The AMCM's "Most Wanted"
Aussie Muscle Car Museum has slowly assembled the world's most complete and diverse collection of Australian muscle cars, but a few so far have managed to elude us. If you have or know someone who has and is willing to LOAN or DONATE (not sell) one of the following cars, CONTACT US ASAP! Your (or your friend's) car will be added to our site (with suitable acknowledgement) and will be lavished with attention and TLC at our facility, all 100% free of charge while in our care (you will need your own insurance cover though). We even promise to bow and scrape whenever you enter the room! Contact us if you feel you can help.
Here's a few we're chasing:
These were Australia's first hatchback, with all underpinnings and mechanicals from the P76, but with no shared panels. 56 partially completed cars were built at Leyland's Zetland (Sydney) plant at the tail end of 1974, but all but 10 were reportedly dismantled and crushed when the plant closed down after the P76 debacle. Of the 10 'survivors' (a mixture of V8 4 speeds and autos), 1 went back to head office in the UK and now lives in New Zealand, the other 9 were auctioned minus ID tags with the understanding that they would never be registered or driven on Australian roads. Most owners promptly registered the cars and drove them on Australian roads! All 9 are accounted for by a national P76 register, this particular Home On the'Orange example is actually a TV star, featuring on a Hahn Ice beer commercial with Michael Caton. The photo was taken at the AMCM March 05 open day, and the car was actually for sale at the time. It now lives in a private collection in country Victoria.
Starting life as a humble 1987 Alfa Sprint, Paul Halstead's amazing mid-engined V8 "toy" (the italian translation for Giocatollo) featured a high tech space frame chassis, kevlar body panels, huge Simmons 3 piece wheels, Group B injected 200+ kw HSV 5 litre V8 (the next level up from the Group A VL 'Walkinshaw' motor), ZF 5 speed transaxle, leather Recaro interior, and exclusive first aid kit featuring a nip of Bundy rum and shot glass! The cars offered sensational performance and handling, and Halstead rolled 15 of them out the door of his Caloundra plant, until ridiculous import duties and a federal government intent on destroying small auto makers wound up operations before the next model could become a reality. 14 survive, thanks to a yellow example succumbing to a famous fatal crash at the Adelaide raceway some years back. This actual car was exhibited at our March 05 open day and is proudly owned by the president of the Alfa Romeo club.
Holdens was getting an image butt kicking from the mighty "Super Roo" GTHO, and while the racing duties were being left to the formidable XU-1 Toranas, the Monaro coupe had softened to the point of being regarded as a boulevard cruiser. GMH stylists working closely with marketing director John Bagshaw cobbled together a be-spoilered Chev big block GTHO basher, christened "Old Man Emu" after a John Williamson song of the same name. According to legend, the emu was quicker in a race than the kangaroo, hence the name. Then the bean-counters did the numbers and decided sales would not be strong enough to go into production, and the Emu was put out to pasture. Shame, really. Production = 0. Just a clay styling mockup produced for the 'heavies'. Street Machine reported seeing a yellow example with '350Z' decals in a Holden holdin' yard, but no one knows what has become of it. Has anyone built an "Emu" they'd like us to display to the world?
Any recent special Monaro or HSV Coupe would be a welcome addition to the Phantom '02 GTS Coupe currently featured at AMCM. Debuted at the 1998 Melbourne Motor Show, Mike Simcoe's ink blue concept Holden Coupe created an instant sensation and was production ready late 2001. HSV got their mits on it super quick and made world class high performance coupes to rival anything from Europe. AMCM visitors will notice we're a bit light-on with any of the newer HSV products, so we're also looking for VT GTS300, VX GTS and VY GTS sedans, R8 Clubsports and what have you. Tell us what you've got and we're sure we can make room for it!
The "W" stands for Walkinshaw, the genius responsible for launching HSV, 427 stands for the magnificent 7 litre big block Chev powerhouse responsible for propelling Australia's fastest (and most expensive) ever muscle car, all $155,000 worth. Look at that huge 'mouth' about to gobble any poor unsuspecting who accidentally hogs the fast lane. Forget political correctness, the environment, fuel consumption, the global financial crisis, this car is a contemporary one finger salute to Hybrid Camrys and everything else socially responsible motoring citizens are supposed to drive these days. I'll have mine in VL Walkinshaw Panorama Silver, please...
6. Torana GTRX.
This car would've been Australia's first dedicated sports car, an Aussie Corvette if you will, with its sleek fibreglass 2 door 2 seat body, aerodynamic pop up headlights, hatchback, powerful 6 cylinder triple carb XU-1 motor and quick shifting 4 speed, machine turned full instrument dash, 4 wheel disc brakes and more. A complete driving example was made, and exhibited by GMH at every opportunity, brochures were printed, possibly even orders taken, then the bean counters couldn't (wouldn't) make the numbers work. The identical in concept, very similar in specification and price Datsun 240Z was launched soon after, and was a runaway success. Holden execs cried in their Victoria Bitter (as they should). Holdens still owns the complete car, but a couple other incomplete examples are out and about. Does anyone know where we can find one??
7. Ford Sports Coupe "Ideas Car"
This car was a RHD converted 1967 American Falcon Sports Coupe imported by then Ford MD Bill Bourke to whet the public's appetite at what Ford Australia had planned for upcoming GT Falcons. It had an XT GT grille and driving lights, XW stripes and Super Roo guard decals, XY shaker, GTHO rear wing, and more. Motor was reportedly a big block 427 but no one knows for sure. The car caused a sensation at 1968 Motor Shows then disappeared off the face of the earth. I have wet dreams when I think about this car, so I'm hankering to find me a replica. Can anyone help??
8. Bolwell Nagari
Brothers Campbell and Graeme Bolwell churned out some fine kit cars from their Seaford Vic plant during the 60s, but in 1970 decided to have a crack at producing a turn key sports car named after the aboriginal word for 'flowing'. A stint in the UK working under Lotus maestro Colin Chapman saw the brothers successfully mate a strong backbone chassis with a choice of coupe or roadster (convertible) fibreglass body, which had a touch of "E type" Jaguar styling about it. Power was courtesy of a stock Ford 302 Windsor V8, although 1 or 2 brave souls went for the 380 bhp 351 GTHO Phase 3 motorvation instead. In stock 302 form, the quarter could be eaten in mid 14 seconds, GTHO power pushed that down to low 11s!!!! Cabins were cramped, ventilation poor (as was the case in most sports cars of the period), but the cars were well built and regarded, and hold their own today - if you can find one, that is. I did have an orange coupe lined up in Gladstone, Qld, but the owner sold it to someone else. D'oh! Is there anyone out there with a coupe or roadster Nagari taking up too much space at their place?
9. Mad Max "Interceptor"
A very young Mel Gibson helped keep the streets clean with his "Main Force Patrol" clan in the apocolyptic "Mad Max" trilogy, but the real star of the show was this, the ultimate automotive phallic symbol and fantasy fodder. The Interceptor was created from a genuine XB GT hardtop, featured a Peter Arcadipane designed "Monza" fibreglass front end (same as used on Ford's own "Concorde" XC Falcon show van), flared guards, fake blower with on/off switch, 'zoom' side pipes and massive black Sunraysia steel wheels (had to fill those flared rear guards somehow). The car featured in Mad Max 1 and 2, the MM1 car featured shiny gloss black paint and full front spoiler, MM2 was matt black, missing the front spoiler, and 2 HUGE fuel cells occupying the entire boot and much of the rear window! It also looked much worse for wear. The car was sold to a scrap merchant in Broken Hill after filming was finished, but he hid it away, believing it would be worth something one day! The car was fully restored in the 1980s by Bob Fursenko, who promptly sent it on a world tour, erecting a huge circus tent around it and charging $1 a look. The Japanese loved it, being several deep around the car the whole time it was exhibited!
The car is now permanently showcased in the 'cars of the stars' museum in France! Anyone got a decent replica they're willing to loan us?
In the early 80s and with the euthanisation of the V8, Ford Australia had no performance image whatsoever. A lot of the Ford drivers had emigrated to Holden, Nissan or Mazda, Dick Johnson was one of the few to stay loyal to the blue oval, but forced to race an LHD Mustang. Dick started Ford SVO (special vehicle operations, now owned by former Moffat engine builder Mick Webb), and after teaming up with CDT's (Country Dealer Team) Jim Faneco, who the year before was hotting up Holden Geminis, took the new XE Falcon efi 6 cylinder Turbo and tried to make a hero car out of it. Around 34 examples were built, mostly French blue, featuring an IHI blow- through Turbo and SU carb, HD clutch, 4 speed single rail box, LSD, wide 15" Enkei gold wheels, green/blue Scheel interior, colour keyed bonnet vent, Grand Prix decals with Dickie's signature and weird looking bolt on flares. Six cylinders and turbos are a good combination, as Ford will testify with its later XR6 Turbos and Typhoon/Tornados, but in '83 Ford execs were conservative to the point of embarrassment, and the car never achieved the success it deserved, in spite of positive reviews in the motoring press. Know where I can find one? Also looking for an XE Phase 6 built by Phase Autos at the same time, it will look wonderful parked next to my XD Phase 5!
P. Brock held high hopes for this car, the ultimate road going version of the VL Commodore. Announced 20 Feb 1987 to an enthusiastic black tie press gathering, Brock announced his plans to take over the world and commence production immediately. Next day Holden's legal department pulled the pin because of Brock's insistence that every one of his cars be fitted with a curious little box called the 'energy polariser' which Holdens were worried would cause lots of warranty claim counter woes. 9 Directors were built, 3 with the coveted independent rear suspension. Items on the list included 5.6 stroker V8s (optional), 5 speed T5 boxes, 16" x 8" Momo Star or Simmons alloys, radical bodykit, lots of leather and wood inside, and more. Prices started at just under $70K and went steeply north from there. HDT produced a handful of cars after the Director, but with GMH withdrawing support and supply, it was pretty much game over. Got one you can lend us?
Brock's earlier entry into the prestige high performance market was this luxo-barge the Statesman Magnum, effectively the love child of a Statesman DeVille and a VH Commodore Group 3. The big Holden was very receptive to the 308 Group 3 conversion (auto only), and thanks to some handling mods, and tasteful Momo steering and road wheels, and multitude of blackouts and colour coordination (Brock wasn't a real fan of chrome),was well received on release. About 120 were sold. In full street trim Brockie fanged one of these around Oran Park raceway a full 2 seconds quicker than his earlier Torana racecar! These cars have real presence and class. Got one?
A full generation before the new(ish) Monaro, Brock did a 'wot-if' exercise with a 2 door Opel Monza. Whilst on a business trip to Germany, he and partner in crime John Harvey sampled a 6 cylinder version (very similar to our then new VH Commodore), then imported one and pulled out the tape measure to see if the Holden 5 litre V8 would fit. It did! Full Group 3 running gear was transferred (except the rear end, it was factory IRS!) and the car was enthusiastically displayed to motoring magazines and Holdens with the view to full scale production. Holden was never too fussed on the idea and the car became a one-off. Does the current owner want to display this car at AMCM? Does
anyone have a pretty good replica they'd like to loan us?
After the (very) limited success of the Dick Johnson Grand Prix Turbo XE Falcons, and with the burgeoning success of Peter Brock's HDT organisation, Dick decided he could have another go with the new Falcon XF. After registering the SVO (Special Vehicle Operations) name, Dick procured a plain Jane white EFI 6 XF manual (no V8s were available in the XF series), fitted 16" Cheviot alloys, his own design bodykit, pearl paint, some minor engine fettling (he was going to fit a turbo, but somehow knew Ford wouldn't approve), suspension tweaks, Recaro and Momo interior and more, then submitted the finished car to Ford for their endorsement. The ultra-conservative management squashed the whole idea, and the car remained a one-off. To add insult to injury, AMCM was offered this actual car about 5 years ago, but didn't go ahead with the deal. We are now crying in our beer. To the current owner of the world's only XF SVO, PLEASE CONTACT US!!!
This tasty little one-off was built as a bit of a tease by Ford Australia in 1990 to have muscle car fans drooling in anticipation of what was to come in the following years with the 25th Anniversary EB GT. Built by Rousch Engineering in the US, it features a bombed 351 Windsor V8, similar to what Jack Rousch was fitting to new Mustangs, trick bodykit, 17" Simmons alloys, LOUD decals, all the goodies. The auto magazines and Joe Public went nuts about this thing, then Ford decided to put it through the crusher when its tour of duty was over. Saved by Ford archivist the late Adrian Ryan, the car is now a focal point of the Geelong based Ford Discovery Centre. I reckon we should build a replica. Anyone out there wanna help?
Edsel Ford Jr, great grandson of company founder Henry, was the young exec responsible for Ford Australia saving 400 XC hardtop shells from the company crusher in 1978, by coming up with the marketing masterstroke we all know and love as the XC Cobra. To commemorate his visit to Australia in 1991, Ford hastily cobbled together a new EB Fairmont V8 adorned with 16" alloys, Ford by Design bodykit, and the obligatory Bold Blue stripes and snake decals. Unfortunately Mr Ford could not pack the car into his overhead locker on his return to the US, so the car stayed here. Heaven only knows what became of it. Anyone got any leads?
Bob McWilliam of HO Homologated Options fame was there after Ford lost the plot in building hero cars from the late 70s and on, building the spoilers for the XC Cobra, then the XD Phase 5, XE Phase 6, Millenium Ute, EA Phase 8, EB V8 Indy Pace car, and so on. Determined to really make his mark, he aquired a then new 1993 ED 5 litre V8 Fairmont Ghia, bolted on a VorTech 'gearcharger' (supercharger), 17" EB GT style wheels, trick suspension and tasty bodykit (including HUGE rear wing). Then he asked old mate Allan Moffatt for technical import and driving feedback and to put his moniker on the sides. This thing FLEW! Like most other HO products, no one is too sure how many were made, my guess is single figures. Got one? We need to talk!
The DJR stands for Dick Johnson Racing, the 320 stands for 320 kw of HSV butt kicking power. An outstanding number at the time when Ford was pushing its 290kw GT and GT-P, and HSV its 300kw GTS sedan and coupe. it is believed around 18 cars were built through Ford dealer and approved modifier Herrod Motorsport, starting life as XR8s, then fitted with a myriad of the usual engine, body, suspension, braking and interior mods, as well as tasty 19" BBS alloys, and a curious silver 'thingee' on the bonnet. Got one? We want to display it for you.
The black and gold only 2007 BF Falcon 'GT40' is best remembered as the commemorative anniversary car of the original 1967 XR GT. AMCM only found out about the car after all 200 had sold out (d'oh), and bought a new Cobra instead. We would dearly love to display this car between the collection's BA GT and BF GT Cobra. Don't pay expensive storage fees! AMCM will store your GT40 absolutely free for as long as you like! If you have GT40 build #191, even better - call us!
20. FPV "5th Anniversary" FG Falcon GT
Celebrating a 5th anniversary is probably pushing the envelope a bit far, but any kind of anniversary for Ford is cause for celebration these days. The Henry Ford edict 'any colour you like as long as it's black (with silver stripes) or silver with black stripes make this 200 limited edition special instantly recogniseable, and the 315kw quad cam V8 set a new benchmark (for Ford) in performance. Does anyone have build #191? AMCM will happily take care of it for you!
21. Holden Sandman, Ford Sundowner, Chrysler Drifter et al.
AMCM loves the famous "shaggin wagons" of the late 70s, but has never added any to the collection. We are looking for a full set of genuine HQ HJ HX HZ Sandman panel vans and utes, also XB Surferoo van, XC and XD Falcon Sundowner vans, and CL Drifter van and ute. A Gemini TE 'Gypsy' would be great too, as well as Escort and Transit Sundowners. Mattress and crystal chandeliers optional. Just remember: Don't laugh, your daughter may be inside!
Anything we've missed? Do you currently own or know of an Australian muscle car not currently in the AMCM or AMCM "Most Wanted" list? Flick us an email or give us a call and tell us what you've got. If we're interested we'll give your pride and joy a loving home and all the love and TLC it deserves.
DID YOU KNOW? Recent changes in investment rules means you can invest in
and claim full tax deductibility for your collector car. You just can't drive it! We have the solution! Store it with us for free!!! (and laugh all the way to the bank)
