Muscle Car Museum is a full throttle flashback.
Muscle Car Museum is a full throttle flashback.
Car lovers, start your engines, this one’s for you. Bundall has scored itself a revved-up shrine to all things loud, fast and proudly Aussie.
Welcome to the Muscle Car Museum, where V8s rule and chrome dreams come true. Just minutes from Surfers, this gem is home to one of the most jaw-dropping private collections on the East Coast. Foreign cars? Not here, mate. This place is strictly Aussie muscle, and we’re talking the good stuff, like nearly every Monaro model from 1968 to 1975. Drooling yet? You should be. And trust us… this is only the beginning.
Car enthusiasts understand there’s more to enjoy about these vintage rev machines than just their speed and the sound they make- they’re damn fine to look at (or in this case, gawk at). Thankfully, this isn’t your average roped-off (aka no-fun) car museum, with owner James Bowers doing his fellow car enthusiasts a solid by allowing fans to walk around the cars. No barriers!
This means you’re getting up close and personal with XY GTs, Ford hardtops, SL/R5000 Toranas, a working 1970s tune-up machine and an FJ limousine. They’ve even got muscle bikes of the era, including a Kawasaki Z900 and retro mag wheel display that’ll blow you away.
James, a long-time collector of the Aussie muscle car with a passion as loud as the V8s on display. After years of keeping his dream cars tucked away in a private Gold Coast facility (only to be driven on weekends), James decided it was time to lift the bonnet (pun fully intended) on his ‘as bought’ and resorted collection to let the public have a peek. And peek we will!
Mad Max fans, this one’s gonna blow your mullet back. Yep, the Muscle Car Museum is rocking a dead-set spot-on replica of the legendary Interceptor parked right out the front like it owns the joint (because, honestly, it kind of does). We’re talking movie-level detail. It’s an exact match to the one from the OG Mad Max flick. Goosebumps? Same.
Kids in tow? Muscle Car Museum isn’t just a revhead’s dream, it’s a playground for little (and not-so-little) legends. We’re talking free pinball machines, a mega arcade loaded with over 1000 retro games, and a Scalextric track where sibling rivalries are settled one tiny burnout at a time. Oh, and for the aircraft lovers (aka every kid ever), there’s even a model of Thunderbird 2 on display. Wrap it all up with a $2 icy cold drink from the vintage soft drink machine and boom, you’ve officially nailed the best day ever.
Since opening in August 2024, the Muscle Car Museum has become a pit stop for car clubs and enthusiasts and a host for disability and retirement groups. The friendly team sets up tables, provides BBQs on request, and welcomes carers free of charge.
So, whether you’re a Mad Max mega fan, a Monaro devotee, or just into cool stuff with chrome, the Muscle Car Museum will be your car heaven.
Where: 76 Bundall Rd, Bundall
When: 10am-3pm, Tuesday to Sunday
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Images by Mathilde Bouby
STORY SPONSORED BY MUSCLE CAR MUSEUM
Buckle up, Gold Coasters, we’re taking a joyride through the turbocharged life of Rachael Reid. From a wheelie bin speedster in her childhood to the glamorous Miss Indy, race car driver, Surfers Paradise bar owner, and supercar test pilot, Rachael’s story is the ultimate automotive dream come true. With a heart as big as her engine and a passion for philanthropy, she’s more than just a social media influencer—she’s a charity queen and a proud mom of three incredible girls. We dive into her journey from car-loving tomboy to the powerhouse behind Her Supercar Life, and learn how she’s using her drive to make a difference both on and off the road!
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I have lived on the Gold Coast since I was nine having moved from Sydney.
What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
The beach lifestyle, the exciting automotive community, and opportunities for business.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
From a car-loving tomboy to the runways of Miss Indy, my life so far has been a thrilling ride. I’ve shifted from modelling to racing to business. Alongside owning a popular bar in Surfers Paradise to developing commercial real estate, I’ve owned, tested and reviewed supercars, carving a niche as a social media influencer and charity advocate. Today, I channel my passion through Her Supercar Life and The Sunset Run my supercar charity event, while also being a proud mom to three incredible girls. My journey merges speed, style, and the drive to make a difference through philanthropy.
What initially sparked your passion for exotic cars and motorsport?
My brothers working on cars and their influence at a young age, along with my early exposure to motorsport.
What inspired you to create Her Supercar Life?
What inspired me to create Her Supercar Life was not just my personal passion for high-end exotics and supercars, but also a desire to open this exhilarating world to other women. I aim to demystify the often intimidating world of automotive, highlighting not only their potential as smart investments but also the sheer joy and artistry of driving them.
Each car has its own unique story, rich with history and innovation, which I find absolutely fascinating. Through Her Supercar Life, I strive to empower women to appreciate, invest in, and experience the thrill and prestige of these incredible machines.
What are some of the most memorable moments or highlights you’ve experienced since founding Her Supercar Life?
Being asked to join the Lamborghini global female advisory board by the then Lamborghini Global 2IC Katia Basile, driving Formula 4 at Sepang, and building a successful brand that resonates with female car enthusiasts.
You’ve raised over $150,000 for notable charities such as LIVIN and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. How important is philanthropy to you and Her Supercar Life, and how do you integrate charitable efforts into your events?
Philanthropy is not just important to me—it’s a core pillar of Her Supercar Life. We believe in leveraging our passion for supercars to make a meaningful impact on the community. This commitment is reflected in events we’ve held, such as Exotics and Espresso, where we bring together supercar enthusiasts to support various causes. Our latest initiative is The Sunset Run, an event that not only offers an exceptional driving experience but also serves a greater purpose by raising funds for mental health advocates LIVIN.
By integrating these charitable efforts into our events, we create opportunities for our community to engage in philanthropy that resonates with their interests, fostering a culture of giving back while enjoying the cars they love. To date, we’ve raised over $150,000 for notable charities, including LIVIN, Make-A-Wish Foundation and others, underscoring our commitment to driving positive change both on and off the road.
How do you see the supercar community evolving in Australia, and what role do you envision Her Supercar Life playing in that evolution?
The supercar community in Australia is rapidly evolving to become more inclusive, particularly encouraging more women to engage. The ‘Her’ in Her Supercar Life symbolises not just my involvement but stands as an invitation to all women and our commitment to fostering female participation and dismantling stereotypes in this traditionally male-dominated industry.
Looking ahead, we aim to expand our events and initiatives to not only increase female visibility but also use our platform for philanthropy, making the supercar community about more than just cars but driving positive social change.
What does the future have in store?
Expanding our events nationally with exciting partnerships – watch this space, also new exciting events on the horizon, more charity work, and continued advocacy for female empowerment in the automotive industry.
What are your Gold Coast favourites:
Café: No Name Lane
Restaurant: Social Eating House
Bar: Burleigh Pavilion
Beach: Burleigh
How do you choose to spend your days off?
Spending time with family, and of course driving.
If you’ve been dreaming of experiencing the thrill of live racing beneath the twinkling night sky, your dreams are about to gallop into reality. The Gold Coast Turf Club is kicking off the Summer Racing Carnival with its first-ever Silks Under The Stars night racing event on Friday, December 20.
It’s the dawn of a new era for the club following their massive $73 million Tracks, Tunnel, and Lights redevelopment. The lights are on, and the excitement is high! To mark this epic occasion, free general admission is up for grabs, so you really have no excuse to miss it.
The glittering night kicks off a racing extravaganza that brings together high-speed thrills, entertainment, and a jaw-dropping light show to illuminate the track. Picture it now: the city’s finest horses thundering down the straight, shadows cast by the brand-new state-of-the-art lighting system—pure magic under the stars.
Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines is understandably excited, calling it a new chapter for the club. He explained that the lighting installation is the result of over a decade of hard work, marking a new era for the club as it aims to become Queensland’s second Metropolitan Club. “It’s going to be a historic night, and we’re expecting a massive crowd to celebrate the occasion,” Lines said.
The Silks Under the Stars event represents much more than just a one-off racing night—it’s the start of something special. Gold Coast night racing has long been a dream, and it’s finally being realized with a series of successful lighting tests, including a twilight race on October 5. According to Lines, the night racing setup opens new doors for tourism and puts Gold Coast racing on the map, both interstate and internationally. Talk about setting the scene for a global stage!
Feeling a little extra? For those looking to turn this special evening into a VIP experience, the Christmas Festive Feast offers an indulgent way to enjoy the night. For $200 per person, you can revel in the excitement from the comfort of the Event Centre, enjoying a gourmet meal and all the luxuries that come with it. With limited corporate hospitality packages available, this is the chance to elevate your evening and soak up the event in true style.
The Silks Under the Stars is only the beginning of the new Summer Carnival. As part of the Turf Club’s biggest racing festival ever, the fun continues into January with a second Night Racing event on Friday, January 24, just ahead of the Australia Day long weekend. This thrilling two-part series sets a new benchmark for the Gold Coast’s racing culture and gives locals and visitors alike even more reason to celebrate this summer.
So, dust off your finest race-day outfit, gather your mates, and get ready to experience racing like never before! Whether you’re trackside for free or indulging in the corporate feast, Silks Under the Stars promises to be a race night that’ll shine bright in Gold Coast history.
Be there as the lights go on, and Gold Coast racing enters a dazzling new chapter!
When: 4 pm-10 pm, December 20, 2024
Where: Racecourse Dr, Bundall
Website: gctc.com.au
Instagram: @gcturfclub
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Full price meals? Not in this economy. We don’t know what it is about cheap eats, but for some reason food just tastes that much better when you’re not paying full price.
Life’s expensive (you don’t have to tell us twice) so we’ve rounded up the best Thursday cheap eats the Gold Coast has to offer so you can spend less time googling and more time on the important things – eating!
Words by Belinda Symons
