Australian engineering knowhow is underrated and there have been many attempts to get a locally developed Supercar off the ground, with the Joss being one.
First appearing in 2004 at the Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide Motor Shows, the Joss JT1 arrived with much fanfare in addition to critical acclaim.
The stunning supercar used a naturally aspirated Ford 5.0-Litre V8 and a carbon fibre body enabling the Joss to have an enviable power-to-weight ratio.
Early testing of the JT1 had the acceleration time to 100km/h at 3s and the quarter mile at 11.7s where a speed of 209km/h was recorded.
Nearly a decade on from its initial unveiling, the Joss had a rework and the JP1 began development. Aimed at producing 25 each year from 2013, investment ended a year later and a crowdfunding campaign to enter a scaled down race version in Targa Tasmania failed.
Joss Developments Limited was led by experienced automotive designer and the project’s technical director Matt Thomas.
However, the Joss gained a new lease on life when Thomas sold the project in 2016 and as a result the project restarted.
Further enhanced by PACE Innovations, the underpinnings of the Joss became those of the Brabham BT62.
Although the Brabham isn’t produced anymore, the project was sold across the world and raced in GT2 form to complete the dream first embarked on 20 years ago.
At least the Joss can be driven in Forza, which keeps its memory alive.