The Nissan Skyline GTR is no ordinary car, it’s a Japanese engineering masterpiece that redefined the supercar genre. From dominating Bathurst to becoming a digital icon on PlayStation screens, the GTR earned its legendary status.

With its twin turbos, all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, the Skyline GTR was a car that bridged worlds — from the real to the virtual, from Japan’s streets to Hollywood stardom. It was the dream machine for a new generation, a car that felt both unreachable and yet somehow still within grasp.

In this episode, hear how the Skyline GTR earned its fearsome nickname, Godzilla, and became a global phenomenon that left a permanent mark on car culture worldwide.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Craig Lieberman
• Matt Simmons
• Paul Maric

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. The spokesperson featured in this episode, Paul Maric, is not an employee and is sponsored by eBay specifically for the purposes of this episode.

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The panel van wasn’t just a vehicle — it was an oh-so-70s symbol of youth, freedom, and surf. Born as a humble workhorse, it transformed into something legendary, thanks to the van clubs that sprouted across Australia.

Loud, colourful, and endlessly customisable, they had room for everything — a surfboard, a bed, a quadraphonic sound system, and maybe even a bar. Dealer’s choice.

They were also as much about the party (and what happened in the back…) as they were about the road. “If this van’s a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’…” became part of its more complex legacy.

Cars are freedom on four wheels, but panel vans? They took that freedom to a whole new level.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Doug Willis
• Anna Krien
• Kathy Lette

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday. The '70s was a tale of two decades for Ford. Its early track triumphs faded into the rearview mirror as the '80s loomed. Fed up with pouring cash into racing for dwindling returns, Ford did the unthinkable... and might have gotten away with it were it not for a band of die-hard Ford employees.

Working in secret, they risked it all to ensure the Blue Oval would still face off against Holden on the track, sparking what may be the greatest underdog story in Australian sporting history.

Special thanks to:

• Rob Draper and his father, the late great Wayne Draper

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ford Falcon wasn't just a car — it was an Australian icon, a symbol of homegrown muscle, pride, and family friendliness that thundered down our roads, dominated our racetracks, put the "falc" in falcodore, and — let's face it — made for one hell of a taxi.

In this episode, discover how the Falcon evolved from its 'trim, taut, terrific' beginnings into the ultimate supercar - the highly revered GTHO Phase III. Hear how it burned its image into Aussie folklore through a legendary drive and the most iconic photo of our muscle car era.

Special thanks to:

• Tony Davis
• Mel Nichols
• Paul Maric

Thanks to eBay. Shop on eBay. Where you can find parts for every project car, from sellers you can trust.

Disclaimer: eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the brands discussed in this podcast episode. The spokesperson featured in this episode, Paul Maric, is not an employee and is sponsored by eBay specifically for the purposes of this episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think about it - every car you see on the road is like a chapter in Australia's big book of stories. Our cars aren't just ways to get from A to B - they're time capsules on wheels, each one telling a story about who we are and where we've been.

In season 2 of Cars That Made Australia, Tim 'Rosso' Ross jumps behind the wheel once again to tell the stories of the people who drove them and the people who rode in them.

New episodes drop weekly, starting Thursday, September 5th, 2024.

Thanks to eBay: Shop on eBay.com.au where you can find parts for every project car from sellers you can trust.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm built for the bends at Burthst and the Aussie bogan looking to burn some rubber - what am I? If you answered "Holden Torana", you'd be bang on.

From humble beginnings, the Torana grew to become one of the most collectible Australian cars of all time - largely thanks to Brockie's legendary exploits at Bathurst.

The Torana is more than just a compact classic, it's a working-class hero that stands as an emblem of Australia's proud automotive history, a golden era of Australian motoring on the road and on the racetrack.

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The Magna was the other other Australian-made family favourite from the late 1980s, a car that says "I have kids, a job, a dog, and I value practicality over performance". It was good but not iconic, sophisticated but never cool, forever in the shadow of Falcons and Commodores.

It was, however, the thinking person's alternative, popular with those who happily cut against the grain. And while it was clearly third of The Big Three, that's still a podium finish... so should we remember the Magna more magnanimously?

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The 1970s, often dubbed the "decade that style forgot", when Australia's automotive and suburban landscapes shared similar levels of austerity. Our locally made gas-guzzlers were overshadowed by the growing popularity of cheap, reliable, fuel-efficient imports from Japan.

The cars were as boring as they were brown... but we lapped them up. The Datsun 180B was an unpretentious suburban stalwart and lays claim to being the 'best of the boring'. Hear how the Datto came to define the decade and laugh at the time Merrick & Rosso tried to buy one from a questionable character...

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