OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

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. Over the next 12 years the Type 30 evolved spawning other models, including the Type 38, Type 40, Type 43, Type 44 and Type 49. These models all featured Bugattis 8 cylinder inline engine of varying capacities and some with superchargers.
Incredibly, Bugatti built almost 8,000 cars through until 1956.
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a fabulous 1924 Bugatti Type 30 that has been restored by its current owner as a Type 43.
Like many Bugattis in Australia it had a chequered early history that is not definitively known. It is documented in both of noted Bugatti historian, Bob Kings books: Bugattis in Australasia - A History of the Bugatti Car in Australia and New Zealand (1992) and Bugattis in Australia and New Zealand 1920 to 2012 (2012).
The following history is extracted from those books:
- The Carrosserie Profilée bodied car was delivered new to Australia via the London Bugatti agents in 1924.
- The car was extensively raced in its early years and the original engine was parted from the car very early in its life.
- Well known Bugattisti, Geoff Collins, recalls first seeing this car with its original body and chassis plate in NSW in the early 1930s. (Note: there is a letter from Collins on file dated February 19th 1986 where he writes about the history of the car in detail. He states that in the early 1930s the car was then cream in colour with red mudguards).
- The car was extensively raced until the 1940s when it was acquired by RK Newson and modified.
There are some fabulous photos of the car from the 1930s in the first edition of Kings book and photos from the 1950s in the second edition of Kings book.
The car is also really well documented in Bugatti Passion - 50 Years of the Bugatti Club Australia by Pedr Davis (2014). In that book it is noted . . . little is known about the cars early days but Bob King believes Lyster Jackson won Class D at Wheelers Hill Climb (near Melbourne) in May 1927. Len Terry raced it in the Centenary 300 at Philip Island on New Years day 1935, but half way through the race an engine oil pipe burst and the car failed to proceed.
The current owner of this car acquired it in partnership with a friend in 1992. The plan was restore the Bugatti as a Type 43, which was essentially the same chassis as a Type 30 but powered by a supercharged 2,262 cc version of Bugattis straight 8 engine from the Type 35B. The chassis, whilst modified, was generally in very good condition. Richard Stanley was tasked with repairing and restoring the chassis, however, not much else progressed with the car. The current owner bought his partner out and gained a fresh head of steam to move forward with the project.
The car was re-bodied by Robert Tingay of Castlemaine over a Grand Sport frame from Wilkinsons of Derby in the UK. The story of the mudguards is fascinating and it is most likely that they are from a genuine Bugatti Type 43. They were acquired from Swiss Bugatti agent Bucar in the 1930s and found their way to the current owner through a friend of a friend.
Another fascinating part of the history of this car documented in Davis book is regarding the colour of the car. The following is quote directly from the owner of the car . . . the original paint colour survived under a reflector. So the body colour is painted to match it and thus Im able to pontificate on what the REAL Bugatti blue is!
The engine block is understood to be period Bugatti and it was acquired through Jack Lemon Burton in London at the end of the 1960s or early 70s. Lemon Burton dealt with the Bugatti factory in Molsheim in period and he was well known within Bugatti circles. The engine was built from many genuine Bugatti parts and others made to complete the build. Auto Restorations in New Zealand made the crankcase.
The car was ultimately finished in 2009 and the engine first turned over in October of that year. Another fabulous quote from Davis book is from a friend of the current owner who was a passenger in the car for its first outing. . . . we manoeuvred the Grand Sport onto the grassed courtyard. A couple of pumps of the Ki- gas, Bosch magneto switched on, a single press of the starter button and, without hesitation, the engine burst into life. My first impression was that it ran as smoothly as a Swiss watch, it had a pleasant and legal exhaust note that was far quieter than I expected a grand prix engine to be. Obviously, this indicates the precision of its assembly. The engine did not appear to have any oil or water leaks so the owner asked if I would like to be his first passenger. Naturally, I leapt at the chance. On the road I can honestly say I found the T43 to be very comfortable. The owner carefully increased the speed to the sign posted 100 km/hr and I was able to judge by the revs that it hadin reserve that theres no doubt it would exceed the real ton.
The car has been used on a few rallies, but travelled less than 1,000 miles since it was restored. As such, it still presents as a recently restored car. It was also displayed at Motorclassica in 2015 to celebrate 50 years of the Bugatti Car Club in Australia.
Oldtimer Australia is excited to offer a unique opportunity to acquire a well-known supercharged Bugatti in Australia. The photos do tell the story . . . the car is stunning.
Highlights:
- Fascinating history and well documented by noted Bugatti historian, Bob King, in his two books and also by respected veteran motoring journalist Pedr Davis in his Bugatti Club book.
- Thick history / restoration file, including many photos of the restoration.
- Owned and restored by a well-known and respected Bugattisti in Australia.
- A beautifully presented car that needs to find a new owner to create its future history.
Price $739,950.

BUGATTI TYPE 30/TYPE43

Cadillac is one of the oldest motor vehicle manufacturers in the world. When Henry Ford had a dispute with his investors in March 1902, he, together with several of his key partners left the Henry Ford Company. Two of Fords financial backers William Murphy and Lemuel Bowen approached Henry M Leyland of the Leland & Faulconer Manufacturing Company to assess the value of the remaining assets and prepare the company for liquidation. Leland, however, convinced them to continue the company and on 22nd August 1902 the Cadillac Automobile Company was founded. The company was named after the French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, who had founded the city of Detroit back in 1701.
The first Cadillacs, the Runabout and the Tonneau were built in late 1902 and shown to the public at the New York Auto Show in January 1903. Their cars received rave reviews and even back then Cadillacs differentiator was quality, which is how the brand has been recognised ever since. In 1909 Cadillac was acquired by General Motors and has always been the flagship in the GM stable of car manufacturers.
Prior to World War II Cadillac was a market leader of mass-produced luxury cars. In the 1930s, Cadillac added cars with V12 and V16 engines to their range, many of which were fitted with custom coach-built bodies. Cadillacs of this era were often referred to as American Rolls-Royces.
The 1950s and 1960s were good times for the American automobile industry. The United States became the world's largest manufacturer of automobiles and the car had a significant influence on American culture. Fast food, rock 'n' roll, American diners, drive-in movies and of course cars were 'very cool'.
One of Cadillacs most popular models was the Series 62, built from 1940 through until 1964. The first generation Series 62 was built between 1940 and 1941, the second generation between 1942 and 1947, the third generation between 1948 and 1953, the fourth generation between 1954 and 1956, the fifth generation between 1957 and 1958, the sixth generation between 1959 and 1960 and the final, seventh generation between 1961 and 1964.
In 1949 the newly launched automotive magazine Motor Trend choose the Cadillac Series 62 as their first ever Car of the Year.
The Series 62 built from 1950 to 1953 is considered by many to be Cadillacs post-war pinnacle of excellence.
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible.
The original build record on file confirms the car is style number 53-6267X which is a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible. It was invoiced on the 30th April 1953 and sold through the authorised Cadillac distributor in St Louis, Missouri, USA. The sale price is noted as US $3,564.39. The colour code is noted as 1 = black and the trim code 548 where 5 = tan (soft top) & 48 = red leather. Some of the option codes are difficult to read, however, it has S = power steering, D = chrome wheel discs and Y = Vanity mirror.
The body name plate is present on this car and everything matches with the build record sheet. The car has had an engine change at some stage in its life, which is apparently quite common for these cars. The engine in the car is a period correct engine for a 1953 Cadillac.
Little is known about this cars early history. The current owner acquired the car in Michigan, USA back in 2009 and subsequently imported it into Australia. There is a Michigan title on file in the name of the previous owner. The Australian Import Approval is dated 12th January 2010.
The current owner had a vision to restore a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible to the highest possible standard. He was fussy and wanted a black car with a red interior and a car that had to be complete and in good condition. There is correspondence on file between the current and previous owner discussing the car which confirms that it was purchased as a mechanically sound, nice driver. There are photos on file showing the condition of the car as purchased and others showing some of the work completed by the previous owner.
The car he found ticked all those boxes and soon after arriving into Australia it was sent to restoration specialist Justin Hills of Hills & Co Customs in Taree, NSW. The car was converted to right hand drive and restored to the highest possible standard. Once the body was complete, the car was sent to Annvid Auto Upholsterers in Capalaba (Brisbane) for a complete retrim and a new soft top. The engine was completely rebuilt by JB Automotive in Ayr, north Queensland. The final job was to fit a new stainless steel exhaust system to the car. The restoration was completed by the end of 2011 and the car was registered in QLD.
This was a no expense spared restoration and there are receipts on file for almost $350,000.
This 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible has been hardly used since it was restored. It has travelled less than 500 miles in the last 10 years. As a result the car today presents like a freshly restored car.
The paint work is exceptional and a credit to Justin Hills and his team of master craftsmen. Black is a difficult colour at the best of time, however, this is an enormous car and the paintwork remains vibrant with a very high gloss finish. You have to look really hard to find any imperfections. The same is true for the chrome work which is a real feature on this car. The rest of the exterior trim, the wheels and the glass are also in excellent condition. The soft top remains like new and looks to have never been used.
Not surprisingly, the engine bay and the boot are also immaculate.
You open the massive door and slide behind the steering wheel and immediately you feel like youve taken a step back in time. Everything looks, feels and smells exactly the way it would have done when this car left the factory in 1953, and perhaps better!
The interior of this car is quite simply stunning! The red leather upholstery, the carpets, the instruments and controls are all like new. Even the painted dashboard looks like new. There are no scratches or discolouration due to the sunlight and the paint presents like it does on the rest of the car it is immaculate. The steering wheel itself is a work of art! It presents beautifully in red and white and the Cadillac logo being the feature. The instrument cluster is simple, yet functional. Everything you need is right in front of you. As you would expect from a car like this, there is a lot of chrome inside the car as well. Most of the switches are chrome and they create a prefect contrast with the red interior.
Incredibly, for a car built in 1953 everything is electric, or more precisely operated by Cadillacs complex Hydro-Lectric system. The windows, the soft top and even the seats are electric and they are all in perfect working order.
After having admired the interior for a while its time to take the car out for a drive. The car is fitted with an immobiliser and after deactivating it you pump the accelerator two or three times, turn the key and the 331 cubic inch V8 engine quietly comes to life and almost immediately settles into a smooth idle. This is exactly what you would expect from a car like this. This car is fitted with a Hydramatic transmission, which in the 1940s and 1950s was the best automatic transmission available. In 1952 Rolls-Royce even acquired a license to produce them for their Rolls-Royce and Bentley automobiles. After getting comfortable it is time to hit the road. You gently move the gear lever on the column to DR for Drive, gently touch the accelerator and the car will just glide forward. Out on the road this car is just so nice to drive. Make no mistake this is a big and heavy car, yet the ride is incredibly smooth. After a few miles you are comfortable behind the wheel and whilst there is no doubt youare driving a car from days gone by, the sheer size of the car disappears. The automatic transmission is incredibly smooth and the engine has sufficient power to take the c2,300 kg car quickly to an acceptable cruising speed. We love the spot lights which are a fabulous finishing touch to the car.
One feature on this car we havent mentioned is the radio. This has been discretely upgraded and there is an iPod hidden in the glove box with about 2000 period songs for your listening pleasure. Select the song to suite your mood and you will time warp back to Hollywood in 1953!
The car has an owners manual, shop manual, a lever arch file of Cadillac information, an original sales brochure and an extensive file of receipts from the restoration.
The car has hardly been used since it was restored and the owner has decided it is now time for someone else to enjoy this beautiful car.
Today the odometer reads 81,008 miles.
If you are looking for a nice Cadillac Series 62 then this is not the car for you. If you are looking for one of the very best 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertibles money can buy then please enquire.
Highlights:
- Desirable third generation Cadillac Series 62 convertible.
- Restored to an incredibly high standard in its original colour scheme.
- Converted to right hand drive, making it a more usable classic on Australian
roads.
- Just a STUNNING motor car!
Price $239,950.

CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE Series 62

Bruce Leslie McLaren was born on the 30th August 1937 in Auckland, New Zealand. He was born with motor racing in his veins. From the young age of 14 he was racing cars and achieved great success at an early age. McLaren's talent was noted by none other than Jack Brabham, who was racing for Cooper back in the late 1950's.
McLaren got a seat driving a Cooper T43 at the 1958 New Zealand Grand Prix where he performed exceptionally well before being forced to retire after completing 71 laps of the 75 lap race. He was selected as 'Driver to Europe' by NZIGP Association and headed to England in March 1958 to drive for John Cooper.
Success came quickly for Bruce McLaren and he won the 1959 United States Grand Prix at age 22 years 104 days, becoming the youngest ever GP winner at that time. He then went on to win the first race of the 1960 Formula One season, the Argentine Grand Prix and he would finish runner up in the championship that year to Brabham.
Whilst still racing for Cooper, he set up Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd in 1963. McLaren left Cooper at the end of 1965 and announced his own Formula One racing team, with co-driver and fellow Kiwi Chris Amon. It was a tough few years as McLaren found its feet, however, the hard work eventually paid off and Bruce McLaren took his fourth career win, claiming victory in the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa in his McLaren-Ford. This was the team's first Grand Prix win. Another Kiwi, Denny Hulme, joined McLaren for the 1968 season and won twice in the McLaren-Ford that year with McLaren finishing second in the constructor's championship behind Lotus-Ford. In 1966 McLaren and co-driver Chris Amon won the controversial Le Mans 24 Hours in a Ford GT40.
Bruce McLaren was a great driver, however, he was probably an even better constructor. McLaren loved the evolving and very popular Can-Am Series and achieved great success winning five consecutive championships from 1967 to 1971. McLaren himself won the championship in 1967 and 1969 with team mate Denny Hulme winning in 1968 and 1970. American, Peter Revson completed the quintuple winning the championship in 1971.
Sadly, Bruce McLaren died on the 2nd June 1970 while testing a Can-Am car at Goodwood. Teddy Meyer took control of McLaren and the legacy lived on with McLaren becoming an even more dominant force in motor racing. McLaren decided to abandon Can-Am at the end of 1972 and focus solely on Formula One. When the original Can-Am series ceased at the end of 1974, McLaren was by far the most successful constructor, with an incredible 43 race wins.
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1971 McLaren M8E Can-Am race car.
In 1968 Bruce McLaren and his team developed the McLaren M8A for that years Can-Am season. It was an evolution of the M6A (which had won the championship in 1967) and had an all-aluminium 7 litre Chevrolet big block V8 engine. The engines were built by Gary Knutson and developed around 620hp. For the 1969 season the M8B was developed, it had a slightly upgraded engine which now developed 630 hp..
A partnership was created between Bruce McLaren Racing and the Racing Division of Trojan Limited to build the M8C, which was a customer version of the M8A,. Going forward Trojan would build all customer cars and Bruce McLaren Racing would build the works cars.
The 1970 season saw the introduction of the M8D. The engine was enlarged to 6.7 litres and now produced 670 hp. For the 1971 season McLaren introduced another customer car, the M8E. It was based on the M8B and again built exclusively by Trojan Limited.
The final works car was the M8F which was also introduced in 1971. It now had an 8 litre engine which produced 740 hp. The final customer car was the M8FP which was based on the M8F.
Total Mclaren M8 production comprised of 2x M8As and 1x spare tub, 2x M8Bs and 1x spare tub, 10x M8Cs, 4x M8Ds, 11x M8Es (plus 2x unnumbered tubs) and 2x M8Fs.
The McLaren M8E offered for sale is chassis number M8E-80-04. The car was purchased by Roy Woods of Roy Woods Racing Inc (US) to complete in the 1971 Can-Am season. The car was entered as part of the ARA American Racing Associates team bearing number 29. They missed out on the first two races but by round 3 at the Road Atlanta circuit, the car was ready to compete with Vic Elford the driver. Unfortunately, problems with the oil pressure and the clutch resulted in a DNF.
Round 4 at Watkins Glen gave the team a far better result, the car qualified 16th and finished 8th. Round 5 at the Mid-Ohio circuit resulted in another DNF, however, this time it wasnt a problem with the car. Exhaustion forced Elford to retire the car. Round 6 at the Road of America circuit saw the car qualify in 5th place and finish the race in 3rd position. During the next round at Donnybrook Vic Elford almost repeated the result from the previous round. This time he qualified 6th and finished 4th. For reasons unknown, the car didnt participate in round 8.
Round 9 took place at the famous Laguna Seca circuit. Unfortunately, disaster struck in the preceding practice on Thursday. Elford crashed the car, cannoning backwards at over 100mph into a bridge abutment. Fortunately, Elford suffered only minor injuries, but the tub was destroyed and unrepairable. Elford was given an M8D for the race. Roy Woods Racing ordered a new M8E tub and managed to get the car ready for the next round.
At round 10 at the Riverside circuit Elford retained the M8D, so Sam Posey drove the M8E, qualifying 7th and finishing 4th.
At the end of the season the car was sold to William Bill Cuddy. Cuddy entered the car into three rounds of the 1972 Can-Am season. Alan Johnson raced the car in round 4 at the Mid-Ohio circuit and Bill Cuddy raced the car in round 8 at Laguna Seca and in round 9 at Riverside.
In 1973 Cuddy entered the car for only one race, being round 7 at Laguna Seca. After the 1973 season he sold the car to Dick Workman. Over the next few years, the car changed hands a few times. Workman sold it to Lynn Sinclair, who sold it to Merle Brennan who purchased the car for parts for his M8F, but soon discovered the parts were not interchangeable. He sold the car back to Workman minus the front and rear suspension.
Dick Workman returned the car to race ready and competed in the 1977 Can-Am series. The car was entered as an M8L, the L possibly referring to the Lola uprights and suspension Workman had fitted to the car.
In 1979 the car was sold to Chuck Haines from Can-Am Cars Ltd. He went on a journey to have the car restored to its original specification, which included painting the car in its original colour scheme of yellow with red livery, exactly as it was raced by Vic Elford in 1971. The majority of the work was done by the Symbolic Motor Car Company in San Diego, California.
The car was invited to appear at the 2006 Amelia Island Concours dElegance which was celebrating the 40th anniversary of Can-Am.
In 2011 the car was sold by Haines to an Australian enthusiast. There is an import approval on file dated 28th June 2011 and the car was subsequently imported here. The car was enjoyed for the next 8 years, which also included a return to Laguna Seca. The car was taken to The Monterey PreReunion and The Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, California, USA in August 2016.
The current owner acquired M8E-80-04 in 2019 and now wants to go in a different direction with his car collection.
Today this McLaren M8E presents immaculately and is in race ready condition.
Accompanying the car is a massive history file, including lots of period information and photographs. Importantly, the car has a CAMS log book and Certificate of Description (COD) which were issued on the 28th February 2012.
The car was validated by Barry Lock, who worked for McLaren from 1967 to 1974 and again briefly in 1975. Barry was heavily involved with the McLaren M8Es and he was one of three McLaren employees who liaised with Trojan, who built the customer cars for McLaren. Barrys Survey Report issued in October 2019 is on file.
There is a significant inventory of spare parts, including a spare engine, which can be purchased with the car.
McLaren dominated Can-Am racing in the late 1960s and early 1970s and these cars are simply monsters of the track! With essentially no restrictions they were faster than Formula One cars in period.
A car of this caliber is seldom offered for sale in Australia. A truly unique opportunity.
Highlights:
- Purchased new by Roy Woods to compete in the 1971 Can-Am Series.
- Raced by Vic Elford with some success finishing 3rd in Round 6 and 4th in Round 7, but damaged in Round 9 of the 1971 Can-Am series and subsequently rebuilt.
- Known and documented history passing through a number of owners until restored from 1987 - 1995.
- Invited to appear at the 2006 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
- Australian import approval on file dated 28 June 2011.
- CAMS historic log book and COD issued 28th February 2012.
- Campaigned at historic motorsports events in Australia 2012 - 2016.
- Taken to The Monterey PreReunion and The Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, California, USA in August 2016.
- Sold to the current owner in May 2019.
- Car validated by Barry Lock, who worked for McLaren from 1967 to 1974 and again briefly in 1975. Barrys Survey Report issued in October 2019 is on file.
There are some fabulous videos of the car online. See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlfiT4MRFnM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17-lKnaGbPE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_hKUjxYZxI
Price $589,950

MCLAREN M8E

2006 FERRARI 575M Superamerica

Porsche 550 / 718 RSK Spyder Replica by Spyder Conversions

1985 PORSCHE RSK SPYDER 550/718 RSK SPYDER Replica by Spyder Conversions

1969 MASERATI GHIBLI

Apple, Coco-Cola, McDonalds and Nike are brands recognisable the world over. So is Ferrari and interestingly the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer was named The Worlds Strongest Brand in the 2019 Brand Finance Global 500 Report.
Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 out of Alfa Romeos race division as Auto Avio Costruzioni the company built its first car in 1940. The Second World War halted Ferraris dream, which was finally realised in 1947, when the first car bearing his name, the Ferrari 125 S, was built. From that day on Ferrari race cars dominated the world over, winning race after race and many world championships in Formula One, sports car racing and endurance racing. Ferrari built exclusive sports cars for the road too, but in the early days, this was primarily to fund his motor racing!
The Cavallino Rampate or prancing horse was the symbol chosen by Ferrari and like the golden arches it is recognised by just about every man, woman and child on the planet!
The Ferrari road cars from the 1940s and early to mid-1950s were built in very small numbers and it was not until the introduction of the 250 series cars that production numbers increased. Almost 1,000 Ferrari 250 GTEs were built from 1959 1963. The 250 series also produced some of the most special Ferraris ever built, including the Ferrari 250 LM, 250 SWB, 250 California Spider and of course the 250 GTO. The 250 series cars were superseded by the 275 series cars, the 330 series cars and later the 365 series cars. The nomenclature designated the cubic capacity of each cylinder. So a Ferrari 330 was powered by a 12 cylinder engine of 3967cc capacity. Ferraris iconic Dino was first shown to the world as a prototype at the 1965 Paris Motor Show. The car morphed into the 206 GT of which only 150 cars were built from 1967 to 1969. In 1969 the 246 GT was released, which whilst a similar looking car in many ways was actually quite different. The car sat 3 taller than its predecessor and the body was nowbuilt from steel. Mechanically the new car was powered by a 2418cc V6 engine. Enzo was keen to tackle Porsche head on and to do this he needed to increase production. The Dino was a hit and circa 4,000 of these cars (both the 246 GT and 246 GTS) were built from 1969 to 1974.
At the 1975 Paris Motor Show, Ferrari introduced its new model, the Pininfarina designed 308 GTB. The 308 GTB was introduced as a supplement to the Bertone shaped 308 GT4 2+2 and a direct replacement for the Dino 246 GT. The 308 GTB received rave reviews from the motoring press and it was an instant success. The Dino 246 GT fans were pleased to see some of the design elements from the Dino carried across, such as the scalloped air intakes on the side panels, the twin tail lights and the recessed curved window glass. At the same time, it was definitely a modern design.
Carrozzeria Scaglietti was responsible for the bodywork, however there was a slight difference compared to previous models. The 308 GTB was the first production Ferrari to be produced with a fibreglass body (or glass-reinforced plastic, GRP), except for the front bonnet, which was made out of aluminium. There are various arguments as to why Ferrari chose fibreglass for its new model but the general consensus is Ferrari was disappointed with the sales results of the Dino 308 GT4 and wanted to speed up the production of the new car to offset lost sales to competitors such as Porsche, Maserati, Lamborghini and Lotus. It was also quicker and easier to make moulds for fibreglass construction than dies for metal pressings. Using fibreglass also helped to keep the weight down. In fact, the 308 GTB only weighs 1,050kg. Its debatable exactly how many fibreglass Ferrari 308 GTBs were built. The most often stated numbers are 712 and 808, of which perhaps 150 were right hand drive. It is understood thatFerrari switched to steel bodies (in June 1977) for commercial reasons. The Italian translation of fibreglass is vetroresina, which is the nomenclature often used for these cars.
The first 308 GTBs were powered by a three litre V8 engine with a dry sump. Countries that had more stringent emission control standards at the time, such as the USA and Australia, received wet sump cars only. Later on, all 308 GTBs had wet sump engines.
In 1977 Ferrari introduced the 308 GTS, which was essentially the same car with a targa roof. The car was made famous through its appearance in the TV show Magnum PI. The model evolved into the 308 GTBi / 308 GTSi in 1980 when Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection replaced the traditional Weber carburettors. Two years later the four valves per cylinder Quattrovalvole or QV was introduced. The 308 was an incredible success and circa 12,000 cars were built from 1975 to 1985 before the 328 was introduced.
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a very special Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina.
This particular car is confirmed as the very first UK delivered, factory right hand drive 308 GTB ever built. Documentation on file from the Maranello Concessionaires Archives confirms that this car was ordered on the 19th September 1975 and specified as rosso chiaro (20-R-190) with a beige leather interior (VM3234) and beige carpets. The car was ordered with electric windows, tinted glass, a heated rear window, leather trim and air conditioning. The car was delivered on EE plates ex Maranello and we assume driven back to the UK. The documentation on file notes this car as a Maranello Concessionaires Demo or Press car and it was first registered in the UK as MPH70P. The original service book states a delivery date of the 27th May 1976. The cars first service is dated 1st June 1976 at 959 miles and that mileage would be the road trip from Maranello in Italy to Maranello Concessionaires in the UK.
This very car was featured in a number of motoring publications including Autocar (issue 23rd October 1976) and Motor (issue 11th September 1976). It was also featured on the cover of a 1980 Eurovox car calendar.
Unfortunately, little is known of the cars subsequent early history until it found its way to Australia, most likely in the early 1980s. The car was owned for many years by journalist Bruce Webster who predominantly used the car for track days and tarmac rallies. Unfortunately in Websters ownership the car suffered a catastrophic engine failure at a race meet in the 1980s. The original dry sump engine was replaced by a wet sump engine. The car changed hands in 2000 and its new owners took a still relatively standard 308 GTB and modified it further to improve its performance. The car competed in the Australian Tarmac Championship and rallies such as Targa Tasmania (13 times), Targa Wrest Point (6 times), Targa High Country Mt Buller (3 times), Alpine Classic and others. In 2011 the car finished a very credible 19th outright and 1st in class at Targa Tasmania, taking care of the early Porsche 911s and BDA Escorts!
In 2014 the car suffered an off at Targa Tasmania resulting in some front end panel damage. That turned out to be the end of a very successful tarmac rally career for this 308 GTB and the car was subsequently sold. Given the soaring values of all classic Ferraris and the significance of this car, its new owner decided to restore it back to road going guise and to how it was delivered to Maranello Concessionaires back on the 27th May 1976. The only exception was that he chose to restore the car with a deep front spoiler, which was an option back in the day. The original front spoiler will accompany the car. His most important task was to source a correct dry sump engine for the car which he was able to do.
Today this Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina presents and drives exceptionally well. The body was completely stripped and professionally restored. There was no choice but to finish the car in its original and classical colour of rosso chiaro! Even though the car was painted some years ago it has not been used since it was restored and as a result the paint work remains fresh and vibrant with a strong depth of colour. All of the exterior trim, badges, bumpers, lenses and the glass are in excellent condition. Importantly the car sits on original 14 wheels with correct Michelin XWX tyres, which give the car a perfect stance.
You open the door to reveal an interior that presents beautifully. The seats and door cards have been re-upholstered and the work was done to a very high standard. The car has new carpets throughout, including the boot. The original steering wheel, all of the instruments and controls are in good condition and everything looks to be in working order. After getting comfortable behind the wheel, its time to bring that V8 engine to life. Turn the ignition on and let the fuel pump do its work, then turn the key and with a short blip of the accelerator pedal the V8 bursts to life. The car starts easily and quickly settles into a smooth idle. We love the exhaust note of a 308 GTB . . . it is loud but in a refined way! After waiting (impatiently!) for a few minutes for the car to warm up, its time to take it out on the road. This 308 GTB does not disappoint. In fact, it is absolutely fabulous to drive!
The engine feels strong and it revs freely throughout the rev range. The gated shifter is a feature on these 308s and it lets you move the gear lever through the gears with great precision. The gearbox is smooth and shifting up and down is easy. Out on the open road this 308 is a real pleasure to drive. Its handling is exactly what you expect from a Ferrari 308 GTB. It is nimble and precise. It simply goes where you want it to go and it stops when you want it to stop.
You get used to this car very quickly. It is very easy to drive, and that exhaust note . . . theres no need for a radio in this 308! It just begs to be driven.
The air conditioning system has been disconnected. There is a compressor complete with brackets and a new condenser (which is almost impossible to find) that will accompany the car.
As mentioned previously, this car has not been used since it was restored. It certainly needs to be driven and on every outing weve had with the car it gets better and better the more you drive it. The car will require a final tune which will be done prior to delivery to its new owner.
The car does not have a thick history file, but importantly it does have its book set, including its original warranty card, in the Ferrari leather wallet. There is also a correct, complete tool kit, jack kit, space saver spare wheel, safety triangle and accessory light.
Highlights:
- Confirmed as the very first UK delivered, factory right hand drive Ferrari 308
GTB Vetroresina built.
- The Maranello Concessionaires Demo or Press car.
- Featured in period car magazines.
- Finished in its original colour scheme of rosso chiaro with a beige interior.
- The car has recently been restored and it presents and drives fabulously.
- Accompanied by books, including the original warranty card, tools and a jack
kit.
- The car is ready to be enjoyed by its next owner.
These fibreglass bodied Ferrari 308 GTBs were built in relatively small numbers and they are now highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts the world over.
The odometer reads 10,151 miles.
Price: AUD $237,500.

1976 FERRARI 308 GTB Vetroresina

1967 Jensen Interceptor (Vignale) Experimental

1967 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR

The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley. In 1934 Lyons formed SS Cars Limited to effectively take over the operation from Walmsley. The SS brand was quite successful; though they had a reputation for having more show than go. The Jaguar name first appeared as a model name on an SS 2½ Litre Sports Saloon introduced in 1936. For political reasons, Lyons changed the name of his company to Jaguar Cars in 1945.
Whilst the SS100 is indeed a fabulous car, it was the launch of the legendary Jaguar XK120 at the London Motor Show in 1948 that really put Jaguar on the map. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. The XK120 morphed into the XK140 and ultimately the XK150 and in total, just over 30,000 cars were built over fifteen years of production.
Jaguar introduced the E-Type at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, which like the XK120 all those years ago, took the motoring world by storm. The body styling was simply gorgeous and technologically the E-Type was an engineering masterpiece and it set new standards in all areas.
Whilst automotive styling is somewhat subjective the E-Type is often ranked atop lists of the most beautiful cars and in fact, it has been described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever made.
Jaguar could build sports cars but they were also very successful at building sports saloons. In 1955 the Jaguar Mk1 was introduced to fill a gap in the model range of a small to medium sized luxury saloon. Initially introduced with a 2.4 litre 6 cylinder engine and later a 3.4 litre 6 cylinder engine this model was very successful with some 38,000 examples sold between 1955 and 1959. In 1959 the Mk2 was introduced and whilst visually similar at first glance the new car had many improvements over its predecessor. In addition to the 2.4 litre and 3.4 litre engines the Mk2 was also offered with a 3.8 litre engine as used in the E-Type. Just over 80,000 Mk2s were built from 1959 to 1967. The Mk2 was to be replaced by the XJ6, however, delays with this car resulted in Jaguar producing another series of the Mk2 which was designated as the 240 and 340 to fall into line with the nomenclature used with other models on offer at the time, specifically the 420. The 240 and 340 were built from 1967 to 1969 andalmost 4,500 and 2,800 respectively of each model were built.
The Jaguar Mk2 was also very successful on the race track winning events all over the world. One of the most successful teams was UK based John Coombs, who also developed a business selling Jaguar Mk2s upgraded with Coombs modifications.
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1967 Jaguar Mk2 Coombs Tribute.
This particular car is a factory right hand drive Jaguar 240 that has been upgraded with a number of Coombs modifications, including a 4.2 litre Jaguar engine.
The early history of this car is not known, however, it is understood to have been a long term Queensland car. The car was registered in Queensland as 398 LHP. It was owned by an ex Leyland/Jaguar mechanic for many years and he passed the car down to his son. It was sold through the Classic Car Garage in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in April 2011 to its next owner in Gympie who decided to upgrade the car with a number of Coombs modifications, including a Daimler 4.2 litre engine. The car was purchased by Jeremy Bests Cummins Classic Cars in Sydney who decided to go the full monty with the car undertaking further Coombs modifications. The decided to fit a 4.2 litre Jaguar engine that was rebuilt for one of Ian Cummins Jaguar E-Type race cars, but never used.
The modifications and upgrades which make this car a very special Jaguar Mk2 include:
- Race prepared 4.2 litre engine
- Rob Beere billet alloy oil pump
- Scorcher/Petronix ignition
- Power-Lite starter motor
- Uprated electric fuel pump and pressure regulator
- 2 x 2 inch HD8 carburettors with alloy air trumpets and alloy air spreader copied from originals and sourced from Coombs engineer Ken Bell
- Alloy radiator and electric cooling fan
- 5 speed Getrag 260 gearbox (from a BMW) with overdrive 5th gear
- Solid front cross member mounts
- Uprated front sway bar
- 30% stiffer front springs
- Super-Pro suspension bushes
- Koni dampers front and rear
- 4 pot brake calipers with ventilated discs
- Alloy cold air ducting for front brakes
- Goodridge steel braided flexible brake lines
- EZ electric power steering
- D type gear knob
- Coombes replica exhaust in stainless steel
- Genuine Minilite knock on mag wheels
- Period correct leather trimmed bucket seats
- Louvred bonnet
- Momo steering wheel
- Various period correct stickers including Coombs dealer rear window sticker
The engine was built up by Graeme Lord Engineering with Argo con rods, special 9.5 to 1 pistons, E-Type inlet manifold, E-Type camshafts, large volume oil pump with special flaps in the sump to help with oil surge, extractor exhaust fitted to a gas flowed big valve cylinder head with 3x 2 inch S.U carburettors giving 325 BHP at 5,800 rpm.
When the engine was installed into this car it was done with a dual carburettor setup, most likely to get it to fit!
Today this car presents pretty well, but it is all about the drive! When you approach the car the louvred bonnet and knock on Minilite wheels are the first giveaway that this is no ordinary Jaguar Mk2! You open the door, slide into bucket seat, get comfortable and then with great anticipation fire up the engine. Theres no doubt it means business! It has an edge for sure, but it is still relatively refined given its specifications. Immediately after getting mobile you appreciate the EZ power steering which make the car incredibly light on the road and easy to drive. The Getrag gearbox is firm and it is well suited to the car. Not surprisingly the engine has loads of power on tap and it is so incredibly responsive. The car handles and stops as you would expect. Make no mistake this car is quick . . . it is one heck of a drivers car!
From say a meter the car presents well, but it is no trailer queen and on closer inspection, there are a number of stone chips and small blemishes in the paint evident. The most noticeable are some scratches on the left rear guard, adjacent to the boot. The panel gaps are pretty good and the car is clean underneath. The boot looks to be very original and whilst it is showing some wear there is no sign of any rust. All of the external trim, chrome, lights/lenses and the glass are in very good condition. The Mk2 enthusiasts will note that the slimline Jaguar 240/340 bumpers have been replaced with the traditional Mk2 bumpers without overriders.
The condition of the interior of the car is comparable to the exterior. It is clean and tidy. The feature of the interior is the steering wheel and bucket seats, which like the bonnet louvres and Minilite wheels reinforce that this is no ordinary Jaguar Mk2! The upholstery is in good condition and there are no rips or tears in the seats. The door cards are clean, though they are starting to sag. The timber is clean with no cracks evident, though the dash is starting to show its age and it would benefit from a refurbish. All of the instruments and controls are also in good condition and everything looks to be in working order.
The car was fitted with new Dunlop CR65 tyres in January 2018.
Accompanying the car is a recent history file, documentation pertaining to the engine build back in 2003, a spare set of wire wheels, a spare wheel in the car, tool kit, hammer and jack.
Its time for the ultimate game of cops and robbers!
Price $79,950.

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