Ten of Australia's most iconic cars - (The AGE - Victoria)...

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by russxr67

200B in the list?

Really???

I remember driving my mothers 200B back in the day and two things that stood out were its lousy handling and gutless motor. Hardly what I'd call an "iconic" vehicle.
What a ********!

I'm wondering if he got his models mixed up & meant the Datto 1600. It had a far better race & rally history.

[aussiblue]

Yes the 1600 was great car; pity when it was belatedly recreated as the Stanza it was not as good (albeit it won several Southern Cross Rallies) . I think the writer's first car must have been a 200BSUX. Admittedly the 200B topped oz sales for a while but I think it was the bargain basement price that did that though. I see in this month's edition of Wheels the 200B was the 1st listed Oz Orphan.

Perhaps writer is a Nissan man too as the Gibson Nissan R32 GTR while undoubtedly a great and notable car is hardly an OZ icon against dozens more not listed. As well as the GTHO Phase III, I would put Holden's XU-1 (both Bathurst and Southern cross Rally successes) there 1st in terms of iconic cars of the 70's. If we must have Datsun's ,definitely the 1600 and perhaps the 240Z then.

[aussiblue]

Actually the one unforgettable thing about 200B's was as they became secondhand they always emitted blue smoke. They were perhaps the memorable for that special feature.

[aussiblue]

At least he didn't include the 120Y.

[TUF_302]

Originally Posted by Bushbasher

10 iconic aussie cars....

FJ Holden
XRGT
HK-HG monaro
Torana GTR-XU1
XYGT-HO
Valiant Charger
XA Coupe
HQ Holden
Torana SLR 5000
Torana A9X
XC Cobra

Ok, 11



Somebody might pick different choices but I don't know about better choices.............

One to many yes, but still a hell of a lot better list than that muppet made!

[DanielXR8]

Where is the Camira? Its iconic. Perhaps not for the right reasons, but plenty of people knew the Camira and why you shouldn't own one. Even people not interested in cars.

[CoupeKing]

I could handle seeing a Ute in there.

[aussiblue]

Where is the Camira?

Then we'd have to include the P76 too.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by mik

Not sure if serious ! !
T M magna ......

TM Magna was the first 'widebody' Japanese car ever made, they actually had to get special permission from Japan's government for it to be even built.
Prior to the Magna Japanese cars were restricted to max width of 1.7m
It also crapped on the local stuff for refinement, and it came with a 5 speed manual standard, when the XF at the time came standard with a 3 speed manual.

But reliability wasnt its strong point thats for sure.

[Blem]

What about the iconic Gemini

[aussiblue]

Given it was an oz invention there should have been a ute. I note they admit to trolling on the BMW pic.

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by Blem

What about the iconic Gemini

Ah yes, the poor man's commodore

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

TM Magna was the first 'widebody' Japanese car ever made, they actually had to get special permission from Japan's government for it to be even built.
Prior to the Magna Japanese cars were restricted to max width of 1.7m
It also crapped on the local stuff for refinement, and it came with a 5 speed manual standard, when the XF at the time came standard with a 3 speed manual.

But reliability wasnt its strong point thats for sure.

So yeah, maybe an iconic Japanese car then. The magna has only ever been seen as a mediocre sedan most of its life. Even when it won Coty of which ever title it was.

And the camira. Just because lots had or knew about them, doesn't make it iconic.
It's gotta be on the top of so may lists to make ICONIC status. Like the GTHO or the valiant charger even. Datsun????

[mik]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

TM Magna was the first 'widebody' Japanese car ever made, they actually had to get special permission from Japan's government for it to be even built.
Prior to the Magna Japanese cars were restricted to max width of 1.7m
It also crapped on the local stuff for refinement, and it came with a 5 speed manual standard, when the XF at the time came standard with a 3 speed manual.

But reliability wasnt its strong point thats for sure.

eh holden S4, the first holden to have a turn of speed (1/4 in 19 seconds).

or how about the fairmont or fairlane ?

or how about the vg valiant in 2 door or 4 door with the option sporty pack and 3 on the floor !
valiant AP5/6 with the push button auto .....

ford landau
valiant vip
holden brougham

xd falcon with electronic speedo and plastic fuel tank

The Australian Austin Kimberley and Austin Tasman (Morris badged in New Zealand) "X6" models of 1970 were a range of Leyland Australian designed front-wheel-drive sedans based on the Austin 1800 (ADO17) platform. At the time of the X6 being launched onto the Australian market it was quite an advanced design in comparison to the other competitors from Ford, Holden and Chrysler, whose rear-wheel drive,


no disrespect, theres probably not enough space to fairly list all the iconic models, and these i listed are probably a bit down the iconic list in most peoples minds, but i think these are also iconic cars and more deserving than the magna.
but we will agree to disagree ;).

[Maka]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

Then we'd have to include the P76 too.

How about the Mini Moke? Built in Australia for 15 years.

cheer's, Maka

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by Maka

How about the Mini Moke? Built in Australia for 15 years.

cheer's, Maka

The Moke does get overlooked doesn't it. You still see examples being used. Locally here there's an Austin 1800 still being used by someone as a daily driver after 50 years. Its successor the Kimberley/Tasman was, like the 1800, also way ahead of the big three technologically and offering features like disc brakes and radials as standard that the others took a while to catch up with.

The P76 is also iconic for the same reason as the Territory - it was a benchmark in its class that its competitors took years to catch up to technologically. And so the Territory has been left out too - like the P76, another victim of the long, painful collapse of Australian manufacturing.

I don't know why everybody keeps mentioning the Camira, it was a design disaster, maybe an iconic example of how not to design an automobile.

[monzie]

Just a minute while I put my flame suit on...

VW beetle.

[mik]

Originally Posted by monzie

Just a minute while I put my flame suit on...

VW bettle.

Yes I had an early beetle for short time..... about a 62 model with 6 volt system.............
Certainly iconic

Ugly
Slow
Noisy
**** poor head lights

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

I could handle seeing a Ute in there.

Considering its an Aussie design.
But probably not very iconic....compared to you know the Aussie BMW . Stupid stupid article.

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by monzie

Just a minute while I put my flame suit on...

VW beetle.

Actually when you think about it, you'd probably find the Beetle on all countries top list of Iconic cars...well maybe not Poland's. Even though the writer has picked ten (most of them wrong), the list needs to be at least 20. Didn't realise how many classic/Iconic cars we had, be it imported or not.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Maka

How about the Mini Moke? Built in Australia for 15 years.

cheer's, Maka

now i think about the Moke ( some painful memories ),

......at my local tech school ........ in a galaxie far far away............ and a bloody long time ago...... about 7 of us from automotive class ....... just for some jockularity ........... decided to pick up our auto teachers early model Moke and place it out in the middle of the footy oval in our school.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, and our auto teacher was actually a very good bloke( Hi Sir ! ), but he did not take kindly to our little prank, and after he quizzed us who the **** dunnit.......and we owned up to it ..... he gave us all six of the best with yee old thick bit of leather strap...... oh how that warms hands on a winters day .

[aussiblue]

My first new car was a Moke (72) . As fun as it was then; I don't long for another.

Some of the good: cheap to buy and run, attracted the hippy girls (free luv and all); rust resistance off road ability, easy to fix, police could never believe I was speeding.

Some of the bad: leaked water, cold (no heater), in car fuel cap (high on petrol fumes and mate using the cap as an ash tray, servo filling up a girlfriend's lap), every yobbo passing by when it was parked wanting to show off how he could lift the rear on his own often breaking the steering lock as he moved the rear sideways levering against the front wheels, some girls refused to be seen in it (the snobby group)m no security (my prepaid parking tickets got nicked all the time), slippery winter-tread tyres were US on wet roads.