From Matchbox Cars to Muscle Machines: Bernie Quinn Joins Glenn Ridge on the Famous Insurance Podcast
If you’ve ever admired a high-performance Aussie Falcon, marvelled at the engineering behind the Nissan Navara Warrior, or wondered who helped keep the dream of Australian car performance alive – you might not know his name, but you know his work. Meet Bernie Quinn.
In our latest podcast we delved into the COVID archives of the Famous Insurance Podcast, host Glenn Ridge sits down with Bernie Quinn, one of Australian motoring’s unsung heroes. From his early days obsessing over toy cars in the family dunny to co-founding engineering powerhouse Premcar, Bernie’s journey is one of passion, persistence, and a bit of good old-fashioned elbow grease.
“Mum tells me I used to take my Matchbox cars into the toilet,” Bernie laughs. “I just didn’t want to be away from them. That’s how it all started.”
A Childhood Fueled by GT Dreams
Bernie’s fascination with cars didn’t come from his dad – “He wasn’t really a car guy,” Bernie admits – but from someone a little more colourful.
“My uncle Michael was like my hero. He had Elvis hair, big biceps, smoked like a chimney, drank like a sailor, and drove a GT Falcon. He had an XY, then an XB GT. I used to think he was a rockstar.”
That rockstar image left a lasting impression. Bernie knew early on he wanted to be a mechanical engineer. But like many great stories, the road wasn’t straight.
“I knew what I wanted to do – I just didn’t really do any work to get there,” he says. “I scraped through my HSC. I was one of those kids who let life influence me.”
Finding His Groove – Eventually
Bernie’s first professional role was at Toyota, working on manufacturing for the Avalon. His job? Setting up the paint shop equipment as the Avalon replaced the Camry in Australia. But if you think Bernie blended into the corporate machine easily, think again.
“My daily driver at the time was a 1963 Studebaker Hawk. I was a square peg in a round hole.”
The role leaned more towards administration than engineering – and that wasn’t Bernie’s style. So he left. Took a break. Built houses for a year. And then – like any good car story – fate revved its engine.
He found his way back into the automotive world, joining Dana, a parts supplier to Ford. There, he worked on the original Ford Territory – a project he still speaks of with pride.
“That was a real groundbreaker. It was Jeff Polites’ legacy.”
But the turning point came thanks to a simple newspaper ad.
“I saw this job at Tickford and couldn’t help myself – I had to apply. I walked in on my first day thinking I was just joining the engineering team. They said, ‘You’re the new driveline engineering manager.’ Just like that, I had a team of engineers reporting to me.”
From there, Bernie was deep in the thick of the high-performance Falcon world – and living the dream of every blue oval tragic.
The Holy Grail Falcon
One project, in particular, holds a special place in Bernie’s heart – the legendary FG “Holy Grail” Falcon.
“We always had this dream to create the ultimate Falcon. The Holy Grail was our unfinished business.”
The program included a complete suspension redesign, engine and exhaust upgrades, and new wheels – all for a $45,000 upgrade package. The catch?
“We didn’t make any profit on that program. None. But it was never about that. It was about doing something special for the car, for the fans, for the legacy.”
The Mighty Barra and the Industry Shift
No talk about Australian performance is complete without a nod to the Barra engine – and Bernie’s take is worth hearing.
“What’s amazing about that engine is how efficient it is from a combustion point of view. It would’ve been awesome in something like an F-Series truck if it had ever been exported.”
But as the late 2000s rolled in, the industry changed. Ford’s local manufacturing volumes dropped dramatically, from 100,000 Falcons a year to just 30,000. It was a sign of things to come.
“Ford bought Prodrive out of FPV, and then Prodrive offered up their Australian automotive business for buyout. Myself and two colleagues took the leap. We did a management buyout. That was a pivotal moment in my life.”
And with that, Premcar was born.
Engineering the Future – Navara Warrior and Beyond
Premcar’s reputation has grown over the years, but one of its most publicly successful recent projects was the Nissan Navara Warrior – a tough, off-road ute developed to rival the Ranger Raptor and HiLux Rugged X.
“I was going around pitching to OEMs – they were all looking for a premium, rugged off-road variant. And we delivered something we’re really proud of.”
From modifying passenger vehicles for Ford Performance Vehicles to engineering ruggedised utes for global OEMs, Bernie and his team have carved out a niche that’s uniquely Aussie – innovative, capable, and driven by passion rather than ego.
Tune In: Bernie Quinn on the Famous Insurance Podcast
In this episode, Glenn Ridge dives deep with Bernie – covering his early inspirations, the wild ride through Ford and FPV, the challenges of starting Premcar, and the magic behind some of Australia’s most beloved performance cars.
Whether you’re a car nut, an industry insider, or just love a good story – this episode is one not to miss.
Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or click the link here
https://famousinsurance.com.au/podcast-with-glenn-ridge/
