For years, residents across the region may have noticed Kyabram resident Dianne Glare’s Mazda 121 on the roads.

But while the iconic car won’t be spotted making its usual rounds any more, Ms Glare isn’t ready to let go of her beloved piece of history just yet.

The story of the custom-painted car began back in 2019.

Ms Glare was attending a community group when she struck up a conversation with Tongala street artist Murray Ross.

“Murray was doing art with us, and we didn’t know what we were going to paint that day, and someone said, let’s paint Dianne’s car.”

After giving it some thought, Ms Glare took a leap of faith and handed the artists complete creative freedom over her vehicle for a week.

“Something that was a joke in the first place turned into something rather beautiful,” Ms Glare said.

The painted Mazda made its debut draped under a tarp, before being unveiled to mark the opening of a new mural at a church in Tongala.

Since then, the mobile artwork has served as a promotion for Tongala’s murals and street art scene, something Ms Glare feels proud to be part of.

Ms Glare said whether cruising through the McDonald’s drive-through or driving through the streets of Kyabram, the car turned heads and sparked conversations with people of all ages.

The vehicle itself carries a rich history, being a rare find before the Tongala street artists took the paintbrush to it.

Bought new in 1997, it was one of the last of its model to roll off the Mazda production line in Australia.

Although retired from the roads now, Ms Glare has no intention of parting with it, choosing instead to hold on to the cherished piece of her past.

“It’s part of my history,” she said.

Reflecting on her years behind the wheel of her iconic Mazda, Ms Glare said, “If it was a partner, I would say it was a happy marriage.”

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Thursday, 16th July 2026

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