Designed for racing, the Skelta includes a lightweight spaceframe with a carbon fiber composite body keeping the car's heft down to a Calista Flockhart-like 1,587 pounds. Bringing the power to the sports car's power-to-weight ratio is either a tuned Honda 2.0-liter fourbanger putting down 340 HP or a 3.0-liter Hartley V8 pumping out 460 HP. Both are mated to a Honda six-speed transmission. The vehicle is available in either an open-top spyder or a two-seater with gullwing targa top.

There's no final word on the price of one of these, but it doesn't matter unless you live in the UK and probably have a lot of disposable income.

The incident took place Sunday morning in Parklea, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, and the good news is that nobody in the house was injured when the "late model Commodore sedan" got out of control, hit a light pole, jumped a dirt mound, and flew about 90 meters through the air to land on the roof of a nearby house. The driver and passenger of the Commodore ended up in the hospital, where they're reportedely in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. We're sure they're answering a lot of very pointed questions posed by members of Sydney's law enforcement community right about now. Thanks to Alf, In Pog Form for the tip!
[Herald Sun, full gallery]

The dainty Ms. Alysson White was swinging by the Howard Springs Tavern, where she regularly waitresses, to drum up some party goers for a friends birthday party, after which she hopped into a Toyota Hilux (we actually never knew to classify the Hilux as a ute) to head off to Humpty Doo for the party. Turns out the driver was nursing a 0.147 percent blood alcohol content and crashed the ute on the way. NT News reported there may have been some hanky panky going on during the ride which would have led to driver distraction and thus the crash.

Well, Ms. White would like to refute those claims in her hilarious account below:

"I was not sucking his d*** - and it's pretty obvious that wasn't the case ... you only have to look at the mark on my chest, clearly I had my seatbelt on, so it's impossible that I'd be leaning over sucking his d*** unless he is hung like a donkey or I've got a f****** rubber neck. If it was true I'd just cop it sweet and think 'how embarassing, I got caught sucking someone's d***' - but it is not true and that's what is p****** me off. It didn't happen like that at all - he was just going too fast. I don't understand where that story has come from.

"It may have looked bad when police first arrived as my girls were hanging out all over the place. I also had a $5 note wedged between my boobs so they probably just assumed I was a sex worker or something and he'd already paid me.

"But $5 is a bit cheap for a head job.''

Both driver and passenger were taken to the hospital with minor injuries following the accident, and the driver was charged with drink driving, driving without due care, and driving without a license. Ms. White will likely be getting recruitment calls from local finishing schools. [NTNews]

The worst dust storm in Sydney in 70 years, scientists suggest that, as Australia's deserts expand and extreme weather becomes more common as a result of global warming, the odds of such an event reoccurring more frequently have increased. Lookout for the video in the gallery below and tell us this isn't reminiscent of the ruined city scene in "Mad Max: Beyond The Thunderdome."

Apparently, the move to stop the export program in the wake of GM's bankruptcy and the killing off of the Pontiac brand has left a warehouse of parts once destined for cars to be exported to the US. Holden's marketing department — sensing an opportunity — has decided to use the stockpile on VE Commodores, which will be sold as a premium priced, limited edition Holden. Brilliant!

Even better news is the special edition will apparently also be available as a ute and wagon! GM had announced plans to bring over a G8 El Camino Sport Truck ST to the United States but then nixing those plans, along with even the idea of a wagon version of the Zeta-platformed RWD G8.

Although there's no official confirmation yet from Holden, the mere thought of the G8 surviving provides us some level of comfort — even if we're not getting it here. Frankly, the mere thought of a Pontiac El Camino vastly increases the likelihood we may have to move to Australia for some good ol' fashioned muscle car hoonage! Seriously, this is the best news we've heard in weeks.

UPDATE: Aussie site carpoint's reporting the following:

"It is unclear how many of each will be made, but dealer contacts have suggested it will be close to 1500 in total, or about 500 of each body style.

Prices of each limited edition model will be $1000 more than a regular SS V. The Holden bulletin outlined to dealers the following:

Pontiac G8 SS-V ute manual $47,490
Pontiac G8 SS-V sedan manual $55,290
Pontiac G8 SS-V wagon manual $57,290"

[via Drive, carsales.com.au, carpoint]

When you're done here, you might check out our favorite VW ads, then go right on with the Datsun, Toyota, Renault, General Motors, British Leyland, and Chevrolet ads.

1990 Ford Festiva	1932 Ford Model B	1980 Ford Pinto
1984 Ford LTD	1977 Ford Capri	1979 Mercury Zephyr
1980 Mercury Cougar	1982 Ford Granada	1992 UK Fords
1983 Ford F Series	1958 Lincoln	1970 Mercury Monterey
1955 Ford	1986 Ford Taurus	1991 Ford Escort RS2000
1984 Mercury Topaz	1981 Ford Escort	1973 Lincoln/Mercury
1978 Mercury Cougar XR7	1974 Mercury Comet	1969 Australian Fords
1991 Ford Escort GT	1978 Ford Granada	1969 Ford Torino
1989 Ford Taurus	1984 Ford Ranger	1989 Ford Taurus
1986 Ford Sierra XR4	1997 Mercury Grand Marquis	1970 Mercury Comet
1970 Ford Pinto Squire	1986 Mercury Sable	1980 Mercury Capri
1984 Ford Tempo	1977 Ford Thunderbird	1971 Ford Torino
1978 Ford Futura	1972 Ford Pinto	1982 Ford Cortina
1981 Ford Capri	1963 Fairlane Squire	1990 Mercury Topaz
1965 Ford LTD	1968 Ford Torino GT	1966 Lincoln Continental
1978 Fords	1975 Mercury Cougar	1990 Ford Falcon

If you prefer being a nitpicker to being merely observant, you might then point out that the British Leyland name existed only from 1968 to 1986, and thus several of these ads fall outside those boundaries as well. But here at Jalopnik, we defy categorization of obscure European machinery!

When you're done here, you might check out our favorite VW ads, then go right on with the Datsun, Toyota, Mustang, Renault, General Motors, and Chevrolet ads.

1972 Triumph TR6 (USA)	1981 Austin Rover (UK)	1966 Austin Mini (Australia)
1975 Triumph Spitfire (USA)	1970 Hillman Hunter (Australia)	1975 Triumph, MG (USA)
1980 Austin Metro (UK)	1977 Leyland Princess (Germany)	1976 Triumph TR7 (USA)
1973 Triumph (UK)	1976 Leyland Princess (UK)	1974 Triumph Spitfire (USA)
1981 Triumph Acclaim (UK)	2003 MG ZR (Spain)	1977 British Leyland (UK)	1970 Simca 1000 (Spain)

The as-yet unnamed leasing company immediately contacted Australian authorities in an attempt to retrieve the Ferrari, but according to local laws, the car must remain in impound for 7 days.

Acting Police Commissioner, Chris Dawson said;

"There has been an application made by the owners of the vehicle to get the vehicle back, that application under hardship has been refused so the vehicle remains seized for seven days."

It's unknown what fines or penalties the journalist will face, but we're guessing his car borrowing days are slightly numbered. (H/T To Sam!)

[via ABC Australia]

References say that Hoon stood for "man living off immoral earnings (i.e. a pimp)" at the turn of the 20th century. The term has evolved to encompass drivers of either sex "who drives any vehicle dangerously and/or fast." The term hoon is typically only used in Australia or New Zealand, but we're doing our damnedest to bring it front and center into the vocab of American gearheads everwhere.

This t-shirt worn at Summer Nats, an Aussie-flavored SEMA, wraps up the definition of hoon in a succinct, efficient manner. We're hoping this hoon-shirted bloke launched out of the parking lot after a smoky, tire-shredding burnout, gained enough speed to nail the perfect Rockford, thereby instantly attaining hoon-god status among his peers. A man's outfit says a lot.

Also, as an FYI to the world's laziest journalist, you don't need to name your post "photo for Ray at Jalopnik" to get our attention. Just wanted ya to know that.

[WorldsLaziestJournalist and Reference.com]

[Twitpic]

Most are from North America, but Japan and Australia are represented as well. Naturally, the "Oh What A Feeling" era dominates our list. Enjoy!

1963 Crown	1979 Tercel	1980 Cresta	1981 Tercel
1981 SR5 Pickup	1981 Starlet	1981 All Models	1982 Corona
1982 Celica	1982 Celica	1983 Tercel 4WD	1983 Diesel Pickup
1984 Corolla	1984 All Models	1985 Tercel 4WD	1985 Trucks
1987 Celica	1987 Corolla FX	1987 Supra	1997 All Models

In addition to the usual loud noise, high speeds and long black stripes that come with hoonage, locals complain about having to constantly replace fences.

Tramway maintenance worker Sid Shepherd lives at nearby Ravizza Drive and said hoons had crashed into his fence and yard seven times in the past five years.

"One time, we had just had it fixed and within an hour, it was knocked out again," Mr Shepherd said.

Public shaming is great and all but we're still holding out for real Australian justice to take the day.

[Source/Photo: Cairns.com]

Having recently moved north from my home town of Adelaide, South Australia to Brisbane, Queensland, I thought my days of seeing old beaters being used for daily transportation might've been over. Adelaide has a dry climate similar to Murilee's description of Alameda, and a lack of emissions testing or even regular roadworthies meant that I was able to drive around in almost anything I cared to pay a registration fee on, seemingly regardless of physical condition, provided it didn't prove a clear and present danger to other road users.

My old Sweeney-brown Mk I Grenada was a classic example. We'd stripped out the mouldy carpets and ratty door trims, and I drove it around for a month with a bare-bones steel interior, the cherry bomb on the RS2000-sourced four-pot reverberating all through the car with no NVH padding to muffle the noise, and brown gaffer tape that gave a close paint match covering up the more obvious rust around the base of the rear window.

I had been told by coworkers up here in Brisbane that Queensland has reasonably rigorous roadworthy inspections as part of their registration process, but to my pleasant surprise I've found that this may have been an exaggeration. Yesterday while I was having breakfast at the Northy Street markets in the city's inner north I spotted two beaten old survivors, both striking me as being DOTS:BE-worthy, even through I only had my cameraphone to hand.

In the 1970s before the introduction of bulk containerisation of shipping, Australia had a thriving industry in assembling CKD kits from other countries. Citroen, Renault and Peugeot all sold locally-produced versions of their vehicles, as did British Leyland. You could even buy Pontiac Parisiennes and other North American GM muscle through your local Holden dealership. I'm no expert de Citroen, but I believe that the smooth headlight covers mark this DS out as a post 1969 model. If this is actually a surviving Australian production model, it was kitted out with all sorts of niceties that were weren't even available as options to our Euro-brethren.

Based on the pattern of dropped berries surrounding it and the seriously underpressure front right, this 1960 Holden FB wagon might be better described as Broken Down On The Street, but these old 'Oldens are built in such a basic fashion that a hammer and a length of bailing wire are probably all that are needed to get it running again. In terms of styling, this generation of Holden was basically a 4/5 scale shoebox Chev. Note that at the time it was built these weren't called wagons - they were station sedans. These old FBs came standard with a fairly mild inline 'grey' six (named after the color the block was painted), but parts interchangeability is so broad within the Holden family from 1948 through to the mid 70s that there could be anything from a 68hp 2.1L grey six to 135hp 3.3L red six.

In the background of one of these shots you can see Ilsa, my 150hp Ford Fiesta XR4 (the local name for the outgoing Fiesta ST). She covered 2100 miles over my trip up north without skipping a beat, and every single one of them was a complete blast. But that's another story. I'll be keeping an eye out in the future for more DOTS:BE vehicles up here in the subtropical north, but I'm also wondering - do we have any other Brisbane-based Jalops?

First, we're conflicted by the idea of a golfer taking delivery of such custom-car awesomeness, but considering it was his dollars and dreams that made it so, he can't be a normal golfer. Second, we need complete detail images, performance specs, and burnout and hoonage videos, immediately. We're actually a little hurt the car didn't debut by power-sliding through a herd of kangaroos while leaping through a ring of fire. Finally, the Deni Ute Muster — how did we not know about this event? It's got a list of ten commandments (.pdf) which reads like every out-of-control tailgate party we've ever been to. And over 6,000 utes in one place! In Australia! Plane tickets. We need them. (Thanks for the tip Chris) [CarAdvice.au]