Lost and Found: Exploring Car Wrecks in the Australian Outback

[@bradcross2]

Im sure jay would love the bongo. its the same color as the rx3

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

A matching pair, you reckon?

[@thebnicho]

Great to see you back. I definitely would have dragged that Beetle home as yard art. Its a mid-50's Oval window!! 😮

[@JohnSmith-j9j]

Dj that WAS the window frame for the bongo, the long part goes down inside the door for the window track. Good to see you out and about again.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Not sure why I didn't try fitting it the other way.

[@pangaute]

Good stuff, that oval beetle was probably the rarest car there

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Quite likely.

[@icascone]

Also enjoyed the bit about outback history and the resourcefulness of the outback!

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Figured I would share a bit of local Info.

[@savocurlija2168]

Yes, DJ is back. We've all been waiting for the next installment, bush legend.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Mate, you're to kind.

[@savocurlija2168]

​@@AutomotiveKarnageyou, young man are not just saving bush wrecks your helping people's mental health. Thanks for your fantastic efforts, truly appreciated.

[@handyandy345]

Thanks for the upload

[@nicholasgreen6913]

Get yourself to the car show in Bremer Bay in January and you will see my Bongo with a mid mounted small block...

[@donaldhalls2189]

​@@AutomotiveKarnageI was wondering why I got 3 from the other two guys and none from you, glad to see another, thanks for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones

[@lowstandards5269]

Thanks for the video DJ really enjoyed it..Bonus Bongo and wearing my shirt ❤️

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Got to rep the bros. So when do I drop the bongo to yours?

[@stefantrnacek1394]

I love Bongo vans.Great little motor.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Such cool, funky old vans.

[@stefantrnacek1394]

@AutomotiveKarnage It really needs saving. We used to use the engine in open wheel Speedway cars in the 70's and 80's. Good to see you back.

[@oldskoolonly]

And that’s an oval rear window Beatle…. That back window is worth good money

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

I did think of that. It was too trashed to cut out, however.

[@unclebrentsshed4253]

Took the words right out my mouth , probably worth $1000 to someone

[@shellbeapplesmedia5852]

Jay would love that bongo. Good to see you back mate.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Always good to get back out.

[@mrvomit101]

Do you think you'll rescue the bongo? I've never seen them before, and I don't think many people have even heard of them before. Please, save it if possible and give her love.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It is a great bush wreck. I have about 30 projects at the moment, so may be a while.

[@brucehayes7251]

I learnt to drive in one, my grandad and dad both bought them new to use as floor sanding vans, the last one went to the tip in the 90s but they were cool little vans and torana wheels fit on them

[@savocurlija2168]

That Bongo is definitely another Low Standards radical rebuild candidate for sure.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It would fit well in his collection.

[@stevemcintyre4398]

Welcome back DJ. I always look forward to seeing a mad bloody kiwi out in the bush doing cool things with classic cars!

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Thanks man. Glad to be back at it.

[@jamesbaylis9438]

Nothing like a Walk in the Bush, with DJ as ur tour guide. Must be weird seeing all this green stuff, litteraly next to the middle of nowhere. Great to see ur doing well 👍

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers mate. I did find that a little odd.

[@f4ufighter675]

The Legend is back! Great to see another awesome bushwreck video : )

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

You're to kind mate.

[@mahcooharper9577]

Some great stuff there - love the Bongo, so untouched. Used to see them driving around in the city back in the day, lovely to see it living out its days in such a beautiful setting.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It was such a great find, and perfect time of year to go see it.

[@Shanes_Shed]

I remember the first time I went to Narrogin Revheads - there was a dude skidding a bongo, but it had (I think from memory) a 351 in the back. And I clearly remember the drive setup, a chain from the back of the trans down to the diff

[@nicholasgreen6913]

That wasn't Narrogin mate it was Kukerin

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

I have a 351 sitting the shed too. It is earmarked for another project however.

[@Shanes_Shed]

@@nicholasgreen6913 well it was over 20years ago so the memory might be a little hazy🤔

[@oldskoolonly]

That HR is loaded with goodness

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It was aye.

[@downtheshedwithbyron]

Top video bro looking forward to catching up this weekend Who owes the pub feed me or you haha

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers man. Sounds like a plan!

[@norsehall309]

G'day DJ, good to see you back on the hunt for rusty gems, been a while mate, keep em coming, cheers, Neil 🤠. I live in the outback as well 😊.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers Neil, good to be back out here.

[@bengehrmann2397]

Brilliant work DJ! That Bongo Van is fabulous, can’t wait to see you rescue it. I would love to do one of those with a V8 (Windsor, Iron Lion, SBC, etc) in the centre, back to something like a Hilux diff & lower it

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers, I reckon that’s a pretty cool idea mate!

[@mxfool1508]

Good to see ya back bud! I hope you do something with the bongo van, I’m old enough to have seen those things on the road in the day and it was slow too, it predated the Zoom Zoom era, the bongo was part of the Putt putt era 😅

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Putt, putt era. Love it.

[@devnull73]

The bongo would be a great project!

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Definitely!

[@icascone]

Great video!

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Thanks man. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@nicholasgreen6913]

I want that Bongo! I have owned 4 of them over the last 30 years

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Dude, that is dedication.

[@nicholasgreen6913]

So how much you want for it?

[@GoneFalconcampin]

About time mate. Great video. Hurry up and find a xy wagon i need a tailgate

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers man. I'll keep my eye out.

[@PeterAndersons]

Awesome video mate! You need to snag that Bongo, far too good to leave there to perish. I'm sure there's a healthy engine in the library that will suffice if a 'will it run' doesn't work out. Cheers.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers man. You know what, you're right about that Bongo.

[@otagogold2236]

Nice one mate, hope you go back and rescue the bongo van

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It is definitely tempting.

[@BADQ]

Whoa that Bongo man! would be a fun resto, thanks for showing off these beauties, just goes to show there is so many cool cars still out there to be found! cheers mate

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers, there is a whole bunch of hidden treasures out there if you know where to look.

[@shaunobrien4041]

That Bongo looks like my dads car from Cairns, he was a carpenter and used to travel to and from Tamworth music festival. I put another used engine in it for him as it was burning oil. It eventually broke down some where after another trip to Tamworth. He has since passed. He could have afforded to own a better car no problems but he had a connection with it as he would have his guitar and amplifier in the back.

[@gdayhowyagoin2729]

Good to see you back mate!

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers mate, i sure did miss making the content.

[@OldM8Rem]

Welcome back mate!

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Good to be back!

[@garryhill4494]

Yes your back 😊

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

And it feels good.

[@AdamHobson-un9iv]

Hey DJ, new to the channel got you from old skool only channel, just seen the bongo, they were knowing to blown head gaskets back in the day due to poor ventilation and they constantly overheated and kept doing heads weren’t really a popular van after a few years, mum and dad own one in the exact same colour possibly is that same van when I was a kid 😂

[@jamesthompson8008]

IF you're able, SAVE that Bongo van! That has to be a surprising find, even for you guys. Cheers from the USA

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It definitely was.

[@AussieGarage]

Love it mate. the amount of good stuff you find out there is super cool

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

I know, it’s crazy what you can stumble upon.

[@RemusKingOfRome]

That bongo reminds me of my old Datsun Homer van, blue.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

I will have to look one of them up.

[@volktales7005]

Those Beetle tailights go for good money. Probably has some other good oval era parts on it as well...

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Good to know if I am ever back out that way.

[@justafewdollars6726]

@@AutomotiveKarnage $300-$400 worth tails lights but you can't stand them so pointless haha

[@GregoryBamber]

Bongos - 60mph flat chat with a tail wind. They were affected by wind from passing semis and crosswinds. I guy I knew had one for a short time, lol.

[@OzOneAu129]

Glad to see that he’s back. It’s been so long in fact I’ve changed my username lol

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers mate. It's good to be back.

[@demolitionman9307]

The Bongo Van has a full chassis. perfect for a buggy. Etc.. while I'm messaging you. I'm after a pair of single taillights for a valiant VF or VG coupe. In bad condition.. for yard art. If you happen to find any. Cheers

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It's not my usual thing, but if I find some, you'll be the first to know.

[@demolitionman9307]

@@AutomotiveKarnage cheers, going to be in port Agusta next week, used to be a wreckers that had about 20 plus valiants. might get lucky there. lol. im slapping together a "Yard Art/Rat Rod/madmax" kinda thing. from a VF coupe i saved from going into the Demo Derby.

[@paulorchard7960]

Friend’s brother had one way back when and he put a 186 in it! He then built a wooden box to go over the top and strapped it down to look like cargo to hide the extra height on the 6 cyl!😂

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Mate, that is genius!

[@anthonyfogliani3902]

Every time I see a bongo van I instantly remember the opening scene of Mad Max

[@GregoryBamber]

Another guy that had a muffler shop had a Bongo with a hot VW engine in the rear and was used as a wheelstanding drag car.

[@bruceaskin9645]

Mate that HR is definately a drag home vehicle , The actual body is in better nic than a lot of HRs currently being restored.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Yeah your not wrong. I was going though my stash of parts the other day, and I think I still have that holden rear bar you asked for.

[@bruceaskin9645]

@@AutomotiveKarnage I have since made bumperets from a HZ sedan to match my front ones . But dont toss it wagon bumpers are very hard to come by, there will definately be someone out there looking for one.

[@Nothing2C-m6e]

The blue bongo is the same one that was destroyed in Mad Max, it was also George Miller’s van that he sacrificed for the movie.

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Might have to finally watch the movie now.

[@lesklower7281]

A Mazda Bongo van l do remember these infact a friend of mine had one😊

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Wicked.

[@brucehayes7251]

Grab the bongo van , beyond rare , and sadly I threw one away decades ago

[@davidmilledge221]

Great to see ya back 👍👍green desert so much for climate change ay looks like the climate is changing for the better and the bridge made back before the 50s because off rain so nothing's changed then 😅

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

The rains this year broke an almost decade-long drought. Unfortunately we haven't had much since.

[@tubbytub2990]

Hi DJ should rescue the Mazda Bongo and V8 swap it?🤔😁🤣

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

That would be cool

[@peterlawrie7636]

I've had a long history with the little bongo. Had several over the years , they run till there f...ked. There is a lot of stories thats for sure.😏😏

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Love a car that creates stories.

[@downtheshedwithbyron]

Sorry mate i just got home watching your video now

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers brother.

[@davidcooper3905]

You've got to save the bongo van

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Maybe one day.

[@jaceNZ75]

⭐Churr much⭐

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Churr my bro!

[@davidbarnsley8486]

It’s been a few months dj good to see you again I nearly deleted your channel last week 👍👍

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Thanks for sticking with me.

[@holdenbrougham1056]

Mazda van should be fitted with a booted 4Jz Isuzu turbo diesel like used in Thailand long tail boats , with auto transmission and shorter 9 inch, tall gears 2.75 ratio , I bet it will fly across salt lake flats, and it will still be a one of a kind van

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

That sounds like a wild idea. Good combo, for sure.

[@holdenbrougham1056]

@AutomotiveKarnage look into finding a 06 Holden rodeo Colorado , 4x2 auto diesel is all we won't here just engine transmission a d could use rodeo lsd diff too, as diffs already able to handle torque and are built well, talk to Thailand diesel guys , these guys know diesels better than everybody else in the world, and can advise or build an engine to use in this van , the guys are so knowledgeable and great to talk to, and a little van with a giant black clouds behind it rawin across the country just looks good against the aussie red dirt

[@Cabalero24]

не пропадай надолго, хоть раз в месяц запиши короткое видео, например можешь показать как пинаешь старый хлам на своём участке чтоб мы знали что ты в порядке!

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers mate. Going forward I plan to be more active with videos. Even if it is only 1 a month.

[@holdenbrougham1056]

Hr sedan said special on boot lid , so it's mid range level upholstery, premier was top range, x2 was sports model tri carby 186, best 6 Holden ever done , the mini Mazda van , I remember these but the were not used for decades now and I can still point out another 4 of these vans sitting in paddock or back yards of country towns in Victoria, and all are in pretty much one piece with all glass and 4 wheels with hub caps , think this was Mazda only attempt at k type mini vans , best example is in eaglepoint Victoria all original faded paint no rust obviously but not seen under it , owner won't sell it I asked already, only caused its so clean honest old and rare with books

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

The x2 is a pretty cool car. Good to hear there are a few old bongos still out there to be rescued.

[@holdenbrougham1056]

@@AutomotiveKarnage yeah but if people suddenly find it's worth money then it's hard to buy them

[@EricaMTB]

Engine behind the gearbox and rear wheels. Sounds like a beetle

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

You got me there.

[@crazyman1650]

Almost looks like the bongo used in the first mad max except this one isn’t totaled

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

I have never watched mad max.

[@crazyman1650]

@ I’d recommend watching the movie, full of classic Australian cars

[@TheRyan19804]

someone needs to save that bongo

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It's definitely a great project for the right person.

[@mrozboss]

Kmc plate is Kalgoorlie plate

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

That's the one.

[@oldskoolonly]

Paddock bashed 😜

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Bush bashed out these parts, mate. It's good fun.

[@benni727]

can I buy the bongo

[@nicholasgreen6913]

F off I want it

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Where are you located?

[@brettjones5041]

Save the Mighty Bongo Engine Swap

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

What engine would you drop in it?

[@brettjones5041]

@AutomotiveKarnage another. Mazda.

[@JoelSmith-m8p]

DJ you need dat Ven

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Haha, I have plenty of projects at the moment.

[@peterplaneman]

Low standards should get that bongo

[@darrylcampbell4411]

Hey man. Good vid and I dont mean to be pendantic but the Bongo is a VAN not a CAR. Same as a utes a ute NOT a CAR.. I could go on but I wont.... I hate VWs too. No point stopping at that one or any others...LoL

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Fair enough. Sometimes, I just get too excited and ahead of myself.

[@alfredgravy6375]

Go the bongo

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Yeah the bongo!

[@Rustyandriden]

Send the bongo to jay plss

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

The bro is already building what he is calling the "big bongo." It's going to be mad!

[@fredjones1238]

the vw is not your thing , and its beat to shit but still i hoped you turned a V W oval guy on to it , still might be same pieces the window and back part of roof maybe? just guessing. cheers

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Unfortunately there is not one useable part on that car. I did think about cutting the window out.

[@fredjones1238]

right on mate she did look beat to bad

[@thecapedgremlin0001]

Don't bother expecting to restore anything, he is another wannabe who "does a lot of talking", but in the end does nothing! I've been watching his channel for over 4 years and nothing has changed! I'm sure he is an honest person and a good person whose life gets in his-way awhile constantly doubting himself on what he can and can not do, of which he should not! Good luck!

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Cheers, mate. I appreciate the feedback, and I'm always working to improve.

[@paulriggers1558]

welcome back looks wrong, a green desert... is it normal, or a trick of global warming

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It was really odd. But not unusual outside of drought times.

[@oldskoolonly]

That HR is loaded with goodness

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

It was aye?

[@davidbarnsley8486]

It’s been a few months dj good to see you again I nearly deleted your channel last week 👍👍

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Thanks for sticking with me.