We live in a world that’s more connected than ever before, yet we seem to hear a lot about people being isolated for one reason or another. As social creatures, humans need to talk and see each other in person instead of just doing it behind a screen. Although the internet has made my quality of life a lot better, I am well aware of the serious mental stress that can arise from it, particularly with social media. Happily it’s not all bad, because it’s allowed me to become part of the car scene and connect with other like-minded people. The beauty of Highball Cars and Coffee is that I can do all this in person – Martin and the team from Highball are genuinely doing a service for the community. So with that out of the way, here are some of the best cars from the day. Or rather morning should I say.
Mustang is one of the most famous names in motoring, with almost 60 years of history behind it. Not even Ford knew how much of a cultural phenomenon it would become when the first model debuted in 1964. The car was designed to sit below the Falcon and Thunderbird, being nothing more than the “cheap” option for those who couldn’t afford the bigger models. It was never supposed to reach the soaring heights that it has, becoming a symbol of the working class. This one here is a pre-production model of the brand new “S650” generation, which will go on sale here in a few months time. Showing off a brand new car at an event like this is a fantastic way to promote the vehicle and connect with potential buyers. With the death of the traditional motorshow, could this be the way of the future? Ford sure thinks so if this is anything to go by. (Please please PLEASE bring out the GTD some day!)
When I saw this car on the road, I made a dash to the footpath in order to catch it before it was too late. Soo happy I did because the new 992-generation 911 GT3 RS is the most extreme RS model ever built. It’s basically a Cup car for the road, with an extraordinary amount of aerodynamics and innovate airflow solutions to offer grip in all circumstances. Porsche has ripped up the sports car handbook and thrown it in the bin to create a whole new level of performance. What cannot be understated is the Stuttgart brand’s ability to continually push the boundaries with clever engineering and design, something that’s immediately brought to light with this spectacular car.
In my opinion, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ is the ultimate Lamborghini that I would really love to own if I could. It may not produce the same horsepower figures that the hybrid hypercars do with their fancy setups, but the engine is a pure 6 litre V12 without any forced induction or electric motors. That alone is worth the price of admission; never mind the clever aerodynamics or the insane mechanical grip that comes with it. Don’t get me wrong, stuff like the Diablo is cool but this car is peak Lamborghini – a perfect fusion of old and new. People will talk about it for years to come.
Now I know what you’re thinking: why the hell would you photograph a MK1 Golf that looks like a ute? Aren’t there better cars? Yes, there are, but how often do you see an original Caddy in such good condition? The wheels may look old but the rest of it seems to be a proper restoration both inside and out. I’m pretty sure that most of these cars were beaten to death and put into the scrapyard 30 odd years ago, so seeing this AT ALL is special in itself, let alone one which looks brand new.
The Japanese tuning shop Liberty Walk has become known for making some of the craziest (and most expensive) bodykits in the world. They haven’t been around for long but their impact on car culture has been huge. You either love them or you hate them, but no matter what side you’re on, it’ll be a point of discussion nonetheless. This R35 GT-R is inspired by the 1984 Skyline Super Silhouette built to the old Group 5 ruleset. How this thing is legal I’ll never know, but thank god it is.
As I want to represent the community, I thought I’d be a good idea to show off Aidan’s Integra (@jdm.hw.aus) as he was one of the few people I met at Highball 10 along with Carter (@850visuals_), Xavier (@just_cars_with_xavier), Declan (@car_finds_melbourne_), Luke (@lj.auto) and Matt (@strawbs_609). Nice wheels mate – you can’t go wrong with this front-wheel-drive hero.
Continuing with the community representation, Sharam (@r34gtr_tommy_kaira_rz) brought his Tommykaira GT-R out again to the delight of many including myself.
I never get tired of seeing Fabio’s (@fab.garage.au) Lotus Exige at Highball. I still contend that it’s the best Exige in this country, mainly because the livery is a tribute to the original open-wheel race cars built in the 60’s.
Now for one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen at Cars And Coffee – a Cadillac Fleetwood Hearse. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you to death with this one. In 1991, Chevrolet released the fourth generation of their full-size Caprice sedan and it became the platform for other vehicles in the GM stable such as the Buick Roadmaster. The Cadillac Fleetwood was the most luxurious version of this “D-Body” platform, designed for comfortable freeway cruising and nothing else. It’s therefore the perfect vehicle to take on your last ride.
Aston Martin was not in a good way at the turn of the millennium. They found themselves in financial disarray yet again and if they didn’t do something major, they’d be rendered obsolete. So, they put themselves up for sale and were eventually purchased by Ford, giving them the finances to create a totally new car. The result was the Ian Callum designed DB9, a V12-powered grand tourer that made the DB7 look pathetically dated in comparison. The car was also constructed in a new way, using aluminium for the chassis to dramatically increase the build quality and overall sturdiness of the car. It was taught but still classy enough for the most distinguished upper-class citizen.
I’ve seen many green machines before but not much comes close to this one. The shade chosen for this Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) very much reminds me of a green tree frog, especially when combined with the circular headlights. It won’t be able to jump around like one however because the GT3 RS is a car that will stick to the ground, something which I suppose is more akin to a gecko on second thoughts. Strangely enough, I’ve actually seen this car before at Black Label 2022 but back then it was just plain white and didn’t look anywhere near as interesting. How do I know this? The number plate and the wheels are the same.
Oh look, it’s a yellow Evo 5 – the famous meme car from Gran Turismo 2000, only this one seems to be modified with a different set of wheels and rear wing. The 5th generation of Mitsubishi’s homologation special came with the legendary 4G63 4-cylinder engine, making it a popular choice for rally and road racers alike. Much like some of the other 90’s JDM heroes, this car has developed a cult following which I’m inadvertently a part of thanks to a stupid meme.
I get sick of seeing RS3’s all the time because they seem to attract a certain crowd of people who are more interested in making life a pain in the arse for others instead of being responsible. This cannot be said for the original S3 – a little 4-wheel drive hatchback with a 1.8 litre 4-cylinder engine that some would say looks rather uninspired. However I like the simplicity of the design – it doesn’t shout about the fact that it’s a hot-hatch with over-styled front and rear bumpers. People of culture will definitely appreciate this largely forgotten Audi.
Now for the usual dump of photos in the gallery:
Highball 12 had a strong lineup of cars with some pleasant surprises that I honestly did not expect. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks again to everyone who turned up on this winter morning with the ever-threatening clouds on the horizon. Although having said that it did make for ideal photography conditions, so I hope you enjoyed this.
DevMacCars 