OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

Oldtimer Australia is genuinely excited to offer for sale this incredible 1947 Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport Ghia.
We love rare Italian cars at Oldtimer Australia and this bespoke masterpiece is about as good as it gets. This car encapsulates the very best of what Italian engineering and coachwork were capable of in an era when everything was hand made by master craftsmen.
This car was the brainchild of Italian Giovanni Basso who designed the chassis, incorporating Lancia Aprilia running gear. There is some debate as to who designed and built the body. The previous to current owner, who found and restored the car, conducted extensive research into its history and has confirmed that the body was designed by Giovanni Michelotti, built by Rocco Motto and badged by Ghia.
The streamlined body is simply a work of art, its form is perfectly smooth with no edges or interruptions, giving it a clean, uninterrupted flow from every angle. Its features include a sharply raked windscreen, svelte Lancia badged grill, wafer thin bumpers, flush door handles and tail lights as well as an enclosed fuel tank filler.
The standard Aprilia engine was quoted as delivering 48 bhp at 4,300 rpm, however, the Nardi modified engine in the Aprilia Gran Sport Ghia delivered 60+ bhp. The increased power came courtesy of an alloy intake manifold fitted with dual Zenith carburettors (the standard Aprilia used a single unit), along with a modified extractor system and reprofiled camshafts.
It is understood that Basso built eight cars of which there were only two Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport Ghias, this car and another that resides in the UK. Four of the other eight cars were Spiders and two were Berlinettas, both bodied by Stabilimenti Farina.
The early history of this car is not known, however, at some stage it found its way to America. The first known owner was a Mr Gary Schmidt, who was understood to be from New York. Schmidt was working overseas at that time and the car was stored in a restoration shop in Long Beach, California. In 1984 it was acquired by a very well known Lancia enthusiast from Melbourne.
At that time the car was in very poor condition, with its running gear missing.
The car was imported into Australia and painstakingly restored over the next few years (1985 1987). The body work was completed by Brian Hawke and the mechanical work by Don Wright. At that time a Tipo MOT97 1,352cc V4 1st Series Aprilia engine, which came with the car, was rebuilt and installed. A Nardi intake manifold was sourced and dual Zenith carburettors were fitted. The original Nardi water pump was with the car. It was refurbished and also fitted.
The restoration was carried out to an exceptionally high standard and over the following 30+ years, the car has been regularly shown, driven, and enjoyed. It has been a frequent participant at numerous Lancia events, rallies, and other car shows.
The car was sold in 1992 and it has remained in continuous family ownership ever since. It was offered for sale at the Shannons 1996 Melbourne Motor Show auction, but did not sell.
This fabulous car was exhibited at Motorclassica in 2017, as part of the display paying tribute to Lancias 110th anniversary, where it was one of the stars of the show.
Not surprisingly, this car has won trophies everywhere it was shown. Most notably it was the outright winner of the Lancia Concours held in Castlemaine in 1987, it won the Exotic Class at Auto Italia, Canberra in 1992, it was the outright winner of the Lancia Concours held on the Gold Coast in 1993 and it won its class at the 1994 Darling Harbour Concours dEleganace to name but a few.
Over the last ten years the car has been used sparingly. The engine has recently been rebuilt and a new cylinder block installed. The spare block, which also came with the car, is a Tipo MOT99 1,486cc V4 from a second 2nd Series Aprilia.
The time has come for this car to pass on to its next custodian.
Today this 1947 Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport Ghia presents superbly. Whilst clearly now an older restoration, it has been lovingly cared for since it was restored. The paint work is still vibrant and you have to look hard to find any blemishes. There are some small stone chips and defects evident. The external trim, which is minimalistic to say the least, is all in very good condition.
The wheels are fitted with elegant hub caps and dress rings which compliment the look of the car. They are shod with brand new Michelin 165R400 X Stop tyres all around.
The olive green upholstery is a bold colour choice but it just works on this car, contrasting perfectly with the red paint. The leather shows light patina, presenting just like your favourite leather jacket that has been worn regularly but always cared for. There are no rips or tears in any of the upholstery. The seating position is typical for cars of that era, being quite upright, but it is relatively comfortable. The matching green carpet is also in good condition. The timber rimmed steering wheel and the two main instruments, being the counter rotating tacho and speedo, are a real feature. The fuel gauge, operated by a dash mounted button, sits within the tacho and it is a quite something! The level is indicated by how many lights come on. On our test drive all of the instruments looked to be in working order.
The car has a soft top and side curtains, all of which are in excellent condition. The soft top itself is an engineering masterpiece that Porsche would have been proud of! It folds away discretely behind the seats and into the boot.
The boot, which is carpeted like the cabin, presents very well.
Under the bonnet Lancias rather impressive 1,486cc V4 engine takes pride of place. Not surprisingly, the engine bay is neat, clean and tidy.
This car is an absolute jewel, a work of art and it arguably belongs in the Musée du Louvre in Paris! But, it is after all a car and therefore it needs to be driven. Sceptics would say any car built in the late 1940s is not going to be great to drive. A test drive in this car has quickly proved the sceptics wrong! Lancias V4 engine was one of the companys most distinctive engineering achievements, being compact, innovative, and unusually refined for its era. The engine delivered a blend of efficiency, durability, and performance that set the brand apart for decades. The car requires the choke to start and with the ignition on and a firm push of the key (which is the starter button), the engine fires up easily. The instructions are to back the choke off quickly and feather the throttle to warm up the engine. The raspy exhaust note definitely has an edge, which builds the anticipation to get the car out on the open road. After a few short miles, we were impressed by how tight the car is on the roadand how much power it has. Despite the car running a small 4 cylinder engine, it weighs next to nothing and easily keeps up with modern traffic. The non-synchro gearbox takes some getting used to, but that is part of the theatre and enjoyment you get from driving the car. The more you drive it the better you get, which is actually very rewarding. You have to pinch yourself that this is an almost 80 year old car and driven in anger it would be quite something. The brakes are adequate and being so light the car handles with remarkable agility and confidence, responding almost instantly to driver input.
This car has been featured in a number of publications over the year, including various Lancia Club magazines and newsletters, Volume 16 No 1 the March 1998 issue of The Automobile, November 1997 issue of Unique Cars and Volume 30 Number 3 the Spring 1992 edition of the prestigious Automobile Quarterly series. In this book, the author Gavin Farmer, states that the body was designed by Ghias Mario Boano. This information was provided to Gavin by the previous to current owner early in his ownership. It was later found to be incorrect.
Over the years we have had the absolute pleasure to handle some of the worlds great cars, including the best from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti and the like. But, there is something that is hard to put into words about this 1947 Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport Ghia . . . it is simply magnificent and one of the very best cars we have offered for sale.
Highlights:
- A bespoke Italian masterpiece.
- Eligible for all the worlds great events.
- An older, but magnificent restoration to a very high standard.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
- A true world market
Price AUD $469,950
Background
Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin founded Lancia & C. Fabbrica Automobili on the 29th November 1906 in Turin, Italy. The first car produced by the company was the Tipo 51 otherwise known as the 12 HP, which was in production from 1907 until 1908.
The company quickly became renowned for innovation and is noted for naming many of its cars using letters of the Greek alphabet. The Theta, introduced in 1913, was the first European production car to feature a complete electrical system as standard. The Lambda, produced from 1922 until 1931 was the first car to adapt a monocoque chassis. The Aprilia introduced in 1937 was one of the first cars designed using a wind tunnel to improve aerodynamics. The Ardea (Series 3), introduced in 1948, was the first car to use a five-speed gearbox. The first full production V6 engine was fitted to the Lancia Aurelia in 1950 and Lancia was also the first manufacturer to produce a V4 engine. The Aurelia and Flaminia range were the first production cars to be fitted with independent suspension.
The constant drive for innovation and excellence came at a cost. All Lancias essentially were handmade and the production process was complicated. This led to rising costs at a time where demand flattened.
Fiat made a successful takeover bid for Lancia in late 1969 and set about returning the business to profitability. Under Fiats ownership, Lancia introduced the Beta, Gamma and Startos during the 1970s. The Stratos was particularly important because it started Lancias success in rallying, winning three consecutive World Rally Championships from 1974 to 1976.
The Lancia Aprilia is widely considered one of the most advanced and influential cars of the 1930s. The key features of this car were:
1. Remarkably advanced aerodynamics the car was designed with the help of wind-tunnel testing at the Politecnico di Torino, which was very unusual for the era. It featured a streamlined, teardrop influenced body with a low drag coefficient, contributing to excellent performance and efficiency.
2. Innovative narrow angle V4 engine Lancias signature compact V4 was smooth, light and space efficient. It was of aluminum construction and sophisticated engineering for the time. It provided lively performance relative to its modest displacement.
3. Fully independent front and rear suspension a major technological leap in the 1930s. It delivered superb ride, comfort and exceptional handling precision compared to rivals.
4. Advanced chassis & construction featuring a steel monocoque body (unitary construction), years ahead of most manufacturers. It provided low weight combined with excellent rigidity.
5. Exceptional road manners the car was praised for its balance, agility, and remarkably modern driving feel. It provided the driver with light steering, predictable cornering, and a supple ride.
6. Elegant and functional design with distinctive, compact proportions with flowing lines. The car had superb visibility and an ergonomic, well-designed interior.
7. Engineering innovation that influenced later Lancias the Aprilia set the template for post-war Lancias like the Aurelia and Appia. Many consider it the car that best represents Vincenzo Lancias engineering philosophy.
8. Competition pedigree successfully used in period rallies and endurance events, including the Mille Miglia. It was known for durability and composure over long distances.

LANCIA APRILIA GRAN SPORT GHIA

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: $329,950
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

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

1930 PACKARD 740

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an award winning 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.
This car, which is finished in the traditional Ferrari colour scheme of Rosso Corsa (paint code FER 322) with beige leather upholstery, was delivered to its first owner, Thomas Graham Gillespie from Airdrie in Scotland, UK on the 11th March 2005.
It has a full book set, including its service book which documents its service history. In Gillespies ownership the car received its first service on the 1st June 2006. At that time the odometer read 4,235 miles. The service was performed by Ferrari dealer Graypaul in Edinburgh. The next service was performed on 30th April 2007 at 5,896 miles by Graypaul.
Gillespie kept the car until 2007 and then sold it to Sir Anthony Moore from Swadlingcote, which is just south of Nottingham in the north of England.
Subsequent services were completed as follow:
- 3rd September 2008 @ 13,718 miles by Ferrari dealer Graypaul in Nothingham.
- 2nd December 2009 @ 17,425 miles by Ferrari specialists Shiltech Performance cars in Loughborough.
- 11th March 2010 @ 18,294 miles.
Moore sold the car in 2010 to Gregory Newton, an Australian who was residing in the UK at that time. Newton kept the car in the UK for the next 12 months before importing it into Australia. It was brought in as a personal import and there is a copy of the import approval on file dated 15th November 2011.
Soon after arriving in Sydney, the car was complianced and registered in NSW.
The car was then serviced on 5th September 2012 by Quantum Automotive.
The current Sunshine Coast based owner acquired this Ferrari 612 Scaglietti on 31st July 2014. At that time the odometer read 25,211 miles. Prior to purchasing the car he had a pre purchase inspection completed by Ferrari Sydney and they identified a few items which required attention.
Overall the car was in excellent condition and met the requirements of what the current owner was looking for. On the 10th September 2014 the car was taken to independent Ferrari specialist Enzotech in Caboolture, Queensland to have these issues addressed. A decision was also made to address some of the usual wear and tear issues on the car and return to the condition it was in when it left the showroom back in 2005.
Despite the fact the car has only been used sporadically by the current owner, it has been serviced on a regular basis by Enzotech. Routine servicing was completed as follows:
- 08th September 2015 @ 26,249 miles (included a cambelt service)
- 15th September 2017 @ 27,295 miles.
- 22nd April 2018 @ 28,069 miles.
- 17th December 2020 @ 28,800 miles (included a cambelt service)
- 12th September 2021 @ 30,289 miles..
- 24th August 2022 @ 30,665 miles.
- 20th August 2024 @ 31,518 miles.
The current owner is very passionate, pedantic and proud of his cars, including this Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. As a result, this car is presented in excellent condition. He is a Ferrari Club Australia member and he has attended the National Rally twice, entering the Concorso on both occasions. In 2022 the car won a platinum award and more recently in 2025 it won a gold award, narrowly missing out on platinum.
At time of photographing the car, the odometer read 32,335 miles. As is often the case, the photos tell the story. The car is in beautiful condition, particularly considering that it is 20+ years old. The gold award won at the recent Ferrari Club Australia Concorso is a testament to this.
The Rosso Corsa paint is in excellent condition. It is vibrant and has retained a strong depth of colour. When walking around the car we struggled to find any imperfections other than a few very small stone chips on the nose. It is understood that these were picked up on the recent Ferrari rally. With front and rear bumpers integrated into the bodywork, the external trim is minimalistic. The Ferrari badges, side shields, front grill, lights and lenses are all in excellent condition.
The original wheels, which are a real feature on a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, are in excellent condition with no evidence of any curb rash. They are shod with Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres, size 245/40ZR19 at the front and 285/4ZR19 at the rear. The front tyres are date stamped 4412 (week 44, 2012) and the rear ones 4712 (week 44, 2012) The tyres are still in a good condition.
The interior presents beautifully and its condition is more consistent with a five year old car, rather than one that is 20+ years old. The upholstery is almost as new and even the leather on the front seats is still in excellent condition. The seats are firm yet supportive and very comfortable. The rear seats present like new and have probably hardly been used if at all.
The cabin is a very luxurious place to be. The seats can be adjusted in so many ways that almost everyone should be able to get very comfortable behind the wheel. Once settled in it is time to start the car. The starting procedure is simple: insert the key into the ignition slot on the steering column and turn the key to start the car. The thumping 5.75 litre V12 engine bursts to life easily with no throttle input needed. It quickly settles into a smooth idle and as one would expect, it sounds amazing with a deep, smooth burble.
You have the option to drive the car in full automatic mode or in semi automatic mode where you use the F1 style paddles to change gears. Regardless of which option you choose, the car is refined and very easy to drive. In fact, it is almost too easy to drive and one has to be super careful to keep the speed in check. Whilst the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a grand tourer first and supercar second, when this car was released, it was one of the fastest four seaters available with a quoted top speed of 320 km/h and capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.
On our test drive the car performed perfectly. With almost unlimited power on tap the engine is incredibly responsive and it will launch the car forward effortlessly with a gentle prod on the accelerator. The car can be driven sedately, however, you just have to unleash it from time to time to enjoy that unmistakable Ferrari soundtrack. The six speed F1 automated manual is smooth up and down the box. The car handles, steers and stops as one would expect, but to be fair to really test that you would want to take it to Fiorano!
What a car . . . the Ferrari 612 Scagliettis performance is incredible and yet it is very easy to drive, extremely comfortable as well as capable of carrying four passengers with room for some luggage in the boot.
Accompanying the car is history file, complete book set in the original leather pouch, the original tool kit and a car cover,
Highlights:
- Presented in the most popular and stunning colour combination.
- Multiple award winner at Ferrari Club Australia
- Full service history with books and tools.
- Just a beautiful motor car.
Price $199,950
Background
Apple, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Nike are brands recognisable the world over. So is Ferrari and interestingly the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer was named The Worlds Strongest Brand in the 2019 Brand Finance Global 500 Report.
Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 out of Alfa Romeos race division as Auto Avio Costruzioni the company built its first car in 1940. The Second World War halted Ferraris dream, which was finally realised in 1947, when the first car bearing his name, the Ferrari 125 S, was built. From that day on Ferrari race cars dominated the world over, winning race after race and many world championships in Formula One, sports car racing and endurance racing. Ferrari built exclusive sports cars for the road too, but in the early days, this was primarily to fund his motor racing!
The Cavallino Rampate or prancing horse was the symbol chosen by Ferrari and like the golden arches it is recognised by just about every man, woman and child on the planet!
The Ferrari road cars from the 1940s and early to mid-1950s were built in very small numbers and it was not until the introduction of the 250 series cars that production numbers increased. Almost 1,000 Ferrari 250 GTEs were built from 1959 1963. The 250 series also produced some of the most special Ferraris ever built, including the Ferrari 250 LM, 250 SWB, 250 California Spider and of course the 250 GTO. The 250 series cars were superseded by the 275 series cars, the 330 series cars and later the 365 series cars. The nomenclature designated the cubic capacity of each cylinder. So, a Ferrari 330 was powered by a 12-cylinder engine of 3967cc capacity.
The late 1960s and early 1970s were fabulous times for Ferrari. Its flagship 365 GTB/4 Daytona was a resounding success and Enzos big risk the Dino 246 was also selling very well. At that time Ferrari wanted to continue with his tradition of producing high performance Grand Touring cars with a 2+2 configuration and the 365 GTC/4, which was a successor to the 365 GT 2+2 and the 365 GTC, filled that niche.
The early 1970s were a time of innovation and Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati et al. continued to introduce new models in an endeavour to trump the other. The 365 GTC/4 was only in production in 1971 & 1972 and its successor the 365 GT/4 2+2 was first shown in October 1972 at the Paris Motor Show. This car, designed and built by Pininfarina, featured unique styling and whilst the sharp angular lines were very new for Ferrari it did share the characteristic design feature of a swage line dividing the body into an upper and a lower half with the 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Unlike the GTC/4 the GT/4 2+2 could seat four people in relative comfort.
The 365 GT/4 2+2 was superseded by the 400 in 1976 and subsequently the 412 in 1985. Production of the 412 ended in 1989 without a direct successor.
In 1992 Ferrari introduced its next front engined V12 Grand Tourer, the 456, continuing its tradition of blending elegance, performance, and practicality. Designed by Pietro Camardella at Pininfarina, the design took heavy inspiration from Ferraris legendary 365 GTB/4 Daytona. The car was initially launched with a six speed manual gearbox, however, a four speed automatic gearbox was introduced in 1996 and model was designated as 456 GTA. The 456 became one of Ferraris more successful models, with approximately 3,289 cars produced during its 5 years in production.
The 456 was superseded by the 612 Scaglietti in 2004. This 612 was a bigger car, making it more comfortable for four passengers. To keep the weight down the car was built with an all aluminium spaceframe and body. Powered by a 5.7 litre naturally aspirated V12 engine with a quoted power of 397 kw (533 hp) at 7,250 rpm and torque of 588 nm (434 lbft) at 5,250 rpm. The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti was not a sports car, rather a very practical luxurious grand tourer. It was another success story for Ferrari with 3,025 examples produced between 2004 and 2011.

2005 FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI

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

1978 LAMBORGHINI SILHOUETTE

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

1971 MASERATI INDY 4.7 Manual

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 1986 Lamborghini Jalpa.
According to the Lamborghini Registry this car was completed on the 24th November 1986 for Australian importer A.A. de Fina. The car was originally rosso (red paint code 215157) with a panna (cream) interior, which is how the car is presented today. The Australian compliance plate is dated 1/87.
The early history of this car is not definitively known, however, it is understood to have come from long term Sydney ownership. The car was then sold to another Sydney owner in circa 2005 before being sold by Oldtimer Australia to the Gosford Car Museum in July 2015. At that time the odometer read 45,005 km.
The current owner acquired the car from the Gosford Car Museum in early 2018. At that time the car presented well cosmetically, but it was a little tired.
In July 2018 Melbourne based classic Lamborghini specialist, Sports and Classic Car Services completed a major mechanical refresh of the car. They rebuilt the engine, which included reconditioning the cylinder heads and engine ancillaries, rebuilt the gearbox, installed new rear shock absorbers, replaced the brake hoses and installed new rear wheel bearings. At the same time a new Quicksilver exhaust system was installed. In total, $43,000 was spent on the car to bring it up to its current condition. At that time the odometer read 45,054 km.
In May 2020 Sports and Classic Car Services performed an annual service and safety check and at that time the odometer read 45,819 km. The next service was performed in June 2022 and at that time the odometer read 47,242 km.
The current owner has used the car sporadically in the last eighteen months and today the odometer reads 47,630km.
First impressions of this car are good, really good! Overall, it presents well. It is understood the car was repainted back in 2005 shortly after it changed hands. The rosso paint has retained a high gloss and a strong dept of colour. However, if you look closely you will notice some small paint imperfections. The most noticeable one is on the edge of the B pillar on the drivers side and there are some small paint bubbles on the rear bumper. The Lamborghini badge on the front is showing its age and is the first thing we would replace! The Lamborghini and Jalpa badges on the rear of the car are in good condition. All the glass presents well with no cracks or delamination evident. The targa top is in very good condition.
The original and quite unique Route Oz wheels present well. There is some very minor curb rash visible, but nothing too noticeable. The front wheels are shod with Pirelli Cinturato P7 tyres, size 205/55 R16. These are date stamped 5117 (week 51, 2017). The rear wheels are shod with Hankook Ventus RS4 tyres, size 225/50 R16. These are date stamped 1221 (week 12, 2021). Both the front and rear tyres are still in good condition.
Open the door and you are welcomed by a sharp and very good looking interior. The interior was refreshed less than twelve months ago and as a result the seats present well and are in very good condition with no rips, tears or cracks evident. They are surprisingly comfortable and provide ample support. The matching door cards are also in very good condition. The seats and door cards are both trimmed with red piping, which is so eighties and as the car was finished new. The matching carpets are also in very good condition with no excessive wear evident.
The dash presents well and the top has not been affected by the harsh Australian sun. There are no cracks evident nor is there any discoloration. Overall the instruments and controls present well and appear to be in good working order. A known problem with Italian cars from this period is that the needles on the speedo and the tacho have a tendency to warp. Both instruments on this car are slightly warped, but both are working and look to read correctly. The metal gear shifter gate is showing its age and is something we would have cleaned up and polished. The Nardi steering wheel is most likely original and generally in good condition, though there are a few cracks appearing in the leather. A good leather doctor would attend to this easily.
Under the front bonnet everything is very original. Unfortunately, the space saver spare wheel is missing.
The engine bay presents well and behind it, underneath the rear spoiler, youll find the boot, which whilst relatively small is bigger than it looks! There is plenty of room for a few overnight bags. The boot retains its original carpet and is in quite good condition.
Shortly after the car arrived at our showroom, we found a break in the inclement Brisbane weather and were able to get it out for a quick test drive and photo shoot. The car starts easily, even from cold. The Quicksilver exhaust system has a fabulous note to it without being too noisy. Out on the road the car drives easily and the more you drive it the more you like it! The engine has loads of power and the gear changes are smooth, both up and down the box. The steering feels precise and is not too heavy. We did notice the AC was not working and upon further investigation we discovered that the hoses have been disconnected and the compressor is missing.
Whilst the car runs and drives well, it would benefit from a tune and it probably needs to used and enjoyed more regularly.
In 2019 Motortrend wrote an interesting article about the Jalpa called Driving the Lamborghini Jalpa: A Classic Supercar Worth Remembering. In the article the Jalpa is described as . . . an intriguing car with a beguiling personality far different from the bigger, better-known Lamborghinis. In the article automotive historian Massimo Delbo describes the Jalpa as . . . simply and enigmatically: If you know, you know. Unfortunately, the Jalpa was introduced at the wrong time, America was pulling out of a recession and people favoured its bigger brother the Countach or even Ferraris entry level car, the 328. As far as the nouveau riche were concerned, there was only one Lamborghini worth considering. Motortrend questions this; Was their belief correct? The Jalpa is arguably the better sports car, a ballerina compared to the brutish Countach. The author, after his test drive, states: Given the choice between a Countach and a Jalpa a guy can dream, right? I know which I would pick. A week ago, my answerwould have been different, but now I know and hopefully you do, too.
With only 410 examples ever made and approximately 35 in right hand drive, the Jalpa is indeed a very rare car.
Here is a unique opportunity to own an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example and become part of the small group of people who can experience first hand how good and how much fun this junior super car is to own and drive.
This car wont win a concours, but it is a really nice example that presents and drives well. It can be used as is or easily taken to the next level should one desire to do so.
What a fabulous alternative to a Ferrari 308 / 328!
Highlights:
- Rare Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example.
- Major mechanical work, including engine rebuild, in July 2018.
- Quicksilver exhaust system fitted.
- Recent interior refresh.
- Join an exclusive club.
Price $164,950.
Background:
The Lamborghini story is fascinating in itself, but for the company to have survived all these years and indeed celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2013 is quite amazing. Ferruccio Lamborghini was an entrepreneur, a very successful businessman and a lover of the finer things in life, including sports cars. He was fortunate enough to own some wonderful cars including Ferraris however, he found fault with them all. According to the legend following a meeting with Enzo Ferrari to discuss some of the short comings of his cars Enzo dismissed Ferruccio and he subsequently decided that he could build a better car.
Not long after, in May 1963, Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SPA was established and the small town of SantAgata Bolognese, located between Modena and Bologna, was chosen as the location to build the factory. Born under the Zodiac sign Taurus Lamborghini chose the raging bull as the emblem for his sports cars.
Lamborghini knew what he wanted and he put together a highly skilled team. His first car the 350 GTV was shown at the Turin Motor Show in October 1963. This car received mixed reviews; however, Lamborghini was not deterred and made a number of improvements and design changes to the original concept. The first Lamborghini production car the 350 GT left the factory in mid-1964.
The 350 GT evolved into the 400 GT 2+2 and later the Islero. In parallel to building these classic front engine V12 GT cars Lamborghini wanted to build a super car, enter the Miura first shown as a rolling chassis in 1965, and also a GT car that could comfortably seat four people, enter the Espada in 1968. The mid to late sixties were good times for Lamborghini and his cars were revered the world over.
In 1970 the Islero was replaced by the Jarama. Lamborghini also wanted to enter the junior supercar market and introduced the Urraco or little bull, named for the fighting bull which killed the toreador Manoleten, at the 1970 Turin Motor Show. The Urraco attracted huge interest from the motoring world and Bertones classic wedge shape received critical acclaim at the time.
It wasnt until some two years later, in 1972, that the first production cars rolled off the Sant Agata production line. Lamborghini hoped to build the Urraco in big numbers, however, this never eventuated and only 520 of the P250s were built up until 1975 when the P300 was released. The world economy changed quickly and the early 1970s were a tough time for Lamborghini. Additionally, the Urraco had some teething problems early on and the car unfortunately developed a reputation as unreliable. This was perhaps unfair as once Lamborghini ironed out the bugs the car was in fact a little gem and properly sorted was a genuine threat to Ferraris 308, Maseratis Merak and the Porsche 911 of the day. The Urraco P300 was indeed a fabulous little car and in Sports Car World magazine July September 1976 Mel Nichols wrote: . . . I was not hard pressed to conclude that the Urraco 3-litre is the most enjoyable car I have ever driven. In the October 1978 issue of Car Magazine Nichols pits the Lamborghini Urracoagainst a Ferrari 308 GTB and a Maserati Merak SS. The article is compelling reading and Nichols picks the Urraco as his favourite. Only 205 Urraco P300s were built. Lamborghini also built 66 Urraco P200s (with a 2 litre V8 engine) specifically for the Italian market.
The Lamborghini Silhouette was a further development of the Urraco and it was first shown at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show. The Silhouette was a genuine 2 seater and the 2+2 seating of the Urraco was removed to allow space behind the seats to store the targa top. The Silhouette is one of the rarest Lamborghinis with only 54 cars built, of which only ten were factory right hand drive.
Lamborghinis last iteration of their V8 engined junior supercar was the Jalpa (pronounced YAWL-pa), named after another breed of fighting bull. The Jalpa was introduced at the 1981 Geneva show and 410 examples were built spanning seven years from 1982 through to 1988. Of these it is understood that only 35 left the factory as right hand drive and perhaps there are 10 in Australia.

1986 LAMBORGHINI JALPA

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a rare, factory right hand drive, 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL with a factory 4-speed manual gearbox.
Mercedes-Benz only built 5,196 250SLs (from 1966 1968), compared to 19,831 230SLs (from 1963 1967) and 23,885 280SLs (from 1967 1971), making it by far the rarest of all the Pagodas.
It is not known how many were built with a manual gearbox, however, what we do know is that a factory right hand drive Mercedes-Benz 250SL with a manual gearbox is a rare car.
The Data Card on file shows a date of delivery of the 8th May 1967 and confirms this factory right hand drive example was delivered new to Great Britain. It also confirms this car was originally painted Tunis Beige (paint code 462) with a matching hard top. The interior upholstery code is 116, which is caviar coloured seats (trim code (2100) and black carpets (carpet code 6125). The soft top was originally black (soft top code 720).
We have verified that the ID plate, stamped chassis number, engine number, data plate as well as body number stampings on the bonnet, gearbox support, under the soft top lid and the hard top are all correct and matching.
This car has an excellent history file with ownership noted back to 1977, when it was owned by Ian Shanks Jeffrey from Falkirk in Scotland, UK. There is email correspondence on file between the current owner and Stephen Jeffrey (Ian Jeffreys step son), who wrote that he understood the previous owner to be a lady by the name of Sylvia Anderson who sold the car to his step father because it was too fast for her! The car was then registered as SA505, which is confirmed by an old UK V5 on file.
In 1983 the car was sold to John Kennedy from nearby Alloa and at that time it was registered as NMS537F. Kennedy owned the car for just over a year and it was then sold to Martin Swist from Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. The car remained in continuous ownership for the next 33 years, before being acquired by a well-known Australian enthusiast and collector in 2017. There is an Import Approval on file dated 13th July 2017.
The current owner acquired this Mercedes-Benz 250SL through the Classic Throttle Shop in Sydney in April 2022. It was a lovely car, however, the current owner is pedantic and wanted to improve the overall presentation of the car.
One thing led to another and the end result was that he spent as small fortune on his 250SL. The car was stripped and the body repaired and painted by Styling Automotive in Yeerongpilly (Brisbane). The bright work was rechromed and the external trim refurbished or replaced.
Classic car restorer Paolo Piazza Mussos Garagisti in Brisbane was tasked with the project managing the restoration work and the reassembly of the car.
Mechanically, the engine was found to be strong, so it was not rebuilt. All the ancillaries were assessed and refurbished as required, including the Bosch mechanical fuel injection pump. The final recommissioning and mechanical works were completed by classic Mercedes-Benz specialists Three Point Classic in Brisbane. They carried out a range of work installing a refurbished rear differential and a new clutch kit.
The interior was in excellent condition and it was only the timber that was refurbished. All the instruments were checked and repaired/refurbished.
The owner was heavily involved in the project and chose to purchase all of the new parts directly from suppliers including Niemoller, Authentic Classic and others.
The end result is beautifully presented Mercedes-Benz 250SL that drives every bit as good as it looks!
Today the odometer reads 61,009 km.
A change in the current owners circumstances has meant that he has reluctantly decided to sell the car.
Highlights:
- rare factory RHD 250SL with the 4-speed manual gearbox.
- presented in its stunning original colour of Tunis Beige.
- matching numbers chassis, engine and body.
- all tags present and correct.
- hard top / soft top.
- ready to use and enjoy.
Price $289,950.
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 300SL Gullwing and 300SL 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 300SL, but it had to be affordable and the plan was to build such a car in far greater numbers than the exclusive 300SLs. Enter the Type W121 or 190SL 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 230SL/250SL/280SL models. This evolved into the Type R107/C107 280SL(C)/350SL(C)/380SL(C)/450SL(C) models built throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
The Mercedes-Benz 230SL (Type W113.042) was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1963. Production started by June of that year and the car was a resounding success for Mercedes-Benz with 19,831 cars built in just over three and a half years of production.
In late 1966 the Mercedes-Benz 250SL (Type W113.043) was introduced. This model had many subtle improvements, but the most significant was an increase in engine size to 2,496cc giving the car significantly improved performance. The majority of the 5,196 250SLs were built in 1967 before production ceased in early 1968.
By late 1967 the final iteration of the Type W113 cars, the Mercedes-Benz 280SL (Type W113.044) was introduced. The Type M180 engine was bored out to provide a total engine capacity of 2,778cc and a further increase in power and torque over its predecessor. Mercedes-Benz built 23,885 280SLs taking the total number of Type W113 cars built to almost 48,912 over 9 years of production.
The Paul Baracq designed Type W113 Mercedes-Benz is today recognised as an all time classic. In recent years the demand for these cars has skyrocketed and the Mercedes-Benz Pagodas have become highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.

1967 MERCEDES-BENZ 250SL

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1964 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 1.
This rare, Australian delivered, factory right drive example was delivered new through Ferrari agent WH Lowes to its first owner in 1964.
The car is documented in Barrys Farrs excellent book - Ferraris in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. Farr notes that in total nine Ferrari 330 GT 2+2s were delivered new into Australia, comprising six Series 1 cars and three Series 2 cars.
This car arrived into Australia on the ship the Ventoux on the 19th August 1964 and was subsequently sold to its first owner Bernard Dowd in Melbourne, Victoria.
Its original colour scheme was avorio (ivory) 19.377 with nero (black) 8500 trim. The car was repainted in pino verde metallic many many years ago (Farr notes prior to 1983), which is the colour the car wears today.
This is a very well known car in Ferrari Club circles in Australia. It has a known ownership from new including a number of long term owners who were respected and very active members of the Ferrari community.
One of the cars long term owners was Sydney based Ferrari enthusiast Gerry Duyvestyn, who rebuilt the engine during his ownership.
This car is also very well known to Oldtimer Australia having been previously sold by us twice. We first sold this car in September 2016 for its then Brisbane based owner to an enthusiast in Melbourne. We then sold the car for him in December 2019.
The current owner lives overseas and has essentially kept the car in storage for the last six years. The car is stored with a classic Ferrari specialist who has started and driven it from time to time.
Today this Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 presents beautifully. The car was subject to a bare metal respray in the early 2000s. Whilst that is some 25 years ago now, the paint work remains in excellent condition. Similarly, the panel gaps are also excellent. All of the external trim, glass etc are in very good condition. Inside the cabin the car oozes sixties style and elegance. All of the leather trim and carpets are in very good condition with just the right amount of patina, evidence that this car has been used as its maker intended and not kept as a garage queen! The timber steering wheel and timber veneer dash are in excellent condition, as are the instruments which are also in working order. The original Becker radio is a nice touch.
We haven't driven this car since offering it for sale, however, the narrative from when we sold it back in 2019 remains current.
At that time we wrote: . . .
The heart of any Ferrari is its engine and this V12 has good oil pressure, excellent power and it sounds fabulous! This car was subject to a full mechanical rebuild in circa 2005 and it has travelled some 5,000 miles since. As you would expect from a well sorted classic Ferrari it starts easily once the Weber carbs are primed and the engine soon settles into a smooth idle. Once warm and out on the open road the car performs fabulously and it is an absolute delight to drive.
When we sold this Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 in 2016 the new owner spent significant time and money over the next few years bringing the car up to the next level. The work completed during his ownership, included:
- A general service: change the engine oil & filters, gearbox oil, differential oil and air filters.
- Adjust ignition timing and carburettors.
- Refresh the ignition system: replaced points & condensers, rotor buttons, spark plug leads and spark plugs.
- Repaired differential oil leak by replacing the left hand side axle seal
- Steering repairs: replaced all 6 tie rod ends and replaced bent tie rod adjusting sleeves with customized stronger units.
- Fitted five new Michelin XWX tyres with competition inner tubes and rebalanced wheels.
- Removed, repainted and refitted rocker covers & timing chain covers, air filter housing and exhaust manifold heat shields.
- Change brake hoses.
- Miscellaneous interior works, including: repack front seats, new carpets, repair sun visors and repair rear parcel shelf.
This wonderful Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 is currently being checked over by a classic Ferrari specialist and recommissioned for its next owner to use and enjoy.
Accompanying the car is the leather pouch with the owners manual & parts manual, the original tool / jack kit, two sets of keys, an original sales brochure as well as a number of period magazines featuring the Ferrari 330 GT.
This classic front engine V12 Ferrari presents a unique opportunity to acquire a rare Australian delivered factory right hand drive example that is in just lovely condition.
At the time of photographing, the odometer read 73,376 miles.
Highlights:
- Rare Australian delivered, factory RHD example (1 of 6 cars)
- Matching numbers.
- Well presented example.
- Ready to use and enjoy.
Listed price AUD $429,950.
Background
Apple, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Nike are brands recognisable the world over. So is Ferrari and interestingly the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer was named The Worlds Strongest Brand in the 2019 Brand Finance Global 500 Report.
Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 out of Alfa Romeos race division as Auto Avio Costruzioni the company built its first car in 1940. The Second World War halted Ferraris dream, which was finally realised in 1947, when the first car bearing his name, the Ferrari125S, was built. From that day on Ferrari race cars dominated the world over, winning race after race and many world championships in Formula One, sports car racing and endurance racing. Ferrari built exclusive sports cars for the road too, but in the early days, this was primarily to fund his motor racing!
The Cavallino Rampate or prancing horse was the symbol chosen by Ferrari and like the golden arches it is recognised by just about every man, woman and child on the planet!
The Ferrari road cars built in the 1940s and early to mid-1950s were built in very small numbers and it was not until the introduction of the 250 series cars that production numbers increased. Almost 1,000 Ferrari 250 GTEs were built from 1959 1963. The 250 Series also contained some of the most special Ferraris ever built, including the Ferrari 250LM, 250 SWB, 250 California Spider and of course the 250 GTO. The 250 Series cars were superseded by the 275 Series cars, the 330series and cars and later the 365 series cars. The nomenclature designated the cubic capacity of each cylinder. So a Ferrari 330 was powered by a 12 cylinder engine of 3967 cc capacity.
Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 was introduced in early 1964 as a successor to the 250 GTE. The 330 was a totally new design and one of its most distinguishing features was its sharper nose with quad headlights. The cars wheelbase was 50mm longer than its predecessor and it had an improved braking system and suspension. The 330s engine was of 4.0 litre capacity generating a claimed 300hp. This was a significant improvement of the 250 GTEs 3.0 litre engine which generated a claimed 240hp.
Being able to seat four in relative comfort and yet providing the performance, handling and looks expected of a Ferrari, the 330 GT 2+2 was a very successful car in period with circa 1,000 cars built from 1964 1967. Only 503 of the original Series 1 cars were built, of which 50 were right hand drive.
According to Barrys Farrs excellent book - Ferraris in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s, there were only nine Ferrari 330 GT 2+2s delivered new into Australia, comprising six Series 1 cars and three Series 2 cars.

1964 FERRARI 330 GT

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this magnificent 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale.
Open top classic Maseratis are rare, including the Mistral Spyder, Ghibli Spyder and 3500 GT Vignale Spyder. Maserati built only 242 of the 3500 GT Spyders by Vignale from 1959 through until 1964, of which only five were factory right hand drive.
Documentation on file from Maserati Classiche confirms that this particular car was completed on the 19th October 1960 and delivered to Torino, Italy. It was originally finished in 'Verde Acqua Metallizzato' (metallic green) with a 'Marrone' (brown) interior. The car was delivered new with carburettors and the manual type ZF S 4/17 4 speed gearbox. Note: the car has a 5 speed ZF gearbox which either means an error with the factory records or that the gearbox was upgraded at some stage. It has disc brakes.
Like many Maserati 3500 GT Spyders, this car does not have an engine number stamping. Maserati Classiche has confirmed that the interno number is correct for this car, hence, it retains its original 'matching numbers' engine.
There is a copy of the Avviso Spedizione (shipping notice) on file which notes a dispatch date of the 4th May 1961. It also notes that the cars was delivered to Adolfo Rossetto from Torino.
Walter Baumer's excellent book - Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale, also confirms a completion date of 4th May 1961. It also notes:
- 30th December 1961 - registered in Torino, Italy on plate TO 380265
- 14th December 1962 - sold to Vittorio Duca in Mila, Italy and registered as MI 609279
- 26th February 1964 - sold to Costantino Cattaneo in Gallarate, Italy
- a subsequent owner was Giuseppe Berlingieri
There is a hand written note on the Avviso Spedizione which notes 8/5/64 - full service at factory.
The car history through until the early 1980s is not known. At that time it found its way to Australia, at which time it was most likely owned by Rod McGaffin. Back then left hand drive cars were not permitted in this country (with the exception of consular cars), so it was converted to right hand drive.
Dr Arnold Singer acquired the car in 1988 and embarked on a major restoration that took him until 1994 to complete. There is comprehensive documentation and photos on file of the restoration, which cost in the order of $280,000. This was a huge sum back then. It is understood that Singer used the car sparingly throughout his ownership.
The current owner acquired this Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale some twenty years ago and has used and enjoyed the car as its makers intended. It was exhibited at Motorclassica in 2017 and more recently as part of a Maserati display at Motors & Masterpieces, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds, in November 2024.
Whilst the car is now considered an older restoration, it still presents beautifully. At the time of our initial inspection, we started the car and the Tipo 101 3.5 litre (3,485cc) straight six engine fired up easily. The engine sounds fabulous and the current owner advises that this car drives every bit as good as it looks.
One could just imagine cruising the Côte dAzur or through Beverly Hills back in the day in a Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale. Today, these beautiful cars are seldom seen and Oldtimer Australia is genuinely excited to offer a unique opportunity to acquire one of Maseratis most rare and desirable open top grand touring cars.
Highlights:
- rare and desirable open top classic Maserati.
- matching numbers chassis and engine.
- beautifully presented older restoration.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
More information and photos to follow soon.
Price AUD $899,950.
Background
The Maserati story is a fascinating one. It is the story of a family with daring, courageous and forward-thinking ideas. The story starts with Rodolfo Maserati, a railway engineer who was employed by the Italian monarchy and the father of seven sons who all had a passion for engine design and racing cars. The Maserati brothers all became involved in the automotive industry in some way or another, however, it was on the 1st of December 1914 that Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati officially opened Alfieri Maserati Workshop in Bologna, Italy.
Maserati chose the trident logo to adorn its cars. Its design was based on the Fountain of Neptune in Bolognas Piazza Maggiore. The colours chosen for the logo were also the colours of Bologna, red and blue.
The business was focused on repairing, servicing and preparing cars, however, the World War cut business short and it wasnt until 1926 that Maserati built its first car, the Tipo 26.
It was all about motorsport back then and in 1937 the Orsi family acquired ownership of Maserati which was in desperate need of financial backing to be able to survive. During the Orsi years Maserati grew from a boutique but very successful race car builder to one of the worlds leading manufacturers of hand-built sports and GT cars.
Maserati built its first road car in 1946 even though times were tough in post War northern Italy. The car was the Maserati A6 - where A was for Alfieri and 6 for the number of cylinders. The initial reception of the car was positive and a production Maserati A6/1500 was then shown at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show.
The Maserati A6 entered production and whilst it was only built in small numbers, it was hugely important to the history and identity of Maserati. It was basically where the brands road car legacy truly began. The A6 remained in production for a decade through until 1956 and during that period various versions were built.
Introduced in 1947, Maserati first production car was the A6 1500, of which around 60 cars were built through until 1950.The majority were powered by Maseratis 1.5 litre (1,488 cc) inline six cylinder engine with a single overhead camshaft and a single Weber carburettor, producing 65 hp.
With an engine bored out to 2.0 litre (1,954.3 cc) and triple Weber carburettors, the Maserati A6G 2000 introduced in 1950 was a step change up in performance with quoted power up to around 100 hp. Only 16 cars were built in 1950 and 1951.
In 1953 Maserati developed the A6GCS/53 to compete in the World Sportscar Championship. It may not have dominated overall victories, but it was highly competitive in its class. Maserati built 52 A6GCS/53s from 1953 through until1955, achieving regular class wins and podiums in endurance and hill climb events.
The next production car was the A6G/54, otherwise known as the A6G 2000 Gran Turismo which was introduced at the 1954 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. A total of 60 cars were built from 1954 1956., with bodies by top coachbuilders including Pininfarina, Zagato and Allemano. This is the most desirable and collectible Maserati A6 today.
Perhaps the most important Maserati GT car was the 3500 GT, which was first shown at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show in March of that year. The first production 3500GTs left the factory in late 1957. Designed by Carrozzeria Touring, the Maserati 3500 GT featured superleggera construction with an all aluminium body. The car was powered by a detuned version of Maseratis V6 engine found in the race cars, with wet sump lubrication. The engines were initially fitted with triple Weber carburettors and later fuel injection, though many customers ordered their later cars with carburettors. Maserati got the formula right and the car was a great success. From 1957 through until 1964 almost 2,000 cars were built, the majority of which were the standard cars bodied by Touring. A small number were bodied by specialist coachbuilders such as Allemano, Boneschi, Frua and Bertone.
At the 1958 Turin Motor Show a Maserati 3500 GT Convertible, bodied by Touring, was first shown. Interestingly, that car never entered production and Maserati opted for the Carrozzeria Vignale (designed by Michelotti) Maserati 3500 GT Convertible, which was first shown at the 1959 Paris Motor Show. The Convertible did not feature Touring's superleggera construction, rather a steel body with an aluminium bonnet, boot lid and optional hard top. The Convertible was built on a wheelbase that was 10cm shorter than the Coupe. The Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale is one of the most beautiful cars ever built and there are certainly similarities with Ferraris 250 GT Cabriolet by Pinin Farina and 250 GT California Spyder. Only 242 Maserati 3500 GT Spyders by Vignale were built from 1959 through until 1964. Of the total production there were only five factory right hand drive examples built.

1960 MASERATI 3500 GT

Details
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 1976 Lamborghini Urraco P300.
Lamborghini built only 205 Urraco P300s of which it is understood that 34 were right hand drive. There were only 12 Australian delivered cars, making this a very unique example.
According to the Lamborghini factory records, this car was completed on the 8th November 1976. The car was originally giallo fly (yellow - paint code 2469019) with a nero (black) interior.
This car has an excellent history file, including its book set which contains the owners manual, service & warranty book and dealer directory in a Lamborghini leather pouch. There is also the original sales invoice, noting that the car was sold by Lolita Automobili Developments in Sydney to its first owner Mr MA Broso from Junee, just north of Wagga Wagga, NSW on the 8th May 1978.
The car was featured in issue #6 January February 1996 of the Lamborghini Club of Australias club magazine The Bulls Roar. In that article it is mentioned the car was on display at the Lolita stand at the 1978 Sydney International Motor Show. The article goes on to mention the car was initially intended to be the first prize in a Weet-Bix promotion and it was painted entirely yellow with a silly rear wing bolted on. The Weet-Bix promotion fell through and before the car went to its first owner the wing was removed.
The service book notes that the car was first serviced in February 1979 at 926 km (1,000 km service) and next in June 1982 at 5,242 km (5,000 km service). At that time the car was still owned by Broso.
By 1987 the car had changed hands and into the ownership of Ian Minter from Sydney. It was registered as LU300 (NSW). Minter had the car regularly service by Lolita Automobile Developments. An invoice from February 1990 notes the mileage as 19,962 km.
Minter sold the car through John McGrath & Co mid 1993 to a well known Sydney based Lamborghini enthusiast and at that time the odometer showed a genuine 26,000 km. The registration LU300 (NSW) was transferred with the car.
In 1996 the car changed hands, joining the collection of another Sydney based enthusiast and at that time the odometer read 36,463 km. Immediately after purchasing the car the registration was changed to the NSW private plate 2255. Additionally, its new owner chose to have the chrome window trims and door handles painted black, which gives the car a more aggressive look. He also had seats fitted from a Lamborghini Silhouette. These were retrimmed and there is an invoice on file from Clifford Powell in Darlinghurst in Sydney dated 21st September 1996.
The car remained in continuous ownership for the next 20 years, during which time it was used sparingly, travelling some 4,000 km.
By 2018 the car had found its way to Victoria. There is a Victorian certificate of roadworthiness on file dated 7th June 2018 which notes the odometer as 40,240 km. It has passed through a few owners in Melbourne before being acquired by its current Melbourne based owner just over two years ago.
Today the odometer reads 40,701 km.
The car makes an excellent first impression.
The Lamborghini Urraco is a stunning Bertone design and the shape carries colour extremely well. Most Lamborghinis look fabulous in yellow, however, it really does suit the Urraco. On this car, the yellow paint contrasts nicely with the black bumpers, louvers, window trims and engine cover.
The paint is in a really good condition. It has retained a strong depth of colour and high gloss finish. There are some very small and minor imperfections in the paint but you have to look hard to find them. Most noticeable is a small chip on the edge of the drivers door.
The external trim and the glass present well and the Lamborghini, Urraco and Bertone badges are present and correct. We love the In Rodaggio sticker on the front windscreen.
The Campagnolo wheels are in good condition with only a few small marks on them. They are shod with period correct Michelin XWX tyres size 205/70 VR14. They are date stamped 1115 (week 11, 2015) and are still in excellent condition. There is also an original spare wheel with the car.
The interior presents really well and being a 2+2 the cabin is quite spacious. The front seats are comfortable and provide ample support. The fabric is in a good condition with no rips or tears present. The rear seats have probably never been used and they along with the door cards and centre console present nicely. The dashboard, which looks to be original, also presents well. All the instruments are clean, clear and appear to be in a good working order. Urraco is stencilled on the gear shifter gate surround, which is just so period Italian. The steering wheel is showing some signs of wear but a good leather doctor could easily bring it up a level or two. The car is fitted with air conditioning and it was working well on our recent test drive, though do not expect the same performance as in a modern day car.
We do have a soft spot for the V8 Lamborghinis (the Urraco, Silhouette and Jalpa) and from the moment this car arrived at our showroom we were genuinely excited to find out if it drove as good as it looks. When the time came to take the car out for a photo shoot and test drive, we were not to be disappointed.
The car starts easily, even from cold and quickly settles into a smooth idle. That V8 sound is quite something and it is one of those things that if you know you know! Out on the open road our first impressions are confirmed. This car drives superbly. The engine revs freely, the throttle response is almost instant and the car just wants to go. The gearbox is often a weak point on a Urraco, especially when its cold. Shifting into second gear can often be difficult, but not on this car. The gear changes are smooth, both up and down the box, even when cold. Once it warms up it only gets better. The car handles superbly and the steering is quite direct. The brakes also work very well and pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed. Having period correct tyres on the car just adds to the look and also the driving experience.
As noted in our background story below, Mel Nichols wrote in the July - September 1976 issue of Sports Car World magazine . . . I was not hard pressed to conclude that the Urraco 3-litre is the most enjoyable car I have ever driven.
We understand why!
The current owner has recently had a change of direction with his car collection and therefore reluctantly decided to sell a few cars, including this Lamborghini Urraco P300.
As a result, we are delighted to offer a unique opportunity to acquire a rare and highly desirable junior supercar. These V8 bulls from SantAgata fly under the radar compared to their big brother V12s . . . but for how much longer?
Accompanying the car is an excellent history file, including its book set which contains the owners manual, service & warranty book and dealer directory in a Lamborghini leather pouch as well as a spare wheel.
Highlights:
Rare 3.0 litre Urraco
Australian delivered, factory RHD, matching numbers example
Excellent history file with original service book
Ready to use and enjoy
Price $249,950.
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 Sant'Agata 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.

LAMBORGHINI URRACO P300

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 $399,950
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

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