VALE David Bowden
David Bowden, one of the most significant contributors to the history and legacy of Australian motorsport, has passed away. While he wasn’t a racing driver, mechanic or team owner, Bowden nevertheless was a pivotal figure in local motorsport, thanks to his passion for finding, restoring and preserving vehicles from the golden era of Australian touring car racing.
Born in Dalby, Queensland, in 1944, Bowden was the son of a Ford salesman who later became the first Holden dealer in Nambour, Queensland. The young Bowden owned his first car at 12, a rodded ’34 Ford roadster, with his first jobs being in the car industry before moving into finance. The passion for cars and motorsport never left Bowden, though. He made regular visits to racing events and could name the likes of Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan amongst his friends.
Success in business allowed Bowden to buy and sell iconic Aussie muscle cars when they were new, including more than 20 GT Falcons, but acquiring the near-mythical XA Falcon GT-HO Phase IV in the 1970s was a starting point for the significant collection that most people connect the Bowden name with now. In 1982, Bowden found Geoghegan’s 1971 ‘Super Falcon’ and spent almost a decade restoring that car to the performance and appearance of its heyday.
In the years that followed, more race cars were tracked down and added to the collection, with the quest sometimes taking Bowden and his sons, Dan and Chris, overseas. These included Allan Moffat’s Trans Am Mustang and GT-HO Falcons, Peter Brock’s Bathurst-winning Holden Torana A9X, Norm Beechey’s Chevy Nova and Holden Monaro, Dick Johnson’s Falcons and Sierras, Alan Hamilton’s Porsche 911, and the Kevin Bartlett Channel 9 Camaro.
Many others from the Improved Production, Group C and Group A era of local motorsport were added to the collection, too, along with cars that raced overseas, including a rare BMW M1 Procar. At its peak, the collection has numbered close to 50 cars, with some sold over the years via the family’s ‘Ecurie Bowden’ business that trades in significant, high-end vehicles.
Most of the cars in Bowden’s collection were maintained in running condition, so they could take part in parade laps at various events. On occasion, they were also loaned out for static display, including for Ford Australia’s centenary celebrations last year.
Properly caring for this collection led to the creation of the Bowden’s Own range of cleaning products that can be found in the garages of JUST CARS readers all over Australia. Developed initially for the family’s own use, the Bowden’s Own range went commercial in 2002, and now boasts dozens of product lines. Mock products created for April Fool’s Day show the team at Bowden’s Own like a laugh, too.
If you’ve been to a large-scale car show over the past 15 years or so, it’s most likely that Bowden’s Own were there, too, promoting their products. Cleaning and detailing demonstrations – ‘Detailing Days’ - have been regularly held at the Bowden’s Own HQ on the Sunshine Coast, with that concept taken on the road in 2025 for a ‘Detailing Drive’ that covered five states.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1998, Bowden battled other health issues more recently, but retained his passion for cars and the business. He was aged 82 when he passed on 9 June. A funeral service to celebrate Bowden's life will be held at 10.30am on Thursday, 18 June, at Gregson & Weight Funerals in Maroochydore. JUST CARS extends its sympathies to the family, friends and associates of David Bowden.
