Thread: The Best And Worst Australian Cars.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

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our local motor assembly wasn't very big so choices are few.

Actually, you would be surprised how many different cars have been assembled in Australia. According to one reference I have, there were at least sixty-seven different makes up to 1981 (when the book was published), and this does not include the fact that a number of these assembled a number of different makes (e.g. it lumps Austin, Morris, Leyland together) let alone different models.

And that number does not include one-offs, and in any case is certainly incomplete, and does not attempt to cover truck manufacturers.

A few of examples you may never have heard of - Haines & Grut (1908-9), Lincoln (1919-26 - and they won a lawsuit against the US company), Summit (1923-25).

Then there are the ones you probably have heard of - like SOuthern Cross, Australian Six, Tarrant, Caldwell Vale.

So there is actually a very wide range to choose worst and best. Of course, most of them were somewhere in between. In most cases production ceased for the same reason manufacture is ceasing in Australia today - small, local manufacturers cannot compete with mass production in countries with a far larger market unless protected or subsidised. Large scale production in Australia started with a straight out ban on import of fully built cars during WW1, which was kept after the war, and led to the success of local Ford and Holden operations, albeit not for locally owned manufacturers (Holden started off locally owned but was rescued by GM in the late 1920s).

Subsidy and increased protection enabled full mass production with a high proportion of local content after WW2, and this protection was later extended to more than just Holden. But the proliferation of companies manufacturing in Australia from the 1960s ultimately resulted in a scaling back of protection, as it became clear that Australian built cars were falling behind world standards both for price and design despite the protection and subsidies.

John

holden camira anyone?

I'm always amazed when they relate Peter Brock with holdens, his personel family car was a Volvo for many years, even when driving for the HDT

I know because he turned up to meetings in it

holden camira anyone?

Yeah the early 1600 ones were a PITA. I remember I hired one which had the strangest auto I have ever driven.
BUT we had a 2 litre injected manual wagon in the embassy in Bangkok, and I was really impressed as it went like stink and handled well.
I think the last series was pretty good.

Not assembled in Oz but still regarded as a stinker was the Rover SD1.

Yet I drove a non emission auto in Saudi Arabia and it was a great thing to drive. Tons of power and handled like a skateboard. Would kill a contemporary Falcon or Holden. The problem of course was quality. This particular one had this squealing noise in the engine, which I found to be a water pump bolt had backed out and was rubbing against the pulley. also the central locking had got the ups and downs all the time.
Regards Philip A

We had a few Marina 6 as company cars at Leyland Truck and Bus. They understeered so badly they were bloody dangerous. In the end the reps jacked up and refused to drive them and the cars were sent back to car division. We also had a range of P76, the ones that were so badly put together that the cars could not be sent to dealers. We came to the conclusion that the only P76 variant that was any good was the V8 with 4 speed trans. That 2.6 OHC six cylinder was an awful engine, bulky, heavy, and lacked power in a normal sized car. I have long ago repowered two P76 sixes with Chrysler Hemi 6's. Easy conversion. You need the Valiant bellhousing and torque converter and to fabricate some engine mounts. Made a world of difference to the cars.

Renault 16's had a brilliant little engine. Pity about the rest of the car. The body would rust terminally if the owner even had unkind thoughts about the car and the front ends used to fall apart. Ask any old wrecker. The yards had engines that nobody needed but not the wanted body and suspension bits as these were usually stuffed.

They understeered so badly they were bloody dangerous

That's why my mate had the Bathurst stab bar fitted, and is running 1degree neg camber.
He is also putting twin carbs from a Kimberley on it.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Yeah the early 1600 ones were a PITA. I remember I hired one which had the strangest auto I have ever driven.
BUT we had a 2 litre injected manual wagon in the embassy in Bangkok, and I was really impressed as it went like stink and handled well.
I think the last series was pretty good.

Not assembled in Oz but still regarded as a stinker was the Rover SD1.

Yet I drove a non emission auto in Saudi Arabia and it was a great thing to drive. Tons of power and handled like a skateboard. Would kill a contemporary Falcon or Holden. The problem of course was quality. This particular one had this squealing noise in the engine, which I found to be a water pump bolt had backed out and was rubbing against the pulley. also the central locking had got the ups and downs all the time.
Regards Philip A

The SD1 weren't a very good car ( rust was a big problem ,also electrics) but there replacement the Rover 3500SE were a very quick comfortable car even with there problems & still a modern looking car . I had one for a few years , sold it with over 450000k's , wish I still owned it would be better than the Citroen C4 we now own.

You can make judgements on all sorts of criteria, best for one = worst for another.

Standouts without thinking too much.
Bad
Marina: drive one, you will be scared, really scared.
Centura: I owned one and the 4ltr lump unbalanced the car dangerously, went like the clappers though, until the torque ripped the rear suspension out of the monocoque.

Good
Mitsubishi Verada AWD: Best family car you could get at the time.
Austin 1800 ute: Brilliant.