For many of us, our journey with a car starts in a showroom. But for some individuals, it starts in a shed.

The fibreglass build-it-yourself kit cars of the 70s offered a chance to swap the rule book for some brand new parts and plans. Outlandish original designs, luxury replicas and sporty looks were all on the table for a fraction of the price - provided you didn’t mind spending hundreds of hours working for it…

In this episode, hear from those who don’t mind thinking ‘out of the box’ when it comes to what they want from a car, and from the entrepreneur who made his name building the Australian kit car that would go down in history - the Purvis Eureka.

Special thanks to:
Tony Davis
Alan C Purvis and his family
Alex
Paul Duignan and Transport NSW
Paul Patton and the PECCA

For many of us, our journey with a car starts in a showroom. But for some individuals, it starts in a shed.
The fibreglass build-it-yourself kit cars of the 70s offered a chance to swap the rule book for some brand new parts and plans. Outlandish original designs, luxury replicas and sporty looks were all on the table for a fraction of the price - provided you didn’t mind spending hundreds of hours working for it… In this episode, hear from those who don’t mind thinking ‘out of the box’ when it comes to what they want from a car, and from the entrepreneur who made his name building the Australian kit car that would go down in history - the Purvis Eureka.
Special thanks to:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Tony Davis</li>
<li aria-level="1">Alan C Purvis and his family</li>
<li aria-level="1">Alex</li>
<li aria-level="1">Paul Duignan and Transport NSW</li>
<li aria-level="1">Paul Patton and the PECCA</li>
</ul>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>

Australians have a long-standing love affair with the automobile and when, in 1948, the first Holden came off the production line, our cars also became part of our national pride. 

Our cars do more than take us from A to B, they are freedom on four wheels. What we drive reflects our personalities, and our aspirations, and even allows us to let out our inner bogan. 

This is the story of the car that your folks bought home when you were a kid and you climbed all over the back seat. It’s the car that you crammed into on those hot summer road trips. It’s that model that you saved up for when you were a teenager or the car that your friend has that took you out of the suburbs. It's the car that you were brought home in from the hospital (potentially without being secured properly).

This is the story of the people who drove them and the people that rode in them... this is the story of the Cars That Made Australia.

Australians have a long-standing love affair with the automobile and when, in 1948, the first Holden came off the production line, our cars also became part of our national pride.    Our cars do more than take us from A to B, they are freedom on four wheels. What we drive reflects our personalities, and our aspirations, and even allows us to let out our inner bogan.    This is the story of the car that your folks bought home when you were a kid and you climbed all over the back seat. It’s the car that you crammed into on those hot summer road trips. It’s that model that you saved up for when you were a teenager or the car that your friend has that took you out of the suburbs. It's the car that you were brought home in from the hospital (potentially without being secured properly).   This is the story of the people who drove them and the people that rode in them... this is the story of the Cars That Made Australia.

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.

Cars That Made Australia

Kit Cars and the Purvis Eureka: For the Individual

It’s funny what becomes a cult classic.

The Subaru Brumby wasn’t built to turn heads, but it became an icon anyway. In a market dominated by Fords and Holdens, this little workhorse quietly carved out its own niche by doing what it did best — working hard and going pretty much anywhere. Some might even say it’s the greatest ute ever made.
Compact, all-wheel drive, and tough as old saddles, the Brumby wasn’t just a farm favourite — it became a rural legend, bashing through paddocks and earning its stripes kilometre after kilometre.

In this episode, hear how the Brumby surprised us all to earn its cult status, and in an era of oversized pickup trucks, why people keep begging for Subaru to end the Brumby’s spell and bring it back into the stable.

Special thanks to:
Tony Davis
Farmer Jo
Sophia
Trent Nikolic

It’s funny what becomes a cult classic.
The Subaru Brumby wasn’t built to turn heads, but it became an icon anyway. In a market dominated by Fords and Holdens, this little workhorse quietly carved out its own niche by doing what it did best — working hard and going pretty much anywhere. Some might even say it’s the greatest ute ever made. Compact, all-wheel drive, and tough as old saddles, the Brumby wasn’t just a farm favourite — it became a rural legend, bashing through paddocks and earning its stripes kilometre after kilometre.
In this episode, hear how the Brumby surprised us all to earn its cult status, and in an era of oversized pickup trucks, why people keep begging for Subaru to end the Brumby’s spell and bring it back into the stable.
Special thanks to:
<ul>
<li>Tony Davis</li>
<li>Farmer Jo</li>
<li>Sophia</li>
<li>Trent Nikolic</li>
</ul>

Subaru Brumby: The Little BRAT

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.

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:
<ul>
<li>Tony Davis</li>
<li>Craig Lieberman</li>
<li>Matt Simmons</li>
<li>Paul Maric</li>
</ul>
Thanks to <a href="https://www.ebay.com.au/vlp/motors">eBay</a>. Shop on <a href="https://www.ebay.com.au/vlp/motors">eBay</a>. 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.

Nissan Skyline GTR: Godzilla On Wheels

MIDROLL BREAK

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.

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:
<ul>
<li>Tony Davis</li>
<li>Doug Willis</li>
<li>Anna Krien</li>
<li>Kathy Lette</li>
</ul>
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.

Kit Cars and the Purvis Eureka: For the Individual

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