50 years of TV's best cars

From the backdrop to the spotlight, cars have been a vital component of Australian television - whether it's Ted Bullpitt's obsession with his Kingswood to Kat's "beep-beep Barina".

The Wiggles would be lost without their Big Red Car - and how the best Australian on-screen detectives would have caught their criminals without their trusty Fords and Holdens in shows like Section 4, Homicide, Matlock or Blue Healers.

Cars have also been involved in the invention of new technologies: Channel XNUMX pioneered the Racecam, a camera installed inside racing cars that allows viewers to see their racing heroes in action.

It ranged from a live camera link from Sydney car dealer and driver Peter Williamson and the quirky Dick Johnson to others like Bob Morris who wasn't quite as excited about the technology.

Four-wheel drive vehicles have allowed Bush-Tucker, Russell Coit and Malcolm Douglas to explore nature by bringing it into our living rooms.

Outback automotive ingenuity starred in Bush Mechanics.

And it was the cars that came to the rescue when Seven's power went out during the filming of the first show, and the set was illuminated by car headlights.

Now stroll down Memory Lane as CARSguide shows you the best, worst, coolest and most daring cars on Australian TV.

Kingswood Country

"Not Kingswood" were the words that made Ted Bullpitt famous when he spoke of his pride and joy in never letting his son or son-in-law drive his beloved Holden car.

The Leyland Brothers

It was the Toyota LandCruiser that allowed Mike and Mal to "trip the countryside, ask the Leyland brothers" as they brought the charms of Australia to TV—the forerunner of today's travel shows like Getaway and The Great Outdoors.

Beyond Tomorrow

A show dedicated to new and emerging technologies, Beyond Tomorrow showcased some of the fastest and most impressive cars, from the Lotus Exige to the Koenigsegg CCX, as well as concept cars like the Holden EFIJY.

Bathurst

The best drivers and the best cars appear on the small screen as part of an annual ritual. Highlights include Australia's Racecam innovation, which places cameras inside racing cars; Dick Johnson's famous stone confusion and ensuing accident in 1980 that led to an impromptu fundraising telethon; Peter Brock's teammate Doug Chivas ran out of gas and pushed his car in 1973, with a 1977-1 Ford finish in 2 being hijacked by a Channel Seven helicopter.

Skippy

Sonny and Skippy, his smart pet kangaroo, were the undeniable stars of the show, but who can forget reckless Ranger Tony Bonner and his tick-tacky XR Ford station wagon kicking up clouds of dust as he made his daily commute?

Sullivans

Set during World War II, this story follows the Sullivan family and their favorite vehicle was an old Ford.

comedy company

Uncle Arthur, Glen Robbins' character, one of the stars of this Channel Ten sketch show, relied on an Austin A70 for transportation.

Wizards

These Wiggles in their underpants, pointing their fingers, travel around the classroom, getting into their Big Red Car.

Kat and Kim

"Beep-beep Barina" took Kat the fox with her on all her travels, especially her shopping trips to Fountain Gate Mall.

Aunt Jack's show

The star of this comedy series, which aired in the early 1970s, was a drag queen boxer riding a motorcycle. And it was not just an old motorcycle, but a Harley Davidson, which was ridden by everyone's favorite aunt.

Mother and son

A divorced son, a peculiar mother and Morris Minor. Mother and Son is a classic Australian comedy and the quirky and whimsical British car fit its characters.

Bush Tucker Man

In his trusty, rugged Land Rover, Australian Army forest survival expert Les Hiddins drove straight into the wilderness to bring the Outback and its many hidden free culinary delights into the living rooms of city slickers.

Torque

Hosted by Peter Warrett, ABC's groundbreaking car show broke new ground by bringing car tests and new products to our screens in the 70s. No other Australian car show has reached such heights. However, Jeremy Clarkson and his show Top Gear on the BBC continued this theme and took car shows to the next level.

Sylvania Waters

This documentary, which was in fact the first reality show in Australia, tells the story of Noeleen Baker, Laurie Donaher and their family. The Donahers were already a racing family, starting in Bathurst in a Holden Commodore and racing in a classic Ford Mustang in historic races.

Murder

Filmed in Melbourne, Homicide used Falcon XP and XR as police cars. It ran for a decade from the mid-60s to the mid-70s and was one of the most popular and influential programs of the time, winning 11 loggias.

Matlock Police

Not so much a car as a star (Valiants played the car) - instead it was a police motorcycle ridden by Paul Cronin's character, which is synonymous with this '70s cop show.

Country practice

Few TV star cars have ever lived off the small screen, but the red Falcon ute used in the Wandine Valley has survived. Now restored, he is a regular at the Sydney car show.

Beijing - Paris

In a 2006 car hit, five vintage cars recreated a historic car race. The three-wheeled Contal was the star.

All-Australian Adventure

Another personality of comedian Glenn Robbins. In this hilarious series, inept would-be adventurer Russell Coit, a man who poses a danger to everyone (or anything) he meets, somehow navigates the outback in a rugged-looking Toyota LandCruiser.

Acropolis now

Set around a restaurant in Melbourne, this Greek-Australian comedy featured heated Valiants and Monaros, magnetic wheels and fluffy dice.

Great commercials

And love them or hate them, Australian TV has also had some great commercials. These include: Goggmobile ad in the Yellow Pages (gee, gee), award-winning Honda Cog ad featuring the Accord in parts, GMH ad "Football, Meat Pies, Kangaroos and Holden cars", Valiant ad "Hey Among them is the Charger campaign" and the catchy "Go well, go Shell" jingle.