40 of South Australia’s rarest and most remarkable cars revealed
Sporty, steamy stunners. Ultra rare classics. War-time heroes. Vintage Italian pieces. Lots of perfectly restored Holdens. We list 40 of SA’s most remarkable cars and their owners.
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Some of the world’s most unique cars are cruising through South Australia’s streets, leaving onlookers amazed, but full of questions. Who owns these vehicles? What is the story behind them?
The Advertiser tracked down 41 of these rare gems and their owners to quench your curiosity, whether you’re a full-blown car lover or merely car curious.
John Hancock
Car:1910 8hp Phanomobil
Where: Stanley Flat
John said his Phanomobil, which he calls “Lady Fanny”, was believed to be one of two in the world still on the road, and the only one in Australia.
The German three-wheeler, which has a top speed of just 40km/h, was first advertised as a car for doctors and vets, but it became popular in Germany for many uses including as a World War I staff vehicle.
John said his favourite thing about Lady Fanny was “the look on people’s faces when they see and hear it on the road; especially younger people, who have difficulty understanding why anyone would build such a thing”.
“Cornering is a cautious exercise,” he said. “I hope to keep this old girl on the road for as long as I can.”
Robert Balfour
Car:1909 Stanley Model “Z” Steam Car
Where: Adelaide
Previously owned by well-known Australian businessman Robert Holmes a’Court, Robert Balfour bought the car in 2014 and fully restored it over five years with help over the phone from British business J.R. Goold Steam Restorations.
Robert said the Stanley, also referred to as “The Flying Teapot”, is the only working nine-seater Model “Z” in Australia and one of only a handful in the world still operating. Only 33 in the world were manufactured.
The sights and sounds of the vehicle are impressive to behold, including the sound of the water pumps and the noise of the engine running “like a steam train coming down the road”.
Paul Murrell
Car:1989 Porsche 911 Speedster
Where: Encounter Bay
Paul said this one-of-a-kind custom Porsche was built for the late Australian Porsche concessionaire Alan Hamilton by Jim Hardman in a Melbourne Porsche workshop, using Alan’s collection of Porsche spares accumulated over the years.
In 1989, the estimated cost was $260,000 – equivalent to about $725,000 in 2024.
Paul is a motoring writer for publications including SA Life, Highlife, seniordriveraus.com, Survivor Car and WheelSpin.
Mike Lowe
Car: 1964 Abarth Berlina Corsa 1000
Where: Aldgate
Mike said his Abarth was unique in SA and the only one in the world running in tarmac rallies.
He said the rear-engine vehicle was “a very hard car to drive fast”, requiring him to drive on three or even two wheels to win races.
“You have to be fairly aggressive to make it fast,” he said. “It’s quite an interesting driving style. We have had the occasional accident, of course.”
But Mike said at races such as the Targa NZ he still beat half the field, including modern cars, with the “giant killer”.
“I’ll get immense satisfaction with the small old car being able to beat half a field,” he said.
Patrick and Jo
Car: 2024 Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato
Where: Adelaide
This all-terrain, off-road Lamborghini, designed for dirt and snow, is one of 1499 in world.
It sells for $503,949 before on-road costs and customisation.
Patrick, the founder of supercardr.com, said he most enjoyed the car’s driveability, engagement and rawness. He has not yet driven it off-road but said he would love to do so at Kangaroo Island or Flinders Ranges.
Allan Bennett
Car:1925 Model T Ford buckboard
Where: Gawler
This 1925 Model T Ford is a wooden buckboard for farm use, created from a touring car after it was superseded by a later vehicle – a common occurrence in years past.
“I only need to clean the windscreen and she is ready to go,” Allan, 79, said.
“Everywhere I drive her there is universal admiration for the condition and the story her well-weathered appearance tells.”
Shaun Kennedy
Car:1953 Chevrolet Belair
Where: Mawson Lakes
Shaun’s daughter Sarah made a memorable entrance at her wedding in 2007, driven by her father in this Chevrolet he imported from Florida especially for the occasion.
The stunner has starred in two screen productions filmed in Adelaide, Escape From Pretoria (2020) also starring Daniel Radcliffe, and a Japanese TV miniseries, Oswald and JFK Unsolved Cases (2020).
Shaun said he loves that the car “just glides along and takes me back to a simple time … driving along with my arm around my girl”.
Mark Johnson
Car:1970 Maserati Indy
Where: Renmark
Mark said he believed his Indy was the only one of its kind in South Australia.
“As a student of automotive design, I love the shapes of the Italian sports and GT cars of this era, and of course the sound of the four-cam V8 and the effortless power,” he said.
“My particular Indy was delivered new to its first owner in Rome. I often wonder how the original owner threaded such a large and powerful car, by Italian standards, through the narrow streets of Rome.”
Lyn Smyth
Car: 1925 Chic
Where: Port Elliot
Lyn became the custodian of this rare gem, made by an almost forgotten Adelaide car manufacturer, after the recent passing of her husband Peter Smyth.
The car has been in the Smyth family since it was first bought by Peter’s grandfather, also named Peter, who was one of the first people to buy a Chic.
Just 32 Chics were made and it took Lyn’s husband 32 years to restore after he received it as a gift from his grandfather.
Only four other Chics are believed to have survived.
Peter Eaton
Car:1927 Whippet 96
Where: Clare
This Whippet, owned by Peter since 1960, has raised more than $90,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation with three long Australian drives.
Peter said the “very reliable” unrestored car brings a smile to everyone’s face and was even once invited to China for a car rally.
Colin Redmond
Car:1955 Renault 4CV
Where: Greenwith
Col said his first car was a 1949 Renault “in which I had many of life’s adventures”.
The 81-year-old said since buying the 1955 Renault 4CV in 1990, he had met “so many people who have either owned one in their early lives or just enjoy seeing an early-restored classic and vintage cars”.
The car was secretly developed during the German occupation of France in World War II.
Peter Fewster
Car: 1911 Vulcan 15.9
Where: Goodwood
Peter is recommissioning his late father’s stunning red two-seater Vulcan.
He said he believed fewer than 10 were left in the world across England, New Zealand and Australia.
It was first registered in Leominster, UK in July 1911, in the name of W.B Heygate, under the registration CJ949.
Tony Conroy
Car: 1973 Citroen DS 23
Where: Glenelg East
Tony bought this Citroen, which he calls “Gigi”, in 2020, but his love affair with the car started much earlier when he was 15.
He said the unique shape lends the car to a “slipstream-type driving experience”.
“Many people say it has a magic carpet-ride feeling, and I say as I drive over the speed bumps, ‘what bumps?’”
Peter Papageorgiou
Car: 1956 FJ Holden Post Master General Panel Van
Where: Daw Park
Peter said he loves the simplicity of this original PMG Holden panel van, which he bought from Tasmania in 2003 after seeing it advertised Just Cars magazine.
“The number of times I get stopped by the public who grew up with this vehicle is
phenomenal,” he said.
“They all love to chat about how they had an FJ Holden as their first car, and then they tell me many stories of their travels back in the 50s and 60s.”
Peter Newton
Car:1972 Sprint Mustang Coupe
Where: Victor Harbor
This car features a special “red, white and blue” colour package offered by Ford to commemorate the 1972 Olympic team, complete with USA decals.
It is one of two in Australia listed in the Sprint registry.
“It brings our family together,” Peter said. “My son and daughter were both driven to their year 12 formals in it, and it was my daughter’s wedding car.
“When I am working on it, my whole family have been involved, from my wife pushing the brake pedal to bleed the brakes, to my children assisting with engine modifications.”
Milorad Zecevic
Car: 1976 Zastava 750
Where: Adelaide
Milo said only one other 1976 Zastava 750 can be found in Australia but “all the Colombians in Adelaide know it” because it was made only in Serbia and Colombia.
“It’s a very nostalgic and iconic symbol of Yugoslavian life for Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, North Macedonians and Slovenians living in Australia,” he said. “Almost everyone had one once.”
He said it makes people of all ages and backgrounds smile and “gets more looks than a Lambo”.
Sarah Bowshall
Car: 1916 Ford Model T Tourer
Where: Greenacres
Sarah, 35, said her Model T is unique because of its Duncan & Fraser body, built in Adelaide.
To Sarah’s knowledge, her car is the only Model T Tourer with a Duncan & Fraser body that was never converted to a buckboard.
“I first learnt to drive a Model T Ford when I was still a teenager on my P plates,” she said. “It was quite a sight at the time to see a Model T with P plates on it.”
Julian McNeil
Car: 1913 Silver Ghost Rolls Royce
Where: Unley Park
This car’s original owner was Sydney actress Noni Rickards, the daughter of London-born comedian Harry Rickards who established and owned Sydney’s Tivoli Theatre.
Julian, the chair of the Veteran Car Club of South Australia, bought the car in 2021, adding to his collection of about 20 veteran cars.
Ben Finnis
Car: 1960 VW Beach Buggy
Where: Adelaide Hills
Ben is well-known as the owner of classic car dealership Collectible Classics in Strathalbyn, but this “cool 60s icon” is from his own collection of 10-odd cars.
He drives it on both road and beach, which he said was “a bit of fun”.
“Everyone gives you the thumbs up, ‘cause it’s such an icon,” Ben said.
“They were designed as a bit of a cruiser. There’s no better vehicle.”
Jared Olson
Car: 1925 Amilcar C4
Where: Mannum
Not many 20-year-olds own classic cars, but Jared is the owner not only of this rare touring car, which turns 100 this year, but also a 71-year-old 1954 Renault 4CV.
When he turned 18, Jared was gifted these French classics by his grandfather “to encourage the younger generation to keep these vehicles on the road”.
“The Amilcar is not a pleasure to start, drive or stop but it is a piece of motoring history which only a few people get to experience to drive, and I am one of the lucky few,” he said.
Damiano Romano
Car: 1972 Fiat Dino 2400 Coupe
Where: North Haven
Damiano said he loves the “classic Italian body shape” of this Dino he bought in 2023.
He said the car was one of 2414 examples built. It was sold new in the USA and imported into Australia in 2015.
Paul Davis
Car: 1968 HR Holden Hearse
Where: Mount Gambier
Paul said he believes his hearse, which he bought in 2007, is one of three remaining of its kind, converted from a panel van to a hearse by Southern Motors in Melbourne.
“At that stage, I didn’t have the funds to pay for it, so got an advance on my Visa card,” he said. “I am probably the only person who has bought a hearse by Visa.
“I used to go to a lot of car shows in Victoria and South Australia. Although I enjoyed looking at other people’s cars, I decided that I wanted something different and found this hearse. Yes, I have a dark sense of humour.”
Raymond Burgess
Car: 1961 Studebaker Lark Cruiser 259 V8
Where: Paralowie
Raymond said 1961 Studebakers were used in Victoria as police cars and also raced at Bathurst.
He said he enjoyed his car’s large interior, shape and grill.
“It’s comfortable and easy to drive,” he said. “It’s great to wash and polish, then see the end result of the chrome shining.”
Trevor Lindsay
Car:1968 Triumph Mk1 2.5 PI Estate
Where: Charleston
Trevor said Triumph Estates were never marketed or sold in Australia and his was one of four brought out privately by the British Embassy in Canberra.
He said his Estate, which he bought in 1984, was one of three known to be on the road in Australia.
He loves the car’s smell of leather, guttural exhaust note and power from the Lucas fuel injected motor, making it “exciting and a pleasure to drive”.
Nathan O’Malley
Car: 1944 GMH Assembled Chevrolet C60L Canadian Military Pattern Truck
Where: Murray Bridge
Nathan said his car was ugly, crude, hot and uncomfortable.
“Its owners would have been content if it made it 10 miles inland to unload its cargo before being destroyed,” he said.
But Nathan loves the history of the car, which was assembled during World War II in Melbourne’s Fishermans Bend Holden Plant for service in the war.
After its military service, it was purchased by the Meningie Council to be used as a bulk water tanker and stayed on there until 1970, when it was bought by a Tintinara farmer who then sold it to Nathan in 2017.
Bette Marshall
Car: 1958 Morris Minor
Where: Klemzig
Bette is the owner of this Morris, but aged 81 she now prefers driving a modern car, leaving her son Ian Marshall as the classic’s regular driver.
It has remained within their family, travelling 113,500 miles, since purchased new in November 1958 from Morris Ltd at Kadina.
“The original SA numeric plate 153-738 adds authenticity to this almost original car,” Ian said.
Ralph Uppill
Car: 1924 C79 Dort
Where: Mount Barker
Ralph said his car, which took him nine years to restore after buying it in 2003, was one of only a few six-cylinder OHV 1924 Dorts in Australia.
He said it has the highest chassis number of any Dort known in the world.
The body was built by Murray Aunger at Franklin Street, Adelaide, and the chassis and running gear were imported from Flint, Michigan.
Michael Sheehan
Car: 1908 International Harvester Co Motor Buggy
Where: Mount Barker
Michael has owned this car, also called a “high wheeler”, since 1963 and has driven it all over Australia, from Bunderberg to Esperance and even Tasmania.
With a top speed of 20 miles an hour, it was necessary to transport the buggy by trailer to these locations.
“Driving one of these vehicles is truly an experience,” Michael said. “They are easy to manage with only two forward gears, reverse and clutch, all controlled by one simple hand lever. You are seated relatively high and have a completely unobstructed view.”
Garry Fieldhouse
Car: 1967 Daimler Majestic Major Saloon
Where: Elliston
Garry said his Daimler was special because it was the only Majestic Major imported new into SA and only eight were believed to be roadworthy in Australia.
It was first bought by Sir Edward Hayward, owner and manager of John Martins department store when it was in Rundle St.
“History, aside our ‘Dolly’ is a pleasure to drive in modern traffic,” he said. “The car easily keeps pace with modern road speeds and can if necessary maintain speed limits on hills and in traffic.”
Robert Stapley
Car: Simca Aronde
Where: Ardrossan
Robert owns several 1960s Simca Aronde wagons and sedans.
He said the car was unique because it was manufactured at Tonsley Park in South Australia.
Surprisingly, spare parts are readily available, making it easy for Robert to work on his fleet.
Graeme Dorling
Car: 1955 Morris Oxford Series 2
Where: Adelaide
This car was bought new by Graeme’s grandparents from a former Adelaide-based dealership, Kingsway, in November 1955, after it was traded in for a 1950 Morris Minor.
Graeme remembers a childhood road trip to Wagga Wagga in the car with his parents and grandparents in the 1960s. He inherited it in 1982.
“It’s a wonderful way to remember my late grandparents and riding in the car with them more than 50 years ago,” he said.
Steven Hinge
Car: 1979 Ford TE Cortina S-Pack
Where: Victor Harbor
Steven’s ride, purchased in 2019, was produced in just two colours including this eye-catching “marigold yellow”, and he loves the high horsepower, saying the car “goes hard”.
It was number 416 of 500 built to race at the 1979 Australian Repco Rally in 1979.
Douglas Hill
Car: 1926 Austin Seven Chummy
Where: Goolwa
This Chummy was Doug’s first car. He bought it for £40 when he was 15 and the 84-year-old still owns it today.
“I saw it in 1956, languishing in a chook yard in Mount Gambier. Even then it was old,” he said.
“My friends and I pushed it home. I restored it, and it’s been used and registered since September 1956 with 69 years ownership so far. I continue to drive it on special occasions.”
Bob N
Car: 1987 Mercedes Benz Unimog U1700L Dump Truck
Where: Chandlers Hill
Bob last year bought this Benz, one of four military vehicles he owns, as a throwback to his service as an 18-year-old in the Royal Air Force during the early 1980s, when he drove an older version of the Unimog, captured from the Argentinians, in the Falkland Islands.
He said it is one of 86 built for the Australian Defence Force and possibly one of the only completely original surviving examples.
Fran and John Birrell
Car: 1957 Goliath 1100 panel van
Where: Beetaloo Valley
Fran and John said their 1957 Goliath 1100 was the only documented surviving example in the world.
They said they enjoyed the puzzled reaction of first-time viewers (“What is it?” “Who made it?”) and that the car still drives well and economically.
Tony Edmunds
Car: 1956 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Ute
Where: Bridgewater
Tony said his rare Zephyr, which he bought in 1992, was one of the few made in Australia, while other models were made in England and shipped to Australia fully built.
“It attracts a lot of attention, and there’s a lot of people who say they had or their parents or grandparents had a Zephyr but they have never seen a ute,” he said.
Hamish McDonald
Car: Liberty Brush
Where: Willunga
Hamish owns not just one, but three Liberty Brush cars manufactured in 1909, 1910 and 1911, in black, blue and white.
He calls it the “first sustainable car” because it is made entirely of wood, including the chassis, axle, and body.
Cos Monterosso
Car: 1949 FX Holden (48/215 Sedan)
Where: Hallett Cove
Cos said he bought this car in poor condition about 20 years ago from his electrician, thinking one day he would “build it into some sort of hot rod and have some fun with it”.
The former builder proceeded to store the car in a shipping container, before he was encouraged by Don Loeffler, a judge at a VW car show, to scrap the hot rod idea and instead restore the car to its former glory because it was “a gem” that would “be worth a lot of money”.
“My favourite thing about this car is that it brings me back to my teenage years, as my first car was an FJ Holden,” Cos said.
Corey and Kerri-Anne Armstrong
Car: 1973 Mazda Capella RE
Where: Golden Grove
Corey and Kerri-Anne bought this beauty with a rare Wankel rotary engine in 2017 for their 21st wedding anniversary.
“You can’t drive this car down the road without someone waving and winding down the windows to give us a thumbs up,” Corey said.
Tory Tassone
Car: 1998 Nissan Pulsar VZR N1
Where: Flinders Park
Tory’s car was one of 264 built by Nissan for homologation racing.
It had one of the highest outputs for its time of 197hp from a 1.6L engine.
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