Extinct or near extinct cars on Australian roads

[Scotland]

I actually don't mind the modern SUVs because even though they are poxy they keep people out of proper 4WDs.

Nothing worse than people buying 200 Series LandCruisers and using them for school runs. Nearly 3 tonne of car that uses 2 or 3 times the amount of fuel as a little hatchback around the city. Something like a Rav4 is much more practical if that's all you are going to use it for.

 

[PT Bar None]

... and the Holden Camira (Camira meaning wind).

Is anyone else amazed that Camira isn't Aboriginal for a partially decomposed wallaby? Although - wind. I guess it depends on what type of "wind"?

This thread has reminded me of a time where I promised myself a restored EH Holden when I got old enough to afford it. Always thought it was such a beautiful car. *sigh*

 

[craigos]

Most Sold Cars In 1982
Ford Falcon - 84,184
Holden Commodore - 78,429
Mitsubishi Sigma - 42,210
Ford Laser - 40,069
Datsun Bluebird - 34,048
Holden Gemini - 27,501
Toyota Corolla - 22,916
Holden Camira - 20,843
Toyota Corona - 19,000
Datsun Stanza/Sunny/Pulsar - 14,662

The Camira proved that brand loyalty was a serious thing for people and cars at that period.

 

[Papa G]

Most Sold Cars In 1982
Ford Falcon - 84,184
Holden Commodore - 78,429
Mitsubishi Sigma - 42,210
Ford Laser - 40,069
Datsun Bluebird - 34,048
Holden Gemini - 27,501
Toyota Corolla - 22,916
Holden Camira - 20,843
Toyota Corona - 19,000
Datsun Stanza/Sunny/Pulsar - 14,662

The Camira proved that brand loyalty was a serious thing for people and cars at that period.

Interestingly, apart from the Datsuns, all of those cars were made in Australia. 36 years later... nada.

 

[_Mike_]

Drove a 1990 Nissan Pintara, also had a 1994 Ford Capri XR2

I haven’t seen these makes/models on the road for a very long time.

 

[Hawk Dork]

Interestingly, apart from the Datsuns, all of those cars were made in Australia. 36 years later... nada.

Nissan Motors themselves then used the Clayton factory to build cars in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. Models produced in Australia included the Pulsar, Pintara, and Skyline. By the end of the 1980s however, Nissan was facing financial difficulties and eventually closed down its Australian factories in 1992, becoming strictly a vehicle importer afterwards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_Australia

 

[Sparkle]

Most Sold Cars In 1982
Ford Falcon - 84,184
Holden Commodore - 78,429
Mitsubishi Sigma - 42,210
Ford Laser - 40,069
Datsun Bluebird - 34,048
Holden Gemini - 27,501
Toyota Corolla - 22,916
Holden Camira - 20,843
Toyota Corona - 19,000
Datsun Stanza/Sunny/Pulsar - 14,662

The Camira proved that brand loyalty was a serious thing for people and cars at that period.

Best selling cars of 2017

1. Toyota HiLux – 47,093

2. Ford Ranger – 42,728

3. Toyota Corolla – 37,353

4. Mazda3 – 32,690

5. Hyundai i30 – 28,780

6. Mazda CX-5 – 25,831

7. Hyundai Tucson – 23,828

8. Holden Commodore – 23,676

9. Toyota Camry – 23,620

10. Mitsubishi Triton – 23,605

It's interesting to compare the two lists and see how our car purchasing and driving habits have changed. Back in 1985, the list comprised three full-sized sedans (Falcon, Commodore, Bluebird), two small-mid hatches/sedans (Laser and Corolla) and five mid-sized sedans (Corona, Stanza, Sigma, Gemini and Camira)

Over the course of 35 years, large utes now fill the top two positions, and three in total (HiLux, Ranger, Triton). There's one two small cars (Corolla and i30), one small-mid sedan/hatch (Mazda3), one mid-sized sedan (Camry), two SUV's (CX-5 and Tucson) and just one full-sized sedan (Commodore)

 

[wal]

First manufacturer to drop a V8 into a dual cab 4x4 will make a killing.

 

[edgie]

Best selling cars of 2017

1. Toyota HiLux – 47,093

2. Ford Ranger – 42,728

3. Toyota Corolla – 37,353

4. Mazda3 – 32,690

5. Hyundai i30 – 28,780

6. Mazda CX-5 – 25,831

7. Hyundai Tucson – 23,828

8. Holden Commodore – 23,676

9. Toyota Camry – 23,620

10. Mitsubishi Triton – 23,605

It's interesting to compare the two lists and see how our car purchasing and driving habits have changed. Back in 1985, the list comprised three full-sized sedans (Falcon, Commodore, Bluebird), two small-mid hatches/sedans (Laser and Corolla) and five mid-sized sedans (Corona, Stanza, Sigma, Gemini and Camira)

Over the course of 35 years, large utes now fill the top two positions, and three in total (HiLux, Ranger, Triton). There's one two small cars (Corolla and i30), one small-mid sedan/hatch (Mazda3), one mid-sized sedan (Camry), two SUV's (CX-5 and Tucson) and just one full-sized sedan (Commodore)

Commodore would encompass all ute and wagon variants now wouldn't it?

Sent from mTalk

 

[Sparkle]

Commodore would encompass all ute and wagon variants now wouldn't it?

Sent from mTalk

Not certain, but I'm pretty sure there's no ZB ute, seeing as there's no market for utes Germany. And because there's not a whole lot of difference between the standard liftback and the wagon, they are categorised as one. Twenty years ago stats showing the difference between station wagon and sedan sales would be more useful given their was actually a noticeable size difference, but today it's much more irrelevant

 

[edgie]

Not certain, but I'm pretty sure there's no ZB ute, seeing as there's no market for utes Germany. And because there's not a whole lot of difference between the standard liftback and the wagon, they are categorised as one. Twenty years ago stats showing the difference between station wagon and sedan sales would be more useful given their was actually a noticeable size difference, but today it's much more irrelevant

Oh I wasn't talking ZB. Assumed that was still VF.

Sent from mTalk

 

[Bunk Moreland]

First manufacturer to drop a V8 into a dual cab 4x4 will make a killing.

Won’t happen, there just isn’t a market for them. Australia isn’t a big enough market to demand cars for itself, hence why the Commodore and Falcon are dead.

There’s Toyota Tundras and the like in the States, they could easily bring them here but they’d have to build them in RHD. Not worth their time or effort.

 

[Sparkle]

Oh I wasn't talking ZB. Assumed that was still VF.

Sent from mTalk

My apologies, and now that I think of it, 2017 still was the VF. Even then, there still wasn't a whole lot of difference between the sedan and wagon, and I don't think I've ever seen a VF ute. I'm pretty sure sales actually slid at least early on in 2018, despite the hype of the ZB

The traditional ute, the one which was essentially the standard sedan without back seats has gone out of fashion horribly. Hardly see any of them around anymore, all replaced by the larger HiLux's and Ranger's

 

[MatthewB]

First manufacturer to drop a V8 into a dual cab 4x4 will make a killing.

If HSV dropped a V8 into the Colorado/Sportscat they would have sold a lot more

 

[Syd]

Won’t happen, there just isn’t a market for them. Australia isn’t a big enough market to demand cars for itself, hence why the Commodore and Falcon are dead.

There’s Toyota Tundras and the like in the States, they could easily bring them here but they’d have to build them in RHD. Not worth their time or effort.

This is exactly why the Corolla Wagon disappeared.
Australia represents less than 2% of Toyota's global production so it just wasn't feasible top continue to manufacture RHD for such a small market.

Conversely, Toyota is Australia's No 1 Brand



rounding out the top 30 are these brands (in order from 11th to 30th):

1. BMW (348,414)
2. Mercedez (336,457)
3. Kia (331,135)
4. Suzuki (277,177)
5. Audi (176,838)
6. Jeep (167,395)
7. Lexus (102,093)
8. Peugeot (86,586)
9. Volvo (81,354)
10. Land Rover (77,345)
11. Renault (48,999)
12. Chrysler (38,338)
13. Daihatsu (36,586)
14. Porsche (36,434)
15. Range Rover (36,233)
16. Jaguar (29,496)
17. Daewoo (28,017)
18. Skoda (27,189)
19. Alfa Romeo (24,686)
20. Other (250,490)

Quick reverse maths,

2,838,568 / .02 = 141,928,400 global production

 

[PT Bar None]

First manufacturer to drop a V8 into a dual cab 4x4 will make a killing.

I always thought the Toyota Tundra would've sold well out here.

ETA: Yeah - forgot about what side the steering wheel is on.