OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this magnificent 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale.
Open top classic Maseratis are rare, including the Mistral Spyder, Ghibli Spyder and 3500 GT Vignale Spyder. Maserati built only 242 of the 3500 GT Spyders by Vignale from 1959 through until 1964, of which only five were factory right hand drive.
Documentation on file from Maserati Classiche confirms that this particular car was completed on the 19th October 1960 and delivered to Torino, Italy. It was originally finished in 'Verde Acqua Metallizzato' (metallic green) with a 'Marrone' (brown) interior. The car was delivered new with carburettors and the manual type ZF S 4/17 4 speed gearbox. Note: the car has a 5 speed ZF gearbox which either means an error with the factory records or that the gearbox was upgraded at some stage. It has disc brakes.
Like many Maserati 3500 GT Spyders, this car does not have an engine number stamping. Maserati Classiche has confirmed that the interno number is correct for this car, hence, it retains its original 'matching numbers' engine.
There is a copy of the Avviso Spedizione (shipping notice) on file which notes a dispatch date of the 4th May 1961. It also notes that the cars was delivered to Adolfo Rossetto from Torino.
Walter Baumer's excellent book - Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale, also confirms a completion date of 4th May 1961. It also notes:
- 30th December 1961 - registered in Torino, Italy on plate TO 380265
- 14th December 1962 - sold to Vittorio Duca in Mila, Italy and registered as MI 609279
- 26th February 1964 - sold to Costantino Cattaneo in Gallarate, Italy
- a subsequent owner was Giuseppe Berlingieri
There is a hand written note on the Avviso Spedizione which notes 8/5/64 - full service at factory.
The car history through until the early 1980s is not known. At that time it found its way to Australia, at which time it was most likely owned by Rod McGaffin. Back then left hand drive cars were not permitted in this country (with the exception of consular cars), so it was converted to right hand drive.
Dr Arnold Singer acquired the car in 1988 and embarked on a major restoration that took him until 1994 to complete. There is comprehensive documentation and photos on file of the restoration, which cost in the order of $280,000. This was a huge sum back then. It is understood that Singer used the car sparingly throughout his ownership.
The current owner acquired this Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale some twenty years ago and has used and enjoyed the car as its makers intended. It was exhibited at Motorclassica in 2017 and more recently as part of a Maserati display at Motors & Masterpieces, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds, in November 2024.
Whilst the car is now considered an older restoration, it still presents beautifully. At the time of our initial inspection, we started the car and the Tipo 101 3.5 litre (3,485cc) straight six engine fired up easily. The engine sounds fabulous and the current owner advises that this car drives every bit as good as it looks.
One could just imagine cruising the Côte dAzur or through Beverly Hills back in the day in a Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale. Today, these beautiful cars are seldom seen and Oldtimer Australia is genuinely excited to offer a unique opportunity to acquire one of Maseratis most rare and desirable open top grand touring cars.
Highlights:
- rare and desirable open top classic Maserati.
- matching numbers chassis and engine.
- beautifully presented older restoration.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
More information and photos to follow soon.
Price AUD $899,950.
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.
The Maserati A6 entered production and whilst it was only built in small numbers, it was hugely important to the history and identity of Maserati. It was basically where the brands road car legacy truly began. The A6 remained in production for a decade through until 1956 and during that period various versions were built.
Introduced in 1947, Maserati first production car was the A6 1500, of which around 60 cars were built through until 1950.The majority were powered by Maseratis 1.5 litre (1,488 cc) inline six cylinder engine with a single overhead camshaft and a single Weber carburettor, producing 65 hp.
With an engine bored out to 2.0 litre (1,954.3 cc) and triple Weber carburettors, the Maserati A6G 2000 introduced in 1950 was a step change up in performance with quoted power up to around 100 hp. Only 16 cars were built in 1950 and 1951.
In 1953 Maserati developed the A6GCS/53 to compete in the World Sportscar Championship. It may not have dominated overall victories, but it was highly competitive in its class. Maserati built 52 A6GCS/53s from 1953 through until1955, achieving regular class wins and podiums in endurance and hill climb events.
The next production car was the A6G/54, otherwise known as the A6G 2000 Gran Turismo which was introduced at the 1954 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. A total of 60 cars were built from 1954 1956., with bodies by top coachbuilders including Pininfarina, Zagato and Allemano. This is the most desirable and collectible Maserati A6 today.
Perhaps the most important Maserati GT car was the 3500 GT, which was first shown at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show in March of that year. The first production 3500GTs left the factory in late 1957. Designed by Carrozzeria Touring, the Maserati 3500 GT featured superleggera construction with an all aluminium body. The car was powered by a detuned version of Maseratis V6 engine found in the race cars, with wet sump lubrication. The engines were initially fitted with triple Weber carburettors and later fuel injection, though many customers ordered their later cars with carburettors. Maserati got the formula right and the car was a great success. From 1957 through until 1964 almost 2,000 cars were built, the majority of which were the standard cars bodied by Touring. A small number were bodied by specialist coachbuilders such as Allemano, Boneschi, Frua and Bertone.
At the 1958 Turin Motor Show a Maserati 3500 GT Convertible, bodied by Touring, was first shown. Interestingly, that car never entered production and Maserati opted for the Carrozzeria Vignale (designed by Michelotti) Maserati 3500 GT Convertible, which was first shown at the 1959 Paris Motor Show. The Convertible did not feature Touring's superleggera construction, rather a steel body with an aluminium bonnet, boot lid and optional hard top. The Convertible was built on a wheelbase that was 10cm shorter than the Coupe. The Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale is one of the most beautiful cars ever built and there are certainly similarities with Ferraris 250 GT Cabriolet by Pinin Farina and 250 GT California Spyder. Only 242 Maserati 3500 GT Spyders by Vignale were built from 1959 through until 1964. Of the total production there were only five factory right hand drive examples built.

1960 MASERATI 3500 GT

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

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an award winning 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.
This car, which is finished in the traditional Ferrari colour scheme of Rosso Corsa (paint code FER 322) with beige leather upholstery, was delivered to its first owner, Thomas Graham Gillespie from Airdrie in Scotland, UK on the 11th March 2005.
It has a full book set, including its service book which documents its service history. In Gillespies ownership the car received its first service on the 1st June 2006. At that time the odometer read 4,235 miles. The service was performed by Ferrari dealer Graypaul in Edinburgh. The next service was performed on 30th April 2007 at 5,896 miles by Graypaul.
Gillespie kept the car until 2007 and then sold it to Sir Anthony Moore from Swadlingcote, which is just south of Nottingham in the north of England.
Subsequent services were completed as follow:
- 3rd September 2008 @ 13,718 miles by Ferrari dealer Graypaul in Nothingham.
- 2nd December 2009 @ 17,425 miles by Ferrari specialists Shiltech Performance cars in Loughborough.
- 11th March 2010 @ 18,294 miles.
Moore sold the car in 2010 to Gregory Newton, an Australian who was residing in the UK at that time. Newton kept the car in the UK for the next 12 months before importing it into Australia. It was brought in as a personal import and there is a copy of the import approval on file dated 15th November 2011.
Soon after arriving in Sydney, the car was complianced and registered in NSW.
The car was then serviced on 5th September 2012 by Quantum Automotive.
The current Sunshine Coast based owner acquired this Ferrari 612 Scaglietti on 31st July 2014. At that time the odometer read 25,211 miles. Prior to purchasing the car he had a pre purchase inspection completed by Ferrari Sydney and they identified a few items which required attention.
Overall the car was in excellent condition and met the requirements of what the current owner was looking for. On the 10th September 2014 the car was taken to independent Ferrari specialist Enzotech in Caboolture, Queensland to have these issues addressed. A decision was also made to address some of the usual wear and tear issues on the car and return to the condition it was in when it left the showroom back in 2005.
Despite the fact the car has only been used sporadically by the current owner, it has been serviced on a regular basis by Enzotech. Routine servicing was completed as follows:
- 08th September 2015 @ 26,249 miles (included a cambelt service)
- 15th September 2017 @ 27,295 miles.
- 22nd April 2018 @ 28,069 miles.
- 17th December 2020 @ 28,800 miles (included a cambelt service)
- 12th September 2021 @ 30,289 miles..
- 24th August 2022 @ 30,665 miles.
- 20th August 2024 @ 31,518 miles.
The current owner is very passionate, pedantic and proud of his cars, including this Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. As a result, this car is presented in excellent condition. He is a Ferrari Club Australia member and he has attended the National Rally twice, entering the Concorso on both occasions. In 2022 the car won a platinum award and more recently in 2025 it won a gold award, narrowly missing out on platinum.
At time of photographing the car, the odometer read 32,335 miles. As is often the case, the photos tell the story. The car is in beautiful condition, particularly considering that it is 20+ years old. The gold award won at the recent Ferrari Club Australia Concorso is a testament to this.
The Rosso Corsa paint is in excellent condition. It is vibrant and has retained a strong depth of colour. When walking around the car we struggled to find any imperfections other than a few very small stone chips on the nose. It is understood that these were picked up on the recent Ferrari rally. With front and rear bumpers integrated into the bodywork, the external trim is minimalistic. The Ferrari badges, side shields, front grill, lights and lenses are all in excellent condition.
The original wheels, which are a real feature on a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, are in excellent condition with no evidence of any curb rash. They are shod with Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres, size 245/40ZR19 at the front and 285/4ZR19 at the rear. The front tyres are date stamped 4412 (week 44, 2012) and the rear ones 4712 (week 44, 2012) The tyres are still in a good condition.
The interior presents beautifully and its condition is more consistent with a five year old car, rather than one that is 20+ years old. The upholstery is almost as new and even the leather on the front seats is still in excellent condition. The seats are firm yet supportive and very comfortable. The rear seats present like new and have probably hardly been used if at all.
The cabin is a very luxurious place to be. The seats can be adjusted in so many ways that almost everyone should be able to get very comfortable behind the wheel. Once settled in it is time to start the car. The starting procedure is simple: insert the key into the ignition slot on the steering column and turn the key to start the car. The thumping 5.75 litre V12 engine bursts to life easily with no throttle input needed. It quickly settles into a smooth idle and as one would expect, it sounds amazing with a deep, smooth burble.
You have the option to drive the car in full automatic mode or in semi automatic mode where you use the F1 style paddles to change gears. Regardless of which option you choose, the car is refined and very easy to drive. In fact, it is almost too easy to drive and one has to be super careful to keep the speed in check. Whilst the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a grand tourer first and supercar second, when this car was released, it was one of the fastest four seaters available with a quoted top speed of 320 km/h and capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.
On our test drive the car performed perfectly. With almost unlimited power on tap the engine is incredibly responsive and it will launch the car forward effortlessly with a gentle prod on the accelerator. The car can be driven sedately, however, you just have to unleash it from time to time to enjoy that unmistakable Ferrari soundtrack. The six speed F1 automated manual is smooth up and down the box. The car handles, steers and stops as one would expect, but to be fair to really test that you would want to take it to Fiorano!
What a car . . . the Ferrari 612 Scagliettis performance is incredible and yet it is very easy to drive, extremely comfortable as well as capable of carrying four passengers with room for some luggage in the boot.
Accompanying the car is history file, complete book set in the original leather pouch, the original tool kit and a car cover,
Highlights:
- Presented in the most popular and stunning colour combination.
- Multiple award winner at Ferrari Club Australia
- Full service history with books and tools.
- Just a beautiful motor car.
Price $199,950
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.
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 engined V12 Grand Tourer, the 456, continuing its tradition of blending elegance, performance, and practicality. Designed by Pietro Camardella at Pininfarina, the design took heavy inspiration from Ferraris legendary 365 GTB/4 Daytona. The car was initially launched with a six speed manual gearbox, however, a four speed automatic gearbox was introduced in 1996 and model was designated as 456 GTA. The 456 became one of Ferraris more successful models, with approximately 3,289 cars produced during its 5 years in production.
The 456 was superseded by the 612 Scaglietti in 2004. This 612 was a bigger car, making it more comfortable for four passengers. To keep the weight down the car was built with an all aluminium spaceframe and body. Powered by a 5.7 litre naturally aspirated V12 engine with a quoted power of 397 kw (533 hp) at 7,250 rpm and torque of 588 nm (434 lbft) at 5,250 rpm. The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti was not a sports car, rather a very practical luxurious grand tourer. It was another success story for Ferrari with 3,025 examples produced between 2004 and 2011.

2005 FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1964 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 1.
This rare, Australian delivered, factory right drive example was delivered new through Ferrari agent WH Lowes to its first owner in 1964.
The car is documented in Barrys Farrs excellent book - Ferraris in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. Farr notes that in total nine Ferrari 330 GT 2+2s were delivered new into Australia, comprising six Series 1 cars and three Series 2 cars.
This car arrived into Australia on the ship the Ventoux on the 19th August 1964 and was subsequently sold to its first owner Bernard Dowd in Melbourne, Victoria.
Its original colour scheme was avorio (ivory) 19.377 with nero (black) 8500 trim. The car was repainted in pino verde metallic many many years ago (Farr notes prior to 1983), which is the colour the car wears today.
This is a very well known car in Ferrari Club circles in Australia. It has a known ownership from new including a number of long term owners who were respected and very active members of the Ferrari community.
One of the cars long term owners was Sydney based Ferrari enthusiast Gerry Duyvestyn, who rebuilt the engine during his ownership.
This car is also very well known to Oldtimer Australia having been previously sold by us twice. We first sold this car in September 2016 for its then Brisbane based owner to an enthusiast in Melbourne. We then sold the car for him in December 2019.
The current owner lives overseas and has essentially kept the car in storage for the last six years. The car is stored with a classic Ferrari specialist who has started and driven it from time to time.
Today this Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 presents beautifully. The car was subject to a bare metal respray in the early 2000s. Whilst that is some 25 years ago now, the paint work remains in excellent condition. Similarly, the panel gaps are also excellent. All of the external trim, glass etc are in very good condition. Inside the cabin the car oozes sixties style and elegance. All of the leather trim and carpets are in very good condition with just the right amount of patina, evidence that this car has been used as its maker intended and not kept as a garage queen! The timber steering wheel and timber veneer dash are in excellent condition, as are the instruments which are also in working order. The original Becker radio is a nice touch.
We haven't driven this car since offering it for sale, however, the narrative from when we sold it back in 2019 remains current.
At that time we wrote: . . .
The heart of any Ferrari is its engine and this V12 has good oil pressure, excellent power and it sounds fabulous! This car was subject to a full mechanical rebuild in circa 2005 and it has travelled some 5,000 miles since. As you would expect from a well sorted classic Ferrari it starts easily once the Weber carbs are primed and the engine soon settles into a smooth idle. Once warm and out on the open road the car performs fabulously and it is an absolute delight to drive.
When we sold this Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 in 2016 the new owner spent significant time and money over the next few years bringing the car up to the next level. The work completed during his ownership, included:
- A general service: change the engine oil & filters, gearbox oil, differential oil and air filters.
- Adjust ignition timing and carburettors.
- Refresh the ignition system: replaced points & condensers, rotor buttons, spark plug leads and spark plugs.
- Repaired differential oil leak by replacing the left hand side axle seal
- Steering repairs: replaced all 6 tie rod ends and replaced bent tie rod adjusting sleeves with customized stronger units.
- Fitted five new Michelin XWX tyres with competition inner tubes and rebalanced wheels.
- Removed, repainted and refitted rocker covers & timing chain covers, air filter housing and exhaust manifold heat shields.
- Change brake hoses.
- Miscellaneous interior works, including: repack front seats, new carpets, repair sun visors and repair rear parcel shelf.
This wonderful Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 is currently being checked over by a classic Ferrari specialist and recommissioned for its next owner to use and enjoy.
Accompanying the car is the leather pouch with the owners manual & parts manual, the original tool / jack kit, two sets of keys, an original sales brochure as well as a number of period magazines featuring the Ferrari 330 GT.
This classic front engine V12 Ferrari presents a unique opportunity to acquire a rare Australian delivered factory right hand drive example that is in just lovely condition.
At the time of photographing, the odometer read 73,376 miles.
Highlights:
- Rare Australian delivered, factory RHD example (1 of 6 cars)
- Matching numbers.
- Well presented example.
- Ready to use and enjoy.
Listed price AUD $429,950.
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 Ferrari125S, 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 built in 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 contained some of the most special Ferraris ever built, including the Ferrari 250LM, 250 SWB, 250 California Spider and of course the 250 GTO. The 250 Series cars were superseded by the 275 Series cars, the 330series and 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 3967 cc capacity.
Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 was introduced in early 1964 as a successor to the 250 GTE. The 330 was a totally new design and one of its most distinguishing features was its sharper nose with quad headlights. The cars wheelbase was 50mm longer than its predecessor and it had an improved braking system and suspension. The 330s engine was of 4.0 litre capacity generating a claimed 300hp. This was a significant improvement of the 250 GTEs 3.0 litre engine which generated a claimed 240hp.
Being able to seat four in relative comfort and yet providing the performance, handling and looks expected of a Ferrari, the 330 GT 2+2 was a very successful car in period with circa 1,000 cars built from 1964 1967. Only 503 of the original Series 1 cars were built, of which 50 were right hand drive.
According to Barrys Farrs excellent book - Ferraris in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s, there were only nine Ferrari 330 GT 2+2s delivered new into Australia, comprising six Series 1 cars and three Series 2 cars.

1964 FERRARI 330 GT

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a factory right hand drive 1972 Maserati Bora. It is understood that Maserati built only 42 factory right hand drive Boras making this an exceptionally rare car. 

According to the factory records this factory right hand drive example was completed in October 1972 with a 4.7 litre engine. Its original colour scheme was Celeste Chiaro (light blue, Salchi code 1069.A.20) with a black interior (Connolly code PAC.1560). 

The car was delivered in the UK to its first owner through Citroen Cars Ltd in Slough, UK. It is understood the car left the UK shortly after, making its way to the Channel Islands, then to Norfolk Island before arriving in Brisbane in 1974.
After arriving in Australia, the car is understood to have found its way to Perth in Western Australia where it remained for about 10 years. One of the subsequent owners remembered seeing the car on the Kwinana Freeway around 1977. The car then found its way to Bathurst in New South Wales where it was owned by Nicholas Dutton. In his ownership the car was registered in NSW as QYB443. Dutton sold the car through Oldtimer Australia in the early 2000s to a well known Melbourne based classic car enthusiast and collector. He only kept the car for a short period as he quickly realised that a Maserati Bora is not really designed for people who are over 64 tall! He loved the car, but couldnt get comfortable in it, so he reluctantly made the decision to sell. The car was again sold through Oldtimer Australia, to Ken Graham from Perth in Western Australia. At that time the odometer read 56,240 miles.

Graham owned this Maserati Bora for the next 14 years and in his ownership a lot of work was done to the car. Accompanying this car is a huge history file(s), including one thick file with substantial documentation, invoices and photos for all of the work Graham had completed on the car.

In August 2003 Graham decided to have the engine rebuilt. At that time the odometer read 58,000 miles. The engine was removed from the car, completely stripped and all components were thoroughly examined. The engine was rebuilt with new JE forged pistons and new OEM bearings from Kyle Fleming Maserati in the USA. Chapman Bros in Mosman Park in Perth bored and honed the block and refurbished the crankshaft. After crack testing, the crankshaft was machined, polished, re-nitrited and, then balanced. The engine block was chemically cleaned, the heads and the block were machined (only .005) and new valves & followers were installed. A decision was made to also install valve stem seals, something the factory never did. The engine was then reassembled. The gearbox and differential were also disassembled. Bearings were replaced and some of the gears were relapped. Unfortunately, after all the work was completed there was some noise from the gearbox and differential. The owner decided to live with it, however, in 2011 it was the one thing that still annoyed him about the car. He then removed the gearbox and differential again and this time he renewed all the synchromesh cones as well as the crown wheel and pinion. 

In November 2007 a decision was made to repaint the car. It was taken to Lombardi Panel works who assessed the car and made a list of all the work to be done. When examining the car they found paint fragments under the rear window which were of a slightly different colour, confirming that the car had previously been repainted. After further examining the car, they determined the paint to be a Ford colour found on the XF Fairmont. Work commenced and the body was taken back to bare metal. Maserati Boras are prone to rust and this car had obviously benefited from having lived the majority of its life in Australia. There was some metal work required, but overall the boidy was in good condition. When it came time to paint the car the owner decided on a colour change and selected rosso rubino, which was the colour of the car featured in the 1972 factory sales brochure.

During that same period the interior was also retrimmed.

In Grahams ownership pretty much every element of the car was refurbished. The engine, carburettors, gearbox, differential, suspension, steering, hydraulics, exhaust system, brakes, electrical system and the air conditioning were all overhauled. The car was repainted and the interior refreshed.

The current owner, who is based in Melbourne, acquired the car from Graham in March 2016. At that time the odometer read 63,685 miles. He has used the car sparingly and travelled circa 1,200 miles in his nine years of ownership. Today the odometer reads 64,849 miles. In his ownership he had the car regularly maintained by Zagames and Beninca Motors.

First impressions of this car are really good. It certainly has a presence and the colour scheme really suits the car. The paint has certainly withstood the test of time. It has been nearly 18 years since this car was repainted but it has retained a deep gloss finish and a strong depth of colour. Upon closer inspection you will notice a few small imperfections. The most noticeable ones are three small bubbles on the lower part of the drivers door, near the bottom edge and one on the lower section of the right front guard. There are also a few small stone chips, consistent with a car which has been used. The stainless steel roof on a Bora is a real feature and it is in very good condition on this car. The same can be said for all the other bright work. Whilst the car has a few small imperfections here and there, generally speaking its overall presentation is very good.

All the glass is in good condition with no cracks or delamination evident. The same can be said for all the lights and lenses, which are clear and in good condition.
The Campagnolo wheels and chrome finished hub caps are another unique design feature on a Bora. On this car they are generally in a good condition though we did notice some very light kerb rash on the right rear wheel. It is very minor and only the paint has been affected, not the actual rim. The hub caps are all in good condition. The wheels are shod with period correct Michelin XWX 215/70 VR15 tyres on all four corners. They are date stamped 3120 and 3220 (week 31 and 32, 2020) and are in excellent condition.

When you open the door you are welcomed by a very unique looking interior. The first thing that will capture your attention are the seats. They look like something you might have seen in an 80s sci-fi movie or perhaps found in a funky period lounge room! Both seats are in good condition with no rips or tears evident in the leather. They are also firm and provide plenty of support. Sliding behind the wheel you cant help but be impressed with the dashboard. All the gauges present well and on our test drive they all appeared to be working as they should. The period correct radio is a nice touch. The door cards and the headlining both present well.

Ever since this Bora arrived in our showroom we have been keen to take it out for a test drive. We had to wait for the weather gods to cooperate but when the opportunity finally presented itself, we were not disappointed. The car starts easily even from cold and fairly quickly settles into a smooth idle. The big V8 has a fabulous almost baritone exhaust note that you take in as the engine warms up. In time we are inching the nose into traffic as we slowly exit our showroom and hit the open road. The first impressions, even though the engine had not quite warmed up yet, were extremely positive. The car almost squats on the road and it feels really solid. This Maserati Bora is a fabulous car to drive. The engine has plenty of power throughout the rev range and the gear changes both up and down the box are easy and smooth. The car handles very well and responds to the smallest movement in the steering wheel. When needed the brakes are there to pull the car up quickly and in a straight line. Once everything had warmed up properly, the driving experience only got better!

This wonderful Maserati Bora was shown at Motors & Masterpieces in Melbourne in November 2024 as part of the display celebrating 110 Years of Maserati. It is also featured in the upcoming issue of Benzina magazine.

The Maserati Classiche documentation on file confirms that this car is fully matching numbers, including its Carrozzeria (body number) and Autovettura (production number).

The car comes with an extensive history file which contains the original build sheets, lots of photos, write ups and invoices documenting all the work done over the years. It also has a correct spare wheel.

It is not often a factory right hand drive Maserati Bora comes onto the market in Australia or in fact anywhere in the world. 

We think the Maserati Bora is a real sleeper and it presents a fabulous opportunity when compared to its cross town rivals from Ferrari and Lamborghini!

Highlights:
	Rare factory right hand drive example, being one of only 42 ever built.
	Matching numbers, engine, chassis and body.
	Nicely presented.
	Extensive history file.
	Sorted, ready to be used and enjoyed.

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. Soon after, the idea of a two seat mid-engined super car was conceived. It was then in the summer of 1969 the first prototype of Maseratis new car was built. This car was known as Tipo 117 and was ultimately named Bora after a wind from the Northern Adriatic Sea. The car became a reality in relatively short time and it was officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971.

Like the Ghibli before it Maseratis new flagship was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, this time for Ital Design. In many ways the Bora was a unique design and its trademark was that its roof and A pillar were finished in brushed stainless steel in contrast the rest of the painted body.
Like the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, the Maserati Bora was one of THE supercars of the seventies. Despite the fuel crisis, Maseratis supercar was relatively successful with 564 cars built from 1971 through until 1978. Of those only 42 left the factory as right hand drive.

1972 MASERATI BORA

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an incredibly unique, extremely rare and highly collectible 2019 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake. This car is understood to be 1 of only 2 factory right hand drive cars delivered new to Australia.
Aston Martin and Zagato have collaborated on projects for more than 65 years, with their partnership dating back to 1960. The first product of this alliance was unveiled in October 1960 at the London Motor Show, when the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato made its public debut. Based on the DB4 GT, the car was significantly lightened and enhanced by Zagato. Although the original plan was to build 25 examples, only 19 were ultimately produced. Today, the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato is regarded as one of the most desirable and collectible cars ever made. Given there rarity, they very rarely come up for sale, however, in todays market their value would most likely exceed US$ 15,000,000.
Driven by the 1980s supercar boom and the strong demand for high end limited edition cars, the partnership was reformed resulting in the V8 Vantage Zagato (52 examples built) and V8 Volante Zagato (32 examples built). In 2003 Aston Martin introduced the DB7 Zagato (99 examples built) and the DB AR1 (99 examples built). 2011 saw the introduction of the V12 Vantage Zagato (65 examples built). There were also a handful of prototype cars built over the years.
In May 2016 at the Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste at Lake Como in Italy, Aston Martin introduced a new concept car which was going to be the first of a Zagato family line of cars, the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato. The car was very well received and went into production in 2017, with production limited to 99 examples.
On the 15 August 2017 in Carmel, CA, USA the second member of the family made its global debut, the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante. At the same time, Aston Martin announced that . . . not only will the Vanquish Zagato Speedster enter production, but it will be joined by a spectacular Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake. This family of four Vanquish Zagato models will yield a total of 325 cars. Total production would be divided between 99 Coupes, 99 Volantes, 28 Speedsters and 99 Shooting Brakes.
Aston Martin stated in their press release dated August 17th 2017:
. . . The Speedster and Shooting Brake represent the two extremes of the Vanquish Zagato family.
The Shooting Brake is still a strict two-seater, but one conceived as an individual and exceptionally practical GT. The extended roof on the concept sketch bears the iconic Zagato double-bubble surfacing complete with glass inlays to let light flood into the cockpit. The sculptural roof culminates in a powered tailgate that opens onto a luxuriously trimmed rear cabin area. With dramatic herringbone carbon fibre facia with anodised bronze rotary controls, extensive Z motif quilting and the option of a fully aniline leather upholstery, the Shooting Brake is a fitting complement to the Coupe, Volante and Speedster.
The current and only owner of the car on offer, is a passionate Aston Martin enthusiast and collector. He loved the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato family of cars and particularly the Shooting Brake. He quickly placed an order and began the process to spec and option his car.
After careful consideration, his car was ordered with the following options:
- Villa d Este Pack: Standard Zagato (but modified with some of the options noted below)
- Exterior Paint Colour: Zaffre Blue Paint Q Exclusive
Exterior Options:
- Satin Carbon Fibre Package
- Brake Calipers: Q spec Orange
- Side Strake: Bright
- Exhaust Tailpipe Finisher: Bright
- Wheels: New SB Multispk Satin Black DT
- Window Surround Finisher: Bright
- Side Fender: Satin Carbon Fibre
Interior:
- Upper Instrument Panel: Aurora Blue Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Trim Upper Colour: Aurora Blue Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Trim Lower Colour: Coral Sand Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Door Insert: Aurora Blue Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Trim Upper Stitching: Californian Poppy Coarse Thread
- Trim Lower Stitching: Match to Trim Upper
- Seat Type: Sports Seat
- Seat Outer Colour: Coral Sand Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Seat Inner Colour: Aurora Blue Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Seat Outer Stitching: Match to Seat Outer
- Seat Inner Stitching: No Stitch
- Seat Accent Colour: Aurora Blue Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Seat Accent Quilting Stitch: Californian Poppy Embroidery Thread
- Embroidery Driver Seat: Californian Poppy Embroidery Thread
- Seat Embroidery: Embroidered Z Logo
- Seat Belts: Warm Charcoal
- Seat Cooling: Ventilated Front Seats
- Headlining Inner: Aurora Blue Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Headlining Outer: Aurora Blue Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Carpet Colour: Caspian Blue Heavyweight Carpet Contemporary
- Carpet Binding: Match to Carpet Colour
- Headlining Quilt Stitch: Villa d Este style Q spec solid Aurora Blue Californian Poppy Coarse Thread
- Facia Trim (Trim Inlay): Full Length Herringbone
- Interior Finish: Shadow Bronze/Anodised Gold Pack Std
- Paddleshifts: Black Match to Trim Upper
- Rear Env Boot Floor Leather
- Steering Wheel Type: One77 Full Leather Steering Wheel
- Steering Wheel Colour: Aurora Blue Caithness Leather Contemporary
- Steering Wheel Stitching: Standard
Today, this incredible Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake presents essentially as a brand new car. This car is part of a significant Aston Martin collection and it has been kept in a climate controlled garage. At the time of photographing, the odometer read 1,330 km.
Even though the car has been sparingly used, it has been religiously maintained and serviced annually by Sunshine Aston Martin in Southport on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
The service book notes the following:
- First service 16th April 2000 @ 577 km
- Second service 5th may 2021 @ 810 km
- Third service 15th July 2022 @ 892 km
- Fourth service 20th June 2023 @ 1,017 km
- Fifth service 1st July 2024 @ 1,124 km
- Sixth service 22nd August 2025 @ 1,262 km
The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake is a design masterpiece. Most noticeable is the trade marque Zagato double-bubble roof, however, the detail on each component is quite something. For example, study the tail lights at the rear of the car as well as the carbon fibre, the interior trims, the stitching and of course the panoramic electrochromic glass roof . . . just wow!
Under the bonnet sits a 6.0 litre, naturally aspirated V12 engine which produces 580hp, enough to propel the car from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. Paired with an advanced 8-speed automatic transmission, this grand tourer delivers a seamless and exhilarating driving experience. Make no mistake, this is a supercar, but it is surprisingly usable and more than happy to take its place in traffic. Being a Shooting Brake there is also room for luggage for that weekend getaway!
This rare Aston Martin has rarely been seen in public, though it was exhibited by Aston Martin at the 2024 Noosa Concours.
There is also a Zagato car cover, with matching Californian Poppy thread that will accompany the car.
This Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake is the ultimate showcase of modern coachbuilding. It is super rare and exclusive, with 99 cars built, only 48 were right hand drive and just 2 were delivered new to Australia. Each car is uniquely numbered and this one is number 98.
Highlights:
- Unique and rare coach built supercar
- Very low mileage
- In as new condition
- Ready to be used and enjoyed.
Price $1,299,950.
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 2,922cc 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 roomwith 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.
In 1958 Aston Martin introduced the successor to the DB2/4 series, the DB4. The DB4 remained in production till 1963 and a total of 1,204 were produced.
In 1963 Aston Martin introduced what was to become the most famous Aston Martin ever, the DB5. The DB5 became a legend when it appeared in the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger. The DB5 is considered to be the quintessential vehicle associated with the Bond character and it has reappeared in many subsequent Bond films.
Whilst visually similar to the Aston Martin DB4 MkV, the DB5 was a step up mechanically with most changes under the bonnet. The new car was powered by a 4.0 litre version of Aston Martins straight six engine fitted with triple SU carburettors as standard it was quoted as producing 282 bhp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Power was sent through a five speed manual gearbox (a three-speed automatic was also an option) to the rear wheels. It was the first time this engine was used by Aston Martin in a road car, having first seen service in the Lagonda Rapide (based on Astons DB4) and some of Aston Martins prototype race cars of that period.
The Aston Martin DB5 remained in production through until 1965 and only 1,059 examples were produced. This figure includes DB5, DB5 Vantage and DB5 Convertible or Volante.
In 2020, as part of their continuation program Aston Martin produced 25 new DB5 Goldfinger-themed cars at the factory in Newport Pagnell.
The David Brown era (1947 1972) 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.
The 1970s saw the introduction of some other significant Aston Martins, being the V8 (which evolved from the DBS/DBS V8 that was first introduced in 1967) and the unique four door wedge shaped Lagonda. However, throughout the 1970s and 1980s Aston Martin struggled financially and ownership changed a few times.
The most significant change in ownership occurred in 1987, when the Ford Motor Company purchased a 75% stake in the company. This finally gave Aston Martin the financial muscle and security it needed.
By 1993 Ford had fully acquired the company and the game changing Aston Martin DB7 was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March of that year. The DB7 became the car which put Aston Martin back on the map. When superseded by the DB9 in late 2004, some 7,000 DB7s had been built over the ten years of production making this the most produced model in the companys history. The V8 Vantage was introduced in 2005 and flagship DBS in 2007.
Ford sold out to private equity in 2007, however, the brand continued to evolve and subsequent models include the V12 Vantage, One-77, Rapide, Vanquish, DB11 and Valkyrie.
Today, Aston Martin is recognised as an iconic British luxury and performance car brand, manufacturing sports cars, grand tourers, hypercars and SUVs. Aston Martin also heavily invested in motor racing, including F1.

2019 ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH ZAGATO SHOOTING BRAKE

A new arrival at Oldtimer Australia is this very impressive, opulent 1930 Packard 740 Custom Eight Roadster (7th Series).
Ask the Man Who Owns One was Packards famous advertising slogan. It was a simple but powerful line, suggesting that the best endorsement of a Packard car came from its owners themselves - reinforcing the brands reputation for luxury, quality, and reliability.
There is no doubt that this Packard 740 Custom Eight is all of these things and a whole lot more!
The early history of this car is not known. It was understood to have been a North American car that was imported into Australia at some stage and restored by highly regarded Packard specialist Barry Smith from Tamworth in NSW. The project took around four years and was completed in 1997 This car started life as a Packard 740 Custom Eight Sedan and it was stripped to a bare chassis and rebodied as a Roadster.
There is an excellent photo album with approximately 250 photos of the restoration on file. Whilst the car initially appeared to be in reasonable condition, the extent of the work required became immediately apparent once the disassembly began, revealing it to be a far more substantial project than first anticipated.
The restoration photographs are highly detailed, clearly illustrating the extent of the work undertaken. If any car can truly be described as a nut and bolt restoration, this is it - every component was removed and not a single nut or bolt was left untouched.
The car was sold to the Gosford Car Museum in late 2015 / early 2016 and this car along with a few other Packards formed one of their featured displays. The Gosford Car Museum closed in February 2019 and the current owner acquired the car from their closing down auction. At that time the odometer read 5,359 miles.
The current owner is moving overseas and made the difficult decision to sell his beloved Packard. He has used the car from time to time and at the time of photographing, the odometer read 5,882 miles.
Today this Packard presents superbly and it is hard to believe that it was restored some 30 years ago! It has the appearance of a recently restored car, which is true testament to Smith and all those involved in the work.
The two tone burgundy colour scheme suits the car perfectly. The paint is in excellent condition, retaining a rich depth of colour and it still presents with a high gloss finish. Yes, if you look closely you will be able to find the odd small stone chip and some other minor paint imperfections, but you really will have to look closely. Considering the size of the car, this is particularly impressive, as it would be very easy to pick up a stone chip or some other damage. The most noticeable chip is located along the upper edge where the drivers door meets the body, likely the result of slight door sag causing it to catch if not closed with care.
The beige soft top is in very good condition overall, with the fabric presenting well. Only very minor, superficial wear was noted on the right rear side, near where it attaches to the body. The rear window is clear and in good order.
The windscreen and the glass wind deflectors on both sides are all in a good condition with no chips or cracks.
The bright work on this car is a real feature . . . and there is lots of it! It obviously starts with the very imposing radiator grill adorned with the equally striking Goddess of Speed hood ornament. Then there are all the lights, bumpers, window surrounds, door handles, mirrors and of course the wire wheels! Everything is so period and it is all in very good condition.
The wheels are a true work of art and present in excellent condition with no sign of any curb rash or damage. They are fitted with Lester white wall tyres, size 7.00 19, which are still in a good condition. A nice detail are the Packard Motor Car Co branded wheel centres.
The condition of the interior is every bit as impressive as the exterior. The leather seats present as though they were only recently retrimmed. They are firm, supportive and very comfortable. In the photos, the drivers seat is shown with its original base fitted. The current owner is quite tall and he has had a slightly thinner base made that can be easily swapped in, allowing the driver to sit a little lower.
Behind the front seats is a small lockable storage compartment. The leather on the rumble seat is also in excellent condition. The dashboard, whilst simple in design, presents well. The instruments are clear and on our test drive they all appeared to be in good working order with the exception of the fuel gauge.
To complete the look of the car, the current owner sourced a period correct trunk, which presents in excellent condition.
The presentation of the engine bay is every bit as impressive as the rest of the car. Beneath the bonnet sits Packards superb inline eight-cylinder engine, finished in its correct Packard Engine Green. The colour is subtle, yet elegant, which perfectly complements the cars refined character. Everything under the bonnet is neat, clean and tidy.
Unlike many cars from this era, starting this Packard is very easy. First step is to turn the ignition on. This car is fitted with an after market electric fuel pump which needs to be turned on using the small toggle switch mounted underneath the dashboard. Then you pull the choke out, pump the accelerator 3-4 times and press the starter button which is mounted on the floor next to the accelerator.
The engine will crank and once enough fuel is sucked into the carburettors the straight eight starts easily. The choke needs to be backed off almost immediately and you warm up the engine by feathering the throttle as required. The engine, which is incredibly smooth and very quiet, quickly settles into a smooth idle.
The driving position in this Packard 740 Custom Eight Roadster is distinctly upright and commanding, very much in keeping with the grand touring cars of its era. You sit high in the car, with a clear view over the long, sweeping bonnet and the prominent radiator, giving a strong sense of presence on the road.
This Packard is by no means a small car, but it is surprisingly easy to drive. One characteristic we noted is that the throttle is quite heavy, though it is something you quickly become accustomed to. It also immediately apparent that this car has plenty of power on tap and it will easily keep up with modern traffic. The gear changes are pretty smooth and the engine has so much torque that you dont really need to change gears that often anyway! For a 1930s car, the brakes are also surprisingly good. They pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed.
This car has an incredible presence and it would have made a splash in Hollywood back in the day. While any vintage car is likely to turn heads today, this imposing Packard 740 Custom Eight Roadster takes it to another level, stopping people in their tracks wherever it goes. We received plenty of thumbs up during the drive to our photo shoot location.
Following its restoration, the car was shown regularly at various events, where it went on to win a number of awards. In July 1997 it attended the NRMA American Independents Day car display where it won two awards. It won the trophy for the Best Vintage Car and another for The Longest Distance Travelled. In the same year the car was taken to the Shannons Eastern Creek Classic Concours dElegance where it won the Vintage Cars category.
Accompanying the car is a second hood ornament (an Adonis), headlight covers, CTEK 6 volt battery charger, two service parts books, three trophies and a photo album of the restoration.
Highlights:
- Magnificently restored car that presents superbly today.
- Fabulous colour scheme.
- Runs and drives well.
- Relatively easy to drive.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
Price: $199,950
Background
In the 1890s the brothers James and William Packard founded the Packard Electric Company specialising in electrical manufacturing. Soon after that they also founded the New York & Ohio Company, which specialised in the manufacturing of incandescent lamps.
On his travels throughout the United States, James started to take interest in the horseless carriage and wanted to develop one that did not rely on steam or electricity. The Packard brothers produced their first automobile on November 6th 1899, the Model A Packard and drove it on the streets of Warren, Ohio. Soon after the brothers teamed up with George Weiss from Winton and production was up and running. Between 1899 and 1903 they built 400 cars. These were sold under the name of the Ohio Automobile Company. The business prospered and in late 1902 the company was rebranded as the Packard Motor Car Company and production moved from Ohio to a purpose built facility in Detroit.
The Packard brothers stayed involved in the company for the next couple of years but by 1909 started to move away from the business. Under company President and General Manager, James Alvan Macauley, Packard became the number one designer and producer of luxury automobiles in the United States and was held in the same regard as the Pierce Arrow company of Buffalo, New York and the Peerless company of Cleveland, Ohio.
The Great Depression hit car manufacturers hard but Packard managed to survive and shifted focus on mid-range automobiles when the interest in higher priced cars diminished. This turned out to be a good move and Packard saw their sales triple in 1935 and double in 1936.
Packard is well known for its iconic advertising slogan Ask the Man Who Owns One, however, it should also be better recognised for its engineering achievements and innovation.
Some of the major innovations bought to the motor car by Packard included: the H pattern gear shift, the modern steering wheel (which replaced the tiller), the first production 12 cylinder engine, four wheel brakes and air-conditioning on a mass produced motor car.
In 1954 Packard merged with Studebaker which turned out to be the beginning of the end for Packard. The Packard name was phased out by 1962 and the last Studebaker rolled off the production line on March 16th 1966.
As a luxury motor vehicle manufacturer Packard was best known for its eight and twelve cylinder models, however, the company had great success with its six cylinder range of cars also. The Packard Sixes had many of the benefits of their big brothers but were more competitively priced, hence, appealed to a broader market.
The model 740 (7th series) was introduced in 1929 and powered by an 385ci 8-cylinder inline engine which produced 106hp. In total 6,200 were produced though it is not known how many of each body style were produced.

1930 PACKARD 740

A new arrival at Oldtimer Australia is this freshly restored, Australian delivered, 1950 Land Rover Series 1 80.
There is a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate on file which confirms that this particular example was despatched from the factory on 23rd May 1950. Its destination was Annand & Thompson Pty Limited in Brisbane, Australia. The certificate also confirms this car was delivered with a 1.6 litre petrol engine.
The early history of this lights through the grill Land Rover is not known however, it found its way into the ownership of a family who lived on a property near Gladstone in Central Queensland. It is understood that the car sat in shed on the property next to a World War II bomber for at least 30 years! It was ultimately sold as part of an estate sale from which it was acquired by the current owner and noted Land Rover restorer Guy Bedington from GB Restorations in Toowoomba.
When the car was recovered a few years ago, it was found to be essentially complete and in remarkably good condition, with virtually no rust. This was as a result of it being very well stored in a dry environment.
Affectionately known as Matilda, the car has undergone a 650 hour fully detailed restoration by GB Restorations using almost entirely original parts. The engine, gearbox and axles are original equipment to the car with all correct numbers, as is the carburettor, distributor and other components.
Every component has been stripped and meticulously overhauled using original parts where possible or new old stock components. All body bolts and screws were sourced from a Birmingham UK company specialising in BSF products with the correct sherardised plating.
The car presents in the original specification Land Rover deep bronze green with correct green vinyl trimmed seats. To make it more comfortable for the people sitting in the back seat cushions were fitted using the same green vinyl. For the purists, these can be easily removed as they are not attached. The same for the rubber mat in the back, its only there to protect the paint on the floor.
The canvas hood presents in the correct khaki colour and it has the correct door top flaps.
The windscreen is two separate panes of glass. The left hand pane is most likely original as it retains the original Triplex XXX Toughened etching. Even though it is scratched, the decision was made to retain it. The right hand pane is new glass.
The devil is in the detail and the car presents with correct Lucas original headlights and Lucas wiper motor.
The car rides on 16 body coloured steel wheels that are fitted with Speedways Military tyres, size 6.00-16. A correct load space spare wheel is currently mounted in the tray, however, it can also be mounted on the bonnet.
GB Restorations usually build cars to order, however, a change in circumstance of the buyer of this car, has resulted in it being available for sale.
The restoration of this Land Rover has only just been completed and as a result everything presents as new. Today the odometer reads 16 miles, which is the distance travelled since the car was restored.
There are photos on file which show the extent of the restoration. The car was stripped down to a bare chassis and every component, including the drive train has been rebuilt.
Land Rovers were originally built for agricultural and industrial work. They were practical, no frills vehicles designed purely for function - not comfort - and as a result, they are very basic. The driving position is upright, the seats are simple, there are no carpets and the dashboard is minimalistic, featuring only the essential instruments needed to operate the vehicle.
Under the bonnet everything is clean and tidy as one would expect from a recently restored car. The car retains its original ID plate, which matches the stamped chassis number, as well as its Annand & Thompson dealer plate. The radiator has the date stamp 1149 (November 1949), which would be correct for this car.
All you have to do to start the car from cold is to turn the ignition on, pull the choke out and press the starter button located on the fire wall. The car starts easily and the 1.6 litre (1,595cc) petrol engine will fire up at pretty much first crank. You can then almost immediately push the choke back and use the accelerator to further warm up the engine. After about 10 seconds the engine will idle smoothly.
The instruments and switches are all original and have been fully restored. On our test drive all the instruments were working as they should.
As one would expect from a car that wasnt built for comfort the controls are very basic and need a firm hand. The gearbox is precise and tight, but you do need to be deliberate when changing gears. With its top speed of around 50-60mph (if you are brave enough!) the Land Rover is not the fastest car on the road. The steering is also relatively vague by modern standards. Theres noticeable play in the wheel, so you often need to make small corrections to keep the vehicle tracking straight, particularly on the open road. But that is not what this car is all about. On the road it is best described as slow but capable, but it is off-road is where it really shines. It was built to handle mud, hills, and rough terrain with ease!
We were keen to put the cars off road capability to the test, but decided that discretion was the better part of valour!
The brakes are quite adequate for the car and will pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed.
In summary, these early Land Rovers are full of character and incredibly engaging to drive.
These early Land Rovers are becoming thin on the ground and the opportunity to acquire a brand new 1950 Land Rover Series 1 80 that has been correctly and freshly restored presents a unique opportunity.
Matilda is ready for its next custodian to show, use and enjoy!
Accompanying the car is a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate as well as photos of its restoration.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered.
- Desirable 80 lights through the grill model.
- Recently restored by passionate Land Rover specialists.
- Ready to be shown, used and enjoyed.
Priced at significantly under its replacement costs at $82,950.
Background
One of the fundamental principles of economics is the law of supply and demand. During World War II the US army had a need for a light 4WD vehicle capable of carrying troops as well as cargo. And so the Jeep was born. From 1941 through until 1945 Willys and Ford were the major supplier of Jeeps, in various configurations, to the US military and their allies.
The history of the Rover Company dates back to the mid-1800s when it was selling sewing machines and then 'safety' tricycles and bicycles. By the 1930s, it had evolved into a car company but was hit badly by the Great Depression. In common with many British industrial companies during World War II, its factories were turned over to the war effort and produced engines for tanks and aircraft. By 1945 and the end of World War II, Rover found itself with two excellent factories and a highly skilled workforce. It was looking at restarting car production and had ambitious plans to build 20,000 cars per year. A new model, the M'-Type was dropped when it became clear that it would be unsuitable for export and that tooling costs would be excessive. Plans to produce 15,000 of the pre-war designs per year were quickly quashed by the Government which refused to allocate steel for more than 1,100 cars per year. This serious shortfall led Rover to realise that a stopgap solution was required until sufficientsteel was available. The stopgap also had to have export potential. Just to make things difficult, Rover had never exported any vehicles before!
Maurice Wilks, Rovers head of design, had been using ex-army Jeeps on his farm and realising that there was no real alternative decided that Rover would provide one. The first prototype Land Rover, developed in late 1946, was actually built on Jeep chassis. The bodywork was made of an aluminium alloy called Birmabright.
Using similar dimensions to the World War II Jeep, the first Land Rovers had an 80" wheelbase. The new Land Rover was first unveiled at the Amsterdam Motor Show on the 30th April 1948. It featured a steel box section chassis with an aluminium body and was powered by a 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder Rover engine from the P3 Rover car range developing around 50 hp. The gearbox was four speed Rover mated to a two-speed transfer box thus allowing 4WD operation. A PTO (power take off) was also fitted to enable the Land Rover to be used as a stationary power unit.
Rover didnt know what to expect but they need not have worried. The Land Rover was an outstanding success and the order books quickly overflowed. A legend was born! This humble Land Rover is in many ways the pioneer of the ubiquitous SUVs seen on our roads today.

1950 LAND ROVER SERIES 1

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, magnificently restored Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe.
This car is well known to Oldtimer Australia, having been sold by us to its current owner back in August 2015.
This is a UK delivered factory right hand drive example that was sold through Brooklands to Messrs Carr & Co Ltd of Shirley, Birmingham in the UK. The car was delivered new on the 25th March 1955. It was finished in blue haze with a blue leather interior. The soft top was grey plastic with a fawn headliner.
Incredibly, the previous owner of the car was distantly related to its first owner Mr Neville Carr (his wifes great uncle) and according to history he was the black sheep of the family. Having a reputation as somewhat of a rogue and playboy he is understood to have used the car as it was intended . . . and that was to drive it, hard! Mr Carr was an amateur racing driver and living family members recall him driving the car in numerous sprint and hill climb events, including Prescott. The car travelled circa 30,000 miles in its first five years of ownership! Carr owned the car until circa 1960.
According to the factory documentation, a replacement rear axle was fitted on the 25th May 1955 (@ 4,181 miles) and a replacement engine was fitted on the 21st August 1959 (@ 27,608 miles). This work was undertaken by Aston Martin. The mileage is noted as 38,772 on 19th June 1960 when the car was serviced by Aston Martin.
The factory documentation also notes subsequent owners as a Mr D Conyers Esq of 18 Egerton Garden Mews SW3 (London) and in 1982 RL MacKenzie from Houghton in South Africa.
Jaguar works racing driver Peter Sutcliffe spent significant time in South Africa whilst motor racing in the early 1960s and it is understood that he acquired the car in the UK and shipped it to South Africa to use when he was there. It is probable that he bought the car off Conyers.
According to a hand written letter on the file the car was subsequently acquired by an Attorney who lived in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. In 1977 the car was discovered in Elandsfontein (Johannesburg) by a Mr Mike Spencer. It was in generally poor condition and Spencer spent the next two years generally improving the car to a roadworthy condition. The car was then sold to RL MacKenzie in 1982.
The previous owner acquired the car from MacKenzie in April 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa and used it until early 1990 before deciding to take it off the road and restore it. As a senior mining industry executive his career took priority over cars and the to be restored Aston Martin travelled with his family across the world, firstly to the USA in 1990 and then to Australia in 1997
It wasnt until 2011 that the car was finally placed with a specialist to be restored. That task was entrusted to Jaguar and Aston Martin specialists, Concours Sportscar Restoration in Tuggerah just north of Sydney.
The car underwent a concours standard nut and bolt restoration and it was painstakingly restored to its former glory over a three year period.
The body was in reasonably good condition, however, it was fitted with a new boot skin, door skins and repairs were completed to both rear wheel arches during restoration.
Every mechanical component was disassembled and either refurbished or replaced. All of the instruments were refurbished. All of the bright work has been re-chromed and the trim restored. The interior and soft top have been completely retrimed to the highest standard.
The car has been restored in its original colour scheme of blue haze with a blue leather interior. The previous owner opted to have the soft top finished in blue rather than the original grey which really suits the car.
When the current owner acquired the car in 2015 the restoration had only just been completed. Therefore, it required some post restoration bugs to be ironed out, which was undertaken by the Classic Car Clinic at Biggera Waters on the Gold Coast.
This car is part of a significant Aston Martin collection and it has been kept in a climate controlled garage over the last 10 years. It has only been used sparingly in that time and today the odometer reads 1,076 miles, which is the mileage that the car has travelled since it was restored.
The car was exhibited at Motorclassica in October 2015, where it was incredibly well received. At that time Motorclassica was Australias leading classic car show and concours delegance.
Even though it has been some 10 years now since the restoration was completed, this Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe still presents as a freshly restored car. In fact, its presentation would be better than the day its restoration was completed, given the owners pedantic nature and attention to detail.
This car is simply magnificent and must be one of the best surviving examples of this highly sought after and collectible Aston Martin in the world.
Timeless elegance is perfectly embodied by the Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupé. Finished in its original colour scheme of blue haze with a blue leather interior, the colour combination beautifully enhances the cars presence. The deep blue paintwork is in exceptional condition, presenting as though it were applied yesterday, with a mirror like finish that retains remarkable depth and high gloss. The bright work and painted wire wheels provide a striking contrast to the bodywork, completing the cars outstanding presentation.
The painted wheels are like new and are shod with period correct Dunlop Road Speed tyres size 6.0H16.
The external trim is minimalistic and quite delicate. Its noted feature is the horizontal slatted trade marque DB2 front grill. All the bright work on the car is, as one would expect, in beautiful condition. The same can be said for all the lights and lenses, which present similarly well. The glass is also in excellent condition with no scratches evident.
The interior of this car is equally stunning as the exterior. Everything essentially presents like new. The leather upholstery, which is soft and supple, is free from blemishes. The seats are comfortable and provide ample support. The wooden dashboard is understated yet elegant and presents exceptionally well. All the instruments are crisp and clear, and during our test drive they appeared to be in proper working order. The carpets likewise present as new, completing the cabins refined appearance.
The car has never seen rain since it was restored and the soft top has only ever been raised for cleaning and photos! It also presents like new.
We were keen to discover whether the car would drive as well as it looks. It starts easily, even from cold, and quickly settles into a smooth, steady idle. As with all cars of this vintage, allowing a brief warm-up before setting off is advisable. Once on the road, the car does not disappoint. The engine revs freely and feels strong, the gear changes are smooth, and it keeps pace effortlessly with modern traffic. The suspension is firm yet compliant, absorbing road imperfections with ease, while the brakes bring the car to a confident, straight stop when required.
Whilst the car has been used sparingly in the last 10 years, it has been regularly maintained by the Classic Car Clinic and in more recent times by SJ Classics.
A thick and expansive history file accompanies the car, including a copy of the original factory records, documentation from its time in the UK and South Africa, as well as extensive documentation, receipts and photographs from the restoration. The car has its original jack and foot pump in the boot, a mallet and crank handle mounted under the bonnet in the engine bay, as well as a spare wheel under the boot floor. There is also a full set of tools in the tray under the centre console between the front seats.
It would be hard to find a better Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe anywhere in the world. This car is simply STUNNING in every regard and it is a credit to its current and previous owners as well as the team at Concours Sportscar Restoration.
Simply the best!
Highlights:
- a magnificent early Aston Martin.
- rare car, being 1 of 102 examples built.
- beautifully restored by Concours Sportscar Restoration.
- Stunning original colour scheme.
- ready to show, use and enjoy.
The price is AUD $749,950.
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 drophead 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 2,922cc 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 withtwo 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.
The Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe, particularly with its soft top down, is arguably the most elegant of the DB2/4 range. There were only 101 DB2/4 Drophead Coupe Mk Is and 17 or 18 DB2/4 Drophead Coupe Mk IIs.
The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martins finest with the company winning LeMans 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.

ASTON MARTIN DB2/4

A new arrival to Oldtimer Australia is this lovely, beautifully restored 1948 Bristol 400.
There is documentation on file that states that this particular example was completed on the 9th July 1948 and despatched to Messrs Commonwealth Motors Ltd in Melbourne on the 14th July 1948 together with three other cars. It was delivered in its current colour of light blue metallic. Sun visors were fitted to the car as an option and the spare wheel was mounted on the boot lid.
The car was sold to its first owner on the 16th March 1949. It was registered in Victoria as MY229. The car remained in continuous ownership for nearly six years. On the 1st January 1955 the car was sold to William Love. In his ownership the car was repainted Ivory. On the 1st June 1961 the car changed hands and found its way to South Australia. It was repainted back to its original colour of light blue metallic. The car was then sold on the 1st January 1963 by Para Motors in Adelaide to John Fleming. In Flemings ownership the car was registered in South Australia as HUM611. It was repainted again, this time in the Ford colour of port wine. Fleming traded his Bristol for an Aston Martin DB4 and on 1st March 1969 through a business by the name of Group Air. On the 1st January 1970, the car was sold and it found its way to Western Australia. On the 1st December 1970 the car was sold again, to John Milne, who returned the car back to its original colour.
After a colourful early life where this car travelled across Australia, passing through many different owners and changing colour a number of times, this wonderful Bristol has subsequently remained in continuous ownership for the next 48 years!
This car was acquired by the father of the current owner in 1977. He passed the car down to his son, who is the current owner of the car, in 1978. The car was used sparingly until 1987 at which time it was parked with the intention to one day restore it to its former glory.
This Bristol 400 remained in storage for the next 27 years and in 2014 it was then sent to O&S Sports Car Restoration and Mechanical Repairs in Cromer, NSW. They completely stripped the car and started the restoration. In August 2015 the owner decided to send his partially restored car to Bristol specialist Sebastian Gross in Kendall on the mid north coast in NSW. The restoration was a major undertaking and finally in 2019 the car was back on the road. There are detailed invoices and a photographic record of the restoration on file, which confirm the extent of the work completed.
Whilst the owner of the car lived in Perth, he chose to keep the car in NSW. He came across to the east coast regularly and when possible got to use and enjoy his Bristol. He was a regular attendee at Bristol Club events and most notably took the car to Noosa for a national rally organised by the Bristol Owners Club of Australia from the 28th of April 2019 until the 5th of May 2019. The car was very well received and it won the trophy for the Best Restoration against some stiff competition.
The current owner is moving overseas and has reluctantly decided that it is time for his beloved Bristol 400 to pass on to its next custodian. He had to have one last hurrah with the car and took a week to drive it from Kendall, NSW up to Noosa, QLD, finally dropping it off at our private showroom in Brisbane.
As they say . . . a picture is worth a thousand words and the photos of this car do exactly that! This is a very well presented car. The light blue metallic colour really suits the car and it accentuates the art deco style flowing lines which give it a cohesive, almost sculpted appearance. Generally the paint is still in very good condition. It has retained a strong depth of colour with a high gloss finish. Upon closer inspection there are a few minor imperfections consistent with a car which has been used and enjoyed. The most noticeable defect is some orange peel visible on the left rear quarter panel. The external trim, with its subtle chrome accents around the grille, window surrounds and bumpers provide just enough contrast without overwhelming the cars clean lines. It is all in very good condition and presents with nice lustre. The badges are also similarly well presented. The glass is all in a good condition with no scratches, chips or cracks evident.
The unique steel wheels are clean with no kerb rash evident. They are shod with Michelin X tyres, size 5.50R16. These tyres are date stamped 2917 (week 29, 2017) and are still in a good condition. The hubcaps with the Bristol logo are a real feature and in a good condition.
Opening the large rear hinged suicide doors reveals a wonderfully inviting interior. The beige and brown upholstery combination is particularly appealing, providing a warm and sophisticated contrast to the light blue paintwork. The overall effect is both harmonious and elegantly understated. The seats are surprisingly comfortable and provide ample support. The leather is in a very good condition with no damage or any sign of wear present. The rear seats have probably never been used.
Once youve settled in behind the large steering wheel, your attention naturally turns to the dashboard. As part of the cars restoration, a new dashboard was crafted from African cedar and it still presents beautifully today, appearing as fresh as the day it was installed. The instruments are crisp and clear, with everything functioning as it should on our recent test drive. Even the radio is operational. The roll down blinds are a sophisticated touch and were particularly fond of the charming semaphore indicators, which are in perfect working order.
The bonnet on a Bristol 400 is split down the centreline and opens from both sides, allowing access to the engine bay from either side of the car. This design not only reflects the craftsmanship of the era but also helps maintain the smooth, flowing lines of the body when closed, preserving the cars elegant, aerodynamic profile. Under the bonnet the engine bay is neat and tidy and this is also where you will find the toolkit and a foot pump. The same can be said for the boot, where everything is clean and well presented. The jack is mounted on the bulkhead at the rear of the boot. Importantly, the Enots 'one shot' lubrication system is present and in working order.
This is a very well sorted car and therefore it is no surprise it also starts easily, even from cold. Once the 2.0 litre six cylinder engine fires, it quickly settles into a smooth, steady idle. With these older cars it is best to allow the engine a little bit of time to warm up. It doesnt take long before we are able to select first gear and are out on the open road. The Bristol 400 is not a sports car, rather it is a gentlemans express with a sporting edge and it needs to be driven that way. Driving the Bristol 400 is about elegance and presence, not outright speed. It encourages a relaxed, attentive style of driving where you savour the engineering, the handcrafted details and the smooth ride. Its the kind of car that turns heads wherever it goes and makes every journey feel like a special occasion. Quite incredible for a car built almost 80 years ago!
Once on the road, the car moves with composure, rewarding gentle throttle inputs rather than aggressive acceleration. The engine sounds fabulous with rorty exhaust note. The gear changes are smooth and precise both up and down the box. The car handles well. It feels composed and predictable around corners, with a steering thats accurate but not overly heavy, making it comfortable for longer drives without feeling disconnected from the road. The brakes are effective, pulling the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed. They require a firm, confident touch, as is typical of cars from this period, but respond reliably.
As mentioned earlier in this write up, the current owner is moving overseas and has decided its time for someone else to enjoy his beloved Bristol 400. This is a very well sorted car which you can just enjoy the way it is. We would repair the paint blemishes on the left rear guard, which would return this car to near concours condition.
It is understood that almost 500 Bristol 400s were built between 1947 and 1950. According to records from the Bristol Owners Club of Australia, there were originally 94 Bristol 400s exported to Australia when the model was new. It is thought that perhaps as many as 50 of those cars still exist today, however, it would be hard to find a better example than this car.
Accompanying the car is a good history file with receipts and photos of all the work completed during the restoration. There is also a spare wheel, tool kit, jack and a foot pump.
Highlights:
Australian delivered, factory RHD example.
Known ownership from new.
Restored by marque experts.
Presented in its original and stunning colour combination.
Beautifully presented car that is just a delight to drive.
Price $ 99,950.
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.

BRISTOL 400

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 road. 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 $239,950
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

A new arrival at Oldtimer Australia is this desirable, low mileage, Australian delivered, Porsche 911 Carrera S (997.2).
The model name might suggest that the 997.1 underwent a minor facelift, evolving into the 997.2. That is definitely not the case as the 997.2 is a substantial evolution of its predecessor. Beyond the visible styling updates, Porsche introduced an all-new engine and transmission. The redesigned six-cylinder boxer engine, now featured direct fuel injection, producing 20 more horsepower in the Carrera and 30 more horsepower in the Carrera S compared to the 997.1. It also debuted Porsches new dual-clutch transmission, known as PDK.
This particular example was delivered to its first owner in Noosa, Queensland by Porsche Centre Brisbane on the 30th July 2010. The car was ordered in the perfect colour scheme of Meteor Grey Metallic (paint code LM7W) with a black leather interior (trim code AN). It was delivered with the following options as noted in the service book: 026 sports chrono dial on the dash board / silver coloured instruments, 250 PDK transmission, 640 sports chrono package and 844 multi-function steering wheel / smooth leather.
The car changed hands in September 2015 and at that time the odometer read 28,778 km. The cars then owner lived in the inner Brisbane suburb of Red Hill.
The current and third owner of this Porsche 911 Carrera S, who is also based in Brisbane, acquired the car from Porsche Centre Brisbane in September 2023. At that time the odometer read 34,834 km. He is a mature owner who had it on his bucket list to own a relatively modern Porsche 911. The car has been used sparingly over the last two and half years and at the time of photographing, the odometer read 39,777 km.
This car has been continuously serviced by Porsche Centre Brisbane since new. Its most recent service was executed on 15th of December 2025 and at that time the odometer read 39,643 km.
With the Porsche now checked off his bucket list, the current owner has decided to sell. As a result, we are delighted to present a unique opportunity for someone to acquire a meticulously maintained, low mileage, essentially as new Porsche 911 Carrera S (997.2).
One could easily mistake this car for being 15 months old rather than 15 years old, given its exceptional condition and presentation. The paint remains in excellent condition, showing minimal signs of wear. It retains a strong depth of colour and a high gloss finish. There are a few extremely minor stone chips on the nose, but they are barely noticeable unless inspected very closely.
All the glass is original and in excellent condition. The lights and lenses are also similarly well presented.
The wheels are a real feature and the present really well with no evidence of any kerb rash. They are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport N2 tyres, size 235/35ZR19 at the front and Pirelli P Zero tyres, size 295/30ZR19 at the rear. The front tyres are date stamped 0420 (week 4, 2020) and the rear tyres 4118 (week 41, 2018).
Inside the cabin, the interior presents exceptionally well. The seats are in excellent condition. They are firm, yet comfortable and provide ample support. There are no scuff marks or damage to the leather. There are some minor scratches on the airbag cover on the side of both seats, most likely caused by the seatbelt. These marks could be easily fixed by a good leather doctor. The rear seats appear to have been seldom used if at all and are in excellent condition.
Sliding in behind the wheel of a Porsche 997.2 feels instantly familiar, yet unmistakably special. There are multiple adjustments options to make yourself comfortable behind the steering wheel. The driving position is low and purposeful, with the seat wrapping around you just enough to feel supportive without being restrictive. As you settle in, the steering wheel sits perfectly within reach - thick-rimmed, tactile, and hinting at the precision its known for.
Your eyes naturally fall on the signature five dial instrument cluster, with the tachometer front and centre, reinforcing that this is a drivers car above all else. The controls are intuitively laid out, solid to the touch, and free of unnecessary distraction. The instrument binnacle, whilst more modern in appearance, still has this classic and very recognisable 911 look to it. Unlike some other sports cars from this period everything in this Porsche 911 Carrera S (997.2) still feels and looks very analogue.
It doesnt take long before everything feels dialled in - the seat, the steering wheel, and the pedals - like the car has been tailored to you. Theres a sense of connection even before the engine fires, a quiet anticipation that builds as you realise youre exactly where youre meant to be. Visibility is excellent, with the iconic rounded front guards guiding your perspective forward.
Starting this car is easy. It is essentially the same as starting any family sedan . . . make sure the car is in Park, put your foot on the brake, insert the key into the ignition and turn it to start. There is however something a little quirky with the starting procedure. With most cars you turn the key to the first position to turn the ignition on, then the second position starts the car. That is not the case with this car. The first position starts the car and the key is also self-centring.
The engine fires up at pretty much first crank and as expected almost immediately settles into a smooth idle.
The Porsche 997.2 series cars were revered in period for their perfect size, hydraulic steering feel and blend of modern usability with analogue charm. Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear commented . . . this is a 911 for the old school.
After 20 minutes behind the wheel you are hooked! This car is quite happy cruising through peak hour traffic, going to the shops or church on Sunday, but . . . out on the open road it is an absolute delight to drive. Its easy to drive but at the same time you know you are driving a supercar which is capable of exceeding 300 km/h and sprinting from 0-100 km/hr in 4.5 seconds.
This car really is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Around town it will shift up through the gears very quickly, resulting in the engine running at low revs and in fact you hardly hear it. Out on the open road it is a totally different story. Unleash the 385 horses sitting behind you and the naturally aspirated flat-six engine delivers its power in a smooth, linear fashion, building revs eagerly and rewarding you the harder you push. Theres a distinctive mechanical note behind you that evolves into a classic Porsche howl as the revs climb - refined, yet full of character.
The PDK gearbox is a real delight. The gear changes are very smooth, in fact, you really have to pay attention to notice them.
Fortunately the brakes are up to the task of stopping the car quickly and in a straight line when needed.
For the warm Australian summers this car is equipped with air conditioning which works well and blows cold air.
Accompanying the car is its full book set, including the important service book, the emergency warning triangle, the tyre repair kit (still in plastic) and the air compressor. It even still has an original Porsche bottle of windscreen washer fluid.
If you are looking for a great value, modern classic that still offers a relatively old school driving experience then it would be hard to look past a Porsche 911 Carrera S (997.2).
If you want one then it would be hard to find a better example than this.
Highlights:
- Highly desirable 997.2 model.
- Low mileage, Australian delivered.
- Stunning colour combination.
- Always maintained by Porsche Centre Brisbane.
- In excellent condition.
Price $209,950.
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. The rest they say is history as the 356 evolved into one of the most successful sports cars ever built. A hard act to follow indeed . . . but its replacement, the Porsche 911 went on to become a legend!
The evolution of the Porsche 911 is probably the greatest sports car story of all time. First introduced in 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and then designated as a 901, the successor to the 356 took the world by storm. To avoid conflict with Peugeot, who claimed exclusive rights to car names with three digits having a zero in the middle, the car was renamed as 911. The first production 911 was built in 1964 and it was powered by an air cooled 1991cc 6-cylinder engine. The car evolved with increases in engine capacity to 2.2 litres, 2.4 litres, 2.7 litres, 3.0 litres and 3.3 litres. There were styling changes also, but one always recognised the car as a 911. Today the first series of 911s is recognised as the cars built from 1963 to 1989 and include the very popular Porsche 911 and 930 Turbo models. Of these the small bumper or pre impact bumper cars built up to 1973 are today regarded as the real classic 911, however, that comes at a price. In the last few years astute collectors and enthusiastshave seen great value in 1970s and 1980s model 911s.
The Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 was introduced in 1983 as a successor to the 911SC. Interestingly, it was the first time the Carrera name had been used since 1977. The Carreras main innovation was its Bosch Motronic 2 engine management system. This was the first production 911 to feature an ECU to control the ignition and fuel systems. In addition, the fuel injection was updated to Bosch LE-Jetronic and the induction and exhaust systems were revised. The last of the 911 Carrera 3.2s was built in 1989 and the model was most popular with circa 76,000 cars built during six years of production.
In 1989 the 911 Carrera 3.2 was superseded by the 964. Engine size increased compared to its predecessor, the car was now powered by a 3.6 litre flat six. In total 63,762 were built between 1989 and December 1993. The 964 was replaced by the 993 in 1994.
The 993 was the first non air-cooled 911 and its introduction marked the end of an era. The 993 remained in production through until 1998 and in total 68,029 cars were produced. It was then replaced by the 996.
The 996 remained in production until 2004, with the exception of the Turbo S, the GT2 and the GT3 models, which remained in production through until 2006. Production totalled to 175,262 examples in that period. The 996 was then replaced by the 997.
The Porsche 997 series, produced from 2004 to 2012, represents a pivotal chapter in the evolution of the 911. It marked a return to more traditional styling, reintroducing round headlights in place of the controversial design used on its predecessor, while refining the cars proportions and overall aesthetic.
The first series of the 997, later rebadged as the 997.1, was replaced by the 997.2 in 2009. The refresh involved much more than just some cosmetic changes. The 997.2 received a new engine with direct fuel injection and the new PDK, dual clutch transmission. The 997.2 was faster, lighter and more fuel efficient compared to the 997.1.
Available in a wide range of variants - from Carrera and Carrera S to Turbo, GT3, and GT2 - the 997 catered to both enthusiasts and those seeking a refined sports car.
Today, the 997 is widely regarded as one of the sweet spots in 911 history, blending analogue character with modern performance in a way that continues to appeal to purists and collectors alike.
Production of the 997 ended in 2013 and in total 212,704 cars were built, of which 76,259 were 997.2 models.

2010 PORSCHE 911 997.2 CARRERA S

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