Australian Motoring Year #4 1985/86

There has never been a year like 1985 in the entire history of the Australian motor industry. It was an all-time record year for retail sales, and there seemed to be a enw model release almost every week. The boom was caused by a combination of three factors-the devaluation of the Australian dollar relative to the major currencies, the pull-forward of sales because of the 1986 unleaded petrol cars, and the perception that car prices were continuing to go through the ceiling. 

The year saw Mitubishi win its second Wheels magazine Car Of The Year award in a row with its excellent new Magna; it saw Toyota assault the market with an enourmous spate of new models in passenger cars and light commercials/4wds; it saw Nissan slip further into loss aand depression; and it saw stunning success for BMW in the luxury car business.

However, as the year ended the industry was still waiting for the final drafting of the Federal Government propused new company car tax. Because of this, and because final year sales statistics were late in being compiled, the decision was taken to extend Motoring Year's coverage to take in the early months of 1986.