OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1981 Maserati Kyalami with a 4.9 litre engine and an automatic gearbox.
There is confirmation on file from Maserati Classiche that this particular car was completed on the 16th February 1981 and it was finished in Blue Sera (dark blue) with a white leather interior. A colour scheme the car still caries today.
This particular example is one of the four factory right hand drive Maserati Kyalamis which were delivered new in South Africa. It is understood to be one of only 11 factory right hand drive Kyalamis built with a 4.9 litre engine and an automatic gearbox, making it an exceptionally rare car.
Unfortunately the early South African history of this car is not known. It was understood to have come from a long term owner in Cape Town who sold it in circa 2008 to an architect, also based in Cape Town. Interestingly, he also owned a yellow Maserati Merak SS at the same time. The car was then sold in c2011 through Motostars in Cape Town to a client based in Johannesburg. It was then registered in the Gauteng Province as CL15GS GP.
The current owner, who is a well known and a well respected Maserati enthusiast based in Melbourne, purchased the car from classic car specialists Crossley & Webb, in Cape Town in August 2020. At the time of import the odometer read 16,418 km. There is an import approval on file dated 12th March 2021.
The car was imported into Queensland and subsequently complianced and registered. It was then sent to Maranello Pursang Motors in Melbourne who did some minor repairs on the car. The transmission was serviced, which included replacing thee selector seal and lever seals, the speedo drive was repaired, the thermos fans were repaired, a new windscreen washer bottle was installed, new sparkplugs were installed and the carburettors were adjusted.
Today the odometer reads 17,715 km, which is understood to be 117,715 km. The car looks to be totally original both inside and out and is in very good condition for an original car that is forty two year old!
Like its predecessor, the Mexico, the Pietro Frua designed Kyalami is subtle, but elegantly striking at the same time. No matter where you start, your eye is ultimately drawn to the long raking bonnet, with its multiple crease lines and subtle curvature which terminates at the Maserati trident on the front grill.
The colour of Blue Sera suits the car perfectly and it looks absolutely stunning out in the sun. The paint work presents well from a meter away and in the photos but upon closer inspection there are a few stone chips, small scratches and blemishes here and there. The one most noticeable is on the lower section of the drivers door. The paint still has a strong depth of colour and a nice deep gloss to it. The bright work on the car is generally in good condition. The rubber section of the bumpers show some light wear and discolouration. The front Maserati badge is worn and should be replaced. The panel gaps are very good, there are no dents and no signs of corrosion. The wheels are a real feature on a Maserati Kyalami and they have been recently refurbished and are in excellent condition. They are currently shod with Federal 215/65/15 tyres which are date stamped 094 (week 09 1994). They would be due for replacement based on age. All the glass, including the lenses on the lights are in goodcondition. We did notice a small chip on the front windscreen which has been repaired at some stage. Fortunately, it is almost at the bottom of the windscreen and not noticeable when you drive the car.
The interior of this car presents exceptionally well and its condition belies its age and originality. The upholstery has aged gracefully and the leather still remains soft and supple. There are no tears or cracks in the leather and the seats still provide ample support. All the instruments present well and appear to be in a good working order. The light blue Alcantara dashboard, which is in excellent condition, is definitely a feature and really suits the car. Even the carpet is in good condition. The Maserati badge on top of the gear selector is worn and is something we would replace. The air conditioning system in Italian cars of this period was never great, but we are pleased to say it is working and it is blowing cold air.
The engine bay is neat, clean and tidy. Like the rest of the car, everything under the bonnet is also very original. The car retains its trademark diamond patterned under bonnet matting, and the often missing knurled air cleaner nuts. Importantly, all of the ID plates remain in place. The boot is similarly presented and it looks to have been sparingly used. The diamond patterned matting and carpets are all in good condition.
After taking the time to admire the interior, we make ourselves comfortable behind the wheel in preparation to take the car out for a test drive. It should be noted that the driving position is excellent. The car starts easily and fairly quickly settles into a smooth idle. The big V8 sounds fabulous. It has an exhaust note that means business, but in a sophisticated kind of way. This is no muscle car. We impatiently allow the car some time to warm up and then we put the gear selector into drive. First impressions are really positive. The engine has loads of power on tap and the gear changes up and down the box are smooth. Out on the open road the car is a very comfortable and it is a very easy and really nice car to drive. Back to the engine . . . when pushed, the big V8 will bark, but driven sedately you can hear the engine without it being too noisy. We were really impressed with how the car drove on our test drive. It just goes about its business in a very efficient, almost Germanic way. The carfeels solid on the road, it handles well and importantly it also stops easily and in a straight line when you hit the brakes. A new set of tyres would also further improve the drive of the car.
We did notice a slight nocking noise at low speed which appears to originate from the drive shaft. This could very well be a universal joint which needs replacing. The brakes are also a little squeaky which can most likely be rectified by changing the brake pads.
Accompanying the car is its spare wheel, jack kit and some recent documentation.
Highlights:
- Rare, factory right hand drive example (one of only 44 produced).
- Desirable 4.9 litre engine (one of 21 RHD produced).
- Fabulous original colour scheme.
- Very original car.
- Great value for money classic Maserati.
Price: $59,950
Background:
The Maserati story is a fascinating one. It is the story of a family with daring, courageous and forward-thinking ideas. The story starts with Rodolfo Maserati, a railway engineer who was employed by the Italian monarchy and the father of seven sons who all had a passion for engine design and racing cars. The Maserati brothers all became involved in the automotive industry in some way or another, however, it was on the 1st of December 1914 that Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati officially opened Alfieri Maserati Workshop in Bologna, Italy.
Maserati chose the trident logo to adorn its cars. Its design was based on the Fountain of Neptune in Bolognas Piazza Maggiore. The colours chosen for the logo were also the colours of Bologna, red and blue.
The business was focused on repairing, servicing and preparing cars, however, the World War cut business short and it wasnt until 1926 that Maserati built its first car, the Tipo 26.
It was all about motorsport back then and in 1937 the Orsi family acquired ownership of Maserati which was in desperate need of financial backing to be able to survive. During the Orsi years Maserati grew from a boutique but very successful race car builder to one of the worlds leading manufacturers of hand-built sports and GT cars.
Maserati built its first road car in 1946 even though times were tough in post War northern Italy. The car was the Maserati A6 where A was for Alfieri and 6 for the number of cylinders. The initial reception of the car was positive and a production Maserati A6/1500 was then shown at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show.
This was a significant milestone in the Maserati legend and subsequent models included the A6G/2000, 3500 series cars, 5000GT, Mistral. Quattroporte, Mexico, Sebring and Ghibli. Maserati also continued to build very successful race cars that dominated tracks around the world including the 250F, 300S, 150S, 450S and the Birdcage.
Orsi sold to Citroen in 1969. Maserati built some fabulous cars during Citroens ownership (including the Indy, Bora, Merak and Khamsin), however, times were tough and the company struggled financially. Citroen placed Maserati into liquidation in May 1975 and it was ultimately saved by the Italian government and Alejandro de Tomaso took control shortly thereafter. Under de Tomasos watch the first new Maserati was the Kyalami, so named after the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in South Africa where a Maserati powered Cooper T81 had won the 1967 South African Grand Prix. The Kyalami was based on the De Tomaso Longchamp. Pietro Frua was commissioned to re-style the car and give it that traditional Maserati look and feel. The Kyalami was seen as a true successor to the Mexico. It was built from 1976 through until 1983 and during this time only 201 cars were built. Of these 44 were RHD. 30 of the RHD cars were destined for the UK market, 7 for the Australian market, 4 for the South African market and 3 forHong Kong. Of the 44 RHD cars, 21 were fitted with the 4.9 engine. 10 were fitted with a manual gearbox and 11 with an automatic gearbox.

1981 MASERATI KYALAMI 4.9

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1938 MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe by Salmons & Sons, affectionately known as Vera.
This car is understood to have been manufactured in August 1938 and was delivered to its first owner in the UK shortly thereafter. There is a copy of a document titled: MG VA Cars 1937 1939 . . . The Survivors on file, which is dated 22nd February 1989. This notes the following information on this car: Year 1938, Registration MPL268 and Owner: White, AJC. Its subsequent early history is not known.
At some stage the car then fell into disrepair and it probably lay dormant for many years. It was purchased in poor condition, most likely in the late 1980s, which is when its restoration started. A decision was made to build a new body in aluminium, with only the original steel guards, running boards and bonnets retained. The Pre-War MG Register of Australia notes that the body was understood to have been built by Rod Jolly, who is highly regarded for his work restoring Rolls-Royce and Bentleys. Progress was slow and the cars then owner apparently ran out of money. The car was sold to MG S, V and W specialists, SVW Spares, in the UK. Shortly after this, in early 2007 the car was purchased by Robin & Jenny Page from Melbourne in Victoria. The project was at a point where the Pages were able to choose the paint and upholstery colours for the car. They made the decision to paint the car in two tone grey, fit a black soft top and trim the interior in maroon. This is a beautiful colour combinationgiving this VA a very elegant appearance.
In February 2008, Vera as this car was christened by the Pages, arrived into Melbourne. The name Vera was chosen by the Pages from the model designation of VA and the memory of English singer and entertainer Vera Lynn.
In March the car was taken to the 2008 MG Nationals which were held in Tamworth, where it won Class A: Pre-War Touring with an impressive score of 569 points.
Unfortunately not all was well with the little VA as in October of that year the car suffered a major engine failure, necessitating a total rebuild. During the rebuild the capacity was increased from 1,548cc to 1,657cc and the compression ratio increased to 8.6:1. At the same time the gearbox was also rebuilt and other mechanical work completed.
Over the years the Pages kept on improving their beloved MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe. All that hard work paid off when in October 2012 the car was selected into Motorclassica, which was Australias premier Concours dElegance and classic car show. The car was very well received and it won the Pre-War (British and European) 1930-1939 class. That same year the car also won the Pre-War Touring & Saloons class at the MG National meet in Hobart. There it also won outright in the pre-MGA class.
Other achievements over the years are:
- 2010 1st place in class and outright winner at the MG car club Victoria Concours dElegance
- 2011 2nd place at Cars of the World Concours dElegance at Rochford Wines in Victoria
- 2014 Best Presented British Vehicle at the Great Macedon Grand Tour
- 2015 1st place pre-war class MG car club Victoria Concours dElegance
- 2015 Best Pre-War British Vehicle at the AOMC/RACV Classic Showcase.
After 12 enjoyable years of ownership and many great memories, the Pages decided to sell Vera. The car was sold to the current owners in January 2016. Like the Pages, they have thoroughly enjoyed their journey of ownership with this fabulous car. Unfortunately, they are selling due to ill health.
Today this 1938 MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe still presents and drives beautifully.
The two tone grey paint work contrasts perfectly with burgundy upholstery and it is the perfect colour choice for the car. The paint work is now almost 20 years old, however, it is still in excellent condition. There are a few minor blemishes and defects, most noticeably two hairline cracks on the swage line on the left hand bonnet and a small star on the right. The panels gaps are all very good.
The interior presents beautifully. The timber dashboard houses the most elegant cluster of instruments that are in excellent condition. The upholstery is all in excellent condition with no rips, tears or obvious wear. Even the carpets are in excellent condition!
Under the bonnet everything presents beautifully. You will note the wheel hammer and original crank clipped on the bulkhead. There is what looks to be a complete tool kit in the boot.
The painted wire wheels are in excellent condition. All the wheels, including the spare, are shod with Blockley tyres, size 5.00 19. The tyres are still in good condition.
We were able to take the car for a test drive following our photo shoot. Like most MGs of that era it required a choke to start from cold. The engine fired pretty much at the first pull of the starter and it immediately settled into a smooth idle. Once it had warmed up we went for a short drive and I can confirm the car is tight on the road and it drove every bit as good as it looks.
The current owners wanted the car to be reliable and essentially be able to jump in and drive it to wherever they wanted. There is no doubt that they achieved that objective as the car was driven from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast which is where it is currently stored.
The Tickford three position folding roof is a work of art and it is in a very good condition. When we photographed the car the roof was not folded down correctly. We have since discovered the correct way to fold the roof down and it does so in a very neat and tidy way.
This car is fitted with a factory replacement engine as noted on the engine ID plate, which we understand was installed many years ago. MG aficionados will note the replacement engine is burgundy in colour, as they were, whereas the original engines were painted green.
Accompanying the car is a toolkit, a crank handle, a history file with receipts and photographs of the restoration, a detailed list with some receipts showing all the work completed to the car since it was acquired by the previous owners as well as various books and MG literature.
Highlights:
- Beautifully presented example of a quintessential British prewar sports car.
- Rare and unique Tickford DHC.
- An older restoration that still presents beautifully.
- Fabulous colour scheme.
- Ready to be used and enjoyed.
Just a fabulous example.
Price: $114,950
Background:
MG is one of the worlds most iconic motoring brands.
In 1912, with the support of the Earl of Macclesfield, William Morris founded W.R.M. Motors Ltd and started the manufacturing of Morris designed cars. In 1919 W.R.M. Motors was liquidated and essentially replaced by Morris Motors.
In 1921 Morris hired Cecil Kimber as a Sales Manager for Morris Garages and in 1923 he became the General Manager. Kimber had a vision and started building sportier versions of Morris cars and labelled them MG. On the 1st May 1924 Morris Garages registered the MG Octagon as a trademark.
Demand grew, which necessitated a move to a larger premises in September 1925. This was quickly followed by another move in 1927. By 1928 the business had grown so much a decision was made to separate it from Morris and the M.G. Car Company was established in March 1928. In 1929 the company moved to Abingdon and on the 21st July 1930 the M.G. Car Company Limited was incorporated.
The first cars to be produced under the name MG in 1924 were special bodied Morris Cowleys. The first MG to specifically compete in sporting events is a car now known as Old Number One. It was produced in 1925 and was first seen at the 1925 Lands End Trial. Other MG models followed quickly but in 1928 at the Motor Show at Olympia MG introduced the MG M-Type Midget, which became the first of many sports cars produced by MG and was a big success for the company.
In that same year MG also introduced the MG 18/80. This was the first MG with a chassis designed and built by MG. The 18/80 was equipped with a six cylinder engine with a capacity of 2,468cc.
A milestone for the company occurred in 1933 when an MG Magnette K3 became the first non-Italian car to win its class at the Mile Miglia.
William Morris owned MG personally and in 1935 he sold it to Morris Motors.
In the late 1930s MG produced a series of sports saloons, the VA, the SA and the WA.
The VA, originally marketed as the MG 1½ litre was the smallest of the three and was available as a 4 door sports saloon and as a 4 seater open tourer and as a drophead coupe. The sports saloon and the open tourer were both built inhouse but the body for the drophead coupe was manufactured by Salmons and Sons of Newport Pagnell, UK.
MG also made a special version of the VA, powered by a 1,707cc engine for police use.
In total 2,407 MG VAs were built between 1937 and 1939. The breakdown of body types is: 1,238 saloons, 591 open tourers and 564 drophead coupes, 2 chassis and 12 unknown.
In 1952 Morris Motors Ltd and the Austin Motor Company Limited merged and became The British Motor Company Ltd, BMC.

1938 MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a lovely Australian delivered 1955 Bristol 403.
We have a copy of the Bristol Chassis Ledger and Bristol Advice of Despatch for this car on file which confirms this Bristol 403 was despatched from the factory on the 25th of April 1955 and send to Commonwealth Motors in Melbourne. The documentation confirms that this car was delivered in right hand drive, was dark green in colour (Scheme 6A) and optioned with a Trico screen washer, a front speaker only and an aerial. It also confirms that the car retains its original matching numbers engine.
It is understood Bristol built a total of 287 examples of the 403. Interestingly, this car is one 12-15 examples built that were fitted with a 100B2 type engine. This engine has a higher compression ratio and therefore more slightly more horse power. Cosmetically these later cars also had a few minor differences. They had side lights on top of the front wings and rear reflectors.
Whilst this car left the factory painted dark green, it is understood it was repainted in midnight blue by the Australian distributor at the request of the first owner. He kept the car for some three years before it was sold to Mrs Mison from Ulladulla in NSW. In her ownership the car was registered as BGO393. The car subsequently passed through owners in NSW, Victoria and later Queensland. By the mid 1970s the car was stripped to bare alloy in preparation for a repaint and some restoration work. Unfortunately, progress stalled and the car sat for many years. There is a photo on file dated December 1977 showing the car in bare alloy.
The current owners acquired the car as a project in that state from Robert Sciberras from Ryde (Sydney), NSW in July 1994. At that time the car was carrying the NSW registration PYY433.
The car was trucked up Mt Tamborine in Queensland and the work commenced to return this Bristol to its former glory. It soon became apparent that this project was not going to be as simple as just repainting the car. The car needed major mechanical work and the first hurdle was finding a solution for the cracked crankshaft. This was proving to be a challenge until one day the son of a neighbour of an old friend was visiting from England and he just happened to mention that he worked for Bristol. Some three weeks later a new crankshaft was on its way to Australia.
Progress was slow, but the owner continued to happily tinker away slowly restoring his beloved Bristol. Unfortunately, he suffered a health condition in 2012 which stopped progress on the car. Fortunately, the Bristol community in Australia is strong and they put the owner in touch with Bristol expert Sebastion Gross who agreed to take on the task of finishing the restoration. The car was transported to his workshop in Kendall, NSW.
An inventory was made of parts needed to complete the restoration and work commenced.
The engine was completely rebuilt using the new crankshaft and various other replacement parts. The gearbox and differential were also was completely rebuilt. The suspension as well as the entire braking system were reconditioned with mostly new parts, including a new brake booster. The cooling system was overhauled and the radiator was recored by Taree Radiators.
To make the car easier to drive an electric power steering unit was ordered from EZ electric power steering in the Netherlands and subsequently installed.
Unfortunately, the original wiring harness was in poor condition. A decision was made to order a new, upgraded, wiring harness from Vintage Wiring Harness in Ringwood (Melbourne), Victoria.
The interior was retrimmed using Connolly hide by Westport Upholstry in Port Macquarie, NSW.
The restoration of the dashboard makes for an interesting story. Gross was on a National Bristol Rally in Tasmania when he had the idea to make a new dash out of Huon pine. After a quick discussion with the owner, it was unanimously agreed to go that way rather than try to restore the original dilapidated dashboard. The work was done by wood worker Manfred Reihl and as you will see from the photos the end result is simply stunning. All the instruments were refurbished by Norwest Instruments in Rydalmere, NSW. The steering wheel was refurbished by Yesteryear Steering Wheel Restoration in Warragul, Victoria.
The body work and preparation for the paint work was completed inhouse by Gross. The car was painted by Harrington Smash Repairs and the bright work rechromed by Hamilton Chrome in Hamilton, NSW.
A significant amount of time, effort and money has gone into bringing this Bristol 403 back to its former glory. It is not feasible to list everything that was done to this car in this write up, however, what we can say is that the car has been comprehensively restored. There are detailed invoices and a suite of photos on file for the majority of the work.
Every restoration has its challenges, however, this Bristol had more than most! Additionally, in 2019 the car was almost destroyed in the John River region bushfires, which came perilously close to the workshop where the Bristol was then kept. A year later the worst floods in a 100 years swept through parts of NSW and by sheer luck the Bristol was removed from a paint shop which was subsequently flooded. COVID restrictions further hampered progress but the finish line was in sight and the car was finally completed in 2021.
Today this car presents and drives superbly and its restoration is a credit to everyone who was involved with the project. This car has an incredible presence and it attracts a lot of attention wherever it goes.
This Bristol 403 was displayed at the 2025 Noosa Concours delegance where it was very well received.
The car has been used sparingly since its restoration and as a result it presents essentially the way it did when the restoration was completed back in 2021.
These early Bristols are unique in design and absolutely stunning cars. One of the first things you notice when you walk up to this car is how smooth it looks. The shape is almost like a tear drop, from the flowing lines at the front, the clean lines on the side and the swooping rear. The absence of traditional door handles contributes to the overall clean look.
The Bristol 403 body is constructed from hand beaten aluminium panels fastened to a lightweight, tubular steel frame using the Superleggera constriction method. As a result, the restoration is both time consuming and expensive. The body on this car has been beautifully restored and all the panel gaps are excellent.
The paint is in beautiful condition with a strong depth of colour and a high gloss finish. One has to look closely to find any imperfections. There is some light gravel rash at bottom of the rear wheel arches. All the external trim, including the bright work, badges, lights and lenses are in excellent condition. The only exception are the side mirror mounting brackets, which must have missed out being rechromed! These are clipped on and can easily be removed. The glass is also in excellent condition.
The painted steel wheels are finished with chrome hubcaps embossed with the Bristol logo. The wheels are yet another unique feature to the Bristol and they present well with no kerb rash evident. They are shod with Michilin X 185R16 tyres which are date stamped 5016 (week 50, 2016). The tyres are still in good condition and present like new.
To open the door you press the large button on the side of the door. They require a firm push and then the spring loaded door will just pop open. The first thing you notice is how big the door actually is. Both doors have to be long enough to allow access for rear passengers and at the bottom they wrap all the way around the sill. Once you have opened the door the second thing you notice is how beautifully the interior presents. The tan leather upholstery provides the perfect colour contrast with the green exterior and gives the car a very luxurious feel. As with the exterior, there are many small details in the cabin which make the car unique. The steering wheel is one of them, whilst simple in design it is a clear reference to Bristols aviation heritage. The sun visors, both at the front and the rear of the car are another idiosyncratic design feature. The front ones have a very delicate scissor frame which folds out. The one in the rear is operated by a cable which hangs down from the roof inbetween the front seats.
The seats are in excellent condition with no rips or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and provide ample support. The rear seats appear to have hardly been used and are also in excellent condition.
Once we made ourselves comfortable behind the steering wheel and stopped admiring the dashboard, it was time to take this Bristol 403 out for a short test drive and a photo shoot. The big question . . . would the car drive as good as it looks? The simple answer is . . . YES!
To start the car from cold you will have to pull out the mixture control button and depending on how long it has been since the car was last driven, you may need to manually prime the fuel pump. Once you have done that you turn the ignition on and press the starter button. The car starts easily, even from cold, and quickly settles into a smooth idle. To prevent the spark plugs from fouling you push the mixture control button back almost immediately and feather the accelerator to warm up the engine further.
Once out on the open road you dont have to drive too far to realise that this is just a fabulous car to drive. The EZ electric power steering is an absolute delight. The steering is light yet it still has a responsive feel. The straight six cylinder engine is only 1,971cc , however, it probably has around 100 hp on tap. For a sports saloon built in 1955 the performance is quite impressive and the uninitiated would think there is a bigger engine under the bonnet! The engine revs freely and willingly which makes for quite an engaging driving experience. The gear changes are smooth up and down the box and the feel is light years better than a Moss box in a Jaguar XK. For a relatively tall car it sits very well on the road. The suspension feels good, the steering is firm and the brakes pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed.
The car is also extremely quiet. There is hardly any wind noise or mechanical noise to be heard when you are just cruising around.
According to Jay Leno who ignored his own advice and bought a Bristol 403 over the phone, sight unseen, . . . only the finest gentleman buy Bristols He also calls it . . . the most British of British cars.
Jay Leno has one of the worlds greatest car collections and his opinion is very highly regarded. He loves his Bristol 403!
For its next custodian this is a unique opportunity to join the likes of Jay Leno and become a Bristol 403 owner.
The Bristol Owners Club of Australia is also a very active, holding regular events, rallies and social functions. They are also an excellent source for knowledge and information on the marque.
It is not often a Bristol 403 comes to market, let alone one in this condition.
Accompanying the car is a good history file with a copy of the Bristol Chassis Ledger and Bristol Advice of Despatch for this car, some period documentation and photos as well as invoices and photos pertaining to its restoration. There is also a spare wheel and a jack.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered, factory RHD, matching numbers example.
- Recently completed restoration.
- Beautifully presented car that is just fabulous to drive.
- Ready to be used and enjoyed by its next custodian.
Price $119,950.
Background:
The Bristol Car Company has a rich and fascinating history. Its origins date back to the Bristol Aeroplane Company (formerly The British and Colonial Aeroplane Company) that was founded in February 1910 by Sir George White, chairman of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, along with his son Stanley and his brother Samuel, to commercially exploit the fast-growing aviation sector. The Bristol Aeroplane Company developed into a British industrial powerhouse and they built some of the worlds most technologically advanced aeroplanes. Some of the most well-known and successful aircraft built by Bristol were the Bristol F2 Fighter (used during World War I), the Bristol Bulldog and the Bristol Beaufighter (used during World War II).
Following the First World War the British aircraft industry suffered a dramatic downturn and subsequently significant financial challenges. In an endeavour to keep its workforce employed the Bristol Aeroplane Company undertook the manufacture of a light car, the single seat Bristol Monocar which was powered by a motorcycle engine, the construction of car bodies for Armstrong Siddeley and bus bodies for their sister company, Bristol Tramways. The company survived, but times were tough.
Aircraft manufacturing ramped up again with the outbreak of the Second World War, however, management had learned that they must plan for the future. It is understood that discussions started as early as 1941 to establish a post war car manufacturing division. Bristol began working with AFN Ltd, makers of Frazer Nash cars and British importer of BMWs before the war, on plans for a joint venture in automotive manufacturing. What ultimately eventuated was that the Bristol Aeroplane Company took over AFN Ltd and established its car manufacturing division, Bristol Cars. A purpose built factory was constructed at Filton Aerodrome, near Bristol.
The first Bristol was designated the 400 and not surprisingly given the Frazer Nash and BMW connection it was based on a BMW 326 chassis with BMW 327 styling. The engine, whilst built by Bristol, was also based on a BMW 327. The first prototypes were built in late 1946, however, the car was formally introduced at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show.
The car was a great success for Bristol and almost 500 examples were built through until 1950. This included 17 Drophead Coupes with coachwork by Pininfarina.
In 1949 Bristol introduced successor to the 400, the 401, which was designed and bodied by Touring of Milan in Italy. The new model was aerodynamically sleeker and featured superleggera construction with an aluminium body over a steel frame.
As a result the car weighed significantly less and its performance was greatly enhanced. Bristol was gaining a reputation for building technologically advanced motor cars that were luxurious, very reliable and offered genuinely exciting performance on the road. Their cars were not cheap and as a result they remained somewhat exclusive. Buyers of new Bristols back in the day were typically wealthy businessman who wanted a car to stand out in a crowd. They also wanted a car they could drive and enjoy and many Bristols were used for hill climbs and weekend motor racing.
Bristol developed the 450 specifically for motor racing and it made its debut at the 1953 Le Mans 24 hour race. Two cars were entered in the race, however, they both retired with engine failures after about 10 hours. Bristol returned to Le Mans in 1954 and entered three cars, with uprated engines and improved aerodynamic bodywork. In contrast with the previous year all three cars finished the race, coming home in first, second and third place in their class and seventh, eighth and ninth overall. Their performance also earned Bristol the team prize. Bristol returned to Le Mans again in 1955 and again performed exceptionally well achieving the same results as in 1954. The race became famous for the wrong reason when a major accident resulted in debris flying into the crowd killing 83 people and injuring many more. Following this race a number of manufacturers, including Bristol, retired from motor racing indefinitely.
Subsequent road cars included the 403 (1953-1955, 287 cars built), which was a further development of its predecessors, the 404 (1953-1958, 52 cars built), the 405 (1953-1958, 308 cars built and the 406 (1958-1961, 174 cars built).
Bristol Cars was sold after its parent company joined with other British aircraft companies in 1960 to create the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), which later became part of British Aerospace.

1955 BRISTOL 403

Details:
The latest offering from Oldtimer Australia is this delightful 1971 Maserati Indy.
The documentation on file from Maserati confirms that this UK delivered, factory right hand drive example was completed on the 17th June 1971 and delivered new to London. The car was originally delivered in Verde Indy (green) with a nero (black) interior. It was delivered new in the desirable specification of a 4.7 litre engine with a ZF 5 speed manual gearbox.
This cars early UK history is not known. There is a V5 on file which notes that Mr Simon Edwards from Chester, just south of Manchester in the UK, acquired the car on the 16th September 1998. In his ownership the car was regularly serviced by Auto Shield, the Maserati service dealer in Manchester. The history file contains most MOT records dating back to 1993. The earliest MOT is dated 2nd March 1993 and at that time the mileage was 57,288 miles and the colour of the car is noted as blue. That confirms that back then it was finished in the stunning Maserati colour of celeste chiaro as it is presented today.
In Edwards ownership significant work was done to bring this Maserati Indy back to its former glory. In 2001 Auto Shield engaged the services of Classicarco in Manchester to undertake a cosmetic restoration. Significant metal work was required and once complete the car was repainted. There is a batch of detailed photos on file showing the work completed. In 2003 the differential was reconditioned and in 2004 the cylinder head was reconditioned.
In October 2008 Edwards sold the car through Ian Grange Ltd to Tim Fleckney from Tideford, near Plymouth in the south west of England. At that time the odometer read 76,722 miles. Fleckney kept the car for the next 10 years. In his ownership the car was used sparingly but regularly serviced. In his 10 years of ownership, he only drove the car approximately 2,500 miles.
The current Melbourne based owner acquired the car in July 2019 and at that time the odometer read 79,182 miles. There is an import approval on file dated the 10th September 2019. Prior to shipping the car to Australia it was tested for asbestos and that led to the replacement of the brake pads, the exhaust manifold gaskets, the carburettor base gaskets and the oil sump gasket.
The owner kept the car in the UK, using it from time to time, before shipping it to Australia in April 2021. Prior to that the car was serviced by 24 Hundred in Southborough, UK. At that time the water pump and the air conditioning pump were both reconditioned and the front wheel bearings were replaced.
Upon arrival in Australia the car was complianced in Queensland and registered.
The air conditioning system in the car was somewhat temperamental and in June 2023 a new compressor was installed. In May 2024 the thrust bearing was replaced and the car was serviced. All the maintenance work in Australia has been completed by Maranello Pursang in Brunswick, Victoria.
Maserati Indys are under rated. To quote Classiche Masters . . . This quintessential Grand Tourer is combining room for four adults and a large trunk with a sleek, handsome design. They offering a relatively refined driving experience but you always know it is a Maserati at heart.
Our test drive of this Maserati Indy was chanced between two of the four seasons in one day experienced on a crisp Melbourne spring morning. We were time poor and after priming the fuel pumps, on queue the big V8 burst into life at the first turn of the key. That distinctive Maserati V8 rumble gets the pulse racing. It is easy to get comfortable behind the exquisite timber steering wheel. The seating position is good and all the controls are easy to hand and to operate. Pulling out of the storage facility into busy traffic you note the power steering as the car manoeuvres easily at low speed.
The first impressions of this car are good. It is certainly tight on the road and even when cold the gearbox performs very well. As with all Italian classics the drive gets better and better as the car warms up. The engine has plenty of power on tap and its sounds absolutely majestic. The ZF gearbox feels firm and the gear changes are really precise. The brakes work well and pull the car up efficiently and in a straight line under heavy braking. In summary the car performed very well.
The car carries an older restoration, however, it has only travelled 11,000 miles since that was completed. From a meter the paint work presents exceptionally well, however, on closer inspection there are a number of minor defects consistent with age. There is plenty of chrome trim on a Maserati Indy and it is generally in very good condition. The balance of the external trim is similarly well presented. This car has at some stage been wax oiled and on close inspection you will notice some yellow staining in door jambs and other nooks and crannies around the car.
The 14 Borrani wheels are a feature on a Maserati Indy and on this car they present quite well. There is no major damage or kerb rash, just a few minor marks here and there. The Maserati trident embossed wheel centres show light pitting. The wheels are shod with Pirelli Cinturato CN36 205/70/14 tyres all around. The tyres are date stamped 07/18 (week 7 2018).
The interior of this Maserati Indy shows some light patina in places, however, it is generally well presented. The black upholstery is in good condition with no rips or tears evident and the seats provide ample support. The door cards, dash and centre console are also in good condition. The steering wheel has some minor damage at around seven oclock, however, this is not noticeable as you drive the car. You will notice in the photos that the leather piece around the horn button has pulled free. This is currently being repaired. The carpets show light wear. The instruments and controls present well and look to be in working order. We absolutely love the original Maserati branded Autovox Melody Stereo R which actually works.
Open the rear hatch and you will notice that this Indy is fitted with a pull down blind that will enable you to cover the contents of the boot. The boot presents quite well and there is a correct spare wheel under the boot floor.
Under the bonnet the engine bay is clean and really well presented. All the correct tags are in place and a quick look confirms that this car retains its original matching numbers engine.
Today the odometer reads 79,617 miles.
Flared denim jeans and a corduroy shirt are optional, but there is no doubt it would complete the look!
Highlights:
- Desirable spec Indy with a 4.7 litre engine and 5 speed manual gearbox.
- Well presented example in a lovely original Maserati colour.
- Good history file
- Ready to be used and enjoyed.
Price $119,950.
Background:
The Maserati story is a fascinating one. It is the story of a family with daring, courageous and forward-thinking ideas. The story starts with Rodolfo Maserati, a railway engineer who was employed by the Italian monarchy and the father of seven sons who all had a passion for engine design and racing cars. The Maserati brothers all became involved in the automotive industry in some way or another, however, it was on the 1st of December 1914 that Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati officially opened Alfieri Maserati Workshop in Bologna, Italy.
Maserati chose the trident logo to adorn its cars. Its design was based on the Fountain of Neptune in Bolognas Piazza Maggiore. The colours chosen for the logo were also the colours of Bologna, red and blue.
The business was focused on repairing, servicing and preparing cars, however, the World War cut business short and it wasnt until 1926 that Maserati built its first car, the Tipo 26.
It was all about motorsport back then and in 1937 the Orsi family acquired ownership of Maserati which was in desperate need of financial backing to be able to survive. During the Orsi years Maserati grew from a boutique but very successful race car builder to one of the worlds leading manufacturers of hand-built sports and GT cars.
Maserati built its first road car in 1946 even though times were tough in post War northern Italy. The car was the Maserati A6 where A was for Alfieri and 6 for the number of cylinders. The initial reception of the car was positive and a production Maserati A6/1500 was then shown at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show.
This was a significant milestone in the Maserati legend and subsequent models included the A6G/2000, 3500 series cars, 5000GT, Mistral. Quattroporte, Mexico, Sebring and Ghibli. Maserati also continued to build very successful race cars that dominated tracks around the world including the 250F, 300S, 150S, 450S and the Birdcage.
Orsi sold to Citroen in 1968. At that time Maserati was already working on an 4 seater alternative for the 2 seater Ghibli. Both Ghia and Vignale showed their proposals in November 1968 at the Salone dellautomobile di Torino. Maserati preferred the Vignale design and the production model was officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1969. It was named Indy in honour of Maseratis two victories at the Indianapolis 500.
The Indy (AM116) was a great success for Maserati, in total 1,104 were produced over seven years of production which ended in 1975. 440 of them were fitted with the 4.2 litre quad cam V8, 364 with the 4.7 litre and 300 with the 4.9 litre. The car was available with either manual or automatic transmission.

1971 MASERATI INDY 4.7 Manual

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive Ferrari 328 GTS.
The service book confirms this car was sold through John Cant Ferrari in Brisbane, Queensland and it was delivered new on 29th October 1987. The first owner is noted as a company based in Bundaburg, Queensland. The service book notes the VIN as well as the engine number and therefore we can confirm that this car retains its original matching numbers engine.
The first entry in the service book is dated 22nd December 1987 stamped by John Cant Ferrari. The car did not stay in Queensland for long. It found its way down to Victoria in either late 1988 or early 1989. There is an entry in the service book for the 10,000 km service dated 15th February 1989 and that service was executed by Lance Dixon Saab-Ferrari in Melbourne. The subsequent 20,000 km service was executed by Lance Dixon on the 4th January 1990. This was an annual service based on time passed, not mileage.
This Ferrari 328 GTS then found its way to Sydney, NSW and to the suburb of Narrabeen on the northern beaches. The car was registered in NSW as JH326. The car was subsequently serviced by Scuderia Veloce Motors with numerous entries in the service book through until 2005. Italia Motori serviced the car in 2006 and again 2008. From 2009 through until 2022 the car was maintained by Cavallino Motorsport in Brookvale, Sydney.
The car changed hands in mid to late 2022 and its next owner used the car sparingly. As a result of a health issue he sold the car to Oldtimer Australia in June 2023. We had the car checked over and serviced. The work included a general service, timing belt service, the radiator was recored and overflow tank repaired. The car was quickly sold to one of our long standing clients based on the Gold Coast.
Today the odometer reads 60,459 km. This car has an impeccable service history which unequivocally confirms the mileage to be genuine.
The 308 GTB/GTS and 328 GTB/GTS is one of Ferraris most successful and recognisable models. There are lots of nice cars out there, but this is one is particularly good and it ticks all the boxes.
First impressions of this car are really good. This car has a real presence about it and everything is just so crisp and clean. The rosso corsa paint on the car is in very good condition. It may have had the odd touch up here and there, but it looks to be essentially original and beautifully preserved. It has retained a strong depth of colour and nice gloss finish. If you look underneath the car you will see the bottom of the front spoiler has a few chips and there are a few scrapes from unfriendly speed bumps! Even the underside is well presented for a 37 year old car. The prancing horse shields were added by us at the request of the current owner at the time of sale.
All of the external trim is similarly well presented. The iconic Ferrari and 328 badges are particularly well presented. The targa roof often shows wear on the GTS Ferraris, however, on this car is in excellent condition. There are no scratches, wear marks or any signs of discoloration. The glass is also in excellent condition. The rear window and the side windows appear to be all original. The front windscreen has probably been replaced at some stage. The round tail lights on a Ferrari 308/328 are a real feature and the lenses on this car are in very good condition. The same can be said of the headlights. The parking lights/indicator lenses are often cracked and/or show stone chips but on this car they are also in very good condition.
The original wheels are shod with Bridgestone Potenza tyres all around. The fronts are 205/55 ZR 16, date stamped 0523 (week 5, 2023) and the rears are 225/50 R16, date stamped 1323 (week 13, 2023). The tyres were fitted when the current owner acquired the car and have only travelled 1,000 km. The wheels are in excellent condition with no signs of any curb rash or damage.
With the targa top removed, you are able see inside the cabin and like the exterior of this car first impressions of the interior are very positive. Open the door and you are welcomed by a very inviting interior. It is immediately obvious this is a very well cared for example. The seats are in very good condition and there are no cracks/tears in the leather or any obvious wear to the seat bolsters. The door cards, centre console and the dash all present beautifully. Even the carpets are in very good condition. Another indictor on how well an eighties Ferrari has been cared for is the condition and presentation of the switches on the centre console and in the doors. More often than not, including low mileage examples, you will often see that the symbols show signs of wear. Fortunately, on this car this is not the case. They present like new and appear to have hardly been used.
The front compartment is in excellent original condition. Most notably, the original plastic liner is not cracked or damaged as you often see on these cars. The spare wheel looks to have been sparingly used, if at all. The engine bay is also very original and very well presented. The devil is in the detail and all the finishes all look to be correct, the rosso corsa paint sticker on the underside of the engine cover is like new and the boot cover is in excellent condition with a working zipper.
With a car like this it is all about the drive and we cannot wait to take this 328 GTS out for our test drive. The car starts easily even from cold and quickly settles into a smooth idle. The engine sounds fabulous with a lovely exhaust note. Just sitting in the car waiting for the engine to warm up puts a smile on your face. Once the engine warms up and the temperature gauge starts to move, it is time to hit the road. The first task and a rather enjoyable one at that, is to select first gear in that shift gate. The clutch is light and notch . . . you are in gear and quickly away. Even if you could see nothing else you immediately know you are in a Ferrari!
Out on the road this car is a real pleasure to drive. Like all Ferraris of this period the gear change improves considerably as the car warms up to operating temperature. It is actually fine when cold, but it is an absolute delight once warm and the gear changes are smooth and precise. The engine revs willingly and there is loads of power on tap. The steering is direct and surprisingly light. The brakes stop the car quickly and in a straight line when needed. All the instruments in the car appear to be in good working order and the air conditioning has recently been regassed and it blows cold air.
All too soon our test drive comes to an end and we return the car to our showroom where it sits peacefully, eagerly awaiting its next owner.
This car has a complete book set, including a fully stamped service book, in its original pouch, a spare wheel, a tool kit (which still looks like new), a jack, the often missing courtesy light and the almost always missing targa top cover.
The current owner acquired this car back in August 2023, however, as a result of him losing his available storage space he has made the difficult decision to sell.
This car was last serviced less than 12 months ago, new Bridgestone tyres were recently fitted and this just stunning Ferrari 328 GTS is ready for its next owner to use and enjoy.
The Queensland private number plate 328 GTS is available to be purchased either separately or with the car.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered, factory right-hand drive, matching numbers example.
- Beautifully presented in the right colour scheme.
- Low mileage, with only c60,000km.
- Books, including a stamped service book, history file, spare wheel, tools, jack, courtesy light and targa top cover.
- All tags and stickers in place.
- Recently serviced and new tyres fitted.
- Beautifully presented and drives superbly.
Price $209,950
Background:
Apple, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Nike are brands recognisable the world over. So is Ferrari and interestingly the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer was named The Worlds Strongest Brand in the 2019 Brand Finance Global 500 Report.
Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 out of Alfa Romeos race division as Auto Avio Costruzioni the company built its first car in 1940. The Second World War halted Ferraris dream, which was finally realised in 1947, when the first car bearing his name, the Ferrari 125 S, was built. From that day on Ferrari race cars dominated the world over, winning race after race and many world championships in Formula One, sports car racing and endurance racing. Ferrari built exclusive sports cars for the road too, but in the early days, this was primarily to fund his motor racing!
The Cavallino Rampate or prancing horse was the symbol chosen by Ferrari and like the golden arches it is recognised by just about every man, woman and child on the planet!
The Ferrari road cars from the 1940s and early to mid-1950s were built in very small numbers and it was not until the introduction of the 250 series cars that production numbers increased. Almost 1,000 Ferrari 250 GTEs were built from 1959 1963. The 250 series also produced some of the most special Ferraris ever built, including the Ferrari 250 LM, 250 SWB, 250 California Spider and of course the 250 GTO. The 250 series cars were superseded by the 275 series cars, the 330 series cars and later the 365 series cars. The nomenclature designated the cubic capacity of each cylinder. So a Ferrari 330 was powered by a 12 cylinder engine of 3967cc capacity.
Ferraris iconic Dino was first shown to the world as a prototype at the 1965 Paris Motor Show. The car morphed into the 206 GT of which only 150 cars were built from 1967 to 1969. In 1969 the 246 GT was released, which whilst a similar looking car in many ways was actually quite different. The car sat 3 taller than its predecessor and the body was now built from steel. Mechanically the new car was powered by a 2418cc V6 engine. Enzo was keen to tackle Porsche head on and to do this he needed to increase production. The Dino was a hit and circa 4,000 of these cars (both the 246 GT and 246 GTS) were built from 1969 to 1974.
The Ferrari 308 GTB was introduced at the 1975 Paris Motor Show, essentially to replace the 246 Dino GT. The car was designed to fit between the top of the range 365 GT/4 Berlinetta Boxer and 2+2 308 GT/4. The car was released to critical acclaim and its sweeping Pininfarina design was admired by everyone who laid eyes on it. Originally the car was manufactured with a glass reinforced plastic (fibreglass) body to keep the weight down and it was powered by a three litre V8 engine with a dry sump. Only circa 800 fibreglass cars were built before Ferrari reverted to a more conventional steel body construction in 1977. Most markets also reverted to having a wet sump engine. In 1977 Ferrari introduced the 308 GTS, which was essentially the same car with a targa roof. The car was made famous through its appearance on the TV show Magnum PI. The model evolved into the 308 GTBi / 308 GTSi in 1980 when Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection replaced the traditional Weber carburettors. Two years later thefour valves per cylinder Quattrovalvole or QV was introduced. The 308 was an incredible success and circa 12,000 cars were built from 1975 to 1985 before the 328 was introduced.
The 328 GTB / GTS was essentially an updated version of the 308 with the same engine as its predecessor, but with an increased capacity of 3,185 cc. The styling remained similar though its overall profile was somewhat softer and the car featured colour coded front and rear bumpers. By mid-1988 ABS brakes were available and these cars were fitted with convex shaped wheels. Interestingly 328 GTS production out numbered 328 GTB production by a factor of five to one.
In total Ferrari built 7,412 328s, comprising 6,068 328 GTS and 1,344 328 GTBs throughout 4 years of production.

1987 FERRARI 328GTS

We are delighted to offer for sale this incredibly original 1974 Aston Martin V8 (Series 3).
The Heritage Certificate on file confirms that this factory right hand drive, home market car was finished in Cambridge Blue with a Natural interior (trim code VM 846). It was completed on the 3rd May 1974 and despatched on the 24 June 1974 to dealer GE Fletcher Company Developments, Brierley Hill, Staffordshire.
The Details of Equipment are noted as: Weber carburettors, automatic gearbox, two door mirrors, two headrests, two rear seat belts, side repeater flashers, side marker lights, overriders and a larger capacity fuel tank.
It is understood that the car was first used by one of the dealership executives until it was sold by The Aston Martin Centre - Cheylesmore Garage Coventry in the UK on the 21st November 1975 to WM Martin (Sheldon) Ltd from Solilhull in the West Midlands. At that time the odometer read 23,683 miles. The car was then registered as SRW78M.
This car has been in continuous family ownership since it was purchased from The Aston Martin Centre - Cheylesmore Garage Coventry in the UK on the 17th February 1976. At that time the odometer read 25,900 miles. The car was subsequently registered as MJB21.
Shortly after purchasing his Aston Martin V8, the owner decided on a colour change for the car. There is an invoice on file from Aston Martin Lagonda in Newport Pagnell dated 19th August 1977 for miscellaneous work, including a 30,000 mile service and a repaint in larch green. At that time he also had an electric sunroof fitted.
In July 1979 the car was returned to Aston Martin to rectify water leaks from the sunroof and the boot, adjust the doors to reduce wind noise and repair a dent on the nose of the car.
In August 1981 Aston Martin carried out a 5,000 mile service. At that time all four wheels were replaced. The replacement wheels are date stamped 1975.
The last MOT on file is dated 12th August 1986 at which time the odometer was 45,905 miles.
The owner spent time working in the UK and he moved back to Brisbane, Australia in 1987 and brought this Aston Martin V8 and a Ferrari Dino 246 GT with him.
This car has lived in Brisbane ever since. Over the next 39 years the car has been used sparingly and today the odometer reads 49,973 miles!
Despite the limited use this Aston Martin has been regularly serviced and maintained over the years by highly respected local specialist Norm Singleton.
In recent years the car has essentially been in storage, though it has been started and the engine run to operating temperature from time to time.
Incredibly, it has been some 38 years now since this car was repainted. Apart from the repaint, this car is incredibly original.
As you will see from the photos, larch green is a perfect colour for this Aston Martin V8. The paint has held up really well and from a few meters away it presents really well. On closer inspection you will notice some imperfections here and there. Most noticeably, there are some defects in the paint on the nose of the car. Generally, the panel gaps are good. The biggest issue with this car is that there is corrosion evident at the front of both sills, around the right front jacking point and at the bottom of both doors.
The trade mark Aston Martin wheels are a real feature on these V8s and on this car they are in good condition and present well. They are shod with Avon radial tyres, size 225/70VR15. These tyres are old and should be replaced.
The interior presents well with just the right amount of patina. Everything is most likely original, including the carpets! The seats are in good condition with no rips or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and still provide ample support. There are some marks on the bolster of the drivers seat, most likely caused by the arm rest rubbing on the leather over the years. The carpets are still presentable, though there are some small ink spot like stains in some areas. The rears seats have probably not been used much and still present well. The dashboard is in good condition and all the instruments are clear and appear to be in a good working order.
Despite this car not having been used much in recent years, it has been well maintained. As noted above, the car requires some cosmetic attention, however, our underside inspection revealed that the car has had recent mechanical attention. There are new brake lines, new hoses, the rear section of the exhaust system appears to be new and various components of the rear suspension have been refurbished/replaced, including the shock absorbers.
As with most cars from this period the car will require the use of the choke when started from cold. Given this cars recent lack of use, we were intrigued as to how easily it would start and drive. The first question was answered quickly as the 5,340cc V8 engine burst into life at the first turn of the key. Once the engine fired up you can back the choke off fairly quickly.  Every time we have had to start this car it has started easily, even from stone cold. Perhaps it is just begging to be driven! The V8 has a great exhaust note and a deep throaty burble. On our short test drive the cars vital signs were all good. The oil pressure gauge showed a healthy 60 psi and the coolant temperature was steady at 80 degrees celsius. The engine appears to be healthy, the gear changes are smooth and the car did everything one would expect it to do. Due to lack of use in recent years, this car will benefit from a major service and tune.
As the new custodian of this Aston Martin V8  you have the option to do the bare minimum to bring the car up to a roadworthy condition and just enjoy it as is, or you carry out a major cosmetic restoration and return the car to its original colour or perhaps chose something in between these two options. The choice is yours.
The car has books, including an original service book, a Heritage Certificate as well as an excellent history file from its time in the UK.
The car has been competitively priced, taking into account that it does require some cosmetic attention and a major service.
Highlights:
- Incredibly original early Aston Martin V8.
- Desirable model with Weber carburettors.
- Matching numbers example.
- Continuous ownership since 1976.
- Great value entry level to Aston Martin ownership.
Price $129,950
Background
Aston Martin has produced bespoke sports cars for over 100 years. The company began in 1913, when founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford realised their desire to build distinctive, high quality sports cars that were both exhilarating to drive and a beauty to behold. Martin regularly competed in hill climb races at Aston Clinton, and a simple combination of the name of the event and the driver gave birth to one of the most famous automotive marques. Source: www.astonmartin.com.
Whilst Aston Martin produced some wonderful cars in their early years business, was always a struggle and the company was severely disrupted during both World War I and II. The company went bankrupt on more than one occasion and has endured many different owners throughout its history.
David Brown acquired Aston Martin in February 1947 and the first car produced during his ownership was the Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports, later known as the DB1, which was built in extremely limited numbers from 1948 to 1950. This was succeeded by the Aston Martin DB2 in 1950, which featured a new double overhead cam straight six engine of 2.6 litre (2580 cc) capacity, and was a car that really put post war Aston Martin on the map. The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martins finest with the company winning LeMans in 1959 and the sixties producing the legendary DB4, DB5 and DB6 models.
The first of the Newport Pagnell designed cars, the DBS, was introduced in 1967. The DBS was initially powered by Aston Martins tried and true 6 cylinder engine as the companys new V8 engine was not ready.
From September 1967 through until May 1972 Aston Martin produced 829 DBS chassis. One of these was used in a crash test and 26 of these were later fitted with a V8 engine which leaves a total of 802 six cylinder Aston Martin DBS. Of these 802 cars, 621 were right hand drive and 181 left hand drive. The DBS was available with a five speed ZF manual gearbox or an automatic gearbox or. Interestingly, 317 of the right hand drive cars were fitted with the five speed manual gearbox. It is understood that Aston Martin only built circa 70 right hand drive examples equipped with the Vantage engine.
In September 1969 the DBS was superseded by the DBS V8, powered by the all new 5.3 litre V8 engine which was finally ready for production. The DBS V8 remained in production through until April 1972 and circa 400 cars were built.  It was then renamed and became the Aston Martin V8, which became a great success for the marque.
The first of the Aston Martin V8s, now referred to as Series 2 cars, were built from May 1972 through until July 1973. These cars were powered by a similar engine to the DBS V8, albeit with Bosch fuel injection rather than the earlier carburettors. Just 288 Series 2 cars were built.
The Series 3 Aston Martin V8 reverted back to using Weber carburettors. This model featured a larger bonnet scoop to cover the four Weber 42DCNF carburettors as well as other subtle cosmetic changes. There were many other detailed improvements to the car with revised front seats, revised switches, improved cooling to engine and transmission plus a new fuel tank which gave more luggage space. Production of Series 3 cars lasted from 1973 through until October 1978 and in total 967 examples were produced in this time. Interestingly, production of the V8 was interrupted for over a year between December 1974 and Spring 1976, when the company hit financial difficulties.
In October 1978 Aston Martin introduced the Aston Martin V8 Series 4, otherwise known as the Oscar India (Oscar India = October Introduction, from the phonetic alphabet). The car now sporting burr walnut trim, a blanked off bonnet scoop and a revised boot lid and rear wings to create a sculpted spoiler was visually very similar to the Vantage. The car remained in production through until 1985 and only 352 examples were produced.
In 1986 the final iteration of the Aston Martin V8 was introduced. The last of these cars was easily identified as the famous bonnet scoop had essentially been eliminated. It was no longer required, as Aston Martin was targeting the lucrative American market had to revert back to fuel injection to meet emission requirements. The Aston Martin Series 5 was quite successful and 405 cars were built.
The Aston Martin V8 was produced for 17 years, with production finally coming to an end in 1989. Just over 2,000 cars were built, plus the Volantes and Vantages.

1974 ASTON MARTIN V8

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III (DB MkIII).
The British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate and factory records both confirm that this example was built on the 6th March 1958 and despatched on 1st April 1958 to Brooklands of Bond Street Limited (Guy Salmon Automobiles) for W M Perring & Company Limited, London in the UK.
The car was delivered new in Elusive Blue with a blue/grey interior. It was delivered with the following equipment: overdrive, instruction book, front disc brakes, rear alfin drum brakes, Avon Turbospeed tyres, twin SU HV6 carburettors and Armstrong shock absorbers.
There is an interesting note on the factory records which states this car competed in the 1958 Tulip Rally. There is a photo on file showing the car parked with other participants in the town of Champagnole in France during the rally.
In July 1967 Dr AR Adams, who worked at the Hollywood Repatriation General Hospital in Perth, decided he wanted an Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III. He contacted Motorservices Automobile Engineers in Christchurch, UK to see if they could help him find one. There are various letters on file from Motorservices. It took until February 1969 before they were finally able to find the right car for him.
A follow up letter from the 3rd March 1969 gives the following details about the car: Registration number XXL 475, originally registered on 13th March 1958, changed hands in October 1959 when it was acquired by Mr GD Greaves of Berkhamstead, Hartfordshire. At that time the odometer showed nearly 60,000 miles.
Dr Adams engaged Motorservices to refresh his new Aston Martin prior to it being shipped to Australia. The car was completely repainted in its original colour at the cost of £100. The engine, radiator, suspension and wheels were overhauled, the exhaust system and headlight wiring were replaced.
There is a letter on file dated 15th July 1969 confirming that all the work on the car was complete. There is an accompanying invoice on file for a grand total of £548.
Dr Adams flew to the UK for a holiday and whilst he was there used his Aston Martin. After that the car was returned to Motorservices for some final checks and adjustments.
The car finally made its way to Australia onboard the Discovery Bay which left the UK on the 8th December 1969.
By at least the early 1980s Dr Adams had relocated to Quindalup, just south of Busselton in Western Australia, taking his beloved Aston Martin with him.
Incredibly, Dr Adams owned this car for more than 40 years! Following his passing in February 2012 the car was sold to a well known Perth based classic car enthusiast and collector. The car remained in his care from September 2012 through until December 2022 when it was sold by Oldtimer Australia to its current Melbourne based owner. At that time the odometer read 86,732 miles.
The car was immediately sent to highly respected Rolls-Royce, Bentley and British car specialist Simon Elliott at the Derby Works. The brakes were serviced, the steering box was adjusted and the suspension was greased. The horn and battery isolation switch were repaired. A new set of Michelin X tyres were fitted. It was noted that the exhaust was tired and the owner decided to order a new exhaust system from QuickSilver Exhausts Ltd in the UK.
In October 2023 Derby Works were engaged to overhaul the suspension. All new parts were ordered from Aston Service Dorset in the UK. This included new front and rear springs as well as an uprated anti roll bar.
In February 2024 Derby Works adjusted the handbrake.
Today this Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III presents as an incredible time capsule. The car was repainted in its original colour back in 1969 but apart from that everything looks to be essentially original. And, as the say . . .it can only be original once!
The overall presentation of the car is consistent with what one would expect given its originality. This is a car that has obviously been used and enjoyed as its makers intended, but it has clearly been cherished and very well maintained over the years. The work completed in Adams ownership is too extensive for our write up, however, most notably the engine was rebuilt, including new liners and pistons, and the gearbox was rebuilt. This work was completed by Samios Restorations in Northbridge (Perth) from mid 1996 through until early 1997. At that time the odometer read 38,287 miles
Elusive Blue is a unique a stunning colour for the car. From say a meter away the paint presents well, but on closer inspection you will notice some imperfections and wear and tear consistent with what the car is. There are few bubbles evident on the body caused by electrolysis. These are most noticeable on the lower right rear panel near the edge of the door and on the lower front section of the right door itself. There are also a few dents on the roof and bonnet, which looks as though it may have been caused by hail damage or an errant golf ball!
The brightwork on the car is generally in a good condition, especially when you consider the age of the car. The bumpers, the overriders, the strip on the side of the car and the window surrounds present well. The glass is also in good condition and there are no cracks evident.
The wire wheels are in good condition with no kerb rash evident. They are shod with Michelin X tyres, size 185R16. These are date stamped 1422 (week 14, 2022) and are in excellent condition
The condition and presentation of the interior is consistent with the exterior of the car. The upholstery is most likely all original. The seats are in a good condition with no cracks or tears evident in the leather, though they have faded a little over the years. The same can be said of the carpets which are generally in a good condition though they do show signs of wear and are faded in certain areas. The dashboard is typically 1950s with large Smiths instruments behind a large steering wheel. On our test drive all the instruments appeared to be in working order, though we did notice that the speedo and tacho do waver.
From cold the car will need the choke to start. It then starts easily and you can back the choke off straight away and use the throttle to gently warm the engine up before driving. First impressions are good, the engine revs freely and responds well to the slightest touch of the throttle. The gearbox also feels firm and the gear changes are smooth both up and down the box even when cold. The car is fitted with overdrive, which works well. The brakes are adequate and pull the car up in a straight line when needed.
The car feels solid on the road though we did notice play on the steering wheel, which looks to be coming from the steering box.
Accompanying the car, is its complete original tool kit including the jack and hammer as well as a spare wheel.
The history file with this car, which is three full lever arch files of documentation plus original owners manual, parts manual and more, is simply amazing. There is a huge amount of correspondence and invoices on file covering the 40 plus year ownership of the car by Dr Adams.
The current owner has thoroughly enjoyed his time with this incredibly original Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III, however, a change in direction is resulting in him reluctantly offering the car for sale.
Fun fact: The Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III was the first James Bond Aston Martin, described as a DB III in Ian Flemings 1959 novel Goldfinger.
Highlights:
- Factory RHD example with overdrive.
- Fabulous original colour scheme.
- An incredible time capsule.
- Documented 5 owners from new.
- Amazing history file.
Price: $299,950
Background:
Aston Martin has produced bespoke sports cars for over 100 years. The company began in 1913, when founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford realised their desire to build distinctive, high quality sports cars that were both exhilarating to drive and a beauty to behold. Martin regularly competed in hill climb races at Aston Clinton, and a simple combination of the name of the event and the driver gave birth to one of the most famous automotive marques. Source: www.astonmartin.com.
Whilst Aston Martin produced some wonderful cars in their early years, business was always a struggle and the company was severely disrupted during both World War I and II. The company went bankrupt on more than one occasion and has endured many different owners throughout its history.
David Brown acquired Aston Martin in February 1947 and the first car produced during his ownership was the Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports, later known as the DB1, which was built in extremely limited numbers from 1948 to 1950. This was succeeded by the Aston Martin DB2 in 1950, which featured a new double overhead cam straight six engine of 2.6 litre (2580 cc) capacity, and was a car that really put post war Aston Martin on the map. Some 411 cars were built from 1950 to 1953, of which circa 100 were the convertible or drop head coupes.
Its successor, known as the DB2/4, was first shown at the London Motor Show in 1953 and production started soon thereafter. Initially the car had the same engine as its predecessor, however, it was enlarged to 2922cc in April 1954. Compared to the DB2 the DB2/4 had an extended roof line with a larger rear window, a one-piece curved windscreen and real bumper bars. The biggest difference between the two cars was inside the cabin where the successor had far more room with two small occasional rear seats. The DB2/4 sold well through until 1957. In total 764 DB2/4s were built which included 565 of the Mk Is and 199 of the Mk IIs. The biggest change for the Mk II was that the bodies were made in-house by the recently acquired Tickford Coachbuilding Works in Newport Pagnell, otherwise the differences between the Mk I and Mk II were subtle. The DB2/4 was available as a four seat fixed head coupe or two seat drop head coupe from the start of production with a two seat coupe introduced on the Mk II.The DB2/4 MkII was succeeded by the DB MkIII and 551 examples were built from 1957 through until 1959. 462 hatchbacks, 84 drophead coupes and 5 fixed head coupes. Of the 551 83 were LHD.
The MkIII was nearly 9 longer than the DB2 and weighed about 159kg more, an increase of about 15%, but more than an extra 50% power was available from the standard DBA engine, compared with the original LB6B engine.
The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martins finest with the company winning Le Mans in 1959 and the iconic early DB series cars of the 1950s paving the way for the legendary DB4, DB5 and DB6 models of the 1960s.

1958 ASTON MARTIN DB 2/4 MK III

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 2008 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.
Delivered in Nero Daytona (black) with a beige interior this striking Ferrari 599 GTB was delivered through the official Ferrari and Maserati dealer in Queensland, EuroMarque in Brisbane. The service book notes the first owner as La Compagnia Pty Ltd located in Milton (Brisbane).
By 2010 the car had found its way to Victoria where it remained through until 2014. During its time in Victoria the car was regularly serviced by Zagame Ferrari. The first service was completed on the 9th December 2010 @ 6,050 km, the second service was completed on the 20th April 2012 @ 12,190 km and the third service was completed on the 5th April 2013 @ 20,639 km.
By 2014 the car was in Sydney and it was serviced by Ferrari Sydney on the 10th February 2014 @ 25,285 km.
The current owner acquired the car in April 2015 at which time the odometer read 32,000 km. The car was immediately serviced by Ferrari Sydney on the 1st May 2015 @ 32,047 km before heading back to Victoria with its new owner.
The car lived between Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula and it was used sparingly over the next ten years, travelling just over 4,000 km during this time.
The car has been regularly serviced by Maranello Motorsport in Richmond. It was serviced on the 4th May 2019 @ 33,520 km, on the 21st November 2020 @ 34,660 km, on the 14th December 2021 @ 35,795 km and its most recent service on the 1st February 2023 @ 36,100 km.
At time of photographing this car, the odometer read 36,370 km.
When you walk up to this 599 GTB it is very easy to forget that you are looking at a car which made its debut nearly 20 years ago. This car has aged incredibly well and in our opinion is one of best looking cars Ferrari has built in recent years.
This car has a real presence about it, no doubt due to its fabulous colour combination. The colour is striking and it looks even better in the flesh than it does in the photos! The yellow brake callipers are a nice touch, colour coordinating with the Ferrari shields on the front guards and of course the prancing horse badge on the nose. The black paint and the black wheels create a sharp contrast with the yellow features.
The paint on the car is still in a really good condition. It has retained its strong depth of colour and a high gloss finish. Upon closer inspection there is light gravel rash along the sills in front of the rear wheels and a few small stone chips here and there, as one would expect to find on a car which has been cared for but also used.
We love the black wheels on this car and they are in an excellent condition with no evidence of any kerb rash. They are shod with Pirelli P Zero tyres, size 245/35ZR20 at the front and 305/35ZR20 at the rear. The front tyres are date stamped 1018 (week 10, 2018) and the rear tyres are date stamped 0419 (week 04, 2019). Both the front and rear tyres are still in good condition.
Inside the cabin everything presents really well. A known weak point on most Ferraris from this period is the leather dashboard. Over time the foam disintegrates resulting in a wave like appearance and ultimately the leather shrinking and pulling lose. On this car, the dashboard has been recently retrimmed and it presents like brand new. Another known problem effecting European cars of this period, including Ferraris are the sticky switches. On this car they have all been cleaned and present well.
Getting comfortable behind the steering wheel is not difficult in a 599 as almost everything is adjustable. After having made the necessary adjustments you cant help but pause and take it all in. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the large yellow backed tacho siting in the middle of the instrument cluster!
The interior is stunning and it has aged very well. It is quite surreal to think you are siting in 17 year old car. The giveaway is that there is not a massive screen mounted in the centre of the dashboard . . . and that is probably a good thing! Everything, in a way, looks elegant and just right. The seats are very comfortable and the leather is still in a very good condition with no tears or scratches evident.
Driving this 599 GTB is an experience on its own. That experience starts with the way you start the car. You turn the ignition on with the key, but then instead of turning the key further to start the car you have to press a starter button located on the steering wheel. No surprise, the thumping 6.0 litre V12 fires up straight away and sounds amazing from the get go. There are two ways you can drive the car. Either in full automatic mode or in F1 mode where you have to use the pedals on either side of the steering wheel to shift up and down. When you drive the car in auto mode it is surprising how quickly the gearbox shifts up to higher gears when you are driving around town. Regardless of which way you choose to drive this 599, one thing is clear, despite it now being 17 years old, it is still an incredibly fast car. Ferrari quote 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and a top speed in excess of 330 km/h. Even though this is a true supercar, it is actually very easy to drive.
On our test drive the car performed as one would expect in every regard.
Accompanying this car is a full set of books including a fully stamped service book and a cover.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered, factory right hand drive, matching numbers example.
- Presented in the most striking colour combination.
- Full service history with books
- A beautifully presented car that is JUST FABULOUS to drive.
Price $279,950
Background:
Apple, Coco-Cola, McDonalds and Nike are brands recognisable the world over. So is Ferrari and interestingly the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer was named The Worlds Strongest Brand in the 2019 Brand Finance Global 500 Report.
Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 out of Alfa Romeos race division as Auto Avio Costruzioni the company built its first car in 1940. The Second World War halted Ferraris dream, which was finally realised in 1947, when the first car bearing his name, the Ferrari 125 S, was built. From that day on Ferrari race cars dominated the world over, winning race after race and many world championships in Formula One, sports car racing and endurance racing. Ferrari built exclusive sports cars for the road too, but in the early days, this was primarily to fund his motor racing!
The Cavallino Rampate or prancing horse was the symbol chosen by Ferrari and like the golden arches it is recognised by just about every man, woman and child on the planet!
The Ferrari road cars from the 1940s and early to mid-1950s were built in very small numbers and it was not until the introduction of the 250 series cars that production numbers increased. Almost 1,000 Ferrari 250 GTEs were built from 1959 1963. The 250 series also produced some of the most special Ferraris ever built, including the Ferrari 250 LM, 250 SWB, 250 California Spider and of course the 250 GTO. The 250 series cars were superseded by the 275 series cars, the 330 series cars and later the 365 series cars. The nomenclature designated the cubic capacity of each cylinder. So, a Ferrari 330 was powered by a 12-cylinder engine of 3967cc capacity.
The late 1960s and early 1970s were fabulous times for Ferrari. Its flagship 365 GTB/4 Daytona was a resounding success and Enzos big risk the Dino 246 was also selling very well. At that time Ferrari wanted to continue with his tradition of producing high performance Grand Touring cars with a 2+2 configuration and the 365 GTC/4, which was a successor to the 365 GT 2+2 and the 365 GTC, filled that niche.
The early 1970s were a time of innovation and Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati et al. continued to introduce new models in an endeavour to trump the other. The 365 GTC/4 was only in production in 1971 & 1972 and its successor the 365 GT/4 2+2 was first shown in October 1972 at the Paris Motor Show. This car, designed and built by Pininfarina, featured unique styling and whilst the sharp angular lines were very new for Ferrari it did share the characteristic design feature of a swage line dividing the body into an upper and a lower half with the 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Unlike the GTC/4 the GT/4 2+2 could seat four people in relative comfort.
The 365 GT/4 2+2 was superseded by the 400 in 1976 and subsequently the 412 in 1985. Production of the 412 ended in 1989 without a direct successor.
In 1992 Ferrari introduced its next front engine Grand Tourer, the 456. It was a great success for Ferrari with approximately 3,289 cars produced during its 5 years in production.
In 1996 Ferrari unveiled the Ferrari 550 Maranello at the Nürburgring racing circuit in Germany. The introduction of the 550 marked the return of the front engine 2 seater Ferrari, 23 years after the Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona had been replaced by the mid-engined 365GT/4 BB. Designed by Pininfarina, the 550 Maranello continued on the success of the 456 and some 3,600 cars were built during its production run until 2002 at which time it was succeeded by the 575M Maranello.
The 575M became the first Ferrari V12 to be sold with the F1 automated manual gearbox. The 575M was also available with a retractable hardtop and sold as the Ferrari 575M Superamerica. In 2006 the 575M was replaced by the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.
The 599 was styled by Pininfarina and made its debut at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. It derived its name from its total engine displacement being 5,999cc. and the Fiorano test track.
The 599 remained in production through until 2012 and it is understood around 3,600 examples were built. A true modern classic!

2008 FERRARI 599 GTB FIORANO

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this fantastic 1983 Aston Martin V8 Oscar India.
The Heritage certificate on file confirms this car was built on the 7th September 1983 and it left the factory on 11th October 1983. The car was originally delivered in storm red (paint code 9017) with a fawn pipe burgundy interior (trim code VM.3234/DV6171), a colour scheme the car still carries today. The car retains its original matching numbers engine.
The Heritage Certificate also states this car was delivered with Weber carburettors, Avon tyres, beige with burgundy edged carpet, beige leather headliner and a miles per hour speedometer.
This car is a highly desirable later model Oscar India with the V580 Series engine and BBS wheels. It also has the blanked out radiator grill that was standard on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Like the majority of the Aston Martin V8s built, this car is equipped with a Chrysler Torqueflite three speed automatic transmission.
The documentation on file confirms that this Aston Martin was delivered through Victor Wilson Limited in Edinburgh, Scotland to its first owner, Mr M Carney from Glasgow, Scotland. It was first registered as MAT 78.
Around 1989 the car was sold to Mr M Blackall, an Englishman temporary living and working in Belgium as the Area Director of Operations for a major hotel group. At that time the car was registered as A946FSF. The car spent the next two years in Belgium before the owner moved back to the UK and took the car with him. In 1993 he upgraded to an Aston Martin V8 Volante and this car was sold to Mr M Walker from Edinburgh in June 1994. In September 1996 the car was advertised for sale by the Murray Motor Company in Edinburgh and sold to Mr R Forrester from Cairneyhill, a small village just north of Edinburgh. In 2000 the Murray Motor Company advertised the car for sale again and subsequently sold it to Mr Keenan from Apperley, Gloucestershire, UK. The car was registered with the registration A4 SFK. These UK plates are still fitted on the car.
The current owner, who has an extensive and eclectic collection of cars, acquired this Aston Martin in the UK in mid 2006 and subsequently imported it into Australia. There is an Import Approval on file dated 31st July 2006.
Shortly after arriving into Australia the car was repainted in its original colour of storm red. The car has not been driven any distance since arriving in Australia. It has essentially been in static storage for some fifteen years, though from time to time it was started and driven a short distance. It was last started and driven about five years ago prior to arriving to us.
Since arriving at Oldtimer Australia the car has been recommissioned by classic car specialist Steve Ward from SJ Classics and it runs and drives well. It may require some further fettling to be a reliable driver, but the car has done everything as expected when we have had it out on the open. From the first turn of the key when awoken from its hibernation, the big V8 engine burst to life and it sounds fantastic. Not surprisingly the car seems to get better and better the more it has been driven. The oil pressure is good and engine has loads of power on tap. The gear changes are smooth up and down the box and the car handles, steers and stops as one would expect.
Today the odometer reads 69,688 miles, which based on the information on file, is genuine.
Even though the car carries what is now considered an older repaint, the paint still presents very well. As a result of the car not being driven since it was repainted, the paint has never been exposed to the harsh Australian sun. It retains a deep gloss and a strong depth of colour. There are only two small defects in the paint. There are two very small chips on the boot lid and there is also a small scrape on the edge of the drivers door. Subsequent to our photo shoot, these defects have been touched up using original touch up paint supplied with the car.
All the glass, which looks to be original, and external trim is in very good condition. The same can be said for the bumpers and the other bright work on the car. It is all in very good to excellent condition.
The BBS wheels, which are a real feature on these later Aston Martin V8s present like new with no curb rash. They are shod with Avon Turbosteel 70 tyres, size 235/70/15. The thread on the tyres still present like new, however they are date stamped 4400 (week 44, 2000), and should really be replaced on age.
Open the door and you feel like you are stepping back in time. The interior has been beautifully preserved and is in beautiful condition. It is also very English! The fawn leather seats are in excellent condition with no cracks or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and still provide plenty of support. The rear seats appear to have hardly been used. All the carpets are in excellent condition. The dashboard presents like new. The timber veneer inserts are in excellent condition as is all the leather. Even the top of the dash is still in excellent condition. The instruments are all clean and present well. There is a row of push switches on the centre console and you often see these with faded text. Not in this car. The text is as clear as it was on the day the car left the factory.
In the boot everything is clean and tidy and there is an original spare wheel present.
Open the bonnet and you are presented with a magnificent looking V8 engine. It is hard to miss the Aston Martin Lagonda text on the valve covers and of course there is the plate with the name of the person who assembled the engine. The engine in this car was built by Fred Walters. All very Aston Martin! Everything presents as one would expect. The engine is bay is neat, clean and tidy.
The underside of this car presents well. There is light surface corrosion on some of the components, however, this is not a typical English car underneath. The overall presentation is consistent with a 41 year old car that has been well cared for.
Accompanying this car is a comprehensive history file dating back to new, which includes the original service book.
This car has an incredible presence and it presents fabulously in the striking colour of storm red.
A unique opportunity.
Highlights:
- Rare and desirable example of one the iconic Aston Martin V8 series.
- Beautifully presented example of a quintessential British GT.
- Fabulous original colour scheme.
- Known history from new.
Price $259,950
Background:
Aston Martin has produced bespoke sports cars for over 100 years. The company began in 1913, when founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford realised their desire to build distinctive, high quality sports cars that were both exhilarating to drive and a beauty to behold. Martin regularly competed in hill climb races at Aston Clinton, and a simple combination of the name of the event and the driver gave birth to one of the most famous automotive marques. Source: www.astonmartin.com.
Whilst Aston Martin produced some wonderful cars in their early years business, was always a struggle and the company was severely disrupted during both World War I and II. The company went bankrupt on more than one occasion and has endured many different owners throughout its history.
David Brown acquired Aston Martin in February 1947 and the first car produced during his ownership was the Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports, later known as the DB1, which was built in extremely limited numbers from 1948 to 1950. This was succeeded by the Aston Martin DB2 in 1950, which featured a new double overhead cam straight six engine of 2.6 litre (2580 cc) capacity, and was a car that really put post war Aston Martin on the map. The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martins finest with the company winning LeMans in 1959 and the sixties producing the legendary DB4, DB5 and DB6 models.
The first of the Newport Pagnell designed cars, the DBS, was introduced in 1967. The DBS was initially powered by Aston Martins tried and true 6 cylinder engine as the companys new V8 engine was not ready.
From September 1967 through until May 1972 Aston Martin produced 829 DBS chassis. One of these was used in a crash test and 26 of these were later fitted with a V8 engine which leaves a total of 802 six cylinder Aston Martin DBS. Of these 802 cars, 621 were right hand drive and 181 left hand drive. The DBS was available with a five speed ZF manual gearbox or an automatic gearbox or. Interestingly, 317 of the right hand drive cars were fitted with the five speed manual gearbox. It is understood that Aston Martin only built circa 70 right hand drive examples equipped with the Vantage engine.
In September 1969 the DBS was superseded by the DBS V8, powered by the all new 5.3 litre V8 engine which was finally ready for production. The DBS V8 remained in production through until April 1972 and circa 400 cars were built. It was then renamed and became the Aston Martin V8, which became a great success for the marque. The Aston Martin V8 was produced for 17 years, with production finally coming to an end in 1989. Just over 2,000 cars were built, plus the Volantes and Vantages.
In October 1978 Aston Martin introduced the Aston Martin V8 Series 4, otherwise known as the Oscar India (Oscar India = October Introduction, from the phonetic alphabet). The car now sporting burr walnut trim, a blanked off bonnet scoop and a revised boot lid and rear wings to create a sculpted spoiler was visually very similar to the Vantage. The car remained in production through until 1985 and only 352 examples were produced.

1983 ASTON MARTIN V8 Oscar India

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this highly collectible, Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 1958 Porsche 356 A 1600 Super Speedster.
The Kardex on file confirms this car left the factory on the 15th November 1957 and was destined for Porsche dealer Hamilton in Melbourne. The car was painted Meissen Blue (paint code 5703) with a red interior (colour code A). The car was delivered with the following options: Tacho in miles, USA bumpers, seats from a coupe, tonneau and RHD.
Interestingly, it is understood that the original engine in this car was swapped into a standard Porsche 356 A Coupe when new. Apparently, a VIP client wanted a 356 A Coupe with a Super engine so the swap was made. The whereabouts of that 356 A Coupe are known, but the engine has long since been removed.
This Porsche 356 A Speedster went from Hamilton to Porsche dealer Diesel Motors in NSW. The cars first owner was believed to have been Jack Davey, a then famed radio host. Unfortunately, Davey didnt get to enjoy his Speedster for long as he passed away in October 1959. The cars history over the next ten years is not known, however, by 1969 it had found its way to Launceston in Tasmania and into the ownership of John Dixon.
In April 1988 the car was acquired by Kim & Ingrid Goodridge from Perth, WA. They purchased the car from Spyder Automobiles in Melbourne. At that time the car was in pretty poor condition. The Goodridges engaged Spyder Automobiles, who were one of the periods finest Porsche specialists, to restore the car to international concours standards. The car was disassembled to a bare shell and rebuilt to factory standards and tolerances. The engine was rebuilt to 1600 Super specification. There is correspondence on file with regards to the restoration as well as receipts, invoices and an album full of detailed photos. It took a total of 4 years to restore the car and by the end of 1992 this fabulous Speedster was back on the road. It was registered in WA with the registration number 8KL 894. At that time the odometer read circa 51,000 miles.
By 2003 the car had found its way to Melbourne and into the ownership of Jeff Dutton. Some twelve months later the car was sold to Peter Jurd from Byron Bay in northern NSW. Jurd owned the car for around 2 years and it was then sold to a well known Porsche enthusiast and collector on the Sunshine Coast. He used and enjoyed the car and it was a regular attendee at various events and rallies.
The current owner, who was living in Mount Isa, QLD at the time, acquired the car in January 2010. The odometer then read circa 58,700 miles. The car was initially registered in Queensland as 735 MUP and later with the personalised plates CDEK01. The owner later moved to northern NSW, taking his beloved Speedster with him, where it was registered as FLR06U.
In his 15 years of ownership the car has been used and enjoyed, travelling some 4,000 miles in that time. The majority of that mileage was accumulated in his early years of ownership and the car has been used sparingly in recent times.
In 2014 the engine was rebuilt and new pistons, barrels and rings were installed. At that time the odometer read 61,920 miles.
More recently, in February 2025, the car was sent to Gold Coast based classic car specialist and Porsche guru Russell Ebeling on the Gold Coast who went over the whole car. He recommissioned the engine, replaced all gaskets & seals, adjusted the valve clearances, changed the fluids and carried out a final tune. The brake fluid was also changed.
Today the odometer reads 62,858 miles.
It is hard to believe that it was almost 35 years ago that Spyder Automobiles restored this car. The car still presents and drives superbly, showing just the right amount of patina, which is a testament to the quality of the restoration and a reflection on how the car has been subsequently cared for and maintained.
From about a meter away the car still presents beautifully. The paint work has retained a strong depth of colour and a high gloss finish. Upon closer inspection there are some paint blemishes, most notably some stars on top of both the front guards and a few small stone chips and blemishes here and there. The bright work on the car, including the badges, is generally in good condition with only some very light pitting evident in certain areas. The front windscreen is in good condition. The same can be said for all the lights and lenses. Overall, the paint and external trim presents well with its overall presentation more consistent with 11,000+ miles of usage rather than a circa 35 year old restoration.
The car is fitted with a soft top, has the correct side screens, full tonneau cover and soft top cover which are in a good condition.
The steel wheels are in a good condition with only some light scratches and stone chips evident, but importantly no kerb rash. They are all, including the spare wheel, the correct Lemmerz 4½ Jx15 size wheels. Four of the five are date stamped 8/57 (August, 1957) which would be correct for a car which left the production line in November 1957. One wheel is date stamped 10/60 (October, 1960).
They are shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, size 165 HR 15 which are date stamped 1513 (week 15, 2013). Whilst the tyres still appear to be in a good condition they should be replaced on age if the next owner is going to do some serious driving in the car.
The interior on a 356 Speedster is simplistic, yet functional. Everything on this car presents nicely, from the lovely timber steering wheel through to the body colour painted dash. The upholstery is in very good condition with no tears or cracks evident in the seats or door cards. The optional coupe seats are comfortable and still provide ample support. Even the carpets have aged well and are in good condition. All the instruments are crisp, clean and present well. They all appear to be in good working order.
There arent too many cars cooler than a Porsche 356 Speedster. Whilst they look good, they are also great fun to drive. We were given the heads up that this car has a very strong engine with loads of power on tap and it drives particularly well. Needless to say, we were keen to get behind the wheel for our test drive. Our patience was tested as we had to wait out the inclement Brisbane weather for a few days. Finally, the weather gods cooperated and the grey skies cleared.
At some stage this cars electrical system has been upgraded from 6 volt to 12 volt and as a result the car starts easily, even from cold. Once the engine fires it quickly settles into a smooth idle. From the very first moment we started the car our impressions were very positive. The engine sounds great and it has the typical 356 raspy exhaust note.
Out on the open road this Speedster is an absolute delight to drive. The engine responds well to the slightest touch of the throttle and this car seams to go harder than most 356s we have experienced. The gearbox is tight and the changes up and down the box are precise. The suspension is also tight and the bumps in the road get easily absorbed. The steering is precise and direct providing great feedback to the driver. The brakes do their job and when needed they pull you up quickly and in a straight line. Unfortunately, we have no mountains or even hills near our showroom, but we can imagine how much fun this car would be to drive on some winding roads and over mountain passes.
After half an hour behind the wheel, you really get why these cars were so popular and so successful on race tracks back in the day.
Accompanying the car is a thick history file, which includes photos of its restoration, a short and long tonneau cover, two side screens, a spare wheel, a correct Hazet tool kit (in a VW case) and a jack. There are also six boxes of spare parts.
Highlights:
- Rare Australian delivered, factory RHD Speedster.
- Rebuilt engine to Super specs.
- Excellent history file.
- Delightful car to drive.
- Ready to be used and enjoyed.
Price $849,950.
Background:
The Porsche story is a fascinating one and its roots go back to the 1930s when Professor Ferdinand Porsche was instrumental in the design of the first Volkswagen and also Auto Union race cars. By 1939 he had built three Porsche cars to compete in the 800-mile race from Berlin to Rome. Unfortunately, the race was cancelled due to the war and Porsche was forced to focus on supporting the German war effort, however, he had always wanted to build his own cars. In 1944 Porsche was forced to leave Stuttgart and he set up a small operation in Gmünd, Austria. Soon after the Porsche family and many of their engineers were captured and sent to jail. Ferdinand Porsches son. Ferdinand junior, or Ferry as he was known, was released six months later and he returned to Gmünd to rebuild the family company. Things moved quickly and Porsche was involved with cars again and in mid-1948 the first Porsche 356 was built. It is understood Porsche built some 50 aluminium bodied cars by hand in their small factory at Gmündbefore relocating back to Stuttgart, Germany in 1949.
Instead of building the body of the car himself Porsche decided to collaborate with an old partner, the body manufacturing company Reutter who had both the expertise and infrastructure to mass produce the bodies for the 356 coupe and cabriolet.
Nowadays, the first series of the 356, built from 1948 through until 1955 are known as the 356 Pre A.
In 1955 the 356 A was introduced. The internal factory designation for this model was Type 1 which was quickly adapted by enthusiasts who referred to the 356 A as the T1. The 356 A became available as a coupe, cabriolet and a Speedster. Buyers had the choice between a 1,300cc and a 1,600cc engine and later the Super version.
A second revision of the 356 A was introduced early in 1957. It became known as the Type 2 (or T2). Late 1958 the Speedster was replaced by the Convertible D which was now build by coachbuilder Drauz. In late 1959 the 356 A was replaced by the 356 B.
In total 20,541 examples of the 356 A were built, consisting of 13,016 coupes, 3,285 cabriolets, 1,330 convertibles and 2,910 speedsters.
The 356 remained in production through until 1965 and evolved into one of the most successful sports cars ever built.

1958 PORSCHE 356A Speedster

1960 Goggomobil Dart Restoration Projects

GOGGOMOBIL DART

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale one of the ten factory right hand drive Lamborghini Silhouettes. Of these ten cars, six were delivered to Australia, three were delivered to the UK and one to Cyprus.
According to the factory records, this car was completed on the 19th January 1978. It is an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example that was delivered through Tony De Fina, the importer at the time. The car was delivered new in rosso (red) with a nero (black) interior.
The early history of this car is not definitively known, however, its first or second owner was then Sydney based medical entrepreneur and socialite Dr Geoffrey Edelsten. In the late 1970s and 1980s Edelsten owned a fleet of exotic cars including Porsches, Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, De Tomasos (who can forget his hot pink De Tomaso Pantera GT5 with a mink interior!) and a number of Lamborghinis. The Lamborghinis included a gold (later red) Countach LP400 periscopio, a green later black Countach LP400S and this Silhouette.
Edelsten owned this Silhouette for a few years. When the car had an engine failure he decided to sell it. Its next owner rebuilt the engine and repainted the car wine red metallic. Unfortunately, the car was damaged shortly thereafter and subsequently sold to the prior to current owner circa 35 years ago. He intended to return it to its original colour and gave it to Henry Nehrybecki who at the time was the Lamborghini service agent in Sydney, NSW. Unfortunately, life got in the way and progress was extremely slow. The car sat around for many years. Nehrybecki later closed his business and the car was moved to another restoration shop who did very little with the car. In 2015 the car was sent to All Classic Car Restorations in Brookvale (Sydney) and the restoration was finally underway. The car was painted by McCreath Prestige Panel & Paint in Brookvale.
This car has been missing for many years and in Lamborghini circles it was thought it had either been written off, gone overseas, or was squirrelled away in someones garage. Thankfully it was the latter!
The current owner acquired this car through Oldtimer Australia in 2019. At that time the odometer read 18,947km.
The car had been sparingly used prior to his purchase and he had Lamborghini specialist Imaant go through the car and complete a number of miscellaneous repairs, including suspension, steering, electrical and regas the air conditioning.
Generally the paint on the car is still in good condition and from say a metre, it presents exceptionally well. On closer inspection there are some imperfections visible, most noticeably on the right front guard, the right rear guard and around the right front headlight. The unique targa roof is in very good condition and it fits very well. All the external trim, including the badges, bumpers, lights, lenses and the glass and are in good condition.
A feature on the Lamborghini Silhouette is the Bravo style Campagnolo wheels which were also used on the first 50 Lamborghini Countach LP400S. The magnesium wheels are extremely porous and as a result they are prone to blistering. On this car they are in excellent condition having been completely refurbished in September 2019. The car is currently running the correct Pirelli Cinturato P7 tyres, 205/50 R15 at the front and 285/40/R15 at the rear. These tyres were fitted when the wheels were refurbished and are still in excellent condition, they are date stamped 4219 (week 42, 2019).
Inside the cabin everything has been refurbished and presents really well. Purists will note the steering wheel and pedals are not original. Also, the dash and centre console have been refurbished in leather rather than alcantara. When the current owner acquired the car, it was fitted with Silhouette reproduction seats built by Henry Nehrybecki. He found them uncomfortable and has fitted modern brand new Recaro seats. The Silhouette reproduction seats will accompany the car.
Lamborghinis 3.0 litre V8 engine makes one of the best noises you will ever hear. This Silhouette is no exception. Like all Lamborghinis the Weber carburettors require plenty of fuel to start the engine. One tends to get a little impatient waiting for the fuel pumps to do their thing . . . then bang the engine bursts into life with a growl! It is best to allow a little time for the engine to warm up and then youre away. Similarly, the gearbox gets better mile after mile as everything warms up. The engine has loads of power on tap and it pulls like a train. The gearbox is also good and it changes up and down smoothly. This car is a real pleasure to drive and we have to say the Recaro seats are super comfortable. The car handles, steers and stops as you would expect.
Accompanying the car is an original owners manual, parts manual (copy), engine workshop manual (copy) and a thick file of receipts dating back to 2004.
The Lamborghini Urraco/Silhouette is one of Bertones finest designs and we think one of the best-looking cars ever built. And oh did we mention the noise . . . the little V8 is in our opinion one of the best sounding engines ever . . . what a great combination!
These cars are extremely rare and have been a well kept secret for many years, but no more! Today the Lamborghini Silhouette is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Truly a unique opportunity.
Today the odometer reads 21,621 km which is sure to be genuine.
Highlights:
- One of the rarest Lamborghinis, being one of 54 cars built and one of only ten factory right hand drive examples.
- Australian delivered.
- Finished in its stunning and original colour combination of rosso (red) with a nero (black) interior.
- Ready to use and enjoy.
Price $289,950.
Background:
The Lamborghini story is fascinating in itself, but for the company to have survived all these years and indeed celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2013 is quite amazing. Ferruccio Lamborghini was an entrepreneur, a very successful businessman and a lover of the finer things in life, including sports cars. He was fortunate enough to own some wonderful cars including Ferraris however, he found fault with them all. According to the legend following a meeting with Enzo Ferrari to discuss some of the short comings of his cars Enzo dismissed Ferruccio and he subsequently decided that he could build a better car.
Not long after, in May 1963, Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SPA was established and the small town of SantAgata Bolognese, located between Modena and Bologna, was chosen as the location to build the factory. Born under the Zodiac sign Taurus Lamborghini chose the raging bull as the emblem for his sports cars.
Lamborghini knew what he wanted and he put together a highly skilled team. His first car the 350 GTV was shown at the Turin Motor Show in October 1963. This car received mixed reviews; however, Lamborghini was not deterred and made a number of improvements and design changes to the original concept. The first Lamborghini production car the 350 GT left the factory in mid-1964.
The 350 GT evolved into the 400 GT 2+2 and later the Islero. In parallel to building these classic front engine V12 GT cars Lamborghini wanted to build a super car, enter the Miura first shown as a rolling chassis in 1965, and also a GT car that could comfortably seat four people, enter the Espada in 1968. The mid to late sixties were good times for Lamborghini and his cars were revered the world over.
In 1970 the Islero was replaced by the Jarama. Lamborghini also wanted to enter the junior supercar market and introduced the Urraco or little bull, named for the fighting bull which killed the toreador Manoleten, at the 1970 Turin Motor Show. The Urraco attracted huge interest from the motoring world and Bertones classic wedge shape received critical acclaim at the time.
It wasnt until some two years later, in 1972, that the first production cars rolled off the Sant Agata production line. Lamborghini hoped to build the Urraco in big numbers, however, this never eventuated and only 520 of the P250s were built up until 1975 when the P300 was released. The world economy changed quickly and the early 1970s were a tough time for Lamborghini. Additionally, the Urraco had some teething problems early on and the car unfortunately developed a reputation as unreliable. This was perhaps unfair as once Lamborghini ironed out the bugs the car was in fact a little gem and properly sorted was a genuine threat to Ferraris 308, Maseratis Merak and the Porsche 911 of the day. The Urraco P300 was indeed a fabulous little car and in Sports Car World magazine July September 1976 Mel Nichols wrote: . . . I was not hard pressed to conclude that the Urraco 3-litre is the most enjoyable car I have ever driven. In the October 1978 issue of Car Magazine Nichols pits the Lamborghini Urracoagainst a Ferrari 308 GTB and a Maserati Merak SS. The article is compelling reading and Nichols picks the Urraco as his favourite. Only 205 Urraco P300s were built. Lamborghini also built 66 Urraco P200s (with a 2 litre V8 engine) specifically for the Italian market.
The Lamborghini Silhouette was a further development of the Urraco and it was first shown at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show. The Silhouette was a genuine 2 seater and the 2+2 seating of the Urraco was removed to allow space behind the seats to store the targa top. The Silhouette is one of the rarest Lamborghinis with only 54 cars built, of which only ten were factory right hand drive.
Lamborghinis last iteration of their V8 engined junior supercar was the Jalpa (pronounced YAWL-pa), named after another breed of fighting bull. The Jalpa was introduced at the 1981 Geneva show and 410 examples were built from 1982 through until 1988.

1978 LAMBORGHINI SILHOUETTE

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