OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

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

1958 PORSCHE 356A Speedster

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider equipped with the highly desirable 6-speed manual gearbox.
The car was delivered to its first owner, Mr Christopher Chronis, a well-known Melbourne fashion designer through Ferrari dealer Lance Dixon in Richmond, Victoria on the 16th May 1997. The second owner of the car also lived in Melbourne and used the car sparingly throughout his ownership.
The current owner acquired the car in 2022 and at that time the odometer read 39,375 km.
The car has its original books, including a fully stamped service book. Lance Dixon Ferrari maintained the car from new through until 2003. Cavalli Motorsport then serviced the car until 2016. In 2019 the car was serviced by Prestige City Garage and the last service was completed by Sports & Classic Car Services in July 2022. This was a cam belt service and at that time the odometer read 39,381 km.
Today the odometer reads 40,903 km.
This F355 was produced in an era of red Ferraris, so it is so refreshing to have this car finished in Giallo Modena (colour code FER 102 D.S). And what a fabulous colour . . . it brings out all the lines on the car and creates a perfect contrast with the black soft top. For the anoraks out there Giallo Modena is also the colour of the city of Modena, where Ferrari was founded. Walking around the car you cant help but being impressed with how well these F355s have aged. They still have an amazing presence.
Whilst Ferrari F355s are not super rare, finding a good example is getting harder and harder as these cars age. What we have here is an excellent example. The paint on the car is immaculate and it is hard to believe that it is almost 30 years old! It retains a strong depth of colour and deep gloss finish. You have to look hard to find any imperfections in the paint. The external trim is minimalistic, but all of the lights, lenses, badges etc are similarly well presented. The wheels are also in very good condition, with the only noticeable blemish being a very small mark on the left front wheel. The front wheels are shod with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres, size 235/40 ZR 18. These are date stamped 1317 (week 13, 2017). The rear wheels are also shod with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres but in the size 295/35 ZR18. These are date stamped 4919 (week 49, 2019). Both the front and rear tyres are in good condition.
The soft top on the car is in excellent condition and the mechanism to open and close it works well. The soft top tonneau cover is with the car, it fits well and is in good condition.
Inside the cabin everything is how you expect it to be based on the exterior presentation of the car. The seats present well and there are no rips or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and provide ample support. All the instruments are clear and appear to be in good working order. The switches on the dashboard and the centre console are not sticky as is often the case with Italian cars from this period. Even the carpets are in good condition.
It is very easy to find a comfortable driving position behind the wheel of a Ferrari F355. These car look fantastic but they are also ergonomically very good. They are also very rewarding to drive and offer exhilarating performance. This car is equipped with an immobiliser, so to start you turn the ignition on, then press the button on the remote control and wait for the red light in the middle of the dashboard to stop blinking. Then you turn the key further to start the car. It starts easily, even from cold, and then quickly settles into a smooth idle. The Ferrari F355 is often regarded as one of the best sounding Ferraris. The exhaust note is all performance and you cant help but smile as you sit patiently waiting for the engine to warm up. When ready to go, you notch the gear lever into first and gently edge the car out onto the street. It immediately become obvious that this is a great drivers car. The engine revs freely and it has almost instant throttle response. The gearbox is smooth andprecise with just the right feel. It really just begs you to keep changing up and down because you can! The steering is surprisingly light and very direct. With electrifying performance on tap it is reassuring to know the brakes are up to the task and pull the car up efficiently and in a straight line. In summary, this car is an absolute delight to drive!
Obviously, we put the top down for our test drive to our photo shoot location. Even with the top down it is surprisingly quiet inside the cabin and you can easily have a conversation with your passenger.
The Ferrari F355 is what we consider a true modern classic. In our opinion it is one of best looking modern Ferraris. It is a fantastic drivers car and for us a manual gearbox is a must, yet this is also a car that could be used as a daily driver if one desired.
And yes, before you ask the car retains its original matching numbers engine.
Accompanying the car is a complete book set (minus the torch) including a fully stamped service book and the original toolkit.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered, factory right-hand drive, matching numbers example.
- Beautifully presented in a great colour scheme.
- Low mileage, with only 40,903km.
- Books, including a stamped service book and original tool kit
- All tags and stickers in place.
- Beautifully presented and drives superbly.
Price $229,950
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 3,967cc capacity.
The Ferrari 308 GTB was introduced at the 1975 Paris Motor Show, essentially to replace the 246 Dino GT. The car was designed to fit between the top of the range 365 GT/4 Berlinetta Boxer and 2+2 308 GT/4. In 1977 Ferrari introduced the 308 GTS, which was essentially the same car with a targa roof. The car was made famous through its appearance on the TV show Magnum PI. The model evolved into the 308 GTBi / 308 GTSi in 1980 when Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection replaced the traditional Weber carburettors. Two years later the four valves per cylinder Quattrovalvole or QV was introduced. The 308 was an incredible success and circa 12,000 cars were built from 1975 to 1985 before the 328 was introduced.
The 328 GTB / GTS was essentially an updated version of the 308 with the same engine as its predecessor, but with an increased capacity of 3,185 cc. Interestingly 328 GTS production out numbered 328 GTB production by a factor of five to one.
In total Ferrari built 7,412 328s, comprising 6,068 328 GTS and 1,344 328 GTBs throughout 4 years of production.
The 348 TB and TS replaced the 328 in 1989 and remained in production through until 1995 when it was replaced by the F355. The 348 today is not recognised as being one of Ferraris finest, however, this is probably unfair as the 348 was a great success and in total 8,844 cars were produced throughout the six years of production.
The F355 was first introduced in May 1994 and it was a game changer. It bought a fresh look and an upgraded engine. It became the first Ferrari to be fitted with a 5 valve cylinder head. It remained in production through until 1999 and in total 11,273 were produced before it was superseded by the Ferrari 360.
The Ferrari F355 was offered in three body styles, being the coupe (F355 Berlinetta), targa (F355 GTS) and convertible (F355 Spider).

1997 FERRARI F355 Spider

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this Australian delivered 1962 Porsche 356 B T6 Super 90 coupe.
The Kardex on file confirms this car was delivered new through Porsche dealer Hamilton in Melbourne to Mr J Robertson in Toorak (Melbourne), Victoria. It has a birth date/delivery date of 23rd October 1962 and it was delivered new in Bali Blau (paint code 6212) with a red leatherette interior.
Today the car is presented in that exact colour scheme.
The Kardex notes the following options: RHD, green tinted windscreen, chrome strips and disc wheels.
After having spent time in Melbourne, this car found its way to Brisbane, Queensland in the early 1990s and into the ownership of Reg Cullen from Kenmore in Brisbanes west. It is understood that at that time the car had been repainted in Oslo Blau.
It is understood that when Cullen acquired the car it no longer had its original Super 90 engine fitted. He wanted to return the car to be as original as possible and went on the hunt for a suitable Super 90 engine. He got lucky and found an engine that coincidentally was numbered very close to the original engine that would have been in the car. Between 1992 and 1995 that engine was completely rebuild with lots of new parts. There are invoices on file for the parts acquired and the work completed.
Cullen subsequently used and enjoyed his Porsche and it was regularly serviced by Wayne Park Auto & Tyres in Milton (Brisbane). The earliest service invoice on file from Wayne Park is dated 28th June 2005 and at that time the odometer read 62,571 km.
Cullen kept the car until November 2014. After just over 20 years of ownership he sold the car to John Walker from Clayfield (Brisbane). At that time the odometer read 83,584 km. At that time the car was a little tired. Walker addressed the cars mechanical needs first and sent the car to well respected Porsche specialists DHM in Tennyson (Brisbane) who overhauled the front suspension, fitted a new steering damper, overhauled the brake master cylinder, fitted new tie rod ends and fitted retractable seatbelts.
Walker used and enjoyed the car for about twelve months and at the end of 2015 decided to embark on a cosmetic restoration. He wanted to return the car to its original colour of Bali Blau. It was immediately apparent that this project was not going to be a quick strip and repaint.
The task of repairing the body and preparing it for painting was entrusted to Dennis Laing. When the car was stripped back to bare metal one could see that time had taken its toll on this 356. There are numerous invoices on file showing the various pieces of sheet metal that had to be replaced before the body could be prepared for painting.
The overall project was a significant and very time consuming task which, including painting the car, took nearly 900 hours to complete.
Following the cosmetic restoration the car was used sparingly.
The current Brisbane based owner, who is a well known Porsche 356 tragic, acquired the car in February 2023 and at that time the odometer read 62 km.
After acquiring the car he sent it to his preferred mechanic who went over the car and sorted out a few issues relating to is lack of use over the last seven years. He also had a 123 electronic distributor installed.
Over the last two and a bit years the current owner has continued to improve the car and has taken it to a near concours level.
As a testament to the condition and presentation of the car it was accepted into the 2024 Noosa Concours DElegance and the 2025 Sydney Harbour Concours DElegance. It was exceptionally well received at both events.
The current owner has enjoyed his time and journey with this Porsche 356 B T6 Super 90 coupe, however, he has now decided to move in a different direction.
At the time of photographing the car, the odometer read 1,912 km.
Whilst colour is obviously a personal choice, we think that Porsche 356s are very colour sensitive. We also think that Bali Blau with a red interior is a perfect colour combination for a Porsche 356. It just gives the car a very elegant and distinctive appearance.
Even though this car was repainted some 8 years ago now, the paint still looks fresh and it presents really well. It has retained its strong depth of colour and its high gloss finish. When you look up close youll find some very minor imperfections which are consistent with a car that has been well taken care of but at the same time used and enjoyed the way its maker intended. The panel gaps on the car are all really good and the doors open and close easily.
All the bright work on the car is in good condition. The same can be said for all the glass. It is clear with no chips or cracks evident. All the lights and lenses are also in good condition.
The wheels are good condition with no sign of any kerb rash. They are shod with Dunlop sport classic tyres size 185/60 R15. The tyres are date stamped 2221 (week 22, 2021) and are still in very good condition.
When you open the door you cant help but being impressed with the interior. The red leatherette seats contrast nicely with the blue dashboard and the beige carpets. The seats are still in very good condition with no cracks or tears in the fabric. They are comfortable and still provide ample support. The rear seats appear to have hardly been used. The dashboard presents well and all the instruments are clean, crisp and appear to be in good working order. It even still has its original factory gearshift lock.
Porsche 356s look cool but they are also great fun to drive. This is a car well known to Oldtimer Australia and we were curious to see if this one drives as good as it looks. We were not disappointed!
As with all 356s still running their original 6 volt electrical system, it takes a few attempts to start the car when the engine is cold. You wonder for a split second if the engine will fire, but it does and then it quickly settles into a smooth idle. That unique 356 sound draws a smile as you wait patiently for the mechanicals to warm up.
For those not familiar with Porsche 356s, there is a big difference between the performance of cars with a base model 1600 engine which delivers around 60 hp and a 1600 Super 90 which delivers about 90 hp. That extra power makes the Super 90 so much better to drive and this car has plenty of power on tap. The engine revs freely and the car has excellent throttle response. It is surprisingly spritely! Equally important in a 356 is the gearbox. A tired gearbox with sloppy linkages takes much of the fun away from the driving experience. The gear changes on this car are direct and they are smooth both up and down the box. The suspension feels tight, the steering is relatively direct and the brakes pull the car up quickly and in a straight line.
It is our pleasure to be able to offer for sale this lovely Australian delivered 1962 Porsche 356 B T6 Super 90.
This car is ready for its next owner to show, use and enjoy.
Accompanying the car is a good history file dating all the way back to 1992, an owners manual, service booklet (that may or may not be original to this car), a spare wheel, jack and tool kit.
Highlights
- An Australian delivered, factory RHD 356 B.
- Desirable Super 90 model.
- Finished in its original and stunning colour scheme.
- Sorted, ready to show, use & enjoy.
Price $234,950.
Background:
The Porsche story is a fascinating one and its roots go back to the 1930s when Professor Ferdinand Porsche was instrumental in the design of the first Volkswagen and also Auto Union race cars. By 1939 he had built three Porsche cars to compete in the 800-mile race from Berlin to Rome. Unfortunately, the race was cancelled due to the war and Porsche was forced to focus on supporting the German war effort, however, he had always wanted to build his own cars. In 1944 Porsche was forced to leave Stuttgart and he set up a small operation in Gmünd, Austria. Soon after the Porsche family and many of their engineers were captured and sent to jail. Ferdinand Porsches son. Ferdinand junior, or Ferry as he was known, was released six months later and he returned to Gmünd to rebuild the family company. Things moved quickly and Porsche was involved with cars again and in mid-1948 the first Porsche 356 was built. It is understood Porsche built some 50 aluminium bodied cars by hand in their small factory at Gmündbefore relocating back to Stuttgart, Germany in 1949.
Instead of building the body of the car himself Porsche decided to collaborate with an old partner, the body manufacturing company Reutter who had both the expertise and infrastructure to mass produce the bodies for the 356 coupe and cabriolet.
Nowadays, the first series of the 356, built from 1948 through until 1955 are known as the 356 Pre A.
In 1955 the 356 A was introduced. The internal factory designation for this model was Type 1 which was quickly adapted by enthusiasts who referred to the 356 A as the T1. The 356 A became available as a coupe, cabriolet and a Speedster. Buyers had the choice between a 1,300cc and a 1,600cc engine and later the Super version.
A second revision of the 356 A was introduced early in 1957. It became known as the Type 2 (or T2). Late 1958 the Speedster was replaced by the Convertible D which was now build by coachbuilder Drauz. In late 1959 the 356 A was replaced by the 356 B. The 356 B was available as a coupe, cabriolet and roadster, with each body style available with a number of different engine options.
The last revision of the 356 was the 356 C introduced for the 1964 model year.
The 356 remained in production through until 1965 and evolved into one of the most successful sports cars ever built.

1962 PORSCHE 356B T6 Super 90

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

1964 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA 1600 SPIDER

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this striking Australian delivered, factory right hand drive Maserati Merak.
The documentation on file from Maserati Classiche confirms that this car was completed on the 11th June 1974 and sold to Auto Italia in Melbourne. Its production date makes this quite an early car. The car was originally delivered in orancio (orange) with a dark grey velvet (velour) interior.
Apart from being sold new into Adelaide, the early history of this car is not known. The earliest documentation on file is a South Australian registration certificate dated 30th October 1987 and a transfer of ownership to a Mr H Clisby dated 1st May 1988. At that time the car was registered as UMZ 377.
There is a detailed write up on file from a previous owner, a Mr Don Venn from Adelaide, in which he mentions he purchased the Merak in 1990. In his ownership the car was stripped back to bare metal including the engine frame and the engine bay. All corrosion was cut out and replaced with new metal. There are photos on file documenting the work done. The car was then painted using Dulux acrylic lacquer in Ferrari Fly Yellow. Mechanically, the car also underwent a full refurbishment. Everything was assessed and what needed to be replaced was replaced.
In 1994 the car was sold to its next owner, Mr Tony Chapman from Sydney, NSW. At that time the car had 74,000 miles on the odometer. Chapman used and enjoyed his Merak through his 22 years of ownership clocking up some 24,000 miles.
Chapman sold the car through Shannons 2016 Sydney Spring auction. Its new owner was a classic car enthusiast in Perth. Whilst he loved his new yellow Merak he thought it would look even better finished in its original colour of orange! He engaged the services of Italian car specialists, Auto Delta, in Perth Western Australia to generally freshen up the car and have it repainted. One thing led to another and the car essentially underwent a second restoration. In addition to a repaint, the interior was retrimmed and a significant amount of mechanical work was also undertaken. The mechanical work included overhauling the hydraulic system, cooling system, brakes, steering and fitting a new clutch. The engine was rebuilt, which included refurbishing the cylinder heads and replacing the block which was in poor condition.
At that time the odometer read 98,437 miles.
After the restoration was complete the car was shown at Perths premier classic car event, the Celebration of the Motorcar in November 2020 where it won the Classic Sports Car class.
The cars owner then moved to Brisbane and decided to move in a different direction with his collection.
This fabulous Maserati Merak was sold through Oldtimer Australia to its current owner in February 2022, at which time the odometer read 98,537 miles.
After the current owner acquired the car he ironed out a few post restoration bugs and had the paint work ceramic coated. He has subsequently regularly used and enjoyed the car. It has been taken to various classic car events in and around south east Queensland, where it has been a regular trophy winner. It won the Peoples Choice award at the Lakeside Euro Day in May 2022 and European Sports category at the Noosa Beach Classic Car Show in July 2022 and again in September 2023.
The car was also taken to Auto Italia in Canberra in March 2023 where it was awarded the Chief Judges Choice award.
Today the odometer reads 01,912 miles, so in two years of ownership the car has travelled almost 3,400 miles or 5,600 km.
It is great to see that the car has been driven, but we should point out it presents even better than when we sold it back in 2022!
The Maserati Merak is one of Giorgetto Giugiaros finest pieces of work. The trademark flying buttress softens the look of the car and as a result it carries colour exceptionally well.
The first thing youll notice when you walk up to this car is the colour. It is ORANGE, very ORANGE, however, it is just so seventies and it really suits the car. It shows off the lines perfectly and contrasts well with the painted Campagnolo wheels.
Overall, the first impressions of the car are really good. It presents exceptionally well and the paint has retained a deep gloss and a mirror like smooth finish. Walking around the car we struggled to find any imperfections. There is a small mark in the swage line of the passengers door and a small bubble at the bottom of the passengers door, near the font. You have to kneel down and look closely to see both.
The external trim is minimalistic, however, it is all in very good condition. This includes the bright work, lights/lenses and the glass.
The car sits on its original and unique Campagnolo wheels. The wheels are in very good condition with no kerb rash. They are shod with period correct Michelin XWX tyres, size 205/70/15 which are still in excellent condition. They are date stamped 3815 (week 38, 2015).
Open the door and you are welcomed by a very good looking interior. These early Meraks had the same dashboard as its big bother, the Maserati Bora. The upholstery is relatively fresh and the seats are in very good condition with no sign of any cracks or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and provide plenty of support. The Merak is a token 2+2 and the two rear seats appear to have never been used, other perhaps for an overnight bag. The centre console, door cards and dashboard all presents equally well. The carpets remain plush and are clean. All the instruments are clear and appear to be in good working order.
Under the front bonnet youll find a small boot which is clean and the carpet is in good condition.
The engine bay also presents very well. Everything looks clean, neat and tidy. The space saver spare wheel, running a Pirelli tyre that appears to have never been used, sits in the rear of the engine compartment. It is quite an incredible design that the engine sits so far forward in this 2+2 mid engine sports car! On closer inspection everything in the engine bay looks to be essentially correct.
Our memory from early 2022 was that this car drove really well. After being fettled, then used and enjoyed we were keen to take the car out for a current test drive. The starting procedure is typically Italian car of that era. Turn the ignition on, allow the fuel pump a little bit of time to fill the Weber carburettors, then give the accelerator pedal a few pumps and turn the key to start the car. It fires up easily, even from cold and the fairly quickly settles into a smooth idle.
Out on the road this Maserati Merak is fun to drive. By modern standards it is not fast, but it feels light and nimble on the road. The engine responds quickly to the slightest touch of the accelerator pedal and you often feel like you are travelling faster than you actually are. The Citroen controls are quirky, but once you get used to driving the car it is very rewarding. The gearbox, which should be used to maximise the power band from engine feels precise and direct. The gear changes are smooth both up and down the box. The steering is direct and precise, which coupled with the superb handling ensure that the car feels glued to the road at all times. The brakes are very direct and pull the car up easily and in a straight line.
All too soon our test drive comes to an end and we return the car to our showroom.
Unfortunately, there are quite a few tired Maserati Meraks out there, which can bring no end of problems. Good cars that are sorted, ready to use and enjoy are few and far between.
This car is a very well sorted example of an iconic 70s Italian junior super car which is ready for its next owner to use and enjoy.
Accompanying the car is a very good history file, various trophies, a car cover, a copy of a parts manual, a copy of a workshop manual and a copy of an owners manual.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered, factory RHD early Merak.
- Beautifully presented example of this iconic Maserati
- Recently restored in its original 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. Soon after, the idea of a two seat mid-engined super car was conceived. It was then in the summer of 1969 the first prototype of Maseratis new car was built. This car was known as Tipo 117 and was ultimately named Bora after a wind from the Northern Adriatic Sea. The car became a reality in relatively short time and it was officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971.
Like the Ghibli before it Maseratis new flagship was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, this time for Ital Design. In many ways the Bora was a unique design and its trademark was that its roof and A pillar were finished in brushed stainless steel in contrast the rest of the painted body.
The early seventies were tough time for supercar manufacturers as the oil crisis hit hard, effecting the sales of cars with large displacement engines.
Maseratis answer was the V6 engined Merak.
The Maserati Merak (Tipo 122) was introduced at the 1972 Paris Motor Show and it followed in the footsteps of its big brother the Bora. The models name, chosen by Maseratis commercial director Dominique Drieux, was not a name of a wind and is not to be confused with the Eponymous Indonesian city in Java. It receives its name after a star in the Ursa Major constellation.
Like the Bora, the Maserati Merak was designed by Ital Designs Giorgetto Giugiaro and its ancestry is obvious though there are many subtle but significant differences in the cars design. The Merak is one of Giugiaros finest pieces of work. Whilst based on its big brother the Bora, the Merak doesnt have a full glass fastback, but rather a cabin ending abruptly with a vertical rear window and a flat, horizontal engine cover pierced by four series of ventilation slats. Giugiaro completed the vehicles silhouette by adding open flying buttresses, visually extending the roofline to the tail.
The Merak is a 2+2 though its rear seats are best described as occasional or for an overnight bag or golf clubs only! Its Italian competitors all ran V8 engines, however, Maserati opted to use a longitudinally mounted 2,965cc V6 engine that had its roots in the Citroen SM. Given the company was owned by Citroen at the time it is not surprising that a number of Citroen components were used, including the engine as well as Citroens hydraulic systems and much of the interior.
Maserati built some fabulous cars during Citroens ownership (including the Indy, Bora, Merak and Khamsin), however, times were tough and the company struggled financially. Citroen placed Maserati into liquidation in May 1975 and it was ultimately saved by the Italian government and Alejandro de Tomaso took control shortly thereafter.
Interestingly when Alejandro de Tomaso acquired Maserati the Merak underwent a make over of its interior which was well received at the time. In addition to the standard Merak, Maserati brought out the Merak SS in 1976 which was lighter and had a more powerful engine and also the Merak 2000 in 1977 specifically for the Italian market which imposed a heavy tax on cars with engines greater than 2,000cc capacity.
The Merak was one of the seventies junior supercars, much like Lamborghinis Urraco and Ferraris 308 GT/4, that was going to tackle Porsche head one and be sold in significant quantities to underpin the cash flow of the company during the oil crisis.
The formula made good sense and Maserati enjoyed much success with its Merak and 1,820 examples were built in a twelve year period from 1972 to 1983.

1974 MASERATI MERAK

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

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 $179,950.
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

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

1987 FERRARI 328GTS

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