An Australian Love Affair Trivia Quiz

Answer: General Motors Holden

Produced from 1967 to 1980, this was an early mid-size car introduced by GMH. The front engine/rear-wheel drive vehicle became the replacement for the Vauxhall Viva. A "sports" style model was also introduced called the "Brabham Torana" in honour of Australia's three time Formula One World champion. Earning the Car of the Year accolades in 1970 and winning Bathurst in 1972 enhanced its reputation and made it a darling of the Australian motor market for Holden.

Answer: Mitsubishi Motors Australia

In 1985, the Magna replaced the Mitsubishi Sigma. It used a Japanese platform vehicle and re-configured it for Australian conditions and market. The Sigma, which had replaced the much larger Chrysler (Mitsubishi merged) Valiant, was a much smaller car, and as a consequence, found it difficult to rival the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon. Realising that Australians preferred larger cars, the Magna, with its mid-size styling, was introduced.

The approach was successful, and the Magna became one of Mitsubishi's success stories in Australia until its final run in 2005.

Answer: Ford

Ford's attack on the small car market was boosted in 1970 with the release of the Escort MK1. It was introduced as both a two-door and a four-door saloon and also, as a panel van. The main engine sizes offered were 1100 cc and 1300cc. Over 65,000 vehicles were built in Australia with production ceasing in 1975.

Answer: Ford

The Falcon had been a fixture on the Australian motor scene for over fifty years. Starting in 1960, the vehicle ran through until 2016 when Ford Australia ceased its production. A luxury model Fairmont was added to the range in 1965 and this was also supplemented by long-wheel based models, the Fairlane and the LTD.

The Falcon, like its nearest Australian rival, the Holden Commodore, has dominated the taxi ranks and the fleets of police cars in Australia.

Answer: General Motors Holden

When Holden withdrew its Kingswood and Premier range in 1977 there was uproar from the Australian public and the newly released replacement, the Commodore, had to work hard to find acceptance in the Australian mindset. The Commodore dropped a class behind its nearest rival, the Ford Falcon, and was sold as a mid to large car.

In part this was to offset new offerings from Toyota Australia and Chrysler Australia, which had now become Mitsubishi Motors Australia. The vehicle became so successful that by 1997 Holden was exporting the car on a large scale to countries such as South Africa, Brazil and the Middle East.

Answer: General Motors Holden

The Holden Kingswood was launched in 1968 with the release of the HK model and it concluded with the WB series in 1984. This was a full-size car that was marketed to the average/typical Australian. Its cousins were the budget model Belmont and the luxury featured Premier.

A two-door coupe was also launched, but that will be the subject of another question. The Kingswood would become an Australian icon, in particular with the release of the popular situation comedy "Kingswood Country" in 1980.

Answer: Chrysler Australia

In 1962, Chrysler Australia started to assemble the Plymouth Valiant from America and sold it simply as the Valiant. They designed an Australian version, the AP5, and ensured that they distinguished it from anything that looked like a Chrysler or a Dodge from the States and, in the process increased its popularity.

The other key ingredient here was that it was unlikely that the Australian plants could keep up with the variants and changes in the American models.

Answer: Leyland Australia

This was a large car introduced by Leyland in the hope that it would rival the Holden Kingswood, the Ford Falcon and the Chrysler Valiant. It ran into problems right from the outset of its release in 1973. The first real fuel crisis had reached Australia and the market started to move away larger cars, however, it still managed to garner great interest because it was "new".

There was novelty in its shape and colour scheme and it was aided by a great advertising campaign. Unfortunately, Leyland underestimated the initial demand and, in a rush to meet it, produced a range of poorly built cars.

The car was classified a joke by many reviewers. It, therefore, created many bemused looks when "Wheels" magazine voted it the Car of the Year in 1973. Despite this it has gone on to become an Australian icon and, ownership of one now is considered a great investment.

The P76 ceased production in 1976.

Answer: General Motors Holden

The Holden Monaro was a rear-wheel coupe version of the Kingswood. It was launched in 1968 and was produced until 1977. It was the culmination of Holden's development of their own V8 engine, it provided them with their first win at the iconic Bathurst race and was named by "Wheels" magazine as the "Car of the Year" in 1969. Such was its standing in Australian motoring that another generation of the vehicle was produced between 2001 and 2005.

Answer: Chrysler Australia

Marketed as the Valiant Charger, which was introduced in 1971 with the uniquely (at the time) Australian Hemi six cylinder engine. To add weight to its value, it was endorsed by Formula One racing driver, Stirling Moss. Backed by an imaginative "Hey Charger" advertising campaign, the vehicle set Chrysler up as one of the "Big Three" in Australian automotive sales.