Angelo Loupetis MANAGING EDITOR Geoff Crockett CONTRIBUTORS Mark Higgins, Phil Walker, Guy Allen, Dave Morley, Rob Blackbourn, Cliff Chambers, John Panozzo, Jon Faine, Coventry Studios, Mick McCrudden, Shaun Tanner, Paul Cronin, Nathan Jacobs,
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
Significant Porsche Collection Up For Grabs
ONE OF THE largest collection of Porsche literature, memorabilia, automobilia, parts, books, art, components number plates and vehicles ever assembled are going under the hammer through an online auction, at Donington Auctions from July 15 to 27, 202
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
9500 Kilometre Bathurst Delivered A9x On Offer
IF YOU ARE a Holden or Aussie musclecar enthusiast or collector, head to Macquarie Auctions online and take a look at this 1977 Palais White with black interior, genuine Holden Torana A9X sedan with just 9510km. Online viewing of the Torana A9X is av
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
Nos Corner
Finding a current model vehicle with an externally mounted antenna is a struggle. But when radio was the greatest method of communication, clear reception was the priority over cosmetics. This antenna booster latched on to your existing aerial and wa
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
Seeing Red At Dare To Dream
FIVE OF Ferrari’s most desirable supercars went under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Dare to Dream auction in Ontario, Canada selling for a total of $29.39 million. Part of the big five, scoring the highest price of $6.44M, was a 2003 Enzo. The US-spec c
Unique Cars Australia6 min read
Auction Action
WHAT’S MOVIN' AND SHAKIN' Seven years ago the General shut its manufacturing plant. Before that it saved the best for last with the world-class VF Commodore range. Built from 2013 to 2017 the Calais was the top of the heap and prices are firming, esp
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1989 Alfa Romeo Spider
IF YOU wanted to list the world’s most enduring convertible designs, Alfa Romeo’s Spider would have to be on it. As we noted in a feature on the series: “Classic is a term that is overused and difficult to define … with ageless lines and film-star st
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
Die-cast Delights
VISIT US ONLINE To purchase these models and browse the comprehensive range visit: supersoniccollectibles.com.au DDA Collectibles, Hot Wheels, Greenlight, GMP, Schuco, Shelby Collectibles, ACME, King Creation Turntables, Movie Cars, Motormax, New Ray
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
Gearbox Premium
The BMW E30 M3 was a giant killer in the Group A Touring Car era, winning just about every championship around the world, including here, with Jimmy Richards punting the JPS M3. Now is your chance to own a 1:64 scale version of one of the most succes
Unique Cars Australia3 min read
MOTORS & MASTERPIECES LAUNCHES WITH FLAIR
MOTORS & MASTERPIECES has been officially launched for 2024, in front of collectors, enthusiasts and sponsors with a classy gathering of motoring industry icons at the incredible Fox Classic Car Collection in Melbourne. At the launch event, insights
Unique Cars Australia3 min read
Your Mail
Like us on Facebook Unique Cars Magazine Presented by Need some advice from Dave Morley. I own a three-owner (me for past 36 years) Jensen Interceptor SP. When I bought the car it was unloved and rusty with a busted engine. I bought with my heart I t
Unique Cars Australia3 min read
Ones That Got Away
FIAT 124 Dad had an early 124 coupe as the family runabout growing up in Sydney in the '80s. He loved the Fiat, but it was not the flashiest car by any means in that era. It eventually succumbed to the rust, and it was sent to the scrapheap. In hinds
Unique Cars Australia3 min read
UNCLE PHIL’S Choice PICKS
THAT LITTLE BOX OF MYSTERY ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL MAKES A DIFFERNCE TO THE COLLECTOR I OWNED a VK Blue Meanie and while the VL Group A isn’t a patch on it, this VL is the last SS Commodore run that rolled out of Brocky’s HDT Special Vehicles. That
Unique Cars Australia3 min read
Holden Heritage Up For Grabs
They said it would be memorable and it was. They said records would be set and they were. But alongside the celebration was a sense of sadness that something so intrinsic to the nation’s motoring heritage could not have been kept intact. The National
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
Mgb 1962-80
IT HAS been said before but is worth repeating: MGB values mirror the health of the entire market for classic models. Since the values of older models began being tracked in this country some 40 years ago, MGB fortunes have been monitored and used as
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
Holden Torana V8
AS THE race for supremacy in the Australian performance car market raged, Holden had a struggle on its hands. Ford was very much the pack leader; its Falcon GT big and brash in a way Holden’s more attractive Monaro could never quite match. Holden’s X
Unique Cars Australia5 min read
Picking An American Personal Car
THROUGHOUT HISTORY there have been cars bought not for any practical reason, just the sheer enjoyment of driving. But who devised the first ‘Personal Car’ is hard to decide. Was it Harry Stutz in 1915 with his Bearcat, or EL Cord with the front-drive
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1978 Ford Cobra
AS ANYONE who is into seventies muscle cars will tell you, subtlety is over-rated – big and bold is what you’re looking for. In a feature on an Option 97 variant, Mark Higgins wrote: “The XC Falcon entered its final production year in 1978, marking t
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1966 Jaguar E-type
ALONGSIDE THE Mini, the E-type is arguably the most famous shape to come out of a British car maker and is rightly considered one of the most beautiful ever made. However the beauty was more than skin-deep. In a feature on the model we noted: “The E-
Unique Cars Australia4 min read
On The Rocks
It’s not a bad day’s work, stood between a chopped Ford Model A Coupe hot rod and ’63 Mercury Monterey, face in the winter sun, listening to Elvis belt out Suspicious Minds. If I’ve any criticism of Coolangatta’s Cooly Rocks On Festival, it’s that st
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1950 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine (coe) 5700 Hauler
HERE’S A hauler you can’t miss. “I bought it nearly five years ago as just a cab chassis, I put it on a C30 chassis, fitted an LS2 engine and Turbo 400,” said Mario. “Nothing special, it’s just a nice engine with about 400hp, but it’s a three-tonne t
Unique Cars Australia1 min readIndustries
1929 FORD MODEL A HOT ROD & 1948 CHEVROLET THRIFTMASTER PICKUP
PERFECTLY parked in front of Cooly’s Pink Hotel, Allister and Nina’s black pair with white walls provided the ideal contrast. Allister said it took four years to complete the ’29 Model A’s build: “The front half, including the axle, are original Mode
Unique Cars Australia1 min readIndustries
1959 CHEVY BROOKWOOD & 1965 CHEVY C10
AS ROCKABILLY Winner of the Cooly Rocks On Pin-Up Pageant, Ange (aka Reckless Penny) and her Chev pickup perfectly embody this festival’s look and feel. Her ’65 C10 long-bed truck’s weathered body has been treated with linseed oil to seal in the hist
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1967 Alfa Romeo 105 Gt
THE LASTING appeal of the Giugiaro design of the Alfa 105 series has seen their values consistently rise over recent years. In a profile of the series, we wrote: “The Giulia 1600 GT coupe appeared in 1963, with styling by Giorgetto Giugiaro who had c
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1963 Ford Thunderbird
FEW CARS embody the optimism of the ‘jet era’ of the early 1960s better than Ford’s third-generation Thunderbird. In a profile of the series, Cliff Chambers notes: “Helping bolster the T-Bird’s appeal to younger buyers was product placement on a gran
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
Modern Classics Gpz900r
BACK in 1984, Kawasaki launched what turned out to be a motorcycle that defined an era – the GPz900R, or Ninja as it was named in the Unitied States. Though Kawasaki had already toyed with a liquid-cooled motorcycle in the shape of the giant Z1300 st
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
Unique Bikes
Donington – Collector Motorcycle Auction Date: May 20 – June 2, 2024 Sold: $40,000 Visit: doningtonauctions.com.au ONE OF the more interesting lots in a recent Doniington sale was this, a replica of the 1972 Imola-winning Ducati 750SS. This is the mo
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1984 Hdt Magnum
THIS HDT Magnum, based on a Statesman De Ville, would rate as one of the best in the country and was the subject of a feature in Unique Cars magazine. In that story we noted: “It’s one of the joys and frustrations of buying a car like an HDT Magnum:
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1954 Jaguar Mark Vii
THOUGH HAVING the appearance of a big heavy saloon car, Jaguar’s Mark VII series won more than its fair share of races over time, including a Monte Carlo Rally. The standard driveline was a 3.4 DOHC inline six – pretty high spec for the time – matche
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1966 Ford Mustang
Powered by: VERY FEW cars can claim the incredible runaway success story of the launch of the Ford Mustang, where sales in the first year exceeded Ford’s wildest expectations. The nameplate in 2024 celebrates 60 years of production in various forms.
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1970 Ht Holden
Powered by: HOLDEN’S HT series signaled a major upgrade for the maker’s mainstream four-door and Monaro line-up, even if the exterior changes from the HK seemed relatively minor. In a feature on the Monaro, we note: “Holden also got stuck into the ch
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
2009 Holden Ss
Powered by: HOLDEN’S LAUNCH of the VE series represented a major step up in the capabilities and dynamics of the series, thanks to a significant investment in its development. In a feature in the series, Cliff Chambers laments: “The VE Commodore was
Unique Cars Australia1 min readIndustries
1956 Chevolet Bel Air
CHEVROLET’S Tri-Five Bel Air series has become an important marker for collectors of American classics – one of those models you have to own at least once in your life. In a feature on the Harley Earl-influenced line-up we noted: “It saw the introduc
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
2009 Morgan Replica
Powered by: WHILE BUILDING a replica vehicle from scratch has huge appeal, myriad challenges rise up once you advance from the idea through to the reality of getting it on the road. That someone chose to emulate historic marque Morgan is not entirely
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
2015 Jaguar F-type R
JAGUAR’S NEW-GEN sports coupe had a lot to live up to when launched in 2012, and it delivered. In a review of the SVR version, Mark Higgins noted: “As soon as I saw the sleek purposeful SVR’s styling that flowed from design legend Ian Callum’s pen, w
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1988 Benz 560sl
THIS CLASSIC R107 SL series enjoyed an incredibly long life, from its launch in 1971 through to 1989. In a feature on a 560SL we note: “Few things in motoring portray affluence and opulence like a Mercedes-Benz SL. The SL stands for ‘Sports Light’ wh
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
2010 Benz S500
THE LAUNCH of the W221 series was a major leap for Mercedes-Benz, giving its premium S class an aggressive new look and a major update when it came to dynamics. It resulted in strong world-wide sales and some very positive reviews. Among them was thi
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
2017 Holden Calais
HOLDEN’S LAST run of Australian-made Commodores were something very special, reflecting a serious development budget and a commitment to meet high benchmarks. In a feature on the VE-VF series, we noted: “Holden’s aims for VE had to be higher than for
Unique Cars Australia6 min read
Luxo lion
If I was to tell you that this stunning HQ Monaro LS had been the subject of a full nut and bolt restoration, you’d have no real reasons to doubt me. Hell, if I woke you up from a coma and told you that we’d tumbled down a black-hole and re-emerged i
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1974 Lambo Urraco
THERE IS no doubt that driving a Lamborghini, any model, develops the owner’s ability to meet new people and chat with them. There’s something about the aggressively-shaped line-up which is impossible to miss, or ignore. In a feature celebrating 50 y
Unique Cars Australia6 min read
Italian Stallion!
I freely admit to having a major Jones for cars like the De Tomaso Pantera. Like the Bizzarrini 5300GT with its Chevrolet 327 small-block or the Iso Grifo with its choice of small or big-block Chevys or even a Ford 351, the Pantera is – for blokes li
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
1974 Holden Gts
Powered by: HOLDEN’S HQ series is emblematic of the brand’s golden years, when it was selling cars in the hundreds of thousands. In a feature on the HQ we revealed: “July 15 1971 was big for General-Motors Holden and the Australian auto industry with
Unique Cars Australia8 min read
Wheely Good
The process of bringing my father-in-law’s (now my) Model T back to life continues. And continues to grow in proportion. I mean, it’s one thing to say (with beer in hand) hell yeah, let’s get this old gal going again, and another entirely to take eac
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
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Unique Cars Australia4 min read
Roundie Revival
PRESENTED BY This was the first Mercedes-Benz fuel-injected production car and was something special in its day. Just 470 were produced and only around 48 in right-hand drive. Where did the interest in Mercedes develop? As a schoolboy I was brought u
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
Subscribe to UNIQUECARS MAGAZINE
SCAN THE QR CODE to subscribe today! WITH A 12-MONTH DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR ONLY $59! ■
Unique Cars Australia6 min read
Mick’s Five Star Workshop
I’m wondering how old is too old for tyres. One of my cars, an Alfa GTV6, has 2009 stamped on the sidewalls, so I know they’re well past the use-by date. One of the things I’m getting is steering wheel wobble over some bumps. Another car, my VF SSV C
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
Rambo Driver
Today’s workshop adventure was employing over an hour and a team of experts to remove just one bolt from a Lexus. It’s a GS300, kind of an upgraded V6 Camry. We went in to do a belt change, which is usually a pretty simple job. Not this time! The bol
Unique Cars Australia3 min read
Feeling Blue
I’M NOT being lazy, I promise. Since I bought this 1980 VC Holden Commodore SL/E from a suburban backyard, I’ve put a shed-find 1989 Mitsubishi Pajero back on the road, pulled a rusty green 1979 Holden Commodore V8 from a paddock and resurrected it,
Unique Cars Australia2 min read
What Do You Reckon?
BACKDATING. It’s a ‘car’ thing but one that remains unknown to many Aussie car enthusiasts. It means making a car look older than it is – and hence more ‘classic’ - by fitting earlier-model hardware such as panels, lights and trim. It’s sometimes see
Unique Cars Australia3 min read
Mega Motors
HOW COULD I have known that an innocent conversation about Ford Customlines would soon have me scampering down a cyber rabbit hole, to stumble on Ford’s GAA V8 engine for the very first time? Another enthusiast at a recent Show & Shine had nodded agr
Unique Cars Australia8 min read
Gianni LaTerra 1984 NISSAN PULSAR ET TURBO
Sponsored by SHARE THE PASSION Around the time Datsun badges were being binned for shiny new Nissan ones, the N12 Pulsar popped up on our roads in October 1982. Angular in design, it was a reliable, fuss-free, five door, front-wheel drive hatchback,
Unique Cars Australia24 min read
Club Listings
CLUB LISTINGS [email protected] 48 Currawong Street, Concord West, NSW, 2138 [email protected] fordv8club.com PO Box 5196, Cranbourne, VIC, 3977 [email protected] 2litress.com Mayrung Road, Deniliquin, NSW 2710 0458 371 576 iro
Unique Cars Australia1 min read
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