The first M3 to be officially sold in Australia, it took until 1994 for the E36 M3 and its extraordinary straight-six engine to arrive after the standard car launched in 1991.
The Commodore SL/E was the top-spec Commodore prior to the HDT models and came with everything from a 3.3-litre straight-six to a 5.0-litre V8.
Test driving is the single most important aspect of the classic car buying process. Even a brief amount of time spent driving a car will reveal faults that could cost money.
The local motor industry was more than a little shocked in 1976 when Holden’s LX update of its mid-sized Torana included a stylish new hatchback body style. Versatility was the reason Holden had gone with the hatchback, expanding the Torana’s appeal and giving the car maker a player in a segment populated by Japanese models like Datsun’s 260Z 2+2 and Toyota’s Celica.
Chrysler’s budget-priced Pacer appeared in 1969 with bright colours, distinctive ‘Tombstone’ seats and a three-speed floor-shift. A year after the original VF model was launched came a restyled and more refined VG. This was the Adelaide-built car that Chrysler believed had the right combination of power, equipment and pricing to do battle with the rival Holden Torana and Ford Falcon V8.
Having watched as Holden’s two-door Monaro pinched the limelight and lots of sales, Ford could only wait until 1972 for its XA Falcon Hardtop to be ready for sale.
It’s a sad irony that the model about which Holden was most fearful is today viewed as one of the brand's best products. With unleaded fuel due to be introduced in 1986, Holden’s own six-cylinder engine couldn’t be effectively modified to handle ULP and the V6 which would power the VN Commodore was still three years away. For the first time in its corporate life, Holden needed to 'buy in' an engi…
For 30 years after its 1972 introduction, Holden’s One-Tonne utility was king of Australia’s commercial vehicle world. That market today has morphed into the booming 4x4 dual cab ute segment that’s dominated by the likes of Ford and Toyota, with surviving Holden ‘tonners’ being transformed into flashy show ponies at extreme prices.
Top tech tips on how to avoid buying a bucket with emerging club-plate classics the Holden VT-VX Series Commodores. From 1997 to 2002, the VT to VX Series Holden Commodores and their HSV equivalent were part of the fabric of Australian society. These cars offered something for everyone, from plain-white airport rental hacks, to police patrol cars, to comfy family sedans, and on to the rip-snortin…