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Automobile Enthusiasm

Extension cord running across a footpath to charge an EV sparks fierce debate

A morning walker posted a photo to social media of the electrical cord stretching from the top floor of a unit block to the car parked at the curb side.  A debate about EV etiquette followed.
Extension cord running along pavement and grass charging an Electric vehicle

How Australia changed the 4WD that's influenced designs across the world

Four-wheel drives are commonplace in Australia, but that wasn't always the way. 
Land Rovers on a misty mountain

When thieves took 94yo Doug's vintage Merc they stole his independence too

Retired farmer and mechanic Doug Marchant has had a rough run this month with his beloved vintage car stolen from outside his home, and then its replacement broke down more than 1,300km from home.
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Old man looking at camera, holding up photograph of cream Mercedes Benz car.

The Beetle was the symbol of the 60s. Now Mexico's largest city is keeping the cultural icon alive

Mexicans reflect on the deep significance "The Bug" holds for them after celebrating this year's Worldwide Volkswagen Beetle Day.
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BEETLE

'Either brave or dumb': Hundreds of riders recreate dangerous, primitive motorcycle race in freezing weather

More than 400 riders are set to recreate the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix to be held in Goulburn on various vintage machines, but 100 years later speed is not the driving factor.
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ABC News Current

Cheaper Chinese electric cars are making their way into Australia, but it's not all good news

Chinese-made electric cars are gaining popularity as a cheaper alternative to brand names like Tesla, and Australia is benefiting from the increased supply.
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A man smiling and standing infront of a big red car

David says driving his EV instead of his ute has saved him 35k in diesel

Despite the large distances travelled, more country Australians are buying and driving electric vehicles. So what's it really like?
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A man wearing a button up and cap sits in the drivers side of a car, he is smiling

Meg can only drive Mighty Boy for 60 days a year, but it's a head-turner wherever she goes

Meg Grealy says her car attracts attention every time she takes it out for the day and has opened the door to a new world.
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Portrait of a woman with her white, small, vintage car.

'Flawless' Monaro GTS sells for $346,000 — and that's small change in the nostalgia trade

When the National Holden Motor Museum closed and its rare cars became available, there was no shortage of buyers or money, despite the cost-of-living crisis.
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An orange-red 1972 Holden Monaro in front of several Holden signs.

126-year-old steam car only remaining link to General Electric car experiments

This steam car was once driven by great inventors. Now, more than 100 years later, this collector has got it moving once again.
ABC News Current
Duration: 3 minutes 58 seconds

Steam car that once carried world-famous inventors fires up in Queensland backyard

Once driven by General Electric masterminds, a historic vehicle has been restarted by a Wide Bay collector more than a century later.
An elderly man standing beside a forest green vintage car in his backyard

Temporary dirt speedway set for parklands as Adelaide 500 organisers unveil plans for anniversary event

Part of Adelaide's parklands will be turned into a dirt speedway for the 25th year of the Supercars 500 event. While some have criticised the plans, the organiser says the parklands will be left in a "better state than what we found them."
Photo of Shane Van Gisbergen's RedBull racecar

Father-son race rivalry to be played out on 80-year-old motorcycles at historic Winton weekend

In a family of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, one young mechanic is trying to take up the mantle of fastest rider from his father.
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Peter Toni and Mason stand behind an Indian motorcycle on a salt plain.

30 years on from the worst crash in Australian motorsport history

Dreamt up from a Hollywood fantasy, the Cannonball Run was set to put the Northern Territory on the global stage. But the event seemed destined for tragedy before it began.
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a red ferrari racecar is waved through a checkpoint

Brian spent 40 years restoring this rare double-decker passenger bus. Now a museum wants to buy it

A double-decker bus operated by one of the most significant transport families in Australia has been immaculately restored over 40 years and could be bound for the Sydney Bus Museum.
The blue and cream double decker bus is parked outside in a large grassed area.

'Every car's got a story': Car club boom as collectors leave COVID in rear view mirror

The pandemic accelerated interest in vintage vehicles, with a 25 per cent increase in car clubs across the state since 2019.
A white car with open wheels drives through the main street of a country town with a red historic car behind

Country town's mission to preserve piece of motorsport history

The streets of Northam have been transformed into a 1950s-inspired race track, with thousands of spectators watching the action.
Three old style hot rods race on track surrounded by safety fencing and bollards

'The wife couldn't really understand it': Hubby's dream car finds a home in the lounge room

Inspired by watching a detective movie in his 20s, Sunshine Coast tradie Gary Richter has fulfilled a decades-long fantasy by parking his dream car in his lounge room.
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a man in his car in the lounge room

Taking your 4WD to the beach? Here's how to avoid getting bogged in the soft sand

For many generations, driving along the beach has been a cherished way of life. But with 4WD sales increasing, more Australians are reportedly driving on beaches and there's concern that's further impacting the natural dynamics of our coastlines.
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An aerial view of a beach, land, and the ocean. A vehicle is on the beach.

Motor mechanic, driver and team leader Maisie Place

Moruya’s Maisie Place is the first woman to lead a team at the Bathurst 6 Hour endurance race.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 21 seconds

Maisie knew what she wanted to be when she was six. She thought it might not be possible because of her gender

Maisie Place knew from a young age that she wanted to race and fix cars. She saw one problem standing in her way, but it turns out being a woman hasn't been a barrier after all.
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A young woman wearing motorsport gear and standing in front of a car.

Why race drivers hope speeding on a track will slow hoon drivers down on the road

These high-octane thrillseekers know how to safely get a fix for their need for speed and want those taking a more dangerous route to get off the road and onto a racetrack.
Two cars drag race down a runway, being watched by a man in an offical's vest

'Chinese brands a decade ahead of the rest': The reality facing the EV industry

Two rival Japanese car makers have announced they will work together on electric vehicles, countering the rise of Chinese competitors.
BYD cars in a showroom

Before Drive to Survive, the Adelaide Grand Prix was one of the biggest shows in Formula 1

As the Adelaide Motorsport Festival roars back for another year, tens of thousands of fans descend on Adelaide in scenes reminiscent of the Australian Grand Prix three decades ago.
People gather around vintage cars.

This beach south of Perth could be the first in the state to charge for vehicle access

A WA shire is considering the possibility of charging 4WD drivers to access a local beach because of the increasing cost to ratepayers caused by overcrowding. 
Vehicles on a beach