Melbourne cops pull over 'Australia's most unroadworthy car' after noticing it had no bonnet
Published on Sep 02, 2025 at 9:14 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 02, 2025 at 2:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Cops in Melbourne pulled over a BMW that has been dubbed ‘Australia’s most unroadworthy car’, and you really have to see it to believe it.
The burgundy 1997 E36-generation BMW 318i was spotted by cops in southeast Melbourne in July and quickly drew their attention.
Officers noticed that the car appeared to be missing its hood, and on closer inspection, there was a lot more going on.
Images of the car have been shared by Victoria police online, and the BMW has been branded ‘Australia’s most unroadworthy car’ with good reason.
DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Is this ‘Australia’s most unroadworthy car’?
Police forces across the globe are tasked with making sure our roads or safe, which occasionally means seizing vehicles, like this glow-in-the-dark Lamborghini Aventador that was impounded in London, or this Ferrari F430 that was seized and destroyed in Italy after it was revealed to actually be a Toyota MR2.
Over in Australia, cops in Melbourne recently found what was a strong contender for ‘Australia’s most unroadworthy car’, which is thankfully now off the road.
Officers from Victoria Police were first alerted to an issue after noticing that the BMW didn’t have a hood, meaning the owner was driving it with the engine fully exposed.
The 64-year-old driver was then pulled over, and police were greeted with a bizarre scene after looking inside the vehicle.
The owner of the BMW had removed the car’s front seats, and the driver was sitting on a plastic garden chair.
Not something you see every day.
The owner admitted to knowing that the car was unlikely to be roadworthy, but said he was driving the car to go and pick up some parts when he was pulled over.
The excuse didn’t get the man very far, and he was issued with a defect notice and is expected to be charged with traffic offenses.
It’s not the first seriously unroadworthy vehicle to be stopped Down Under
While the BMW above could be in the running for ‘Australia’s most unroadworthy car’, it faces some stiff competition.
In December last year, cops in Sydney pulled over the driver of a modified Toyota 86, which was missing its front bumper and hood, had mismatched wheels, and had been fitted with an uncertified turbocharger.
The driver was hit with several penalty notices in relation to driving a defective vehicle, carrying out non-compliant modifications, and using a modified vehicle without proper compliance.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
