Latest from Retro Rides Originals
Celebrating 75 years of the Volkswagen Bus
The iconic Volkswagen Bus has been moving people and goods worldwide since 1950. The success of the VW Bus is unique in automotive history, standing as a symbol of the ‘economic miracle’ that was post-WWII Germany, of the hippie movement, and to this day of reliability, freedom and adventure.
How the Modern Classic Cars Foundation is addressing the classic car skills shortage
As the automotive industry looks to include more technology and computer-controlled systems in cars than ever before, the nature of mechanics’ jobs is changing. As a result, the skills required to work on old cars are at risk of dying out, although one Sydney-based charity is looking to change that.
Top Tips for Buying a Used Datsun 1600 (1968-72)
When it arrived in the late ’60s, the Datsun 1600 boasted strong levels of standard equipment, a grunty four-pot engine, front disc brakes and independent rear suspension, positioning it closer to a BMW on paper than any of its Japanese contemporaries.
Top Tips for Buying a Used Cadillac (1948-58)
Given that the United States in 1929 went close to sending the whole world bankrupt, it was seriously unfair that 20 years later it was rolling in loot and producing cars that hardly anyone else could afford.
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Extraordinary Engines: Jaguar's XK Six-Cylinder
Long time Jaguar fancier and Retro Rides market analyst Cliff Chambers looks at the exceptional six-cylinder engine that kept Jaguar at the pinnacle of British prestige and sports car design for almost 40 years.
Top 10: Ultimate Aussie Collector Cars
Market Analyst Cliff Chambers finds the key to the wishing well and with it a collection of Aussie-built performance machinery to make any enthusiast’s mouth water.
Extraordinary Engines: Holden's Iron Lion V8
The Iron Lion! How this mighty Australian-made V8 powered generations of high-performance Commodores and Statesmans. HOLDEN’S MID-1999 introduction of the alloy LS1/Gen III 5.7-litre V8 into the Commodore meant bye-byes for the Australian-made Holden V8. Dating back to 1969, the Holden V8 was available as a 253ci (4.2-litre) and 308ci (5.0-litre) and used thin-wall casting tech for relatively l…
Top 10: Cheap Cars That No Longer Are
Here’s 10 collectable cars that once ranked among the cheapest in the market but now cost more than high-performance or prestige models. Retro Rides Market Analyst Cliff Chambers looks at the stellar gains made by these 10 rudimentary models and explores the reasons behind their rise.
Design: How two tiny ‘winglets’ fitted to the 1948 Cadillac sparked a global styling revolution.
Our devotee of automotive history, Cliff Chambers, explains how a fighter plane inspired GM’s greatest designer to add fins to the 1948 Cadillac, sparking a design trend that captured the automotive world.
Unicorn: 1969 Holden Hurricane
The Holden Hurricane, unveiled at the 1969 Melbourne Motor Show, was a futuristic concept car that pushed the boundaries of innovation and design. The Hurricane was a true masterpiece of Australian ingenuity, designed and built entirely in-house by a team of dedicated engineers and designers led by Phil Zmood.
Retro Rides Presents - Holden Commodore VT V8
Welcome to Retro Ride's showcase of the Holden VT Commodore, the first in our regular series of Australian and international classics and classics in waiting. The VT Commodore arrived with a bang in August 1997, setting the sales charts alight and carrying on the momentum established by its predecessor to retain the title of Australia’s best-selling car that year. The VT also secured the prestigi…
How To: Tell if your Car is a Classic
What makes a piece of art a masterpiece, a song a hit or a performance memorable? All of these require widespread awareness and shared opinion, factors that can also see your special vehicle deemed a ‘classic.’
How To: Essential Mechanical Tips for Buying a Used Classic
Nobody is going to become expert in detecting mechanical faults just by reading a book or 'How To' article. What we can do here is provide readers with sufficient clues to identify an engine that's soon going to need major work.
