» ‘Kings of the Road’

Kings of the Road: 50 Cars that Drove Australia by Toby Hagon and Bruce Newton

ISBN 9781760558086 (Hardcover)

Meet the Kings of the Road. These are the cars that drove Australia – the greatest, bravest, most iconic and inspired vehicles in the country’s history.

Every one of them has a story to tell. From the first car manufactured in Australia to the ‘beast’ that started the feud between Holden and Ford. The first car to cross the Simpson Desert and a 12-tonne Bushmaster that carried our soldiers into war. The ‘Kangaroo Chaser’ inspired by a farmer’s wife and named by Henry Ford himself. And the fastest, most powerful Aussie car of all.

Co-written by veteran motoring journalists Toby Hagon and Bruce Newton, Kings of the Road explores a wide cross-section of the most iconic cars that Australians have produced or adopted into our motoring culture.

In a country of extremes, it’s reflected in their meticulously researched shortlist: there are cars built for tough outback conditions ranked alongside those designed for urban living. There are barely legal street machines, concept cars and even a few lemons.

Best of all, there are race-winners such as Ron Tauranac’s BT19, powered by an Australian Repco engine and driven to the 1966 Formula 1 World Championship by none other than Jack Brabham. He remains the only driver to ever win a World Championship in a car of his own construction – a feat that will never be repeated.

Our review copy was kindly provided to us by Pan MacMillan Australia – click here to order your copy today.