The Ilinga story

Named for an aboriginal word meaning 'distant horizon', Ilinga Pty. Ltd. was incorporated in May of 1973. A factory was established at 30 Beaconsfield Parade, Port Melbourne in 1974. The company publicized the Ilinga as "the name for a car which has brought true luxury into the Australian car industry". The Ilinga AF-2 was intended to be a high-performance, two-door grand tourer.

The car was first presented at the 1975 Melbourne Motor Show and the AF-2 was built to compete with the likes of Porsche and Aston Martin. It was designed by British-born racing car driver and engineer Tony Farrell in partnership with Melbourne businessman Daryl Davies.

The Ilinga AF-2, at rear

The AF-2 was built using an aluminum body on a steel chassis, fitted with three roll-over bars, and featured crumple zones for added safety. The chassis was based on a Ford Cortina floor plan and was originally envisioned with a Noryl plastic body. The chassis design in many respects was ahead of its time with a rigid passenger cell strengthened by three roll bars and crumple zones.

Designed around a modified Rover 4.4 liter V8 engine sourced from the Leyland P76, the AF-2 was to be fitted with a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic Borg-Warner transmission, 4 wheel independent suspension, with coil-over struts, pop-up headlights, and central locking doors. It also featured a modern interior with Recaro seats, a digital clock, a self-seeking cassette player with radio, electric windows, and a fully integrated air conditioning unit.

The Ilinga AF-2 interior

It was intended to be sold at the retail price of AUD$16-18,000. The firm had plans to build two cars per week (100 cars per year) but ran into financial difficulties associated with staff and tooling expenditure for production. Their troubles were further compounded by supply and warranty problems with the Borg Warner 35 transmission which failed to cope with the Ilinga's additional horsepower. The demise of the Leyland P76 also led to the loss of its local engine source. Finally, the oil crisis of the early 1970s caused a drastic change in consumer preferences toward more fuel efficient cars.

These factors came together to seal the fate of the AF-2, with only two prototypes being produced. Despite its innovations and ambitious goals, it became a car without a market. A tantalizing lost horizon...

The Ilinga AF-2 rides off into the sunset

The first of the two completed prototypes was donated to the Museum Victoria in Melbourne, by Mr. Ian Dodd, who had owned it since 1977. The other was reportedly used as a daily driver by an Australian restauranteur and re-painted green (from its original color, a metallic powder blue). It awaits restoration.

Sources:
Museum Victoria

Classic Cars Wiki