Automobile Imagery

Australians love their cars. Some Australians love their cars more than others. This page contains various images of cars taken by the author in Australia, over a number of years.

A Ford Fairlane 1955, Keysborough, April 2010 (Mamiya 645/1000S / Fuji NPC 160).

Classic Cars

These images were taken at the Frederick Wachter Reserve in Keysborough, late April, 2010, during a gathering of classic car club owners. All images shot with a Mamiya 645/1000S using Fuji Provia 100F and NPC 160 - the exercise was to test medium resolution scan performance with sub 10 micron RMS film grain size. Originals scanned to 1460 PPI, the Provia 100F outperforming the supposedly better NPC 160.

Ford Fairlane 1956 V8, Keysborough, April 2010.

Ford Mustang Fastback 1966, V8, Keysborough, April 2010.

GM Holden FJ Ute, 1955, Keysborough, April 2010.

Ford F-100 Pickup, 1953, Keysborough, April 2010.

This splendid example of an FC wagon was loaned to me by a friend for a 6 week period while my VL Commodore was being repaired following an accident (Pentax SF7 using 200ASA Fuji).

GM Holden Torana LH/LX

Holden Torana LX77 SL/RTS 253 cu.in. V8 XOX-586 (WA) / CMD-665 (VIC). I bought this superb machine in late 1984 in a private sale, and drove it until 1998, when it suffered terminal damage and was written off. When I acquired this car it was in standard SL coupe configuration, with Delta alloys supplied by the dealer to its first owner. In the 14 years I owned it, it acquired a radiator and inlet manifold sized for the 308 cu.in. V8, a Holley 650 CFM 4 BBL carb, a Crowe hot camshaft, and the instrument panel cluster of the SS variant. Handling, cornering and performance of this modified late production variant were superb and put most newer cars to shame. In the time I owned it, it trashed three Trimatic transmissions, which were unable to handle the torque produced by the short stroke V8 (Mamiya 645/1000S using Fuji Super HR100).

Holden Torana LX77 SS 253 cu.in. V8 6ET-858 (WA). Owned by my younger brother, a UWA graduate mechanical engineer, this exquisite machine had extensive mechanical and engine improvements, including a radiator and inlet manifold sized for the 308 cu.in. V8, a Holley 650 CFM 4 BBL carb, a Crowe hot camshaft, an LSD, a replacement gearbox with non-standard ratios. Sadly this machine was written off after being rolled by an inexperienced driver, I subsequently acquired the manifold and carb for my own LX (Mamiya 645/1000S using Ektachrome 64).

Holden Torana LH76 SL Opel 1.9L OHC KO-718, early 1980. This gunmetal grey example was modified with a Holley 185 CFM 2 BBL carb to improve performance through the engine RPM range (Exacta VX500 using Kodachrome 25).

VHRR Historic Sandown 2012

These images were gathered during the early November 2012 Victorian Historic Racing Register Historic Sandown meeting. I used a Nikon D90, close in images using a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens and track images a Nikkor 70-300 mm f/4-5.6D ED zoom lens, and Mamiya Sekor C 300mm f/5.6N ULD prime lens.

VHRR Historic Sandown 2011

These images were gathered during the early November 2011 Victorian Historic Racing Register Historic Sandown meeting. I used a Nikon D90, close in images using a Sekor C 45 mm f/2.8N lens and track images a Nikkor 70-300 mm f/4-5.6D ED zoom lens.

Above, below, a pair of pristine 308 cu.in. Torana LH SL/R 5000 sedans. This model was very popular and formed the basis for the HDT racing variant.

Above, below, a 308 cu.in. Torana LH HDT racing variant.

Above and below, four superbly restored LC GTR XU1 Toranas.

Above, below, four very attractive Chrysler Valiant VH Charger coupes.

Mustangs at VHRR Sandown Racecourse 2011

1967 GT.

1967 GT Coupe.

1968 GT.

1969 Grande Coupe.

2012 Studebaker Concours at Moorabbin Airport

These images were gathered during the mid October 2012 Studebaker Concours at Moorabbin Airport. I used a Nikon D90, with a Nikkor 70-300 mm f/4-5.6D ED zoom lens, mostly at 70 mm focal length, as I neglected to pack anything other than telephotos on the day
.

Devaux Spyder

Modelled on 1930s designs, the Devaux Spyder is a contemporary product. Images captured in October 2010 at the Moorabbin Air Museum display. Mamiya 645AFD and Fuji HS10.