But somehow we seem to overlook/forget some legends, a good example being brothers Bob and Bill Chamberlain, probably best known for their Chamberlain Tractors.

Naturally, their unique talents cover much more exotica than their famous farm machinery that bears their name.

An excellent example is their contribution to motor racing, with the now iconic Chamberlain Eight, perhaps better known as “The Beetle” which evolved from their single-seater sprint car which first saw the light of day in 1929.

The nickname comes from its low squat and widish chassis design, the original layout being drafted by Bob under candlelight while working in the Mallee in rural Victoria.

Originally powered by a highly stressed Indian motorcycle motor it was an innovative/radical front wheel drive design, which, while not unique, another Australian, Henry Sutton, having built the world’s first front wheel driven car in 1899, just pipping Peugeot who were also tinkering with the layout.

While it enjoyed limited early success in motor sport, it was obvious that the Indian power plant was well past its use-by date.

With this in mind, rather than take the easy option of sourcing an off-the- shelf replacement, the brothers decided to build their own from the sump plug up.

After all, their tailor built chassis was outside the square, with its lightweight triangulated space frame chassis with stressed aluminium panels, independent front suspension with inboard brakes and a proven front wheel drive transmission.

The engine proved to be equally as radical with all work being done in house, with the engine block alone involving numerous attempts to get it right.

So what could be so difficult in such a routine matter as casting an engine block?

Perhaps the mechanical specifications, might give you a brief, if fleeting idea, of the motor’s complexity.

Let’s start with the four cylinder stepped bore, eight piston, vertically opposed, supercharged two stroke engine, with two crankshafts one of which runs through the skirt of the top piston.

Featuring twin plugs per cylinder, and a magneto producing 64,000 sparks per minute, from eight individual coils at 8,000 rpm.

With a capacity of just 1100 cc the quirky engine was rated 85+ hp and “The Beetle” was good for 112 mph.

It went onto many successes, especially after World War 2, a story in itself and surely a true symbol of Aussie ingenuity.

The vehicle still exists and the National Motor Museum in Birdwood SA is currently fund raising to buy the famous race car to ensure that the Chamberlain Eight spends its retirement days “Down Under”.