GlibCar – National Motor Museum

by | Mar 20, 2023 | Autos, Guns, History, Travel | 100 comments

On my last trip to Australia, I stopped by the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, South Australia. Most of the cars in the museum are American and British cars either made overseas and imported into Australia or made in foreign owned factories in Australia. Some cars are Aussie grown.

The museum staff had some old jazz playing while I was there.

How did these Aussie-made items and British made expats to Australia get in here? This is supposed to be an article about cars!

First Australian Made Car

The first Australian made car is a steam powered car. David Shearer built the car in 1898.

The first Australian made car.

Driving From Adelaide to Darwin

Harry Dutton, Murray Aunger, and Ernest Allchurch where the first people to drive from Adelaide to Darwin. It took them two attempts.

On the first attempt, Dutton and Aunger abandoned their car near Tennant Creek.

On the second attempt, Allchurch joined Dutton and Aunger at Alice Springs. The team recovered the car from the first trip on the way to Darwin. They arrived in Darwin on August 20th, 1908.

On both trips, the team drove Talbot cars. The museum has one of the two cars.

Australian Lincoln

Charles Innes founded the Lincoln Motor Car Company (scroll to Lincoln, the anchor links don’t work correctly) in late 1918 to make his cars.

Innes got his start making cars during a trip to America early in 1918. He wanted to make cars suitable for Australia using the best parts and practices from Europe and America. He made his first car in America. He tested on the then-incomplete Lincoln Highway.

1919 Lincoln Six

Back in Australia, Innes set up shop in the Sydney area making cars. He produced the bodies locally, and all other components were initially imported. Over time, he started sourcing more parts locally.

When America’s Lincoln Motor Company came into Australia, the American company sued in Australian court over the use of the name. Innes initially won, but the ruling was overturned on appeal. In the end, the final appeal resulted in both companies having the right to use the same name in the same market.

The Australian Lincoln Motor Car Company ceased production in 1926 or 1927. Charles Innes was greatly impacted by the lawsuit and as a result was not involved in the company in its final days.

1924 Australian Lincoln Six. This example was found in a chicken yard in poor condition. It was restored in the 1960s.

Holden

This is the earliest known surviving Holden in South Australia. It was made in 1948. A member of the Holden family was the first owner.

James Alexander Holden founded J. A. Holden & Co. as a saddlery business in Adelaide in 1856. In 1908, the company moved into automobiles by starting to repair car upholstery. Around the First World War, the company moved into producing motorcycle sidecars and car bodies. In 1917, the company changed its name to Holden’s Motor Body Builders Ltd. In 1931, GM purchased the company. In 1948, Holden produced its first fully Australian car. Throughout the 1950s, Holden dominated the Australian car market. In the 1970s, Holden began producing cars of foreign design. The company survived downturns in the 1980s and 2000s. But, in 2020, GM announced it would retire the Holden brand and leave the Australian and New Zealand markets in 2021.

1956 Jolden FJ Sedan
1970 Holden HT Monaro

Other Cars and Motorcycles

1977 Dnepr Motorcycle made in Ukraine
1954 Ford Prefect 100E
1924 Summit Tourer
1913 Newton-Bennett
1960 Goggomobil Dart
1927 Clyno. Clyno used Holden bodies, but I don’t know if this example has a Holden body.
1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
1948 Hartnett Prototype
1963 Lightburn Zeta Sports
A unique car made by Albert Ohlmeyer of Tanunda, South Australia in 1904.
1934 Ford Coupe Utility Hot Rod
1960 REO. Most of this trucks time was spent on the Eyre Penninsula. It is in pretty good shape for having spent a lot time on dirt roads.
One of four known surviving Favourite motorcycles. These were produced between 1914 and 1921 in the Smith Brothers’ Garage in Peterborough, South Australia.
1959 Chevy Bel Air
1959 Punchbuggy. Note the steering wheel location. This example was assembled in Australia using parts manufactured in Germany.

About The Author

DEG

DEG

Will work for guns, ammo, booze, books, and cool cars.

100 Comments

  1. juris imprudent

    Nice article, and I have no pretenses about ever seeing this first hand.

    • Brochettaward

      You obviously should not have any pretense about seeing anything First. Ever.

      • Brochettaward

        I mean, just the idea of that would be laughable.

    • DEG

      Thanks!

      Australia, in the pre-Lil Rona Days, was good to visit. I don’t know if I would go back after seeing how the country handled the Lil Rona Panic.

      • Count Potato

        We should have invaded. They would have greeted us as liberators.

      • rhywun

        Sucks cuz I want to visit Melbourne some day. It is the hallowed ground of footy and mobile ashtrays.

    • DEG

      šŸ™‚

  2. Count Potato

    “1956 Jolden FJ Sedan”

    Typo?

    One of my my neighbors had a modern Holden.

    • DEG

      I proofrad gud.

  3. Count Potato

    “1954 Ford Prefect 100E”

    Don’t Panic.

  4. UnCivilServant

    Am I the only one who thinks it looks odd for the wood to reach the muzzle of a rifle?

    • DEG

      Yes

      • R C Dean

        Concur.

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      Dad’s M94 Carbine begs to differ

      https://imgur.com/a/VsZ4hlg

      Mannlicher stocks are still around today. I’d like to find a CZ-550 FS sometime.

      • Sean

        I want a 10/22 version.

    • Gustave Lytton

      No. I dislike the naked barrel look.

      • R.J.

        #StopGunCircumcisions

      • Gustave Lytton

        I had a sporterized 1903. I still feel ashamed of how butchered it was and it was like ir when I got it.

  5. DEG

    I’m out for the night. I’ll pop in sometime tomorrow to respond to any comments/questions.

  6. R.J.

    The REO looks like it has thick fiberglass fenders. That may explain how it is so remarkably free of damage. Itā€™s a very cool truck.

  7. R.J.

    I love the Lightburn Zeta. But it would not love me. I would look like a performing circus bear in a toy car.

  8. Fourscore

    Great pictures, DEG.

    My time in Australia, in Sydney, was spent drinking beer and chasing girls. Did take a harbor tour though. Fun times for a Score and a Half.

    Thanks for the tour, educational and interesting

  9. Tundra

    So good!

    Ford Prefect still cracks me up.

    I was not aware of the Lincoln Highway. Fascinating!

    Whatever is behind the Bel Air is pretty sexy! Any idea what it is?

    • Toxteth O'Grady

      XKE?

      • Tundra

        I think you are correct.

      • DEG

        Yes, 1965 XK-E.

  10. Mojeaux

    I love Beetle Bugs.

    Thanks, DEG. I’m not really a “car girl,” but I can appreciate pretty things.

    • rhywun

      This.

      I like the ’70 Holden. It screams 70’s.

      Never even heard of that brand.

  11. Gustave Lytton

    Old Forester
    375ml 9.95
    750ml 19.95

    The glass bottle is almost enough to be worth a nickel. Two pints still feel smaller than a single 750ml.

  12. Mojeaux

    Fried egg sandwich. Who’s with me?!

    • rhywun

      Not me, almost bedtime.

      But yeah – eggs are amazing. Cherish them while you can.

    • slumbrew

      Two eggs, ham, cheese, salt & pepper.

      I miss the deli breakfast sandwiches of my youth. Theyā€™re not a thing up here.

      At least one is still a requirement when I go home; my wife has made her peace with this.

      • rhywun

        Yesterday I had a frozen Jimmy Dean croissant with ham and cheese. Weirdly, the thing didn’t come with egg so I had to fry my own and add it. WTF, Jimmy?

      • Gustave Lytton

        Like a Sausage McMuffin.

      • Chafed

        Bidenflation.

      • rhywun

        That thought did cross my mind. I mean, this thing should naturally come with egg. Their sausage ones do. Or did.

    • Gustave Lytton

      Just finished dinner but I’d take one. I like mayo and ketchup on mine.

      • Mojeaux

        Miracle Whip and mustard.

    • Gender Traitor

      That was GREAT! šŸ˜ƒ And I LOVE his facial expressions!

      (Should I link to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” on hammered dulcimer again? CanICanIPleeeeeease?)

      • rhywun

        You can never have enough rednecks doing the synth classics.

      • slumbrew

        Synth classic?

        https://youtu.be/Eu4u2oKsKSA

        (really just an excuse to post my favorite music video)

  13. Chafed

    Great photos and article DEG.

  14. Brochettaward

    Sometimes, I think what you people really deserve is a seconder of all seconders. Then I remember who posts here and I’m like they’ve already got that in spades.

    • Sean

      Mornin

      • Sean

        Didn’t get enough sleep last night. Sorta unusual for me. šŸ˜’

        What’s up with you?

      • UnCivilServant

        Ran to the grocery store, and now I’m wondering why Academians are so fixated on philosophers and poets

      • Gender Traitor

        You must shop at a very erudite grocery.

      • UnCivilServant

        I listen to audiobooks when driving. A lot of them are history courses.

    • Gender Traitor

      Good morning, U, Sean, HE (HS? HX?) and Stinky!

      Anticipating a reasonably quiet day at work today…but if someone at our PEO doesn’t give us a straight answer about whether or not anyone there ever initiated a short-term disability claim on behalf of a now three-months-absent employee, the issue is likely to…escalate.

      • UnCivilServant

        Up escalator or down escalator?

      • Gender Traitor

        I was thinking up, but now that you mention it, the popular conception of Hell is that it’s down in the “underworld.”

      • Grosspatzer

        Mornin’, GT. Speaking of short-term disability, Mrs. Patzer git her first installment from the People’s Republic of New Jersey. Someone in Trenton thinks that distributing these funds is best done by providing a debit card. I guess when your default behavior is to spend immediately this makes perfect sense.

      • Gender Traitor

        Yes – heaven forbid you actually deposit those funds into a financial institution that might actually pay you some (currently increasing) interest. šŸ™„

        My employer recently received a refund from a vendor with which we’d recently “broken up.” The vendor sent the refund in the form of a debit card. (Happily, my boss gave it to me to use for break room snacks and beverages.) Is that really easier than just cutting a check??

      • UnCivilServant

        Well of course it is. A check removes those funds from the issuer’s account as soon as it is cashed, so they stop recieving the interest. A debit card means you can’t leverage those pennies for yourself instead.

      • Gender Traitor

        I’m wondering – on the off chance that Mrs. ‘patzie’s debit card is actually Visa- or MasterCard-branded, whether it’s possible to use it to get a cash advance, as one can with a credit card…

        I might ask one of my co-workers about that, but it’s probably too good to be true.

      • UnCivilServant

        All else fails, become a reseller of merch.

      • Grosspatzer

        I think she figured out how to transfer the funds. She is wise in the ways of banking.

      • Gender Traitor

        If so, please relay to Mrs. ‘patzie my hearty fist bump and a heartfelt, “You go ahead on, girlfriend!”

      • slumbrew

        I use those to buy myself Amazon gift cards. Iā€™m going to buy more dog food at some pointā€¦

  15. hayeksplosives

    Sorryā€” crude sex talk incoming. Avert your eyes if youā€™re sensitive.

    OT. As in waaaay off topic.

    The problem with finally having amazing sex with someone whoā€™s been on your mind for years is that at some point he has to catch a flight and leave you.

    [paragraph redacted by TPTB at commenter request]

    I went online to a store called Adam and Eve. Iā€™ve never used ā€œappliancesā€ before but Iā€™m feeling a bit adventurous. Here goes nothing.

    • hayeksplosives

      Six BILLION dollars?? That seems a bit much. Besides, if she was an ā€œonly fansā€ person wasnt she pretty much giving it away?

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        Youā€™re selling her short, Iā€™d go thirty bucks but thatā€™s tops and it better include a Naughty Huey for that price.

      • UnCivilServant

        Why do you hate yourself?

  16. Grosspatzer

    Mornin’, reprobates!

    • Gender Traitor

      Good morning, ‘patzie! How are you and yours?

  17. Stinky Wizzleteats

    Lordy, hearing the Trumpers whining like bitches over DeSantisā€™ mild jab at Trump given during his statement of support is grating on my nerves. Hasnā€™t Trump been sorta accusing him of being a hebo/pedophile with a wink and a nod? The personality cult bullshit is so tiresome.

  18. Grosspatzer

    Got a notice from HR yesterday informing us that there may be demonstrations in the vicinity of our offices today because TRUMP!!!11!!, and assuring us that they will be “monitoring the situation”. I think my office will be safe, no so sure about my colleagues.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      Only a fool would show up to that set up. Trump really cheesed it by leaving the January Sixthers out to dry like he did.

    • Rat on a train

      Are they offering counseling?

      • Grosspatzer

        Is the Pope Catholic Polish woke?

      • rhywun

        More like party favors.

    • slumbrew

      I can think of nobody less qualified to do anything about a potential physical threat than a HR department.

      • UnCivilServant

        I can think of nobody less qualified to do anything about a potential physical threat than a HR department.

      • Shirley Knott

        Stack the bodies to form a barricade. Otherwise, yes, useless.

  19. Fourscore

    Morning to all.

    Where da hell is spring? More snow scheduled for today. Hovering around mid-30s for the next few days? I’m getting antsy, checking my old seeds for germinateabiliity. Apple seedlings growing on the windowsill. Climate change!

    • Gender Traitor

      Good morning, 4(20)! Re: spring – Inorite??? It’s only 30 degrees F here in SW OH (“feels like 23,”) though it’s SUPPOSED to get up to the mid 50s later. I want to open Tranquility Base for the season!!

    • Grosspatzer

      Mornin’.

      ’20s again this morning, seems as though winter waited for spring before making an appearance here. I believe this is called “March”.

    • Rat on a train

      We are hoarding Spring since you didn’t share Winter.

  20. UnCivilServant

    Every three movies or so, a filmmaker should have to be required to show that they can still tell a good story by making a movie with no more than $10k that the general public willingly pays for without famous names attached. Until they have a low budget hit, they are capped at $10k/film, with each $10k hit garnering no more than three bigger budget opportunities.

    • Grosspatzer

      I miss Roget Corman.

  21. Shirley Knott

    Mornin’ all.

  22. hayeksplosives

    Now that all you responsible early risers are doing your thing, Iā€™m finally feeling tired.

    So Iā€™m back to bed!

    Have a great day!!

    • Shirley Knott

      Who you callin responsible? I utterly fail to resemble that.

  23. UnCivilServant

    I really hate it when people writing fantasy can’t get their basic terminology right. “[Substance] was both stronger yet more mallelable…” Which is it? being more malleable precludes being stronger because it by definition deforms easier.