OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this 1974 Lamborghini Uracco P250.
According to the Lamborghini factory records, this car was completed on the 2nd May 1974. This factory right hand drive example was fitted with factory air conditioning and delivered new to the UK. The car was originally giallo (yellow paint code 2469019) with a nero (black) interior.
The early history of this car is not known, though it is understood to have come to Australia early in its life.
A long term Sydney owner, who originally found the car advertised in Unique Cars magazine, commissioned Lamborghini specialist Henry Nehrybecki to give the car a more aggressive look, similar to a Lamborghini Silhouette.
The template for the wheel arches was taken from a Lamborghini Silhouette and made from sheet metal. This work was completed by Graham Watson from Ralt Australia. Nehrybecki fabricated the front spoiler, custom alloy grill, front and rear bumpers, the three piece wheels and modified the front suspension. The car was painted by Con Papoulis from Hi Tech Paintshop. A that time the colour was changed to dark metallic blue. It is understood that this work was completed in c1997.
The project took approximately 9 months from start to finish.
The car was featured in Issue 17, the April June 1998 Lamborghini Club of Australia magazine The Bulls Roar.
The car changed hands and remained with its then owner from Glenmore Park in Sydney, NSW through until November 2008. At that time the car was registered with the personalised plates CRETE1.
The cars new owner was from Hornsby in Sydney, NSW and at the time he acquired the car the odometer read 75,703 miles. It was then registered in NSW as AW99RR. In his ownership the car was serviced and maintained by Eagle and Raymond Automotive in Asquith, NSW. There are several invoices on file documenting the service history of the car.
The car then found its way to the Gosford Classic Car Museum where it was displayed before being acquired by the current owner in July 2017. At that time the odometer read 81,982 miles.
Since then it has had a mechanical refresh which included a new clutch, suspension rebuild, gearbox rebuild, replacing the head gasket and other miscellaneous works by classic Lamborghini specialist Sports and Classic Car Services in Braeside, Victoria. The car has only travelled c2,000 miles since the majority of that work was completed.
The most recent annual service was executed on 1st July 2022 and at that time the odometer read 83,833 and in April 2024 the carburettors were cleaned and rebuild by Classic Fix in Brisbane.
Today the odometer reads 83,987 miles.
This Lamborghini Urraco certainly has a presence about it. The flared wheel arches, front spoiler and aftermarket wheels give the car a very aggressive stance. The dark metallic blue colour really suits the car. Overall, the paint is still in a good condition having retained a strong depth of colour and a high gloss finish. Up close you will see a few imperfections, consistent with an older repaint and with a car that has been used occasionally. The most noticeable defects are a chip on the B pillar on the drivers side about half way up and a few scratches on the front of the car, most likely caused by the bonnet stand. There is also some gravel rash evident on the front of the rear flared wheel arches and some small stone chips on the front spoiler. The louvered engine cover and the louvers on the side of the car have been finished in black and are in good condition.
Besides the window frames and badges there really isnt much bright work on a Lamborghini Urraco. The frames and badges, along with the lights, lenses and the glass are well presented and in good condition.
The Silhouette style wheels are in very good condition with no evidence of any curb rash. The centre caps are faded and replacing these would lift the presentation of the car. The wheels are shod with Toyo Proxes T1R tyres, 205/45 ZR16 at the front and 245/45 ZR16 at the rear. The front tyres are date stamped 0910 (week 9, 2010) and the rear tyres are date stamped 3718 (week 37, 2018). The front tyres, whilst they still appear to be in good condition, should be replaced based on age.
Open the door and you are welcomed by a sharp looking interior. First impressions are good. The grey upholstery provides a perfect colour contrast with the blue exterior. The seats are in a good condition and provide ample support. The centre section of the front and rear seats have been upholstered with a velour style fabric. On the front seats the fabric has started to slightly stretch, though there are no rips or tears. The rear seats have probably never been used since the car was retrimmed. The car is fitted with an aftermarket steering wheel in a matching colour. All the instruments present well. They are clear and appear to be in good working order. The dashboard itself also presents well with no marks or discoloration evident. We did notice that the headlining has a few marks and could use a little bit of attention.
One of the previous owners must have been short as the front seats have been raised to provide a more comfortable driving position (for a smaller person). To suit a driver of average size or above, both seats would need to be lowered.
These baby bulls are underrated and great fun to drive. It was a wet week in Brisbane and when we finally got a break in the weather, it was with great anticipation that we got to take this Urraco out for our test drive and photo shoot.
The Weber carburettors on these early Lamborghinis are thirsty and require plenty of fuel to start the car. The correct starting procedure is to turn the ignition on, let the fuel pump do its work for at least twenty seconds, then give the accelerator pedal a few pumps, then turn the key further to start the car. If you follow these steps the engine will burst to life with relative ease. The sound is fantastic and these little V8s make a growl like no other!
These cars always feel a little stiff to start. But as everything warms up properly the car becomes better and easier to drive. This is most noticeable with the gear changes which become an absolute delight once the gearbox is warm. The engine revs freely through the rev range and the car has plenty of power on tap. The car handles well and feels incredibly stable on the road. There is an occasional knock from the front suspension which we are currently investigating. The brakes work well and they pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed.
This Lamborghini Urraco P250 is a delightful junior super car. It is a real joy to drive and we think a great alternative to the more ubiquitous Ferrari 308 GT/4, Maserati Merak or Porsche 911.
You wont win the concours with this car and it may not appeal to the purist, but we think it is rather cool. It will most certainly turn heads and make an impression wherever it goes.
Accompanying the car is a good history file with a copy of an owners manual, the original and often missing Lamborghini libretto di assistenza e garanzia (service and warranty booklet) and some historical documentation and service records.
The spare wheel is missing.
Highlights:
- Factory RHD example.
- Good history file with original service book.
- Not your average Urraco P250!
- Recent mechanical work.
- Ready to use and enjoy.
Price $114,950.
Background:
The Lamborghini story is fascinating in itself, but for the company to have survived all these years and indeed celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2013 is quite amazing. Ferruccio Lamborghini was an entrepreneur, a very successful businessman and a lover of the finer things in life, including sports cars. He was fortunate enough to own some wonderful cars including Ferraris however, he found fault with them all. According to the legend following a meeting with Enzo Ferrari to discuss some of the short comings of his cars Enzo dismissed Ferruccio and he subsequently decided that he could build a better car.
Not long after, in May 1963, Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SPA was established and the small town of SantAgata Bolognese, located between Modena and Bologna, was chosen as the location to build the factory. Born under the Zodiac sign Taurus Lamborghini chose the raging bull as the emblem for his sports cars.
Lamborghini knew what he wanted and he put together a highly skilled team. His first car the 350 GTV was shown at the Turin Motor Show in October 1963. This car received mixed reviews; however, Lamborghini was not deterred and made a number of improvements and design changes to the original concept. The first Lamborghini production car the 350 GT left the factory in mid-1964.
The 350 GT evolved into the 400 GT 2+2 and later the Islero. In parallel to building these classic front engine V12 GT cars Lamborghini wanted to build a super car, enter the Miura first shown as a rolling chassis in 1965, and also a GT car that could comfortably seat four people, enter the Espada in 1968. The mid to late sixties were good times for Lamborghini and his cars were revered the world over.
In 1970 the Islero was replaced by the Jarama. Lamborghini also wanted to enter the junior supercar market and introduced the Urraco or little bull, named for the fighting bull which killed the toreador Manoleten, at the 1970 Turin Motor Show. The Urraco attracted huge interest from the motoring world and Bertones classic wedge shape received critical acclaim at the time.
It wasnt until some two years later, in 1972, that the first production cars rolled off the Sant Agata production line. Lamborghini hoped to build the Urraco in big numbers, however, this never eventuated and only 520 of the P250s were built up until 1975 when the P300 was released. The world economy changed quickly and the early 1970s were a tough time for Lamborghini. Additionally, the Urraco had some teething problems early on and the car unfortunately developed a reputation as unreliable. This was perhaps unfair as once Lamborghini ironed out the bugs the car was in fact a little gem and properly sorted was a genuine threat to Ferraris 308, Maseratis Merak and the Porsche 911 of the day. The Urraco P300 was indeed a fabulous little car and in Sports Car World magazine July September 1976 Mel Nichols wrote: . . . I was not hard pressed to conclude that the Urraco 3-litre is the most enjoyable car I have ever driven. In the October 1978 issue of Car Magazine Nichols pits the Lamborghini Urracoagainst a Ferrari 308 GTB and a Maserati Merak SS. The article is compelling reading and Nichols picks the Urraco as his favourite.
Only 205 Urraco P300s were built. Lamborghini also built 66 Urraco P200s (with a 2 litre V8 engine) specifically for the Italian market.

1974 LAMBORGHINI URRACO P250

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an Australian delivered factory right hand drive 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II
The original delivery note on file dated 23rd November 1960 confirms this Rolls-Royce was delivered new to Rolls-Royce dealer Motors Ltd in Adelaide, South Australia. It is understood the car was sold to Adelaide Television Sales Ltd on the 1st March 1961. It was then sold again on the 11th November 1961 to Wilckens & Burnside also in Adelaide.
The current owner acquired this car in 1985 from Vince OConnell in Byron Bay, New South Wales. It is understood that the OConnell family were long term owners of the car. At the time of purchase the current owner was told that OConnells father, Vince OConnell Senior had been the previous owner of the car.
At that time the car was registered in NSW as VOC1.
At the time of purchase the car was starting to show its age. The paint work was beginning to fade and its overall presentation was not in keeping with a car of this calibre. The current owner therefore went on a journey to return his Rolls-Royce to its former glory. It was resprayed in its original colour scheme of sage green over smoke green, the interior was refreshed and the engine rebuilt.
Once all of this work was completed this fabulous car was then used on a regular basis. It was often seen at Rolls-Royce Owners Club events as well as used for social events and Sunday drives.
Whilst in the current owners care, this car has been maintained and regularly serviced by Rolls-Royce specialist Steve Sparks at NBS Services in Brisbane.
Today this car presents and drives well. Given it was repainted almost forty years ago, the paint work has held up remarkably well. From about a metre away the car presents well but when you get closer to the car you will notice some paint defects, including stone chips and scratches. Most noticeable is a scrape on the edge or the wheel arch on the left rear guard. The overall condition of the paint is good for its age, though if you closely you will notice some minor light fading in certain areas.
The condition of the external trim, including the bright work is consistent with the paint. It is generally good from about a metre away, but look closely you will see evidence of wear consistent with its age. Importantly, the signature Rolls-Royce grill with the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot is in good condition. The same can be said for all the glass on the car. In the photos you will notice two small black dots on the rear bumper overriders. Those are reversing sensors the current owner had installed.
The wheels present well and there is no evidence of any kerb rash. The hubcaps are painted in the correct colour. The wheels are shod with Maxxis MA-1 tyres, size 235/70R15. The are date stamped 3312 (week 33, 2012) and whilst they are still in good condition they should probably be replaced based on age if the next owner would want to do some serious driving with the car.
Underneath the bonnet everything is clean and looks to be mostly original.
Open the door and you are welcomed by a very well presented interior. All the wood work, and there is plenty of it in a Silver Cloud, is in excellent condition. The same can be said for the seats, the carpet and the headlining. The seats are comfortable and provide ample support. The car is fitted with an aftermarket air conditioning unit which is due for a regas. It is working, just not blowing cold air. It appears as if the rear seats have been sparingly used if at all. Everything there presents well and the fold down tables are like new.
Once you are comfortable behind the wheel it is time to fire up the V8 engine. The starting procedure on a Silver Cloud is straight forward. Firstly, you insert the key into the ignition, turn the ignition on, wait a few seconds, press the accelerator pedal and slowly let it come up to activate the automatic choke and then turn the key further to start the car. It starts at pretty much first crank and then quickly settles into that typical, smooth and very quiet Rolls-Royce idle. Once the engine has started to warm up you blip the throttle to deactivate the choke. First impressions are good and the engine sounds healthy.
On our test drive the car performed very well. A well sorted Silver Cloud should just glide down the road like a magic carpet and this car did exactly that! The engine has more than enough power on tap and the gear changes are smooth both up and down the box. The car handles, steers and stops as you would expect and it just goes about its business. We would have no hesitation to jump in this car and drive it from Brisbane to Sydney tomorrow.
This Silver Cloud II is the ideal car for someone who wants a good value pre Silver Shadow Rolls-Royce. It is a car that can be used and enjoyed for club events, weekend drives and social occasions.
This car wont win the concours, but it will turn heads and be admired everywhere it goes. We love the colour scheme, which is original, unique and a refreshing change from wedding car white and the more common colours seen on Silver Clouds. The original delivery note confirms that this car retains its original matching numbers engine. The body number is stamped on both the left and right hand bonnet and both numbers match the body number tag.
Accompanying the car is a spare wheel, jack, foot pump, tool kit with mostly original tools, owners manual, service receipts from NBS Services and the original delivery note.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered example.
- Nicely presented car in a fabulous colour scheme.
- Lovely interior.
- Current owner since 1985.
- Ready to use and enjoy
This Silver Cloud offers a huge amount of car for the money.
Price: $69,950
Background:
The legend that was to become Rolls-Royce was founded in May 1904 when a deal was struck between Frederick Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls. Shortly after, the first Rolls-Royce motor car the Rolls-Royce 10 hp was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in December 1904. It was agreed that Rolls-Royce would initially manufacture four different models being a two cylinder 10hp model, a three cylinder 15hp model, a four cylinder 20hp model and a six cylinder 20hp model. It was immediately apparent that to manufacture their cars Rolls-Royce would require a larger factory and the decision was made to establish their headquarters and manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Derby in the East Midlands of England.
On the 15th March 1906 the company Rolls-Royce Limited was formed and during this year Royce had been developing an improved six-cylinder model with more power than the 30hp. Initially designated the 40/50hp, this was the companys first all-new model that was also to become known as the Silver Ghost.
Like all car manufacturers, Rolls-Royce was impacted by the First World War. Times were tough and post war the company made a strategic decision to manufacture a cheaper smaller car, enter the Rolls-Royce 20hp. This model was a success and produced alongside the Silver Ghost and its successor the Phantom ensuring the Rolls-Royce motor car company would survive and prosper.
In 1931 Rolls-Royce acquired the Bentley motor car company.
Post the Second World War a significant milestone in Roll Royce history was the introduction of the Silver Dawn, which was the first model to be built with a factory built body. In April 1955 Rolls-Royce introduced the Silver Cloud and for the next eleven years this model was at the cornerstone of Rolls-Royce production. The Cloud evolved through three major model iterations, being the Silver Cloud I, Silver Cloud II and Silver Cloud III until it was superseded by the Silver Shadow. The last of the Silver Clouds rolled off the Crewe production line in 1965 although specialist coachbuilders were still offering the Cloud III in early 1966. During this time some 7,372 cars were built.
One of the major changes to occur during Silver Cloud production was to the engine. The 4.9 litre 6 cylinder engine used in the Cloud I was replaced by a 6.2 litre V8 engine for the Cloud II. This change ensured the Cloud II had far greater performance all round.
With the arrival of the Cloud III in 1963 the car had now evolved both internally and externally, albeit subtly. The major visual difference was the introduction of the quad head light set up that was to be continued on the Silver Shadow and a lowered bonnet. The Cloud III also shed a few kilos further improving performance and handling.

1960 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD II

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely magnificent 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL.
The Fahrzeug-Daten (factory data card) and Produktions-Auftrag (factory production order) on file confirms that this factory right hand drive example was ordered new in New Zealand late 1962. It was in fact the 61st Mercedes-Benz ordered from New Zealand that year. The car left the factory on the 21st May 1963, which would make this one of the very last 190 SLs built.
The car was ordered in black (paint code 040) with a red interior (interior code 203) with single seats (option code 401). It was delivered with a roadster hard top (option code 413), US style front bumper with guards (option code 441), instruments in English and miles (option code 461), outside left and right rear view mirrors (option code 506) a Becker Brescia radio (option code 512), rear seats (option code 565), lights for left hand traffic (option code 613), export license plate (option code 621), whitewall tyres (option code 641), documentation in English (option code 681), a folding fabric soft top in grey (option code 736) and 10 litres of fuel (option code 317).
Documentation on file notes that the first owner was a Mr RA Stone from Auckland in New Zealand. At some stage the car found its way to Australia and into the ownership of Dr Frank Munro from Sydney, NSW. The car was sold to Mr Lachlan (Jim) Attrill from Sunshine, Victoria in March 1978. In May 1979 the car was registered in Victoria as ADP-112 and by August 1982 it was registered as BLE-701.
The third owner was a well known Melbourne based classic car enthusiast who acquired the car at the 1998 Shannons Grand Prix auction. At that time the car was still finished in its original colour of black.
After he acquired the car, it was taken off the road in preparation for a major restoration. The project commenced in earnest and he embarked on a nut and bolt rotisserie restoration on a mission to make the car as good as it could be.
The body was restored and painted by Peter Todd at Mentone Smash Repairs in Moorabbin. A major decision for the cars then owner was the colour. He chose to paint the car in Porsche Speed Yellow, which was a brave but fabulous choice. The engine block and head were rebuilt by Engine Action in Flemington. The engine was reassembled by Maurie Dodd.
The painted body shell was completed in March 2001 and the rebuild began.
The restoration was completed in September 2001and the car was then registered in Victoria as GEM-SL, just in time for the Mercedes-Benz ACT Concours dElegance held in Canberra. The car was incredibly well received and it won four trophies, including Best in Class, Runner Up Champion of Champions, Best Paint and Best Engine Bay.
The car was a multi concours winner at both the Victorian and ACT Mercedes-Benz Club Concours dElegance over the next four years.
The current owner acquired this car in circa 2009 and has used it sparingly throughout his ownership.
Incredibly this Mercedes-Benz 190 SL still presents as a freshly restored car, which is a testament to the quality of the restoration. Everything about this car is impeccable!
The first thing you notice is the colour. The yellow paint work is such a refreshing change from the ubiquitous white, silver or red. Whilst it looks stunning in the photos, it looks even better in the flesh! The paint work remains fresh and vibrant with an incredibly strong depth of colour. We struggled to find any blemishes in the paint. Even the hubcaps, which are prone to stone chips are in excellent condition. All of the external trim, including the chrome, lights and lenses are similarly well presented.
Completing the look is a factory hard top finished in pearl white. The soft top is black and in excellent unused condition.
The interior of the car is also beautifully presented. The red upholstery provides a perfect colour contrast to the yellow paintwork, particularly the dash. All of the instruments and controls, including the delicate trade mark Mercedes-Benz steering wheel present like new. Everything looks to be in working order.
Under the bonnet, the engine looks fresh and as though it was installed yesterday. Importantly, everything still looks to be correct.
It is likely that the boot has hardly seen the light of day and probably never carried any luggage. Like the rest of the car it is in exceptional condition. There is a spare wheel, jack and tool kit.
Even the underside of the car still presents like new!
Clearly this car has had little use since it was restored. It presents today like it has been stored in a glass case! Importantly, the current owner does regularly start the car and when the sun comes out just every now and then it gets some exercise.
On our recent test drive the car started easily from cold. There was a slight concern that this car may drive like a garage queen, but after a few very short miles that possibility was well and truly put to rest. The car drove superbly. The engine pulls strongly through the rev range and the gearbox is firm and precise. Importantly there are no rattles or squeaks. The more we drove it the better it went!
Highlights:
- New Zealand delivered, factory RHD example.
- Four owner car thats been in Australia for most of its life.
- Matching numbers.
- Restored to a concours standard by the previous owner.
- Multi concours delegance trophy winner.
- Ready show, use and enjoy.
Was für ein auto. . . einfach umwerfend!
Price: $349,950.
Background:
Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Europes car industry was decimated. In Germany both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars post-war, however, times were tough. A merger between Daimler and Benz would ensure that both companies survived and following a technical co-operation agreement in 1924, the companies formally merged on the 1st July 1926. Mercedes-Benz was born!
Subsequently, Mercedes-Benz went on to build some of the greatest cars of all time. The cars from Stuttgart bearing the three-pointed star all had one thing in common . . . they were renowned for their technical innovation, build quality, luxury and performance.
In the 1950s Mercedes Benz produced one of the greatest cars of all time the iconic 300 SL Gullwing and 300 SL Coupe. Whilst fabulous cars, they were very expensive and generally sold to the rich and famous. Mercedes wanted to build a sporting luxury car that still looked classical in the mould of the 300 SL, but it had to be affordable and the plan was to build such a car in far greater numbers than the exclusive 300 SLs. Enter the Type W121 or 190 SL as it became known in the mid 1950s. This model was an outstanding success and circa 25,000 cars were built over the next 8 years of production. The formula worked and Mercedes Benz carried it on with great success in the 1960s with the Type W113 230 SL/250 SL/280 SL models. This evolved into the Type R107/C107 280 SL(C)/350 SL(C)/380 SL(C)/450 SL(C) models built throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Mercedes-Benz marketed the 190 SL as . . . as sports car for all seasons.
To quote their website:
. . . Sporting elegance, safety and comfort with these qualities the 190 SL conquered a whole new circle of enthusiastic fans of dynamic driving. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the prototype of the 190 SL (W 121) at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, alongside the production version of the 300 SL Gullwing. Although the two-seater roadster with folding soft top stirred passions, it was to undergo a further thorough revision by the Mercedes-Benz designers known at the time as stylists.
In March 1955, a full year after the New York premiere, the production version went on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Like its elder brother, the spectacular 300 SL Gullwing, the 190 SL rapidly became one of the most coveted dream cars of its day. Although less powerful than the 300 SL, it generated no less excitement and opened up the SL legend to a wider circle of customers. By 1963 sales had totalled 25,881 units.
And even long-distance drives were enjoyable thanks to the comfortable suspension. The handsome sports car for all occasions was particularly popular among female drivers, who appreciated not only the sporting elegance of its design, but also the open-air feeling that came as standard. With its easy-to-operate soft top and optionally available coupé hardtop, the 190 SL was the first SL to combine the possibility of open-top driving with absolute all-weather capability.

1963 MERCEDES-BENZ 190SL

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this incredibly original and very correct 1928 Bentley 3.0 Litre Speed Red Label Vanden Plas Tourer.
This well known and highly regarded car retains all its original components including engine, gearbox, differential, front axle, dashboard and even some of the leather trim from 1928! It also retains its original Vanden Plas body.
This particular example has a known history from new and it is well documented in the fabulous book Vintage Bentleys in Australia.
The car was delivered in May 1928 to WG Dugdale from London in the UK. It was first registered as UX2474. The car spent the next 43 years in the UK, passing through the care of a small number of appreciative owners, including Innes Ireland who owned the car from 1968 to 1971. Ireland was a prominent race car driver who most notably won the 1961 US Grand Prix in a Lotus Type 21.
In 1971 the car was purchased by Dr James (John) Ebney, a Canadian doctor who had been working in Englands North. Ebney later returned home to Ontario, taking the Bentley with him.
This Bentley is well travelled and following Ebneys ownership the car spent time in the USA before heading back to the UK. It was then acquired by Gavin Sandford Morgan from Adelaide who imported it into Australia.
Robert McDermott facilitated the sale of the car to the current owners father in 1982. Over the next twenty one years this fabulous Bentley was used and enjoyed exactly as its makers intended. The current owner reflects nostalgically over great family memories made with this car. The current owner has written a document summarising the history of the car and in that he writes . . . our Bentley was very much a part of the family and it was regularly used for weddings, picnics, club events, various rallies and generally any conceivable excuse to drive this car. It featured in many wonderful weddings of family & friends, welcoming children & grandchildren, providing sights & sounds at picnics as well as evenings out in the country air. It formed a strong part of the ties that keep family & friends together through generations.
Following the passing of the cars owner in 2003 the decision was made to sell his beloved Bentley. It was sold to Peter Crauford from Moyston, Victoria in 2004. Crauford used and enjoyed his fabulous Bentley for over a decade before selling to well known UK based Bentley enthusiast and dealer William Medcalf in 2016. Through an incredible set of circumstances and a story too complicated and too long for this write up, the current owner was able to acquire his late fathers Bentley from Medcalf before it was shipped to the UK. And so began another chapter of the story of his involvement with this car that first started over forty years ago!
A few weeks later, it was time to bring the old Bentley home. He reflects . . . it was a freezing morning and my wife and I drove up to Moyston in her Jaguar XK120 Roadster to collect the car from Peter Crauford. After laying eyes on his car he couldnt believe how pleased he was to see it again. . . . I felt as though I had seen my fathers ghost, smiling at me, with the particular look of peaceful happy pride that I had almost forgotten. After a short drive it all came flooding back. I suppose thirteen years is a fairly long time not to drive a car like a 3.0 Litre Bentley, but in an instant I felt at home again with the central throttle and hand controls of timing and mixture . . . we roared along the Moyston Great Western Road, with the wind in our hair, the sun in our faces, the howl of the engine in our ears and the glow of joy in our hearts: It was great.
The car had been beautifully preserved and well maintained throughout Craufords ownership, however, the current owner decided to give the car a birthday. It was sent to Simon Elliot and his team at Derby Works who went through the car from one end to other to ensure it was ready to be reliably used and enjoyed for the foreseeable future.
The car was collected from Derby Works Mt Waverly workshop in March 2017.Over the next seven years the car has been regularly used and enjoyed. . . . we have had more miles, more adventures and more grateful pleasure than I could ever have hoped for. We have made many new friends and enjoyed sharing the car with so many people, from elder statemen who know exactly what the car is, to young boys and girls that just love the noise and theatre of seeing an old car on the street.
The car was displayed at Motorclassica as part of the celebration of 100 Years of Bentley in 2019. From the display of some twenty Bentleys, this car was awarded the Iron Ladies Trophy for the Bentley that best represented the spirt of WO Bentley.
After being part of the current owners family for almost thirty years he has decided the time is right for this wonderful Bentley to start a new journey.
We are absolutely delighted that he has entrusted Oldtimer Australia to find the next custodian for this car.
Today this 1928 Bentley 3.0 Litre Speed Red Label Vanden Plas Tourer presents and drives superbly. The car presents with just the right amount of patina. This is a car that has been used and enjoyed over the years. It has never been restored, rather beautifully preserved and regularly maintained.
The first thing you will notice is of course the colour. Finished in maroon with black guards and a maroon fabric body, this car is a refreshing change to the ubiquitous green so often seen on WO Bentleys. The paint work presents well, with minor wear and tear evident, its overall presentation being consistent with a car that does get driven. The fabric is in excellent condition. All of the external trim, including the brightwork presents similarly well.
The black wire wheels and plated Bentley spinners are in good condition and present well. The wheels are shod with Excelsior 5.00 / 5.25 21 tyres all around.
Inside the cabin this car is also beautifully presented. The condition of the interior is consistent with the exterior. Everything is just nice, showing light wear and tear consistent with use. Whilst the front seats and door cards have been reupholstered at some stage, the rear seats look to retain original leather from 1928! There are no rips or tears to the refreshed upholstery, though the original leather shows some cracking and minor damage. You wouldnt touch it though . . . so cool! The carpet like material on the back of the seats may well also be original and it shows some wear and tear. The carpets are in generally good condition. The instruments and controls are well presented and look to be in working order.
The soft top would have been replaced at some stage and whilst it has had a few repairs it is in reasonably good condition. It fits quite well and is relatively easy to put up and down. The cover that fits over the soft top when down is old and in average condition. There is a replacement that will come with the car, though the current owner prefers the patina of the original.
Simon Elliotts Derby Works has recently completed an engine rebuild and as a result the car drives superbly. Even prior to the rebuild this car had a reputation as being a great performer, often mistaken for having a 4¼ litre engine. The car goes hard and it has the most fantastic and very distinctive baritone exhaust note. For its day this was a fast car, but even today its performance is lively and the car has absolutely no trouble keeping up with modern traffic. The brakes are certainly nothing like what you are used to on a modern car and the gear changes take some getting used to, however, once you do it provides the driver with a very rewarding driving experience. The car handles well and it feels surprisingly tight on the road.
This is a car that has many stories and if only it could talk!
As part of the rich tapestry of its history it is noted that Innes Ireland drove Denis Hulme around Silverstone for the Drivers Parade at the 1969 British Grand Prix. Hulme had qualified his Cosworth Ford DFV powered McLaren M7A in third place, but unfortunately was forced to retire after 27 laps with electrical problems. 31 years later the Bentley appeared in another Grand Prix Drivers Parade when the current owner drove Heinz-Harald Frentzen around Albert Park at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix. The Bentley brought more luck to Frentzen than it did for Hulme all those years ago. After qualifying second on the grid Frentzen drove his Williams-Renault to 8th place.
Incredibly, this Bentley is now close to 100 years old.
WO era Bentleys are rarely offered for sale in Australia, so this very original, correct and beautifully patinated 1928 Bentley 3.0 Litre Speed Red Label Vanden Plas Tourer presents a unique opportunity.
Highlights:
- Genuine Bentley 3.0 Litre Speed Red Label
- Retains all original components.
- Retains original Vanden Plas tourer body.
- Known history from new with impeccable provenance.
- Recent engine rebuild.
- Drives better than most 4½ Litre cars.
- Ready to use and enjoy.
Price $579,950
Background:
The Bentley motor car company was founded back in 1919 by brothers WO and HM Bentley. The Bentley brothers were involved in the motor industry having acquired the agency to sell French built DFP (Doriot, Flandrin & Parant) cars in 1912, however, they desperately wanted to build their own cars.
WO Bentley had established himself as a brilliant engineer during World War I when the French made DFP in which he competed, achieved a number of wins in various races and hill climbs. He was one of the first engineers who realised the advantage of using aluminium to create pistons. W.O Bentley was discharged from the army in 1919 and he set about creating his own car. His experience with aircraft engines proved an excellent starting point. He was also heavily influenced by two pre-war designs, the 1914 Grand Prix Mercedes and the 1913 Coupe de lAuto Peugeot.
Bentley developed a 3.0 litre monobloc engine which featured four valves per cylinder, twin spark plugs and twin magnetos. He made extensive use of aluminium and magnesium which were quite exotic materials in the 1920s, especially for road going cars. The first prototype, EXP1, was tested by The Autocar and received a glowing report. It was described as For the man who wants a true sporting type of light-bodied car for use on a Continental tour where speed limits are not meant to be observed the 3 Litre Bentley is undoubtedly the car par excellence.
The second prototype, EXP2, made its debut at the 1919 Olympia motor show. The new Bentley 3.0 Litre attracted a lot of attention however it wasnt until September 1921 that the first model rolled of the production line. Between the 1919 motor show and September 1921 much work had been done to further refine the chassis. EXP2 was the first Bentley to record a race win at Brooklands on May 16th 1921. Bentley continued to use it for further testing in 1921 and 1922 before it was sold in 1923. EXP2 still exists today and is the oldest surviving Bentley.
Initially, production of the Bentley 3.0 Litre was slow but they got the formula right and their cars proved to be luxurious, reliable and fast thus attracting buyers from the elite of society. it didnt take long for the order books to be filled with names of wealthy and aristocratic clients, including Prince George (later the Duke of Kent), the Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) and the Duke of York, later King George VI.
Just like other manufactures in that period, Bentley supplied the engine, drive train, suspension and chassis, letting the client decide which coachbuilder they wanted to use to supply the body. Bentley offered three versions of their 3.0 Litre and they were identified by the colour of the badge on the radiator the blue label, the red label and the green label. The blue label was the standard engine, the red label was powered by a higher compression engine and the green label was the high-performance model. Bentley had great confidence in their cars and offered a five year warranty on the blue and red label model. The green label, however, only came with a one year warranty because it really was a race car.
The cars were also incredibly successful on the race track with Bentley achieving the ultimate success winning Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930. The Bentley 3.0 Litre was able to beat the the much smaller and more nimble Bugattis, prompting Ettore Bugatti to call it the fastest lorry in the world.
The difficult economic times in the late 1920s had a major impact on Bentley and they stopped motor racing soon after winning Le Mans in 1930 and ultimately fell into receivership in 1931. Rolls-Royce acquired the assets of Bentley in late 1931. In this period Bentley produced some fabulous motor cars including the 3.0 Litre, 4½ Litre, Blower Bentley, 6½ Litre and 8.0 Litre models that are all today highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors all over the world. The first new Bentley produced following Rolls Royces acquisition was the Bentley 3½ Litre which evolved into the Bentley 4¼ Litre. Bentleys of this era are also known as Derby Bentleys as they were built at Rolls Royces factory located in Derby in the north of England.
The Bentley 3.0 Litre was built from 1921 through until 1929 and in total 1,622 examples were built. This included three experimental models, 1,088 3.0 Litre models, 513 Speed Tourers and 18 Super Sports.

1928 BENTLEY 3 LITRE Vanden Plas Sports Tourer

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a rare, factory right hand drive 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider (Tipo 101.19).
The documentation on file from Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo confirms this factory right hand drive Giulia Spider was delivered new on the 24th March 1965 and its market destination is noted as Rome, Italy. The exterior colour is noted as grigio grafite and the interior colour is noted as rosso.
The car came to Australia very early in its life and possibly from new. The cars early Australian history is known back to the very early 1970s. The previous owners father acquired the car around that time and it remained in the same family for the next 50 years. The previous owner has fond memories of the car and even remembers that around 1972/1973 the cylinder head needed to be repaired and his father showed him how to set the valve clearances. It was also around that time that the car was repainted white.
This Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider was used and enjoyed until the early 1980s and then it was parked up. It was understood to have been last registered in 1982. The car still retains a NSW registration sticker from January 1980 on the passengers quarter glass window. The registration number is noted as BMK 773. The sticker also notes the engine number which is correct to the car today.
The car sat for around 25 years until c 2007 when it was relocated from the garage to the carport. This was supposed to be a short term solution and at some stage after that the car was stripped of all its trim, lights etc with the intention of repainting the body. Some new parts had been ordered and the seats had been retrimmed, but still in the bags they had arrived in from the upholsterer. Unfortunately, that was all that was done. Life got in the way and the car sat for the next 10 years, patiently waiting for someone to complete the work.
This car, along with a disassembled Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale, were advertised for sale through the Alfa Romeo Owners Club in 2018. The current owner saw the advert and immediately pounced. After getting some information about the history and the condition of both cars he made an offer to purchase the pair. His offer was accepted and so his journey began.
Accompanying the cars were boxes of spare parts. His first challenge was to figure out which parts belonged to which car. Once everything was sorted, he decided to sell the Sprint Speciale and focus his energy on restoring the Giulia Spider.
He engaged the services of highly regarded restoration specialists Concourse Automotive Restorations in Geelong, Victoria to do the body and paint. First step in the process was to take the car to well respected Italian car specialist Auto Sprint Motors in Brunswick East, Victoria. They removed all the mechanical parts from the car and it was then trucked down to Geelong. The body was then blasted. As the car had been sitting outside under a carport for many years it was no surprise that various rust repairs were needed. In fact, they were substantial! The owner of the car is very particular and wanted everything done just right. As a result, no short cuts were taken and what needed to be done was done. In total just over $110,000 was spent on the body and painting some of the mechanical components, including the suspension, between late 2019 and mid 2023.
After Auto Sprint Motors had removed all the mechanical components from the car everything was assessed. Essentially, everything had to be fully rebuilt. The engine was completely rebuilt with new pistons, cylinders, and bearings. The cylinder head was reconditioned and fitted with new valves and valve guides. The gearbox was reconditioned with new synchros. The suspension, brakes, radiator were all totally rebuilt. In excess of $50,000 was spent on the mechanical work.
The interior was completely redone by Dark Engergy Kustom Trim Works in South Geelong. The seats were refurbished and reupholstered, the door cards and the top of the dashboard was reupholstered, new carpets were fitted and a new soft top was sourced and installed. All the instruments were removed from the car and reconditioned.
If new parts were needed during the restoration they were mostly sourced from Classic Alfa in the UK.
The restoration was completed by mid 2024 and since then the car has been fettled and post restoration bugs ironed out.
The end result is just STUNNING and a credit to everyone involved. Whilst the car was actually painted some years ago, the car has only travelled a few hundred miles since the restoration was completed. As a result the paint work presents exceptionally well today and defects are hard to find. All of the external trim is similarly well presented.
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider / Giulia Spider is one of Pininfarinas finest designs. They are timelessly elegant and quite small cars. The shape carries colour very well and as a result they look fantastic in any colour, but . . . grigio grafite is about as good as it gets! It looks very classy and creates a perfect contrast with the rosso interior. It also accentuates all the chrome work on the car, which is beautifully presented.
The interior presents essentially like new. Everything is crisp and clean and the rosso upholstery just pops.
Under the bonnet everything is very neat, clean and tidy. The boot is similarly well presented and you will find a rubber boot mat, jack and correct tool kit.
This little Alfa requires a full choke to start from cold. The 1,570cc 4 cylinder catches pretty much at the first turn of the key. There is a slight hesitation as the Weber carbs take their first breath, however, everything smoothes out quickly. As the car warms you can back the choke off. When you blip the throttle you get an almost instant response from the engine and the raspy exhaust note brings a smile to your face. The team at Auto Sprint have done a great job and this car is an absolute delight to drive. The engine has plenty of power on tap and the car pulls strongly through the rev range. The gearbox is tight and the gear changes are firm and direct. The car is firm on the road and there are no rattles or squeaks. In conclusion, it performs every bit as good as it looks!
Accompanying the car is a thick file of receipts from the restoration, a detailed email from the previous owner describing the history of the car, jack and correct tool kit.
Highlights:
- Rare, factory right hand drive example.
- Fabulous, original colour scheme.
- Documentation on file from Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo.
- Beautifully restored car.
- Just a STUNNING car that is ready to show, use and enjoy.
Price $189,950.
Background:
The Alfa Romeo story began in June 1910 when A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) was founded in Milan, Italy. Their first car, the 24hp, was a great success and the Alfa name became synonymous with motor racing in the early years. In 1915 Nicola Romeo took over the company and during war time its focus was on military equipment, however, it wanted to build cars. Soon after the very first Alfa Romeo motor vehicle, the Torpedo 20-30hp, was built.
On February 3, 1918, with World War I slowly drawing to a close, the new company called Alfa Romeo was officially registered.
In the early 1920s Alfa Romeo quickly made a name for itself in motor racing. Drivers like Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari and Enzo Ferrari won several races driving various Alfa Romeo race cars.
Some of the cars produced by Alfa Romeo in the 1920s and 1930s could be purchased as either a road car or a race car.
The Alfa Romeo 6C is one of those cars. Introduced at the 1925 Milan Motor Show, the Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was the first model to carry the 6C name. The nomenclature of the model designation 6C 1500 refers to the engine, where 6C = the number of cylinders, in this case six and 1500 refers to the engine capacity, in this case 1500cc. As was quite common in those days, the bodies were provided by various coach builders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring Superleggera, Castagna, and Pinin Farina.
In 1928 the 6C Sport model was released featuring a double overhead cam six cylinder engine. It quickly made a name for itself winning various races including the 1928 Mille Miglia. The 6C 1500 was superseded by the 6C 1750 in 1929. It was even more successful than its predecessor, winning every major racing event in which it was entered in 1929.
1933 saw the introduction of the 6C 1900 which was superseded by the 6C 2300 in 1934 and the 6C 2500 in 1939. The 6C 2500 was one of the most expensive cars available at the time and was sold to many wealthy customers. A number of coachbuilders used the 6C 2500 as the platform to showcase their cars, but the majority of the cars were built by Touring Superleggera of Milan.
The Alfa Romeo 6C remained in production through until 1954. Its successor, the Alfa Romeo 1900 was first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1950. The 1900 was an important car for Alfa Romeo. It was the first car they built entirely on a production line and it was also their first unibody production car. The car was offered as a two door and a four door model and was powered by a new 1,884cc 4 cylinder twin cam engine. The car performed well, continuing Alfa Romeos sporting pedigree and it did not take long before people started racing them. The car was successful in various motor sport events like the Targa Floria and Stella Alpina. Alfa Romeo was keen to capitalise on these successes and started using the slogan The family car that wins races to promote sales.
In 1954 Alfa Romeo introduced the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint 2+2 at the Turin Motor Show. It was the first of the Tipo 750 and Tipo 101 family. A year later at the same Turin Motor Show they introduced the 4 door saloon and by mid 1955 that was joined by the Giulietta Spider designed by Pinin Farina. All these were powered by a 1.3 litre twin cam four cylinder engine.
In June 1962 Alfa Romeo introduced the Giulia. The Giulia was fitted with a larger 1.6 litre twin cam four cylinder engine. All of the Giulietta sports models, the Sprint, the Sprint Speciale and the Spider were fitted with the new 1.6-litre engine, received a few other minor upgrades and were continued to be sold under the Giulia name until the introduction of the all new Giulia model (Tipo 105) in 1965.
It is understood that Alfa Romeo only built some 400 factory right hand drive Giulia Spiders (Tipo 101.19) between 1963 and 1964.

1964 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA 1600 SPIDER

Details:
Oldtimer Australia delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly desirable Australian delivered 1936 AC 16/80 Sports Tourer.
It is understood that AC built only 42 16/80s to special order from 1935 to 1939.
These cars were purchased in period by wealthy customers who were more often than not weekend racers.
This particular car was delivered new to its first owner Richard Wilkinson from South Yarra in Melbourne. The car was originally black in colour and it was first registered on the 21st November 1936. Wilkinson entered the car in the 1936 South Australian Centenary Grand Prix, retrospectively referred to as the 1937 Australian Grand Prix (even though run in 1936!). The event was held at Victor Harbour in South Australia on the 26th December 1936.
Wilkinson, who lost a leg in a motor racing accident at the 1932 Australian Grand Prix was intending to drive the car, but ended up handing the reins to George Martin. Interestingly, Martin is noted in the event catalogue as driving a supercharged Alfa Romeo, but that car was withdrawn with a mechanical issue.
Racing with number 26, the AC driven by Martin was understood to have diced for the lead for the majority of the race before spinning off the track and ultimately finishing twelfth.
Wilkinson didnt keep the AC for long and it is noted as being advertised by Select Used Cars in Melbourne in December 1937. The car passed through a number of owners over the forty years before being acquired by well known classic car enthusiast Geoff Dowdle.
Dowdle acquired the car in May 1977 and restored the car over a 16 year period.
The current owner acquired the car some 24 years ago. Back in 2003 the engine was rebuilt by the Delage Garage in Cremorne, Melbourne. There are detailed receipts and a number of photographs on file of the work undertaken.
This car has a huge history file with documented ownership from new. Dowdle restored the car to a very high standard with a number of sympathetic upgrades. The upgrades included fitting hydraulic brakes on all four wheels, 16 wheels running 205R16 tyres (for safety) in lieu of the original 19 wheels running 4.75 5.00 19 tyres, an upgraded steering box from a Jaguar MkV, upgraded rear axle and differential as well as other improvements. It is also understood that when the body was restored the original timber frame was replaced with a steel frame.
Today this fabulous AC 16/80 Sports Tourer presents resplendently. The dark blue paint work is in very good condition, with some very minor blemishes here and there. The trademark tall AC grill and greyhound of the road mascot are a real feature. These, along with the headlights and horns are all in very good condition. The painted wire wheels with chromed AC embossed wheel spinners are in similarly good condition and subtly compliment the dark blue paint.
The interior is simplistic but very businesslike. The polished aluminium dash fascia looks fabulous and houses a well laid out cluster of instruments and switches. The upholstery and carpets are all in good condition, showing light patina.
Under the bonnet everything is neat, clean and tidy. ACs 1,991cc six cylinder engine along with ancillaries takes up most of the space. There is also a timber covered compartment that sits against the firewall which houses the battery and provides two storage compartments for tools.
The devil is in the detail and on this car you will find AC logos everywhere. In addition to the wheel spinners, they are on the pedals (like the early Alfa Romeos), the gear lever and on different parts of the engine.
Once you fire the car up the cars competition pedigree is obvious. The engine and exhaust note are fabulous. Our recent test drive around inner suburban Melbourne streets was a far cry from how George Martin would have been driving the car between the seaside towns of Port Elliot and Victor Harbor back on the 26th December 1936. But, we did manage to find a few quiet streets where the car could stretch its legs. The engine pulled strongly through the rev range and the gear changes up and down the box were relatively smooth. The car felt surprisingly firm on the road and the hydraulic brakes give the car far better stopping power than you would expect.
The documentation on file includes a list of all AC 16-80s built and it confirms that this car retains its original matching numbers engine.
Accompanying this car is an exceptional history file which includes some fabulous period photos of the car at various events, an owners manual, the original 19 wheels and drums brakes as well as many spare parts.
It is noteworthy that a 1937 AC 16/80 Sports Tourer was exhibited in the European Classic Sport Class at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance. A very similar car to the example we have on offer was exhibited in the British Prewar Sports Late class at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered.
- One of only 42 ever built.
- Quintessential British sports car.
- Good history file.
- Ready to be used and enjoyed.
Price $289,950.
Background:
The AC story is a fascinating one. In 1903 a 20hp four cylinder motor vehicle, known as a Weller, was built. It was the brainchild of John Weller, a talented engineer and designer, and John Portwine, a butcher and talented businessman who financed the venture. The Weller never made it into production and the duo decided to focus their attention on building a cheap and reliable three wheeled commercial vehicle. The Auto-Carrier as it was known was powered by a single cylinder 631cc engine, it had chain drive from the engine to the single rear wheel and it had tiller steering. The Auto-Carrier proved to be more efficient than the traditional horse and cart of the day and the vehicle was a resounding success.
In 1907 a passenger version of the Auto-Carrier was built and it was called the Sociable. The Company was renamed Auto Carriers Limited in 1911 and had to relocate to new bigger facilities in Thames Ditton in Surrey. The company went from strength to strength and whilst the First World War temporarily derailed the car business it was post war that really defined AC. Weller designed a six cylinder alloy overhead cam engine that with ongoing development remained in production from 1919 to 1963.
AC continued to grow and it built some wonderful cars throughout the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. During this time ACs cars achieved a number of significant time and distance records as well as race results.
AC built around 850 cars throughout the 1920s, with the 16/40, 16/56 and 16/66 models offered at that time. Their cars evolved into the 1930s, spawning the 16/60, 16/70, 16/80 and 16/90 models. It is understood that AC built just over 600 cars in that time.
Perhaps ACs most significant prewar model was the AC 16/80. It is understood that AC built only 42 16/80s to special order from 1935 to 1939. Of these 42 cars, 28 were fitted with the slab tank body with the squared off back and two spare wheels attached to the fuel tank. The other 14 cars were fitted with a sloping tail body. The AC 16-80 was built on a relatively short chassis of 8 10 designed for competition use. They are light and nimble to drive and in period always very competitive in their class in motorsports events.
Subsequent AC models that were introduced post the Second World War were the AC 2.0 Litre, AC Petiti and the John Tojeiro designed AC Ace that as first introduced in 1953. Powered by ACs proven two litre overhead cam straight-six engine now good for 100 hp, this elegant aluminium bodied two seat sports racing car proved to be a huge success. It was soon joined by a coupe or hard top version called the Aceca and later a 2+2 version called the Greyhound. By the mid 1950s the AC power plant was seen as inadequate and by 1956 AC offered the car with the option of Bristols two litre six cylinder engine with triple carburettors giving significantly improved performance. In the early 1960s American automotive icon Carroll Shelby needed a new platform to race and approached AC with the idea to install a big American V8 engine in their AC Ace. Ford came to the party and agreed to supply their Windsor V8 engines for the car. The rest, as they say, is history and the Shelby Cobra went on to become a legend.

1936 AC 16/80 Sports Tourer

A new arrival to Oldtimer Australia is this UK delivered, factory right hand drive 1977 Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer. One of the 101 RHD cars ever produced.

Documentation on file from the Maranello Concessionaires Archives confirms that this particular car was ordered on the 21st September 1977 (order number 914). It was completed in December 1977 and finished in blu scuro dino (20-A-357) with a beige leather interior (VM3218) and bruciato carpets. 

The car was supplied as a tax-free sale to its first owner, Mr C Van Vuuren from London in the UK and registered as UHX834S in June 1978.

Van Vuuren was planning to emigrate to Australia and there is correspondence on file with Maranello Concessionaires (Australia) Pty Ltd dated 3rd April 1978 discussing what was required to bring his Ferrari to Australia.

The service book confirms the first three services were executed by Maranello Concessionaires in the UK. The last time they serviced the car was on the 21st May 1979.

It is understood that Van Vuuren brought the car to Sydney, Australia late 1979. The next service noted in the service book, executed on 12th March 1980, was performed by K.G.B. Engineering in Wahroonga (Sydney), NSW. This was the 6,000 miles service, though the exact mileage was not noted at the time. The following service was executed on the 6th October 1980 and at that time the odometer read 9,408 miles.

By 1995 the car was owned by Ross Pengalo from Sydney, NSW and he had some significant engine work completed by Piccolo Scuderia Pty Ltd in Enmore (Sydney), NSW. Amongst other things, both cylinder heads were removed and reconditioned with new valves, guides and seals, the carburettors were overhauled, the AC compressor, the water pump and the alternator were overhauled, new fuel hoses were installed and a new ANSA exhaust was installed. This work was completed in October 1995 and at that time the odometer read 15,912 miles. 

The previous owner acquired the car from Pengalo in 1999. He continued to further improve his 512BB and had a lot of work done, mostly mechanical, over the years. There are numerous invoices on file detailing all the work done by Piccolo Scuderia and later Racing Red. He was very particular about his car and whenever something needed to be done it was done.

The last cam belt replacement was completed by Racing Red on the 21st August 2019 and at that time the odometer read 34,848 miles.

The current owner acquired the car in October 2023 after the previous owner had passed away. At that time the odometer read 35,484 miles.

In his ownership the interior has been freshened up by B.M Leather Creations in Cemorne (Melbourne), Victoria. In addition to cleaning and reconditioning the leather, both seats were refoamed. The wheels were refurbished and new Michelin XWX tyres were fitted. 

Today the odometer reads 35,637 miles, which based on the information in the history file and the service book is most likely genuine. 
At some stage in its life this car has undergone a colour change from the original blu scuro dino to red. It is not known exactly when this was done. What is known is that it must have been either in Pengalos ownership or prior to that. Therefore, the current paint on the car is at least 26 years old. We suspect the paint is most likely 30 something years old and how it presents today is a testament to the quality of the repaint and how the car has been cared for by its previous owners. The red, from say a meter away, presents really well. The paint presents with a nice gloss finish and it has retained a strong depth of colour. There are a few minor defects in the paint consistent with a car that has been used and enjoyed. The most obvious defect is a one inch scratch, which has been touched up, just above the right front indicator.  The satin black lower half of the car presents with light gravel rash and stone chips. The front bumper shows wear underneath.

The wheels are in excellent condition with no signs of any kerb rash, though the wheel spinners are starting to show some light wear. The wheels are shod with the period correct Michelin XWX tyres size 215/70 VR15 at the front and 225/70 VR15 at the rear. These tyres are date stamped 3522 (week 25, 2022) and are in excellent condition. The car has only travelled some 200 miles since they were fitted.

The interior presents really well. The seats are in excellent condition and provide ample support. There are no cracks or tears in the leather. The same can be said for the carpets, the centre console and the headlining. All are in very good condition, consistent with a car which has only travelled c35,000 miles and has been well cared for. The dashboard generally presents well but upon closer inspection you will notice a few small marks. There is some damage to the top right hand corner of the dashboard. This could easily be repaired by a good leather doctor. All the instruments are crisp and clean. The orange markings are often faded on Boxers, however, on this car, they are vibrant. On our test drive everything looked to be in working order, including the clock! The car is fitted with a factory air conditioning system which works well and blows cold air. 

Under the front clip everything is clean and tidy. There is an original spare wheel, shod with the correct Michelin 105 R20 X tyre, which has probably never been used. It still has the correct warning sticker on it. There is also the original Glidden Salchi paint code sticker!

Using a two step process you unlatch the rear clip and then open it up to reveal Ferraris majestic 4,943cc flat 12 engine. The presentation of the engine bay is also clean and tidy.

With a Ferrari 512BB it is all about the drive and when this one arrived at our showroom we couldnt wait to take it out for a test drive. When you start the car from cold you turn the ignition on then wait patiently for the fuel pumps to fill the carburettors. Then you turn the key further to start the car. This car starts easily, even from cold. Once it fires up you can use the accelerator to warm the engine up and it will then quickly settle into a smooth idle.  The combination of the engine and exhaust noise is breath taking.

Out on the road this 512BB is an absolute delight to drive. Having the correct tyres on a vintage Ferrari makes a huge difference to the way the car presents, drives and handles. Fortunately, this car is fitted with the correct Michelin XWX tyres which are relatively new. As a result, it is tight on the road and the ride is surprisingly smooth, which really enhances the driving experience. The engine feels really strong and the car pulls powerfully through the rev range. It just wants to go and even when cruising the car feels very much alive, it is like it is begging you to press the accelerator to the floor so it can show you what it can really do. The gear changes are smooth and precise, both up and down the box. The brakes work well and easily pull the car up in a straight line when needed. 

Accompanying the car is a spare wheel, the original tool and jack kit, books and an excellent history file.

Highlights:
-	A UK delivered, factory right hand drive example.
-	Effectively an Australian tourist delivery example.
-	Confirmed by the Maranello Concessionaires Archives as matching numbers (chassis, engine and gearbox).
-	Books, including the original warranty book.
-	Original tool kit and jack kit. 
-	Excellent history file.
-	Ready to use and enjoy.

Price $449,950


Background

Apple, Coco-Cola, McDonalds and Nike are brands recognisable the world over. So is Ferrari and interestingly the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer was named The Worlds Strongest Brand in the 2019 Brand Finance Global 500 Report.

Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 out of Alfa Romeos race division as Auto Avio Costruzioni the company built its first car in 1940. The Second World War halted Ferraris dream, which was finally realised in 1947, when the first car bearing his name, the Ferrari 125S, 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!
Twelve cylinder engines are synonymous with Ferrari. In fact, Enzo Ferraris very first car, the 1947 125S was powered by a 1.5 Litre V12 engine. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the majority of Enzos masterpieces were powered by V12 engines of varying capacity. Interestingly all of these cars had the engine located in the front. Cross town rivals Lamborghini introduced their stunning Miura in 1966, which was powered by a transversely mounted V12 engine located behind the driver. This spectacular car took the motoring world by storm and sent shock waves throughout Ferrari HQ in Maranello. Ferraris answer, the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, was a fabulous motor car in its own right, but there was always something about the mid-engined sports car that gave it an edge.
It took until 1971 for Ferrari to unveil its first mid-engined sports car, the 365 GT/4 Berlinetta Boxer. The Boxer was very well received and it ultimately went into production and replaced the Daytona in 1973. Interestingly Ferrari opted for a flat 12 rather than a V12 engine configuration. The engine was mounted longitudinally rather than transversely as Lamborghini did with the Miura.
The Boxer was a great success for Ferrari and along with the Lamborghini Countach was one of the very real supercars of the seventies. The 365 GT/4 Berlinetta Boxer (387 cars built) was replaced by the 512 Berlinetta Boxer (929 cars built, 101 RHD) in 1976, which was then replaced by the 512 BBi (1007 cars built) in 1981. The Boxer was ultimately replaced by the Testarossa (or red head so named to commemorate the fabulous Ferrari race cars of the 1950s  the Testa Rossas) in 1984.

FERRARI 512 BB

Details:
A new offering at Oldtimer Australia is this incredible Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix by Pur Sang.
Back in the 1920s and 1930s Argentina rivalled almost any country in Europe. It was the place all the wealthy Europeans went to get away from the war time chaos. Buenos Aires was often referred to as the Paris of the South. They brought everything they had from Europa to Argentina and as a result Argentina became well known as a leader in wine making, horse racing, polo and of course motorsport.
Some of the worlds great cars, from marques such as Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo, were delivered new in relatively significant numbers into Argentina. However, when the owners needed parts, they still needed to order them from Europe and it would often take months for them to arrive. As a result, when something broke, the mechanics had to be innovative and creative. Necessity is the mother of invention and this resulted in some serious craftsmanship being developed in a highly skilled workforce.
Pur Sang Argentina was founded over forty years ago with its roots firmly linked to countrys industrial past. The business was established in the 1980s in Paraná, a city some 500 km north of Buenos Aires. It soon developed an excellent reputation for creating excellent tool room copies of Bugattis from the 1920s and 1930s. In more recent times they have been building Alfa Romeo and Mercedes-Benz recreations from the same era.
The Bugatti Type 51 by Pur Sang has been produced using original factory specifications, both in design and material. Whilst the cars produced by Pur Sang are close to tool room copies, they do make subtle improvements and small modifications. Most of these are not visible but make for a more reliable and usable car. The application of forged pistons, plain bearings and modern oil seals to make the engine, gearbox, and rear axle oil tight have helped increase performance while reducing maintenance. The frame is hand formed in the same fashion as it was originally built by Bugatti way back in the 1930s.
The current owner ordered this car directly from Pur Sang, Argentina in October 2006 and took delivery of the car in July 2007. He immediately decided to further improve the car with modifications including: the manufacture and installation of a new manifold, the fitting of 2 inch SU carburettors, electronic ignition as well as a modified Magneto. He also fitted an electric fuel pump.
The owner used and enjoyed his Type 51 on various club runs and social outings, however, he is a perfectionist and became frustrated with light surface corrosion that appeared on the bare steel components of the car. His solution was to take the car to well respected classic car restoration specialists Historic and Vintage Restoration (HVR) in Melbourne to nickel plate all the bare steel parts on the car. At the same time he decided to have the car repainted and fit a new set of period correct alloy wheels from Crosthwaite & Gardiner in the UK. This work was completed around five years ago.
Today this Type 51 presents like a new car. The striking yellow over black colour scheme really suits the car and the paint is still in excellent condition. One has to look hard to find any imperfections. The only one we found is a small chip on the top of the bonnet. All of the external trim, including the trademark radiator are similarly well presented.
The wheels are shod with soft compound Dunlop Racing tyres size 5.00 19 front and rear. Both the wheels and the tyres are in excellent condition.
The interior is functional yet very basic as you would expect in a car like this. Everything is in excellent condition and presents essentially like new.
The more you look at the car the more detail you will notice. The devil is in the detail and some of its features are the delicate gear lever and hand brake levers, the safety wire for the external bolts, the leather straps to secure the bonnet and of course the oh so cool bonnet mascot!.
The original Bugatti Type 51s are not to be underestimated when it comes to performance. With a healthy 160hp from its supercharged, dual overhead cam, straight eight, 2.3 litre engine and the car only weighing around 800kg . . . they were frighteningly fast! Our Bugatti Type 51 by Pur Sang would most likely outperform an original car and even by todays standards it is a very fast and capable car.
Driving this car is an incredible experience. The theatre begins with the process of starting the car. You cannot simply jump in, turn the key, fire up the engine and drive away. There is a process to be followed but once you have completed all the steps you are rewarded with a magnificent symphony from the jewel of an engine and the relatively inconspicuous twin exhaust pipes. The car is a little cranky as she fires up, but in no time at all the engine is soon firing on all eight cylinders. The instructions are to wait for everything to warm up before taking the car out on the road.
The positioning of the gear lever is quit interesting. The car is right hand drive and like many similar cars of this period it features a right hand gear shifter. The gate is inside the car and the lever sticks out through the body work at an angle. This creates quite an interesting experience when you are driving the car but one you quickly get used to. Once you master the gear changes the driving experience is most rewarding.
Out on the road this car is heaps of fun to drive. It is quick, responsive and very nimble. It also feels surprisingly solid on the road. The car is equipped with original style drum brakes all around and that also takes a bit of getting used to but they do pull the car up well and in a straight line when required. The engine in this car is something special and it just wants to go. Did we mention the noise . . . incredible!
We can only imagine what it must have been like to own one of these cars back in the 1930s and drive it in anger.
Since arriving in Australia, the car has been used sparingly. The owner estimates he has probably only travelled around 800 km, the majority of which were completed prior to works completed by HVR.
This car is documented in Bob Kings fabulous book Bugattis in Australia and New Zealand 1920 to 2012.
Highlights:
- Beautifully presented recreation of an iconic prewar sports car.
- Powered by a supercharged, dual overhead cam, straight eight of 2.3 litre capacity.
- Fabulous colour scheme.
- Recently refreshed to a very high standard by HVR.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy
Price AUD $399,950
Background:
Ettore Bugatti was born in Milan Italy on the 15th September 1881. He was part of a very entrepreneurial and creative family. His grandfather was an architect and sculptor, his father a furniture and jewellery designer of some note and other members of the family were sculptors and artists. Ettore was obsessed with the evolution of the automobile and in 1898 he built his first car as a teenager. Over the next ten years he built a number of cars, however, it wasnt until the 1st January 1910 that he founded Automobiles Ettore Bugatti in the then-German city of Molsheim, Alsace. Bugatti started building cars in earnest and the Type 13 is today considered to be the first real Bugatti. The First World War proved to be temporary roadblock for Bugatti and once the Treaty of Versailles was signed on the 28th July 1919 it was back to work! Following the War, the region of Alsace became part of France and Ettore Bugatti lost no time in refocussing his energy on automobiles. At the last minute, Bugatti wasable to obtain a stand at the 15th Paris Motor Show held in October 1919. He exhibited three light cars and not surprisingly all of them were closely based on their pre-war equivalents. Each model was fitted with the same overhead camshaft 4 cylinder engine of 1,368cc capacity with four valves per cylinder. The three cars were the Type 13 (built on a 2,000 wheelbase), the Type 22 (built on a 2,250 mm wheelbase) and the Type 23 (built on a 2,400 mm wheelbase).
The Bugatti name soon became synonymous with high performance cars. Their road cars were purchased by the rich and famous and their race cars dominated on circuits all around the world. By the mid 1930s Ettore Bugattis son, Jean, was effectively running the factory overseeing the production of the cars, whilst Ettore spent most of his time in Paris. Times were good, however, things changed quickly and when Jean Bugatti was killed road testing a Type 57 race car in August 1939 it was the beginning of the end. The Second World War broke out shortly thereafter and the Bugatti factory was essentially destroyed and seized. The War ended in September 1945 and attempts to restart the factory were ultimately futile Ettore Bugatti died in August 1947. A handful of cars were built from 1945 through until the original incarnation of Bugatti ceased operations in 1952.
Models such as the Type 35, the Type 41 (Royale), Type 57 and Type 59 have become legendary and are amongst the most desirable cars ever built.
One of Bugattis most significant cars was the Type 30 that was introduced in 1922. The Type 30 was powered by the same 1,991 cc engine used in the Type 29 race car. It shared its chassis, axles and gearbox with the Type 13 Brescia. Around 600 examples were built from late 1922 through until 1926 in varying specifications. The successor to the type 30, the type 35 was first introduced at the 1924 French Grand Prix. It was powered by a single overhead cam eight cylinder engine with a capacity ranging from 1,092cc to 2,262cc. Some engine were even supercharged and delivered up to 130hp. The type 35 and its variations was a huge success and over 1,000 races were won.
In 1931 its successor went into production, the Type 51. It was power by a straight eight, twin overhead cam, engine with a capacity of 2,262cc which produced 160hp. Though the Type 51 struggled in competition against newer and more technologically advanced state-sponsored machines from Italy and Germany, the model was a long term success with marque enthusiasts and vintage racers. During its four years of production some 40 examples were produced. The Bugatti Type 51 is today considered to be at the pinnacle of Bugattis most celebrated race car design.
Incredibly, Bugatti built almost 8,000 cars through until 1956.

BUGATTI TYPE 51 Grand Prix by Pur Sang

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this magnificent Maserati 450S recreation.
The current owner is a real enthusiast and has owned some of the worlds great cars. He has a passion for sports racing cars from the 1950s and 1960s and in 2011 decided he needed a Maserati 450S!
He engaged the services of well respected classic car restoration specialists Historic and Vintage Restoration (HVR) in Melbourne and the journey began.
First step was to source a suitable engine to power the car. Obviously, it had to be a Maserati engine. A decision was made to use a Tipo AM107 engine from a 1960s Maserati Quattroporte. The engine was completely stripped by HVR and every element was tested and what needed to be replaced was replaced. When the time came to put the engine back together it was not simply rebuilt the way it was. The owner wanted the engine to look like it would have looked in period. It was modified to have twin plug ignition with a distributor for each bank. The block was also bored out to 5.0 litres. The Weber carburettors were modified and fitted with polished velocity stacks. They have the correct sand cast look. The owner did not go as far as converting the engine to dry sump, however, a correct dry sump tank is fitted in the rear of the car next to the beautiful riveted aluminium fuel tank (fitted with a fuel cell) to complete the look.
The remainder of the running gear came from a modern Maserati 4200, modified to look period correct. It is a six speed gearbox and transaxle which, inside the car, is beautifully disguised to look like a 5 speed gearbox with reverse. Giant, period correct, finned drum brakes are fitted all around.
The front suspension is a classic double-wishbone set-up. On the rear it has the De Dion rear end with transverse leaf springs which are polished steel as per original.
The body and chassis were made in Argentina by Nestor Solerno who is well known for making museum quality recreations. In fact, several of his cars are on display in the Fangio Museum in Buenos Aires.
When the body arrived in Australia HVR checked it and then had it painted by Resurrection Auto Restorers in Melbourne.
The project was finished in 2014 and the car has been used sporadically since. It has made appearances at the 2014 and 2015 Australian Grand Prix and several other events.
It was featured in Issue 367 the September 2014 issue of Unique Cars magazine when John Bowe tested it alongside a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Recreation, then belonging to the same owner. The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, which used a 1960 Ferrari 250 GTE as its donor car, has just been sold by Oldtimer Australia.
Like all nine original 450S built by Maserati, this car is right hand drive.
Walking up to the car you cannot help but being impressed with its presence. This car is stunning and its proportions are just right. Once of the first things you will notice are the ceramic coated exhausts on either side of the car. They immediately tell you this car means business.
Whilst it has been a few years now since the build of this car was completed it still presents exceptionally well. The paint has retained a deep gloss with a strong depth of colour. The car has been used from time to time as its makers intended and as a result when you look closely you will find some small imperfections. All the panel gaps are excellent.
The more you look at the car the more detail you will notice. The devil is in the detail and some of its features are the delicate handles to secure the boot and the bonnet as well as the windscreen which wraps around the cockpit and continues on top of the doors.
The car is fitted with genuine Borrani 16×4½ wire wheels at the front (16×5½ rear) which are shod with soft compound Dunlop Racing tyres size 6.0 16 at the front (6.5 16 rear). The wheels are all in excellent condition.
To get into the car you have to reach over the side screens and pull the leather cord on the inside of the door to open it. The interior itself is very minimalistic as one would expect. It is after all a race car. The seats are covered in period correct leather and are firm and relatively comfortable. Both seats are fitted with a five point harness. The small dashboard in front of you is basic but equipped with enough gauges to give you all the information you need. Right in front of you is the all important tacho. There is also a GPS speedo installed, however, on our most recent test drive that was not working.
We love the exposed chassis frame inside the car, which is a real feature of this era of racing Maseratis.
From the moment this car arrived at our showroom we were just that little bit excited to get behind the wheel. Starting the car is easy. There is a battery isolator key which is conveniently located inside the cabin and within easy reach of the driver. Starting is essentially the same as any other classic Maserati. It is as simple as inserting the key into the ignition and turning the ignition on. You will then hear the fuel pumps starting to pump fuel into the carburettors. After waiting for say fifteen seconds (which seemed more like 15 minutes!), you press the starter button. The big V8 bursts to live almost immediately with an almighty roar. You have to use the throttle to warm the engine up but that doesnt take too long and it quickly settles into a smooth idle. It immediately becomes clear that this engine means business. The engine sounds great and the exhaust note is simply amazing.
The gearbox has a normal shift pattern with first gear being left and forward. Once comfortable in the car and all buckled up it is time to hit the road. We select first gear and ever so cautiously inch the car out of our show room. Trying to be discrete is impossible. Passerbys, hearing the noise, immediately turned their heads the moment the car got onto the road. First impressions are that this car is surprisingly easy to drive. The gearbox is an absolute delight and with a relatively short shift the gear changes both up and down the box are easy and smooth.
Once the engine warmed up and we felt comfortable with the car we were able to find a quiet piece of road to see what this could do. Needless to say, we couldnt test its full potential. For that you need a race track, but what we can say is the car is an absolute delight to drive with more than enough power. The big Maserati V8 also has plenty of torque. The car weighs less than 1,000 kg and according to HVR the engine has around 350hp and 350nm of torque.
The brakes take a little bit of getting used to as they are drums. But once you realise that you just have to apply a bit more pressure on the peddle they do pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed.
It is not often a car like this becomes available on the Australian market. Given it was built in Australia makes it even more special.
This truly is a unique opportunity to own a recreation of a fantastic race car from the late 1950s. Accompanying the car is a history file of the invoices and photos from the build. There is also a spare wheel and a (modern) jack.
Highlights:
- Built by respected classic car restoration specialists (HVR) in Melbourne.
- Accurate aluminium body built by Nestor Solerno in Argentina.
- Powered by 5.0 Litre Maserati V8 engine.
- Beautifully presented.
- An absolute delight to drive.
- Ready to use and enjoy.
Price $469,950
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.
The Maserati 250F is unique among Grand Prix cars, as it has longevity that has spanned seven years of racing from 1954 through until 1960. The 250F was first raced at the Argentinian Grand Prix in January 1954 by Juan Manuel Fangio. After qualifying third Fangio went on to win the race. Another famous driver who raced the 250F in 1954 was Stirling Moss. Moss also won several races in the 250F. In 1957 at the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring Fangio overcame a 48 second deficit in 22 laps to win the race. In 22 laps he broke the lap record 10 times. The 250F was crucially important in carrying Juan Manuel Fangio to two of his five World Championship winning seasons, in 1954 and 1957. The Maserati 250F is motor racing royalty and in total 26 examples were built.
In 1955 Maserati introduced the Maserati 300S. This car was designed to compete in the FIA World Sportscar Championship. In total 26 were produced between 1955 and 1956.
The 300S was superseded by the 350S, but only 3 of them were produced before it was superseded by the Maserati 450S.
Initially, development of the 450S started in 1954 under the code name Tipo 54. However, after a catastrophic crash at Le Mans in 1955 the project was shelved. It was not until 1956 that the project was revived. The body was designed by Medardo Fantuzzi. It was powered by a 4,477cc V8 with four IDM Weber carburettors and double overhead camshafts. It produced 400hp at 7,200rpm.
Between 1956 and 1962, the Maserati 450S won an impressive 31 races from 119 appearances. Amongst others, the 450S was raced by Stirling Moss, Juan Manuel Fangio and Caroll Shelby.
In total 9 were built.

MASERATI 450S RECREATION

1960 Goggomobil Dart Restoration Projects

GOGGOMOBIL DART

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo.
The BMW Birth Certificate on file confirms this car was delivered new to the Balcom Trading Co. Inc in Tokyo, Japan. This was the local BMW importer which got later absorbed into BMW Japan Corp, the first 100% owned subsidiary of a foreign car maker in Japan. The car has a production date of the 18th October 1974 and a delivery date of the 15th November 1974. The Birth Certificate states the cars original colour was chamonix (BMW white), which is how the car is presented today.
The Japanese history of this car is not known. The car was imported into Australia in the second half of 2007. There is an import approval on file dated 18th of June 2007. It is understood it then resided in New South Wales. There is a photograph of the car on file with the NSW registration BJ82HS. The car was acquired by the previous owner who is a doctor and BMW enthusiast who lived in Adelaide, South Australia.
In October 2018 the car was acquired by its current Melbourne based owner. The car was in a partially disassembled state as the previous owner had commenced pulling the car apart to restore it. This was perfect for the cars new owner who was looking for his next project. His plan was a nut and bolt restoration to a concours standard. He engaged Concourse Automotive Restorations in Geelong to do the body and paint, Auto Sprint Motors in Melbourne for the mechanicals and Unique Auto Interiors in Melbourne to do the trim. The fuel injection system was sent to highly regarded experts Saxon Parts in The Netherlands to be overhauled.
This was to be a no expense spared restoration and where possible NOS parts were sourced for the car. Anything that needed to be replaced or repaired was replaced or repaired. The majority of the new parts were acquired from classic BMW specialists Jaymic in the UK, Rogers tii in the USA and Wallotnesch in Germany.
The restoration was completed just in time for the car to be displayed at Motorclassica in 2019. At that time the odometer read 85,379km.
Since the car was restored, it has been used and enjoyed clocking up some 12,000 km in the last 5 years. The car is a credit to the current owner and all who were involved in the restoration as it still presents today as a fresh restoration.
At some stage the engine block in the car was replaced. There is correspondence on file from BMW in Germany confirming that the engine currently in the car belonged to a BMW 2002 Turbo which was delivered new to France in January 1975. It is unknown when and where the engine was replaced.
Walking up to the car you just cannot help but being impressed with its appearance. The paint is in excellent condition and the decals on the car immediately tell you this car is not your everyday BMW 2002. The flared wheel arches and the decals give the car a very aggressive stance. Even for the uninitiated, it only takes you a few seconds to realise the decals on the front air dam spell Turbo 2002 in reverse. This sends a firm warning to the car driving in front of you when they see you in their rear view mirror . . . please move out of the way!
Walking around the car it is difficult to find any imperfections. There is the smallest of blemishes in the paint on the lower part of the drivers door and there are also some very small marks on the rear spoiler which have been touched up at some stage. All the decals on the car, which are a real feature, are in excellent condition. The stainless steel belt line trim, a unique design feature which runs right around the car, is in very good condition with only a few very small imperfections. The rest of the external trim, including the badges, lights and lenses is in excellent condition. The Hella headlights are the correct type and taillight lenses have the correct BMW markings on them.
The car is fitted with the correct 13 inch Mahle wheels, shod with Pirelli Cinturato tyres, size 185/70/13, which are date stamped 5118 (week 51, 2018).
Open the door and the first thing you will notice is the red instrument binnacle. This is another unique design feature that tells you this is not an ordinary BMW 2002. The interior itself is immaculate. The seats, door cards, dash, centre console and even the carpets present like new. The seats are firm and comfortable and provide ample support. When the current owner decided to restore the car he also decided to make it a more usable classic for the Australian climate and discretely install a modern electric air conditioning system. The air is fed to the cabin using period correct vents. The car is also fitted with EZ power steering.
Getting behind the wheel is easy and it does not take long to find that comfortable driving position. As you would expect from a BMW the interior is very business like and everything is exactly where you would expect it to be. The Turbo version of the 2002 also had an extra instrument binnacle with two gauges above the centre console. One gauge showing the turbo boost and the other one a clock. On this car the clock has been replace with a voltage meter.
We were very eager to find out if this car lives up to its reputation. The car starts easily and quickly settles into a smooth idle. With great anticipation we wait for the engine to warm up before taking the car out on the road for a short test drive. First impressions are good. The car feels solid, yet very nimble on the road. There are no rattles or squeaks and the car is easy to drive. This BMW 2002 Turbo is equipped with the more desirable 5 speed dog leg gearbox which works well with that typical German precision. Out on the road you quickly forget you are driving a 50 year old car. This car is just a lot of fun to drive and when pushed it is somewhat of a pocket rocket. The 4 cylinder engine is only a 1,990cc but with the KKK (Kuhnle, Kopp and Kausch) turbocharger it pushed out an impressive 170 bhp. Top speed was quoted as 210 km/hr (130 mph) and the car could dash from 0 100 km/h (60 mph) in around 7 seconds. There is just something about hearing that turbo spinning up every time you getclose to 4,000rpm.
A BMW 2002 Turbo is a very unique and rare car anywhere in the world with only 1,672 having been produced. They were never sold new in Australia and only a handful have found their way to our shores. They tend to be tightly held and a result the opportunity to purchase this care presents a unique opportunity.
Accompanying the car is an extensive file, including photographs documenting the restoration of this car, a spare wheel, a tool kit, a first aid kit, a safety triangle, a fitted car cover, a workshop manual, a parts manual and various period brochures.
Highlights:
- Rare and desirable example of one the most iconic BMWs.
- Beautifully presented example.
- Fabulous original colour scheme.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy
Price $279,950
Background:
On 7 March 1916 the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) was established. The company was the result of a reorganisation of the Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik, a company founded by Gustav Otto in Bavaria, Germany, in 1910. The company was one of the aircraft pioneers in the early 20th century. A year later, in 1917, a Bavarian aircraft engine manufacturer by the name of Rapp Motorwerke changed its name into Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH (BMW). That company transferred all its engine production assets to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in 1922 and that company was then renamed to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW).
The company survived World War I and started focussing on the production of motorcycle engines, farm equipment, household items and railway brakes. In 1923 BMW produced its first motorcycle, the BMW R23.
In 1928 BMW purchased the Fahrzeug Fabrik Eisenach which built Austin Sevens under license. That is when BMW officially became an automobile manufacturer. The first car BMW sold under its own name was the BMW 3/15 which was basically a rebadged Austin 7. Throughout the 1930s BMW focussed more and more on producing their own cars and expanded its range into sports cars and larger luxury cars.
During World War II the BMW factories were heavily bombed and severely damaged. Motor vehicle production was curtained and BMW has concentrated on building aircraft engines during the War. As a result, after the war the company was prohibited from producing aircraft or motor vehicles. Miraculously the company survived by making pots, pans and bicycles. It began manufacturing motorcycles again in 1948 and cars in 1952.
Its first post war effort was the BMW 501 which was built in a new factory in Munich. The car was reasonably successful and it effectively relaunched BMW. At the time BMW was also building its fabulous little Isetta, but the company was doing it tough financially. In 1955 the BMW 507 made its debut at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. The 507 was roadster powered by a 3.2 litre V8 engine and was meant to revive the companies sporting image. Instead, the high production cost led the company to the verge of bankruptcy. Only 252 examples were built before production ceased in 1959. As it turns out, it would take BMW nearly 30 years before it would produce another roadster. The company was in serious financial trouble in 1959 and only a large investment from a third party saved the company and prevented a takeover by Daimler-Benz.
It was the launch of the BMW New Class cars in 1962 that proved to be a game changer for the company. Initially these were 4-door compact sedans aimed at the executives. The first one was the BMW 1500 which was first introduced at the September 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show. Other models like the BMW 1800, the successor of the 1500 the BMW 1600 and the BMW 2000 followed soon. In 1965 BMW introduced a coupe versions of the 2000, the 2000C and he 2000CS.
Around the mid 1960s BMW recognised there was a market for a slightly smaller version of their New Class cars. Around the same time they stopped producing the BMW 1600 they introduced the BMW 1600-2 which was a shorter two door model. In 1968 BMW started producing the two door BMW 2002 with its stronger 1,990cc M10 engine.
In 1973 BMW introduced its first turbo charged production car at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW 2002 Turbo. It produced 170hp and had a top speed of 211 km/h. It was only available in two colours Chamonix (white) and Polaris (silver) and all cars featured BMW motorsport colour scheme stripes and decals on the sides as well as the front air dam. Interestingly the car was introduced just before the 1973 oil crises and as BMW themselves said; BMW had built a car that contradicted the spirit of the times like no automobile before.
Only 1,672 were ever built between July 1973 and June 1975, including twelve pre-production cars constructed between July and December of 1973. The BMW 2002 Turbo was only built as left hand drive.

1974 BMW 2002 Turbo

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this magnificently restored Autodelta prepared 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA Junior 1300.
According to documentation on file from Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo, this particular car has a production date of the 7th May 1968 with a delivery date of 31 December 1968. It was finished in biancospino (white) with a skai nero (black) interior.
This US market car was part of a batch of Autodelta prepared cars sold by distributor Don Black Alfa Romeo in New Jersey. The car was sold through dealer Tom OBrien to its first owner Eugene Strandberg from Iowa.
The car was raced at over 50 SCCA meetings between 1968 and 1980 at tracks including Road America (Elkhart Lake), Road Atlanta, Daytona, Indianapolis, Mid Ohio, Bridgehampton, Summit Point, Mid America (Wentzville), Brainerd (Donnybrooke), Phoenix, Nelson Ledges, Blackhawk Farms and Lake Afton.
In 1969 Strandberg won the SCCA C Sedan class in this car in the Mid West division, setting several lap records. The car competed three times at the SCCA National Run Offs the American Road Race of Champions with three different drivers. Strandberg was 10th in this event at Daytona in 1969, Bobby Henson was 4th at Road Atlanta in 1971, and Jerry Wannarka (later SCCA Board Chairman) was 7th at Road Atlanta in 1974. The car was also raced by Gerry Strickfaden, George J Cichon and Larry Sterenberg.
After being campaigned throughout the 1970s at various race meets, the car was involved in an accident at Indianapolis in May 1980. After being (poorly) repaired it raced again at Indianapolis in April 1981 and for a final time at Elkhart Lake in June 1981. It is understood that the car was painted red after it was repaired. With its racing career concluded, the car was acquired by collector John Murphy (of Alfa Legends). Murphys collection went to auction in Atlanta in 2004 from where it was acquired by Judge Parker of Richmond, Virginia, who then commenced a restoration. In 2013, Parker sold the partially assembled car and parts to New York classic car dealer, Daniel Rapley.
The current owner acquired this Alfa Romeo GTA Junior 1300 from Daniel Rapley in September 2014 and subsequently imported it into Australia. There is an Import Approval on file dated the 9th September 2014. The car arrived into Sydney in April 2015.
The current owner made the decision to restore the car to present exactly as it was when it first raced.
He engaged the services of highly respected Alfa Romeo restoration specialist Tim Doyle from Zoo Autocraft in Bowral to restore the car. Tim was ably supported by Mick Mitchell from Corse Automotive who did all the mechanical works, AA Panelcraft who painted the car and Steve Busitill who did the trim.
Where possible the original parts from the car were repaired and reused, however, as a second choice original replacement parts were sourced. As a last resort replica parts were acquired from the likes of Classic Alfa and Alfaholics in the UK.
Unfortunately, the car had been separated from its original engine which was sold off from Murphys auction in 2004. By an incredible stroke of good fortunate Tim Doyle had purchased a number of parts from the Murphy auction, including what turns out to be the original engine block from this very car! There is a document on file, provided by Don Black, listing both the chassis and engine numbers for the Alfa Romeo GTAs that he sold. Alfa Romeo did not record engine numbers for the 105 series cars making Blacks list, confirming this cars original engine number, as very rare and unique. The owner decided to restore the car with a replacement block to preserve the original block which will accompany the car.
As the car was to be used on the track, the current owner decided to install a high quality roll cage. In his words . . . the alloy body doesnt provide much more protection than cardboard. An FIA approved kit built by Custom Cages in the UK was purchased from Alfaholics.
One of the many challenges was to quieten the car to comply with track noise limits while still using the correct side exhaust. The Corse Automotive team came up with an ingenious solution whereby a hand built muffler runs laterally underneath the car another work of art!
The restoration was finally completed in November 2019, just in time for the Alfa Romeo Owners of Australias (AROCA) annual concorso. The end result is just spectacular and a credit to the current owner, Tim Doyle and everyone who was involved with the project.
Later that month, the GTA returned to the track at the Historic Sports and Racing Car Associations (HSRCA) Summer Festival at Sydney Motor Sport Park. The car was presented in the livery in which it first raced some 50 years earlier. It ran in regularity and true to the HSRCA motto As it was it shall be, it ran on the correct Dunlop CR65 cross ply tyres! The car looked spectacular and to the relief of its owner it ran faultlessly.
The car has been used sparingly since it was restored. It has been driven very carefully in regularity at various track days. Today it presents essentially as a fresh restoration. The biancospino paintwork is in excellent condition. The devil is in the detail and all the pop riveted aluminium panels are the giveaway that this car is not your every day 105 series. The panel gaps are excellent. The external trim is minimalistic, however, it is all in good condition. We love the delicate door handles which are a real feature on this car and fit for purpose to open the feather weight doors! The interior is beautifully presented and in excellent condition.
The beautiful Alfa Romeo GTA wheels are shod with Dunlop Racing 5.50 M-14 tyres all around.
Unfortunately, we didnt get the opportunity to drive the car as it is not road registered, however, the owner reports that it drives every bit as good as it looks. When rebuilt, the engine was tuned on a dyno and it develops 140 bhp at 7700 rpm, with torque of 91 lbs/ft. This is similar to the original Autodelta cars. The car weighs 800 kg, which is slightly more than the original, mostly because of the roll cage, hidden muffler and alloy wheels instead of mags. The power to weight ratio is still impressive and this little Alfa Romeo performs exceptionally well. According to the owner, the engine really comes on song above 5,000 rpm and it makes a wonderful noise. The car is light and nimble on the track and it handles, steers and stops as you would expect.
This car was shown Auto Italian in Canberra in 2022 where it won Alfa Romeo Best of Marque and it was also one of the four finalists selected for Best of Show. It was also shown at Motorclassica, Australias leading concours delegance and classic car show later in 2022, where it was one of the two finalists in the fiercely contested Bertone class.
There is substantial documentation on file which includes a SCCA Vehicle Log Book, period race results and car magazines, documented ownership from new, period documentation, restoration receipts, photos and more.
Importantly, this car has its correct tipo number (10559), stamped in the boot drain channel.
Highlights:
- Magnificently restored Alfa Romeo GTA.
- Known history from new.
- Numbers correct car.
- Well documented.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
Price $399,950
Background:
The Alfa Romeo story began in June 1910 when A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) was founded in Milan, Italy. Their first car, the 24hp, was a great success and the Alfa name became synonymous with motor racing in the early years. In 1915 Nicola Romeo took over the company and during war time its focus was on military equipment, however, it wanted to build cars. Soon after the very first Alfa Romeo motor vehicle, the Torpedo 20-30hp, was built.
On February 3, 1918, with World War I slowly drawing to a close, the new company called Alfa Romeo was officially registered.
In the early 1920s Alfa Romeo quickly made a name for itself in motor racing. Drivers like Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari and Enzo Ferrari won several races driving various Alfa Romeo race cars.
Through until the 1950s Alfa Romeo was responsible for some of the most exclusive road cars and most successful race cars ever built. Some of the cars produced by Alfa Romeo in the 1920s and 1930s could be purchased as either a road car or a race car.
The Alfa Romeo 6C is one of those cars. Introduced at the 1925 Milan Motor Show, the Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was the first model to carry the 6C name. The nomenclature of the model designation 6C 1500 refers to the engine, where 6C = the number of cylinders, in this case six and 1500 refers to the engine capacity, in this case 1500cc. As was quite common in those days, the bodies were provided by various coach builders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring Superleggera, Castagna, and Pinin Farina.
The legendary Alfa Romeo 8C, took the 6C to another level and was one of the worlds most exclusive and successful road, race and sports cars of the 1930s.
Following the Second World War the company was in financial difficulty and it decided a change in direction was necessary to survive. The Alfa Romeo 1900 Series cars effectively replaced the 6C range and whilst it was a success, rather than hand build luxury sporting cars it decided to focus on mass production. Hence, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint was born. Alfa got the formula right and as testament to the success of this model the car was in production for over a decade from 1954 through until 1965.
Throughout the 1950s and 60s Alfa built a number of different models including four door sedans, two door coupes and convertibles, however, regardless of model their cars always had a sporting edge. They were a drivers car first and foremost.
Launched in 1963 the Alfa Romeo 105 Series was introduced to replace the very successful 101 Series Giulietta. Designed by Bertone (Giorgetto Giugiaro) the shape was purely Alfa with many styling cues taken from the Alfa Romeo 2600 and 2000. The first model introduced was known as the Giulia Sprint GT which was powered by Alfas proven 1,600cc engine. A convertible version known as the Giulia GTC and more powerful Giulia Sprint GT Veloce were subsequently introduced. Other standard models in the 105 Series range that evolved from 1965 were the 1750 GT Veloce, 2000 GT Veloce, GT 1300 Junior and GT 1600 Junior.
Alfa Romeos rich motorsport tradition continued into the 105 series cars. Under the direction of the legendary Carlo Chiti, Autodelta (Alfa Romeos racing division) developed a car for competition that closely resembled the road going model. These cars were named GTA, the A standing for alleggerita, Italian for lightened. The GTA was produced first in 1965 as a 1600 Sprint (1,570 cc), and then in 1968 as a 1300 Junior (1,290cc) version. GTAs were manufactured in either street (stradale) or pure race (corsa) trim. 1,000 had to be built for homologation. It is understood that approximately 500 Sprints and 450 Juniors were built, of which less than half were corsa spec. All cars were built in the Alfa Romeo factory at Arese and for a considerable price premium clients could have their car race prepared by Autodelta.
The outer body skin of the GTA was made of Peraluman 25, a light aluminium alloy, containing magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc. The inner steel panels were also of thinner gauge with the inner and outer panels bonded and pop riveted together. Magnesium alloy wheels, clear plastic side windows, an aluminium rear upper control arm, lightweight door handles and quarter window mechanisms as well as lightweight interior trim were other GTA features.
The engine had a new double ignition, twin plug cylinder head, high compression pistons, high-lift cams, lightened flywheel, a Magneti Marelli distributor, 45 mm carburettors instead of 40 mm as well as magnesium camshaft cover, sump, timing cover and bell housing. A limited slip differential was standard and a special sliding-block rear axle locating system could be specified. The 1300 had a short-stroke, oversquare version of the GTA 1600 engine.

1968 ALFA ROMEO GT 1300 Junior

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