GM's boss fell in love with the Holden Monaro a few years back, went home and told the boys in Pontiac to pull the plug on their new GTO, because they were going to rebadge the Monaro as GTO instead. Apparently the buyer reaction has been quite good, but the 'good ole boys' on Pontiac forums are pissed off that it's not made in USA, so criticise it for petty reasons like they think it looks too European (it's genesis many years ago was an Opel) instead of like some overstriped, overvented Batmobile imitator like the cancelled USA developed GTO was going to be.
You forgot to mention Bolwell as a great 70's sportscar marque, and the current Elfin range (see them at <http://www.elfin.com.au/flash/index.aspx> ) are total jawdroppers. Minardi is Australian owned as well. Even being back in the pack in F1 is way in front of the rest of the auto world. And apparently there is a brisk trade in XA and XB Falcon hardtops, which are exported to the USA and converted into Mad Max Interceptor look-alikes. But please forget about the Mercury Capri debacle. It was supposed to be a good little two seater, but some moron though that two seats wouldn't sell. They went years over the intended development time to stretch the chassis, never got the soft top right, all by which time the Mazda MX-5 / Miata got the upper hand. The Capri could have been two years in the showrooms before the Mazda arrived, if it hadn't been for that rear seat. regards, Anthony Farr > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Quoting Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > > So which Australian engineered cars are superior? and in what way? ;-) > > > > The Giacottolo was a slight improvement on the original Alfa it was based on. > The Repco/Brabham F1 cars of the sixties were quite successful. > The current Ford Territory seems to be successfully beating its competitors in > reviews and sales. > I think our Ford and Holden bread and butter sedans are better value for money > than the Ford and General Motors offerings overseas. >
