Mark Quinlan
Mark is Retro Rides international man of mystery. He is a passionate automotive journalist specialising in classic cars. With a deep appreciation for classic design and engineering, he travels the world uncovering stories behind iconic vehicles. A historian at heart, Mark blends technical knowledge with storytelling, bringing the timeless allure of classic automobiles to life for his readers.
Latest articles
A Brief History of the Nissan Z
More than half a century ago, a dramatic new car emerged from Japan billed as a “luxuriously appointed high-performance sports car with a Gran Turismo feel”, aimed at establishing itself as a direct rival to the European brands. That car was, of course, the 240Z.
Unicorn: NSU Ro 80
The NSU Ro 80’s innovative aerodynamic design and unusual rotary powertrain wowed an auto-curious public at the Frankfurt motor show, but a decade later the car hailed by is manufacturer as “the ideal car” was killed off, with less than 40,000 units made.
Design: How Pininfarina’s cheeky tilt of the famous Pantheon Grille helped create the Rolls-Royce Camargue
Launched in 1975 and designed in collaboration with legendary Italian styling house Pininfarina, the Rolls Royce Camargue remains one of the most recognisable models in Rolls-Royce history
Polestar partners with Hot Wheels to inspire young designers
The top three finishers in the competition included bold, retro-inspired design language, while the winner will have theirs put into production as a Hot Wheels die-cast model.
Design: How the new Nissan Z pays homage to its predecessors
In mid-2022, Nissan launched the seventh-generation Z car in Australia, with the new model paying homage to its illustrious past, while celebrating its exciting future.
Genuine Ford Falcon XW GT-HO Phase II with Racing Provenance Hits the Market
Collectors wanting to own a significant piece of Australian motorsport history will be salivating at the prospect of bidding on a 1970 Ford Falcon XW GT-HO Phase II that raced at Bathurst.
Final Build Walkinshaw Commodore Resurfaces After Almost 40 Years in a Family Garage
The rare 1988 Holden VL Commodore SS Group A wears build number 750 of the 750 Walkinshaws built, adding to the car’s already significant collectability.
World's Oldest Bentley T-Series Returns Home
The world’s oldest Bentley T-Series has returned to its Crewe, UK, birthplace after a 59-year absence.
Book Review: Cool Mavericks
Cool Mavericks is a new book that documents the fascinating history of automotive air conditioning in Australia and New Zealand, profiling many of the mavericks and entrepreneurs that embraced the idea long before the car industry woke up to it.
How The Bentley T-Series Brought Revolutionary Engineering to the Famed British Luxury Marque
Introduced in 1965, the Bentley T-Series was luxury sedan range that was largely identical to the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, with the main difference being its distinctive Bentley grille.