At a time in their lives when many young, straight, white males are staggering their way through perceived rites of passage, artist Ben Quilty turned a mirror on himself and his friends. In doing so he geared his paintings towards images which explored the young men’s search for masculine identity.

Quilty honed in on images of motor vehicles which came to reflect the identities of their owner/drivers. Along with fast food, alcohol and drug references; these Kombis, Valiant Chargers and LandCruisers became enduring motifs, which he used to convey his ideas.

The nuggetty Holden Torana, with its V8 engine crammed under the hood became a Quilty favourite. The Torana entered Australian folk lore in 1972, when Peter Brock drove it...