Oldtimer Garage Australia Pty Ltd

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this extremely elegant and sophisticated 1968 Maserati Mexico.
The documentation on file from Maserati Classiche confirms this car was ordered on the 20th November 1968 by Maserati dealer Sport Auto Roma from Rome, Italy. It was completed sometime in December 1968 and delivered on the 3rd January 1969 to its first owner, M. Armando Grimaldi, from Rome.
This car was delivered in Argento Auteuil (silver) Salchi paint code 106E1 with a nero black leather interior Connolly code PAC.1560. It was equipped with Borrani spoked wheels and a five-speed manual ZF gearbox.
The very early history of this car is not known, however, it is understood to have come to Australia in the early 1970s when it was imported by a gentleman from Canberra. Back then left hand drive cars were not permitted to be road registered in this country (with the exception of consular cars), so it was converted to right hand drive upon arrival.
In 1977 this Maserati Mexico was acquired by Michael Adams from Sydney. The car remained in continuous family ownership for the next 35 years. It is understood that Adams used it for the first few years of his ownership, however, in circa 1984 and for reasons unknown it was parked up and put into dry storage. The car sat idle for the next 28 years and after Adams passing in 2012 it was left to his son Adrian. He had no interest in it and offered it for sale.
It was described as: Original 50,901 km has been stored in a garage for over 28 years and has not seen the road since then. Is in need of restoration, body is very straight and has never had any hits or paintwork. Has some typical lower sill rust but nothing too major. Inside the boot there is only surface rust and that is all. No rust in floor or around the windows.
Mechanically the engine has good compression and turns over nicely, with oil pressure registering on factory oil pressure gauge.
Interior the leather is all original and has no tears, but is dull. The dash has no cracks and woodwork is very good, steering wheel does have a split developing in the wood. Was converted to right hand drive over 34 years ago. Car has been in the family for 35 years.
It has the original factory fitted Borrani wire wheels, plus the spare Borrani wheel in the boot. All badges are on the car with none missing. Car deserves full restoration. Will consider all serious offers.
The Mexico was acquired by a well-known Sydney based Maserati enthusiast and collector who went on the journey of restoring it. The body and paintwork was completed by Anthony Xenos from Sydney. All the mechanical work and assembly was completed by highly respected Maserati specialist Mario Lombardi from Melbourne. All the timber was refurbished by Carwood Refurbishing Service in Melbourne and all the instruments were rebuilt and refurbished by Lionel Otto Instruments in Brisbane.
The project took three years and in 2015 the Mexico was finally back on the road. At that time it was registered in NSW as BXA03F.
This Maserati Mexico was exhibited at Motorclassica, which was Australias leading Concours dElegance and classic car show, in October 2015.
In April 2016 it won the Classics 1946 1981 class at Auto Italia in Canberra.
The current owner acquired the car through the Classic Throttle Shop in Sydney in January 2018 and at that time the odometer read 53,909 km.
In his ownership the car has been regularly used and it was often seen at Maserati Owners Club of Australia events and rallies. It has been consistently maintained and serviced, initially by Maranello Pur Sang Motors in Brunswick (Melbourne) and in more recent years by Sports & Classic Car Services in Braeside (Melbourne).
In July 2026 it was exhibited at the Noosa Concours dElegance, where it was very well received.
At time of photographing the odometer read 62,727 km.
We have a real soft spot for the Maserati Mexico. Designed by Virginio Vairo, an Italian designer who collaborated with Carrozzeria Vignale, it is best described as the ultimate expression of understated elegance. Its crisp, clean lines are a masterclass in restrained Italian design. The long bonnet, slim pillars and balanced proportions give the car a purposeful stance, while subtle details such as the quad headlights, delicate chrome trim and distinctive C-pillar create a timeless design that has aged remarkably well. In many ways the Maserati Mexico is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Beneath the bonnet lies Maseratis glorious quad-cam V8 engine, mated to ZFs five-speed manual gearbox. The car is equally at home cruising across continents or tackling a winding mountain road.
This car makes a very strong first impression. The colour of Argento Auteuil suits the Mexico perfectly, accentuating its subtle design features. Overall the paint work remains in very good condition. It has retained a strong depth of colour and a nice gloss finish. Upon closer inspection there are some very minor imperfections, as one might expect from a car that was restored over ten years ago and subsequently used and enjoyed the way its makers intended. Most notably, there is a very tiny bubble on the bonnet, a tiny stress crack near the rear windscreen and another one near the edge of the boot.
The brightwork is plentiful and a real design feature on a Maserati Mexico. From the headlight surrounds to the grill, the bumpers, window surrounds and the sills, it just flows from one end to the other. Everything is in very good condition and the same can be said for the badges as well as the lights and lenses. All the glass on the car is in a very good condition with no chips or cracks evident. Overall, the external trim presents beautifully.
The very stylish Borrani wheels are in an excellent condition. They are shod with period correct Michelin XWX tyres, size 215/70 VR15 and they are date stamped 01/09 (week 1, 2009). Whilst they look to be still in good condition, they probably should be replaced based on their age.
Open the door and you are welcomed by a very impressive looking interior. Inside, the Mexico is all class, offering a luxurious environment trimmed in fine leather, polished timber and elegant Smiths instrumentation. Unlike many contemporary Italian exotics, it was designed as a true grand tourer, providing relatively comfortable accommodation for four passengers.
The black leather upholstery provides a perfect contrast to the paint work and also with the wood finished dash board, door caps, steering wheel and gear knob. All the wood work is in excellent condition with no signs of any cracks or discoloration. The same can be said for all the leather covering the dashboard, door cards, centre console and arm rests. The only small imperfection in the leather we noticed is on the rear parcel shelf where it meets the rear window.
The leather seats are in excellent condition. They are comfortable, as one would expect in a car like this, and provide excellent support. There is some very light wear on the pipping on the front seats, most likely caused by the seatbelts.
The vast array of instruments present as crisp and clean. We love the entertaining arrangement of gauges and toggle switches, which is more akin to sitting in the cockpit of an aeroplane.
The car is equipped with air conditioning which appears to be working though it is currently not blowing cold air.
The boot or luggage compartment is generous and will even fit a suitcase or a number of small to medium size bags, making the car perfectly suited to extended journeys or a fun weekend away. The trademark Maserati diamond pattern vinyl is essentially unmarked.
Under the bonnet the engine bay is neat, clean and today. The original matching numbers 4,136cc engine takes pride of place and the crackle black Maserati scripted cam covers are the first thing you see, a gentle reminder of Maseratis rich competition heritage. Everything looks to be very correct and importantly the car retains its correct tags and stampings. There is more diamond pattern vinyl under the bonnet and on the firewall, which is also in very good condition.
Starting a Maserati Mexico is a ritual that immediately reminds you this is a hand-built Italian grand tourer from one of the marques golden eras. Settling into the beautifully trimmed leather seat, your view is framed by a classic wood-rimmed steering wheel and an elegant array of Smiths instruments spread across the dashboard.
Turn the ignition key and the electric fuel pump begins its characteristic ticking as it primes the quartet of Weber carburettors. A twist to the start position brings the all-alloy quad-cam V8 to life with an eager bark before it settles into a smooth, confident idle. There is a subtle mechanical symphony at work, which combined with the unmistakable burble from the exhaust creates a soundtrack that is uniquely Maserati.
We patiently allow the engine some time to warm up before taking the car out onto the open road. Even before selecting first gear, the experience is one of occasion. All senses are working overtime. It is easy to let the mind wander and one could imagine that this Maserati Mexicos first owner would have been dressed in a Versace suit and tie when he collected the car from the dealer back in the day and his first drive would have been an adventure through the Italian Alps. All this of course, with the family in tow!
This car performs superbly out on the open road, which is where Maseratis 4.2 litre V8 engine really comes to life. Quoted as delivering 260 bhp and 267 lb-ft of torque, there is more than enough power on tap for the this to be considered a fast car, however, the driving experience encourages relaxed cruising as much as spirited driving. Long legged gearing and excellent high speed stability make covering great distances almost effortless, with the car settling into a confident, unhurried stride.
Driving this car is a deeply engaging experience. The engine feels strong and it pulls willingly through the rev range. The 5 speed ZF gearbox is smooth up and down the box and really suits the engine. The car sits tightly on the road and handles well, though the steering does feels a little bit notchy. The brakes perform well and pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed.
The current owner has thoroughly enjoyed his 8 years of ownership of this fabulous car, but feels its time for someone else to become its next custodian.
Accompanying the car is a good history file, which includes Maserati Classiche documentation, a copy of an owner manual, a correct Borrani spare wheel, jack and a (non original) tool kit.
Today, the Maserati Mexico is appreciated by enthusiasts as one of the marques hidden gems. Produced in relatively small numbers and overshadowed by more famous contemporaries such as the Ghibli, it offers the same charismatic V8 performance, exceptional craftsmanship and unmistakable Italian style in a more discreet and highly usable package. It is a car that rewards those who appreciate understated elegance, engineering excellence and the enduring appeal of a hand-built Italian grand tourer.
Highlights:
- Presented in its original and stunning colour combination which really highlights the elegance of the car.
- A beautifully presented older restoration.
- Well maintained by marque experts.
- Ready for its next owner to use and enjoy.
Price $199,950
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.
In 1965 a prototype was introduced on the Vignale Stand at the 1965 Salone di Torino. A major Mexican customer, who had brought his 5000 GT in for repairs, saw the car and was so impressed with its look that he decided to have the body transferred onto his 5000 GT chassis. These series of events led to the new model being named Mexico.
The Maserati Mexico (Tipo AM112) was introduced in October 1966 at the 53rd edition of the Mondial de lautomobile de Paris.
The Mexico stayed in production till 1972 and in total 485 were produced, 5 prototypes and 480 production models of which 175 were equipped with the 4.7-litre engine and 305 with the 4.2-litre engine.

1968 MASERATI MEXICO

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

1971 MASERATI INDY 4.7 Manual

Oldtimer Australia delighted to offer for sale an extremely rare factory, right hand drive Maserati Kyalami. This particular car was built in the most desirable specification, being powered by Maseratis 4.9 litre engine mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. This car is one of only 10 examples ever produced in this configuration.
Maserati has confirmed this Kyalami was produced on 26th July 1979. It was delivered new into the UK and was sold through Modena Concessionaires Ltd in West Bromwich. The car was delivered in verde medio (light green) with a fungo (beige) interior. It was first registered on 23rd December 1982 and carried the plate BEA 71Y. The first owner is noted as Mr Michael Harris from London, UK.
The car had a few subsequent owners before it was acquired by Anthony Michaelson of Musical Fidelity fame from Wembley, UK in May 1988. The DVLA records on file confirm the car was repainted blue in his ownership. Michaelson enjoyed the car for five years, selling it in September 1993 at Coys auction.
In April 1999 the car was acquired by Troy de Leon from Warfield, UK. In his ownership a significant amount of work was done to the car. An invoice on file from Rossi Engineering in Sunbury-on-Thames dated 25th April 2000 confirms the engine was removed from the car and rebuilt, a new exhaust system was fitted, the bumpers were repainted, new front springs were fitted and the AC was recharged. The invoice noted the odometer showing 87,547 km at the time.
In June 2001, with the odometer reading 93,866 km, the gearbox was rebuilt by J.W.F. Motors in Wokingham, UK.
In September 2001 the car was repainted in its current colour of rame metalic by Evans Auto Repair Services in Warfield, UK. The invoice confirms this was a major project. Necessary rust repairs were completed, which involved new metal work as required. Under seal was applied to both sills, all the wheel arches, the front wings, the front apron, the rear wings, the inner arches, the arch guards and under the spare tyre bay.
In May 2004 the car was sold to Rupert Wilkes from Wisbech, UK. There is an MOT test certificate on file dated 9th March 2004 and at that time the mileage was noted as 99,201 km. Wilkes used the car sparingly throughout his ownership, as confirmed by the subsequent MOT test certificates and the Statutory Off Road Notifications (SORN) on file. An MOT certificate dated 8th February 2007 notes the mileage as 99,932 km, and one dated 22nd December 2009 notes the mileage as 99,959 km.
The current Melbourne based owner acquired the car in May 2018 and at that time the odometer showed 807 km (100,807 km). He initially kept the car in the UK before eventually importing it into Australia in 2021. There is an import approval on file for the car.
Before the car was shipped to Australia the clutch and spigot bearing were replaced, the carburettors were stripped, cleaned and rebuilt, the fuel tanks were removed and cleaned. The car was also serviced and all the fluids were changed. All that work was completed in April 2021.
After the car arrived in Australia a problem with the AC compressor was identified and in May 2023 the car was sent to Maranello Purscang Motors in Brunswick, Victoria to address this issue. A new A/C compressor was sourced and fitted. Some other minor issues were also addressed and the car was issued a roadworthy and subsequently registered in Victoria.
Shortly thereafter a knock in the engine became audible. After much deliberation with the team at Marnello Pur Sang it was decided that the engine needed to be stripped to diagnose the problem. The end result was a full engine rebuild with new pistons, bearings and other parts as required.
Today the odometer reads 03,536 km (103,536 km).
We love the understated, yet classical look of the Maserati Kyalami. We think the colour choice of rame metallic is absolutely perfect for this car. This period colour emphasis the lines on the car and gives it quite an elegant appearance. It also contrasts well with the beige interior.
Even though this car was repainted some 20 years ago, the paint work has held up well and it presents today with a strong depth of colour and nice gloss finish. On closer inspection, we noticed a few small imperfections on the car. Most noticeably, there is a small scratch on the right rear guard, a small a chip on the drivers side mirror and a small chip on the lower part of the drivers door. There are also a few small chips on the edge of the drivers door. The car looks stunning in the photos, but even better in the flesh!
All the external trim is similarly well presented. The bright work on the car is minimalistic, but a feature and it is in good condition. The badges are in good condition with only the slightest sign of some wear around the edges of the Maserati badge on the bonnet. The glass is all in good condition and the same can be said for the lenses both on the headlights and the tail lights. The bumpers on these cars are often cracked and show with minor damage, but on this car they present well.
The wheels are generally in good condition, though if you look closely there are a few small bubbles under the paint and there is a small chip on the edge of the left front wheel. They are shod with as new Michelin 205/70 VR15 XWX tyres which are date stamped 1621 (week 16, 2021).
Open the sweeping door and you are welcomed by a very elegant, functional, yet very Italian interior. First impressions are good. The interior appears to be original and overall it is in very good condition. The leather seats present well, are firm and provide ample support. The seats show some patina, but there are no cracks or tears in the leather. A good leather treatment could easily bring them up a level. The rear seats appear to have been rarely used, if at all and are still in excellent condition. The dashboard in a Kyalami is a real feature and it presents well. The dashboard is covered in Alcantara and that is not an easy material to keep clean. In this car it presents well and there is no discolouration except for a small area on the right bottom of the dashboard. All the instruments are clean and present well. They all appear to be in good working order.
As we prepare for our test drive, we settle in behind the Momo leather steering wheel. Finding a comfortable driving position is surprisingly easy. The seats are exceptionally comfortable, visibility is excellent and both the steering wheel and all controls fall naturally to hand.
It is with great anticipation we insert the key into the ignition to fire up the big V8. After allowing the fuel pump enough time to fill the carburetors you turn the key further to start the car. The engine cranks over easily and it fires up quickly with a bark. There is no need to use the throttle, the engine just catches and it immediately settles into a smooth idle. The engine sounds absolutely fantastic. It is kind of an Italian muscle car!
Whilst you could listen to the Maserati symphony all day, this car needs to be driven. Out on the wide open road is where it really belongs. This car is really a wolf in sheeps clothing. Whilst it is happy to cruise along in traffic, it relishes some open road with some open throttle! It is then that Maseratis 4.9 litre V8 comes to life . . . that Maserati sound is just something. One needs to remember it roots go back to the car of kings the 5000GT and the mighty 450S race cars. The engine in this car pulls like a train. It feels strong and the power delivery is surprisingly smooth. Whilst a Kyalami with an automatic gearbox is a nice car to drive, we just love the 5 speed manual gearbox and in this car it is very easy to use. The clutch is reasonably light, but with a good feel and the gear changes are smooth both up and down the box. This car handles well and the suspension feels firm, yet the ride is incredibly smooth and it easily absorbs any bumps in the road.
All too soon our test drive comes to an end. A Maserati Kyalami is not a small car, yet it is easy to drive and very comfortable.
It is immediately obvious that the target market for this car was the successful business man or woman back in the day. They would have appreciated the finer things in life, but wanted a car that offered the sophistication and class of a sports car combined with the refinement and practicality of a luxury saloon car.
This Maserati Kyalami is just a fabulous car that we are genuinely excited to offer for sale. The overall condition and presentation of this car is consistent with a car has been cherished by its previous owners. The car offers incredibly good value for money and it is reluctantly offered for sale by its current owner. It is ready for its next custodian to use and enjoy.
Highlights:
Super rare car, being one of only 10 factory right hand drive Maserati Kyalamis built with the desirable 4.9 litre engine and the manual gearbox.
Matching numbers chassis and engine.
Well presented in a unique and stunning colour combination of rame metallic with a beige interior.
Recent engine rebuild.
Extensive history file.
Ready to use and enjoy.
Price AUD $114,950.
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 1969. 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. Under de Tomasos watch the first new Maserati was the Kyalami, so named after the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in South Africa where a Maserati powered Cooper T81 had won the 1967 South African Grand Prix. The Kyalami was based on the De Tomaso Longchamp. Pietro Frua was commissioned to re-style the car and give it that traditional Maserati look and feel. The Kyalami was seen as a true successor to the Mexico and production spanned 8 years from 1976 through until 1983. Maserati production numbers are often a point of contention, however, it is understood that only 201 Kyalamis were built. Of these, surprisingly 44 were factory right handdrive. 30 of the right hand drive cars were destined for the UK market, 7 for the Australian market, 4 for the South African market and 3 for Hong Kong. Of the 44 right hand drive cars, 21 were fitted with the 4.9 engine, of which 10 were fitted with a manual gearbox and 11 with an automatic gearbox.

1979 MASERATI KYALAMI 4.9 Manual

A new arrival at Oldtimer Australia is this evocative 1971 Porsche 911E Reimagined.
Singer Vehicle Design has firmly established itself as the definitive authority in air-cooled Porsche 911 enhancement. In essence, a Singer Porsche is a reimagined 911 at its absolute zenith a seamless blend of heritage, engineering excellence and bespoke craftsmanship.
The demand for these cars is unprecedented and it has also generated huge interest in other re-engineered interpretations of the air-cooled Porsche 911.
This 1971 Porsche 911E Reimagined represents a compelling fusion of classic Porsche heritage and modern upgrades (including a tuned 3.6 litre 993) that has been meticulously built by Porsche specialists.
If ever a car arrived at our showroom with a story to tell, it has to be this 911. It clearly boasts a fascinating and colourful history. It started life as a road car, was rebuilt into a very successful competition car and more recently Reimagined.
The Porsche Certificate of Authenticity on file confirms this 1971 (MY 1972) Porsche 911E 2.4 Litre Coupe originally left the factory in Gemini Blue Metallic (paint code 8686) with a black leatherette interior (trim code 11). The car was delivered with a sunroof and a rear wiper.
Porsche has confirmed this car was originally destined for the UK market, however, it is fitted with an Australian compliance plate. Therefore, it may well have been ordered by an Australian in the UK who planned to immediately export the car to Australia or it was perhaps a tourist delivery ordered through a UK dealer. Regardless, the car must have found its way to Australia very early in its life. The Australian Compliance Plate is dated 6/72.
We have to assume the car led a rather normal until the late 1980s or early 1990s when it was acquired by Garnet Luckins from Melbourne, Victoria. Luckins, who was one of the founding members of the Porsche Club in Victoria, had highly respected Porsche specialist Mike Tankard turn this 911E into a race car.
In the mid 1990s the car was sold to John Saunders from Perth, Western Australia. He further developed the car and a CAMS log book was issued on the 19th June 1997. In the early 2000s the car was purchased by Porsche racer Brett Bedggood from Wendouree, a suburb of Ballarat in Victoria. He purchased the car for the engine which was fitted in it at the time. As a result, he really didnt use the car.
In October 2006 Bedggood sold the car to a well-known Porsche tragic Larry McFarlane from Brisbane in Queensland. At the time, McFarlane had been racing his rare and quit valuable Porsche 964RS and decided that the risk to continue and race that car was too great. He had been on the hunt for the right track car for some time and when this came to market it met most of his requirements.
This car looked good and it appeared to be in a reasonable condition. It had previously been converted into a 2.8 RSR clone including the massive wheel arches, a roll cage, 930 turbo brakes and a light weight interior.
Unfortunately, the car had a few issues, most notably the engine was tired. With the help of local Porsche specialist Don Munro from T&D Automotive a decision was made to make the car as good as it could be and the first step was to install a type M64 engine from a Porsche 993. The engine was sourced from Wayne Hennig in Noosa, rebuilt and fitted to the car. That wasnt the only modification which had to be made to the car. The car was essentially rebuilt with various improvements made along the way. A staggering $290,000 later a new race car was born!
Once the car was completed it was campaigned successfully at various events. The car performed exceptionally well and Mr Consistency was a regular podium finisher. McFarlanes crowning achievement, which made the project worth every cent, came in 2013 when won the won the Queensland Motor Racing Series Productions Sports Car title and the CAMS Queensland Production Sports Car Championship in this car. After that, the car was used occasionally until 2016 and then more sparingly at odd events until 2018.
This Porsche 911 was effectively retired from racing some 5 years ago.
The current owner acquired this car in 2021 and at that time it was in a reasonable condition for an ex-race car.
Even though he is a very accomplished race car driver, he did not want to extend the cars racing career. Restoring the car back to original was not an option as too many original parts had been removed, making it an unviable project. He wanted to restore the car and totally rebuild it, giving it the Singer treatment. His vision was to restore the car to his taste and importantly make it a better car to drive.
The car was given to Totally Classic Restorations in Warana, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. They stripped it down to a bare shell and performed various body repairs before painting it in its original and stunning colour of Gemini Blue Metallic. Once painted, the car was assembled to the point where it could be easily transported.
The next challenge was to find the right person to take care of all the mechanicals and finalise the project. After due consideration the owner entrusted the project to Jye Pawley at Specialised Autowerk in Heidelberg (Melbourne). The car was transported to him and he started the work in August 2022.
The first job was to remove everything from the car, unpack all the boxes and detail an inventory of all of the parts that were with the car. This was never going to be an easy project! Pawley was up for the challenge and after discussing various options with the owner, a plan was agreed and the work began in earnest.
There is a substantial file containing detailed invoices documenting the work carried out, along with 2,249 photographs on record.
Some of the highlights are:
- The 993 3.6 litre engine was stripped, assessed and reassembled with new seals etc. It is fitted with mild cams and mechanical rockers. The engine recorded 250.4 kw (approx. 335.8 hp) and 384.7 nm on the dyno.
- The 915 gearbox has been completely rebuilt to standard specifications with a PSJ shift coupling for a more precise feel.
- Upgraded 930 brake system.
- A limited slip differential has been fitted with later model drive shafts.
- A Sachs clutch has been fitted.
- A KW V3 coil over kit has been fitted.
- A new half roll cage was installed.
- The fuel system has been upgraded and modernised.
- Adjustable sway bars have been fitted.
- All the wiring has been replaced and upgraded.
- Superlite style wheels, 15×8 front and 15×10 rear were fitted.
- A lightweight RS style carpet kit and RS style door trims were fitted.
The end result is simply outstanding. This car is so much more than a hot-rodded 911 with flared guards! The car stands as a true testament to the vision of the owner and the craftsmen who brought it together.
Walking around the car, its impossible not to be impressed! From the front the additional fog lights immediately remind you of the Porsches that used to participate in various rally events in the 1970s. The flared wheel arches remind you of the 911 RSR which famously won the 1973 Targa Floria in Sicily. The look is quite imposing and it all just works.
The colour combination of Gemini Blue Metallic with the gold wheels and decals is striking and the spot lights coupled with its aggressive stance complete the look perfectly.
The car was completed in 2025 and it has only travelled some 700 miles since it was built. As a result, everything essentially presents as new. The paint is in excellent condition, though it has picked up a stone chip/star on the left rear guard. The external trim is minimalistic and what there is also presents as new. The glass is also in excellent condition.
The gold Superlite wheels are in excellent condition and they are shod with a fresh set of MichelinTB5 tyres, size 225/50R15 at the front and 285/40R15 at the rear. They are date stamped 2924 (week 29, 2024) and 3825 (week 38, 2025) respectively.
When the car was completed, it felt as though something was still missing. It was then decided to add the gold striping to the sides and rear, which finished the car perfectly.
The interior of the car had a tough act to follow and we think that the style choice and colour combination chosen is just perfect. Everything has been beautifully finished. The seats are a real feature and the light blue upholstery with bright blue piping and the blue/black herringbone inserts really makes its own statement. The detail of matching the seat belts and door pulls to the piping is clever and another feature.
Not surprisingly, the engine bay and boot under the bonnet also present as new.
From the moment we first laid eyes on this car down in Melbourne, we have been champing at the bit to get behind the wheel. How would it drive was the million dollar question! Would we be disappointed given the hype generated by its look? The short answer is a definitive NO!
Theres no doubt the look of this car is something special, however, when you start the engine it also obvious that it is powered by something special. Yes, it is louder than your everyday 993, but not too loud. It has an edge and it sounds angry . . . courtesy of the mild cams and customised Fabspeed exhaust system.
Out on the open road all your senses converge at once as you take it all in. The first thing you notice is how direct the steering is and shortly thereafter how tight the gearbox feels. The short throw and weight of the gear knob have created a perfect feel and the gear changes are so easy and incredibly smooth up and down the box. As we expected the suspension is hard, but surprisingly comfortable. The car feels extremely tight and just glued to the road. It handles like a go cart and corners like its on rails.
This 1971 Porsche 911E Reimagined is one of the most exciting cars to drive that we have ever offered for sale. We really cant fault the car . . . if only we could keep it!
The current owner has a significant collection of cars and whilst he has thoroughly enjoyed the journey to create this masterpiece, he has gone in a different direction with his collection focusing on Italian cars.
It is therefore with a heavy heart he has made the difficult decision to part with this car and it is now looking for its next custodian.
Needless to say, building a car of this quality required a significant financial investment and what we are asking is way under cost.
Accompanying the car is an excellent history file, that most importantly contains detailed invoices documenting the work carried out, along with 2,249 photographs of the build.
You wont park next to another one at your local Porsche Club event or cars & coffee!
Highlights:
- an incredible Reimagined Porsche 911.
- powered by a tuned type M64 Porsche 993 engine.
- a superbly presented car in a fabulous colour scheme.
- just a magnificent car to drive.
Price: $349,950
Background
The Porsche story is a fascinating one and its roots go back to the 1930s when Professor Ferdinand Porsche was instrumental in the design of the first Volkswagen and also Auto Union race cars. By 1939 he had built three Porsche cars to compete in the 800-mile race from Berlin to Rome. Unfortunately, the race was cancelled due to the war and Porsche was forced to focus on supporting the German war effort, however, he had always wanted to build his own cars. In 1944 Porsche was forced to leave Stuttgart and he set up a small operation in Gmünd, Austria. Soon after the Porsche family and many of their engineers were captured and sent to jail. Ferdinand Porsches son. Ferdinand junior, or Ferry as he was known, was released six months later and he returned to Gmünd to rebuild the family company. Things moved quickly and Porsche was involved with cars again and in mid-1948 the first Porsche 356 was built. It is understood Porsche built some 50 aluminium bodied cars by hand in their small factory at Gmündbefore relocating back to Stuttgart, Germany. The rest they say is history as the 356 evolved into one of the most successful sports cars ever built. A hard act to follow indeed . . . but its replacement, the Porsche 911 went on to become a legend!
The evolution of the Porsche 911 is probably the greatest sports car story of all time. First introduced in 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and then designated as a 901, the successor to the 356 took the world by storm. To avoid conflict with Peugeot, who claimed exclusive rights to car names with three digits having a zero in the middle, the car was renamed as 911. The first production 911 was built in 1964 and it was powered by an air cooled 1991cc 6-cylinder engine.
For 1969 Porsche made the single biggest change to the 911 thus far by lengthening the wheelbase 2.5 inches to reduce the oversteer characteristics inherent to rear-engined cars. Pre 1969 cars are often referred to as the short wheel base cars (SWB) and 1969 onwards called the long wheelbase cars (LWB).
The car evolved with increases in engine capacity to 2.2 litres, 2.4 litres, 2.7 litres, 3.0 litres and 3.3 litres. There were styling changes also, but one always recognised the car as a 911. Today the first series of 911s is recognised as the cars built from 1963 to 1989 and include the very popular Porsche 911 and 930 Turbo models. Of these the small bumper or pre impact bumper cars built up to 1973 are today regarded as the real classic 911, however, that comes at a price. In the last few years astute collectors and enthusiasts have seen great value in 1970s and 1980s model 911s.
From 1967 Porsche offered the 911 with four different variants. the base model 911T, the more luxurious 911L, the mid range 911E and the top of the range 911S.
First released in 1967, the Porsche 911T was basically a replacement for the 912. The 911T was a slightly less expensive and a more basic version of the 911L. It was introduced with a 1,991cc engine with Weber carburettors, which produced 110hp, mated to a 4 speed gearbox.
The 911L only remained in production for a short period, from 1967 to 1968, before being replaced by the 911E in 1969. The E stands for Einspritzung, which is German for injection. The 1,991cc engine remained but it was now fitted with Bosch mechanical fuel injection which provided a significant increase in power to 140hp. The engine capacity was increased to 2,195cc for all 911s in 1969 and 911E 2.2 generated 155hp. The final iteration of the F Series 911s saw the engine capacity increase again, this time to 2,341cc. The 911E 2.4, introduced in late 1971 and built through until 1973, now produced an impressive 165hp.
In total, 12,159 Porsche 911Es were built from August 1968 through until July 1973, comprising 7,517 Coupes and 4,642 Targas.

1971 PORSCHE 911 E SERIES

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely magnificent 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL.
The Fahrzeug-Daten (factory data card) and Produktions-Auftrag (factory production order) on file confirms that this factory right hand drive example was ordered new in New Zealand late 1962. It was in fact the 61st Mercedes-Benz ordered from New Zealand that year. The car left the factory on the 21st May 1963, which would make this one of the very last 190 SLs built.
The car was ordered in black (paint code 040) with a red interior (interior code 203) with single seats (option code 401). It was delivered with a roadster hard top (option code 413), US style front bumper with guards (option code 441), instruments in English and miles (option code 461), outside left and right rear view mirrors (option code 506) a Becker Brescia radio (option code 512), rear seats (option code 565), lights for left hand traffic (option code 613), export license plate (option code 621), whitewall tyres (option code 641), documentation in English (option code 681), a folding fabric soft top in grey (option code 736) and 10 litres of fuel (option code 317).
Documentation on file notes that the first owner was a Mr RA Stone from Auckland in New Zealand. At some stage the car found its way to Australia and into the ownership of Dr Frank Munro from Sydney, NSW. The car was sold to Mr Lachlan (Jim) Attrill from Sunshine, Victoria in March 1978. In May 1979 the car was registered in Victoria as ADP-112 and by August 1982 it was registered as BLE-701.
The third owner was a well known Melbourne based classic car enthusiast who acquired the car at the 1998 Shannons Grand Prix auction. At that time the car was still finished in its original colour of black.
After he acquired the car, it was taken off the road in preparation for a major restoration. The project commenced in earnest and he embarked on a nut and bolt rotisserie restoration on a mission to make the car as good as it could be.
The body was restored and painted by Peter Todd at Mentone Smash Repairs in Moorabbin. A major decision for the cars then owner was the colour. He chose to paint the car in Porsche Speed Yellow, which was a brave but fabulous choice. The engine block and head were rebuilt by Engine Action in Flemington. The engine was reassembled by Maurie Dodd.
The painted body shell was completed in March 2001 and the rebuild began.
The restoration was completed in September 2001and the car was then registered in Victoria as GEM-SL, just in time for the Mercedes-Benz ACT Concours dElegance held in Canberra. The car was incredibly well received and it won four trophies, including Best in Class, Runner Up Champion of Champions, Best Paint and Best Engine Bay.
The car was a multi concours winner at both the Victorian and ACT Mercedes-Benz Club Concours dElegance over the next four years.
The current owner acquired this car in circa 2009 and has used it sparingly throughout his ownership.
Incredibly this Mercedes-Benz 190 SL still presents as a freshly restored car, which is a testament to the quality of the restoration. Everything about this car is impeccable!
The first thing you notice is the colour. The yellow paint work is such a refreshing change from the ubiquitous white, silver or red. Whilst it looks stunning in the photos, it looks even better in the flesh! The paint work remains fresh and vibrant with an incredibly strong depth of colour. We struggled to find any blemishes in the paint. Even the hubcaps, which are prone to stone chips are in excellent condition. All of the external trim, including the chrome, lights and lenses are similarly well presented.
Completing the look is a factory hard top finished in pearl white. The soft top is black and in excellent unused condition.
The interior of the car is also beautifully presented. The red upholstery provides a perfect colour contrast to the yellow paintwork, particularly the dash. All of the instruments and controls, including the delicate trade mark Mercedes-Benz steering wheel present like new. Everything looks to be in working order.
Under the bonnet, the engine looks fresh and as though it was installed yesterday. Importantly, everything still looks to be correct.
It is likely that the boot has hardly seen the light of day and probably never carried any luggage. Like the rest of the car it is in exceptional condition. There is a spare wheel, jack and tool kit.
Even the underside of the car still presents like new!
Clearly this car has had little use since it was restored. It presents today like it has been stored in a glass case! Importantly, the current owner does regularly start the car and when the sun comes out just every now and then it gets some exercise.
On our recent test drive the car started easily from cold. There was a slight concern that this car may drive like a garage queen, but after a few very short miles that possibility was well and truly put to rest. The car drove superbly. The engine pulls strongly through the rev range and the gearbox is firm and precise. Importantly there are no rattles or squeaks. The more we drove it the better it went!
Highlights:
- New Zealand delivered, factory RHD example.
- Four owner car thats been in Australia for most of its life.
- Matching numbers.
- Restored to a concours standard by the previous owner.
- Multi concours delegance trophy winner.
- Ready show, use and enjoy.
Was für ein auto. . . einfach umwerfend!
Price: $329,950
Background:
Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Europes car industry was decimated. In Germany both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars post-war, however, times were tough. A merger between Daimler and Benz would ensure that both companies survived and following a technical co-operation agreement in 1924, the companies formally merged on the 1st July 1926. Mercedes-Benz was born!
Subsequently, Mercedes-Benz went on to build some of the greatest cars of all time. The cars from Stuttgart bearing the three-pointed star all had one thing in common . . . they were renowned for their technical innovation, build quality, luxury and performance.
In the 1950s Mercedes Benz produced one of the greatest cars of all time the iconic 300 SL Gullwing and 300 SL Coupe. Whilst fabulous cars, they were very expensive and generally sold to the rich and famous. Mercedes wanted to build a sporting luxury car that still looked classical in the mould of the 300 SL, but it had to be affordable and the plan was to build such a car in far greater numbers than the exclusive 300 SLs. Enter the Type W121 or 190 SL as it became known in the mid 1950s. This model was an outstanding success and circa 25,000 cars were built over the next 8 years of production. The formula worked and Mercedes Benz carried it on with great success in the 1960s with the Type W113 230 SL/250 SL/280 SL models. This evolved into the Type R107/C107 280 SL(C)/350 SL(C)/380 SL(C)/450 SL(C) models built throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Mercedes-Benz marketed the 190 SL as . . . as sports car for all seasons.
To quote their website:
. . . Sporting elegance, safety and comfort with these qualities the 190 SL conquered a whole new circle of enthusiastic fans of dynamic driving. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the prototype of the 190 SL (W 121) at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, alongside the production version of the 300 SL Gullwing. Although the two-seater roadster with folding soft top stirred passions, it was to undergo a further thorough revision by the Mercedes-Benz designers known at the time as stylists.
In March 1955, a full year after the New York premiere, the production version went on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Like its elder brother, the spectacular 300 SL Gullwing, the 190 SL rapidly became one of the most coveted dream cars of its day. Although less powerful than the 300 SL, it generated no less excitement and opened up the SL legend to a wider circle of customers. By 1963 sales had totalled 25,881 units.
And even long-distance drives were enjoyable thanks to the comfortable suspension. The handsome sports car for all occasions was particularly popular among female drivers, who appreciated not only the sporting elegance of its design, but also the open-air feeling that came as standard. With its easy-to-operate soft top and optionally available coupé hardtop, the 190 SL was the first SL to combine the possibility of open-top driving with absolute all-weather capability.

1963 MERCEDES-BENZ 190SL

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a beautifully restored 1937 Lagonda LG45 Drophead Coupe.
This particular example was first registered in the UK on 22nd February 1937 and it carried the registration number AJB 282. According to documentation in the history file the car was originally black in colour. The Lagonda Club in the UK has an entry for this car in their Club books from 1953. Interestingly at that time the car had already had an engine change. The Club books entry from 1953 states the car has an engine which came out of a Lagonda LG45 Rapide. The LG45 Rapide which had this engine originally fitted is also still known within the Lagonda Club. The factory performed that engine swap to the later LG6 engine on that car and it is not unlikely that the factory also performed the engine swap on the Lagonda LG45. However, there is no record confirming this.
In 1965 the car was purchased by Frederick William Gover from Feilding, a small town on New Zealands north island who subsequently imported the car into New Zealand. There is an import approval on file from New Zealand dated 17th November 1965. The car arrived in New Zealand in March 1966 on the Fremantle Star. The car was subsequently registered in New Zealand as EV 9662. A few years later Gover sold the car to AB Johnstone who lived in Auckland, New Zealand.
On the 26th of October 1979 the car was purchased by Peter Briggs, who at that time was amassing what was to become one of Australias leading car collections. He shipped the car to Australia on the Liberty Union in November 1979. The car was initially displayed at the York Motor Museum and from 2002 at the Fremantle Motor Museum. When purchased by Briggs, the car was silver grey with a black hood and dark green interior.
The car was sold in 2009 to a well-known Perth based Rolls-Royce and Bentley enthusiast / collector who subsequently embarked on a nut and bolt restoration. The car was stripped back to bare metal and the engine was disassembled and rebuilt with new parts. The owner chose to change the colour on the car and had it painted in the most stunning two tone blue colour scheme. The interior was retrimmed with tan leather which provides a perfect colour contrast. The colour combination really suits the car and it is even more striking in the flesh than in the photos! The car was used sparingly throughout his ownership before being sold by Oldtimer Australia in May 2024.
Interestingly, the current owner, who resides in Pebble Beach, California in the USA owned the Lagonda LG45 Rapide from which the engine in this car was originally from. He purchased the car and completed an engine swap. This car is now fitted with a later LG6 engine that had been fitted to his Lagonda LG45 Rapide for many many years.
Even though this car now carries an older restoration, it still presents exceptionally well. The paintwork is vibrant and defects are hard to find. The chrome is a real feature on these early Lagondas, particularly the front grill, lights and horns. It is all in good condition as is all of the external trim. The wire wheels on this car are another feature and are in excellent condition. They are shod with Dunlop 6.00/6.50-18 tyres.
Inside the cabin of this car it is all class. The leather upholstery, carpets and timber all present freshly with little or no wear evident. The Lagonda badged Smiths instruments are crisp and clean and all look to be in working order. The soft top tonneau is a very good fit and the soft top itself, which has never been used, is in excellent condition.
Under the grand bonnet the engine bay is clean and well presented.
When new, this car had a built in jacking system. This was not installed when the car was restored.
The LG6 engine has just been installed into the car by highly respected Perth based vintage car specialist Kevin Cochrane. He has fettled and tuned the engine which is running like a Swiss watch!
The starting procedure for this Lagonda is relatively easy for a vintage car of this period. You require the mixture to be set to strong for a cold start, the ignition needs to be turned on and after allowing some time to prime the carburettors the engine bursts into life at the first push of the starter button. The power plant is a Meadows 4,453cc straight six engine quoted as delivering a very healthy 140 bhp and capable of propelling the car to a top speed of around 100 mph.
The Lagonda LG45 is quite a big car and it most certainly has a presence on the road. This car runs and drives superbly. You get the hang of the central accelerator pedal quite quickly and the car is relatively easy to drive. The engine has plenty of power on tap and the car easily keeps up with modern traffic. The gearbox, which has synchro on 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear, is a long throw but quite direct. The steering is heavy, but once on the move this British classic is great fun to drive.
Since its restoration this Lagonda LG45 has been sparingly used and today it still presents as a fresh restoration.
Oldtimer Australia is privileged to offer for sale this rare and exciting world market pre war classic.
Highlights:
- Beautifully presented and rare Lagonda LG45 Drophead Coupe.
- Previously owned by Peter Briggs and displayed at his York and Fremantle motor museums.
- Beautifully restored to a very high standard.
- Ready to show, rally, use and enjoy.
Price $249,950
Background
Wilbur Gunn was born in 1859 in the Shawnee settlement Lagonda in modern day Springfield, Ohio, USA. Gunn was a former opera singer who became a British national in 1891. After moving to the UK, Gunn further pursued a career as an artist and singer. Fortunately, he wasnt that successful and in 1898 he started building motorcycles. Gunn was quite successful building motorcycles, so much so that a Lagonda represented Great Britain in international cup races. In 1905 he won the London Edinburgh trail. In 1906 Gunn founded a company and he started building cars. The name Lagonda was the Shawnee Indian name for what is now Buck Creek in Gunns native Springfield, Ohio and Gunn decided to use that name for his company. His first car was launched in 1907, the Lagonda 20HP, 6 cylinder Torpedo. The car was quite a success and in 1910 Gunn won the Moscow St Peterburgs trial in the car. That win resulted in quite a few export orders from Russia.
Already in the prewar period Lagonda started producing some very advanced cars. In 1913 the company introduced 11.1, a small car with a 1,099cc four cylinder engine. By 1914 this model featured a panhard rod, a rivetted unibody body and the first ever fly off handbrake.
After World War I, production of the 11.1 continued. The car evolved into the 11.9, which had a larger 1400cc engine and standard electric lighting. The 11.9 was built until 1923 and the updated 12 until 1926.
After Gunn had passed away in 1920, three existing directors took charge of the company led by Colin Parbury. In 1925 Lagonda produced its first sports model, the 14/60 which featured a twin cam 1,954 cc four cylinder engine and hemispherical combustion chambers. It was superseded by the 2.0 litre speed model with a higher output engine in 1927. By 1930 that car could be ordered with a supercharger. A lengthened chassis version, the 16/65, with 6 cylinder, 2.4 litre engine was available from 1926 to 1930. The final car of the 1920s was the 3.0 Litre using a 2931cc, 6 cylinder engine. This continued until 1933 when the engine grew to 3,181 cc and was also available with a complex 8 speed Maybach transmission as the Selector Special.
A new model for 1933 was the 16-80 using a 2-litre Crossley engine with pre selector gearbox from 1934. A new small car, the Rapier came along in 1934 with 1,104cc engine and pre selector gearbox. This lasted until 1935 but more were made until 1938 by a separate company. At the other extreme was the near 100mph, 4.5 litre M45 with Meadows supplied 6 cylinder 4,467cc engine. An out and out sporting version the M45R Rapide, with tuned M45 engine and a shorter chassis was also offered. Car dealer Arthur Fox entered two Lagonda M45Rs into the 1935 Le Mans 24-hour race and despite suffering from damaged steering and having hardly any oil left in the engine, the Lagonda driven by John Hindmarsh and Luís Fontes won that years race.
Alan P Good managed to purchase the company in 1935, outbidding Rolls-Royce. He then also managed to persuade WO Bentley to leave Rolls-Royce and join Lagonda as a Technical Director. The 4.5-litre range now became the LG45 and under Bentleys technical direction the big Lagonda became more refined gaining synchromesh gears, flexible engine mounts and centralised chassis lubrication among many other improvements. Endowed with such an impeccable pedigree, the Lagonda LG45 quickly established itself as a favourite among the wealthy sporting motorists of its day.
Between 1935 and 1937 only 278 LG45s were built of which only a small number were drophead coupes.

1937 LAGONDA LG45 Drophead Coupe

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this beautifully restored, factory right hand drive 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 Roadster.
The Heritage Certificate on file confirms this particular example was delivered new in the UK through Jaguar dealer Ernest W Hatfield in Sheffield. The car was manufactured on 29th April 1970 and despatched on 22nd June 1970. It was finished in light blue with a dark blue interior and a blue soft top. The first owner is noted as FA Tomlinson and the car was first registered with the registration GWJ 64J. This E-type also has a hard top.
The early history of the car is not known, though it is understood that at some stage it was owned by an Australian working in the UK.
This Jaguar E-Type found its way to Australia some time prior to 1989 and it eventually ended up in a shed on a cane farm in Murwillumbah, NSW. The owner had passed away and the family had every intention to restore the car, but as often is the case it never happened. This car sat alongside another E-Type, a Series 1 2+2, in the same shed for some 15 years.
The current owner stumbled across the pair of E-Types in early 2015 and after a short negotiation a deal was struck for him to purchase this Series 2 Roadster. At that time the odometer read 90,588 miles.
After some weed cutting the car was able to be removed from the shed and it was then loaded on a tilt tray and taken back to Brisbane. There are photos on file of the car from the day it was collected.
The car was in reasonably good condition, given it has been parked up for so many years. It therefore need major recommissioning, which evolved into a total restoration.
D.M. Car Repairs in Coopers Plains on the south side of Brisbane in Queensland were tasked with getting the car back on the road. It was recommissioned, which included a major service, replacing all the hoses and perishables as well as other miscellaneous parts. The braking system required a major overhaul. Progress was slow and over the next two years the car spend a lot of time in the workshop getting sorted.
During that time the owner also had the interior refurbished. He purchased all the necessary items from John Skinner Limited in the UK and had all the work done by Archerfield Auto Upholsterers in Archerfield in Brisbanes north.
The car was then taken to respected Jaguar specialists Classic and Prestige in Brisbane for more work. Amongst other things they repaired the steering column, recored the radiator, cleaned the fuel system (including the tank), repaired the heater box, replaced floor panels and reconditioned the differential.
By now it was apparent that the car was being treated to a full restoration.
In 2018 the car was repainted by the highly respected Exclusive Auto Centre in Brisbane.
Following the repaint, the car was then registered and used sporadically. The owner was never really happy with the gearbox and after doing his homework he decided to send the car to Jaguar specialist Mike Roddy in Melbourne to have the gearbox rebuilt.
There is a thick file of receipts on file for parts ordered from SNG Barratt in the UK, dating from 216 to 2020.
After removing the engine and gearbox from the car it was decided that both should be rebuilt. The current owner always wanted to make his E-Type a more usable classic and after a long discussion with Mike Roddy and looking at the pros and cons of the various options, he decided to install a 5 speed Borg-Warner T5 gearbox. Additionally, a power steering conversion kit supplied by Vicarage in the UK was installed, ventilated front discs from a Series 3 V12 E-type were fitted and a modern air conditioning system was installed.
There is a complete write up on file of all the items that were replaced, rebuilt or upgraded. Essentially, everything from the bulkhead forward was rebuilt.
They also installed a new soft top on the car.
The car was finally completed in early 2025. There is a thick file of receipts and photographs from the restoration.
The end result is a stunning car, presented in the most magnificent and original colour scheme and, with its modern upgrades, very usable all year round.
At the time of photographing this car the odometer read 91,635 miles, confirming this car has had very little use since it was awoken from its long term slumber some ten years ago.
Jaguar E-Types carry colour very well and as result they look great it any hue. As you will see from the photographs, light blue looks absolutely stunning and it really suits the car. The dark blue interior and soft top complete the look. It is a very elegant colour combination for an E-Type and it makes you wonder why you dont see more of them in this colour scheme.
Even though the paint is now 7 years old, it still presents vibrantly with a strong depth of colour. It is in very good condition with only a few small imperfections visible if you look hard. The external trim on an E-Type is minimalistic and everything presents consistently well with the rest of the car.
At time of photographing the car one of the Lucas headlights had blown. This is evident in the photos, however, it has been subsequently replaced. The other lights and lenses on the car are all in very good condition. The glass is also in good condition.
All the bright work on the car is in very good condition, with the exception of the rear bumper. For some reason the chrome on the left hand side of the bumper as it wraps around the rear guard is hazy. The defect is not immediately obvious, but on closer inspection it is there.
The soft top on the car presents like new and the rear and quarter windows are all in excellent condition with no discoloration evident.
The hard top, which is a nice inclusion, has also been restored.
A set of five new wire wheels were purchased from Australian Classic Wire Wheels in August 2019. They are in excellent condition. The wheels are shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, size 185HR15 which are date stamped 0213 (week 2, 2013).
The interior was completely refurbished and it is therefore no surprise that it is in excellent condition. All of the dark blue upholstery presents beautifully and is totally fresh. The seats are comfortable and provide an excellent driving position. The ornate timber steering wheel is a feature and completes the look. The dashboard presents well and all the instruments are clear and appear to be in good working order. Behind the seats you will find the discreetly fitted air conditioning unit. It works well and blows cold air.
We were genuinely excited to get this new Jaguar E-Type out on road.
With the help of the choke the car starts easily from cold and then quickly settles into a smooth idle. You can back the choke off almost immediately and feather the throttle to warm the engine up.
One could almost time warp back to the Browns Lane factory in Coventry in 1970 as you get the car out on the open road. You could be on a road test for Autocar magazine! The only difference was that it is the middle of summer here in Brisbane rather than a bleak British winters day!
It was an early start, but it was going to be a hot day, so of course the soft top was down. The car arrived to us with its hard top on but that was soon removed.
Your first impressions are how good is the gearbox! With its short throw the gear changes are all precise and very smooth both up and down the box. Of course, this is what you would expect from a new gearbox, but we were still surprised by how well it suits the car.
Given the anticipation and excitement from using the gearbox, it was easy to take the overall drive of the car for granted. The engine is super smooth and incredibly responsive. It just wants to go! It is surprisingly quiet at idle, but when you put your foot down it really comes to life and it has a great exhaust note.
The car is tight on the road with no rattles or squeaks to be heard. It really feels like you are driving a new car. The power steering is also a real delight. It makes manoeuvring this E-type at low speed very easy, yet it still gives you all the feedback you need at higher speeds. At no point does it feel vague. The upgraded brakes, as one would expect, do their job very well and pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed.
This 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 Roadster is a fabulous car! It is not a concours car, rather a beautifully restored example that with its sympathetic upgrades make it a more usable classic.
We have had the pleasure to sell many E-Types over the years and this one would have to be one of the best. As noted above, it wont win the concours, but it is guaranteed to turn heads everywhere it goes.
Unfortunately, the current owner has a medical issue and as a result has made the difficult decision to sell. He has enjoyed the journey to restore this car to the level it is at, but is of the view it needs to be used and enjoyed.
The car is therefore reluctantly offered for sale and it is immediately available for a fraction of the cost taken to restore it. Additionally, given the lead time to restore a car these days, this is a unique opportunity for someone to purchase a beautifully restored Jaguar E-type that is ready to go. You can get in it, turn the key and drive away.
Highlights:
- Factory right hand drive example, presented in a stunning and original colour scheme.
- Matching numbers chassis and engine.
- Sympathetically upgraded.
- Warranty on the engine and gearbox.
- Ready to use and enjoy.
Price: $229,950.
Background
The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley. Initially the companys focus was on making sidecars for motorcycles. Over the next few years the company slowly transitioned into coachbuilding. In May 1927 the company announced they would start making 2 seater bodies on Austin and Morris chassis and running gear. During the winter of 1928-1929 the company relocated to Coventry and continued to shift its focus from sidecars to cars. In 1929 they produced a one off car, a sleek open boat tail two seater.
In October 1931 at the Motor Show they produced their first prototype of what was to become the SS 1. It was powered by a six-cylinder side-valve engine of 15hp. The SS 1 was superseded by the SS 2 in 1932.
In 1934 Lyons formed SS Cars Limited to effectively take over the operation from Walmsley. The SS brand was quite successful, though their cars had a reputation for having more show than go.
The first open two seater sports car was introduced in 1935, the SS90. It was powered by a 2½-litre side-valve, six-cylinder engine and only 23 were made.
1935 was also the year the Jaguar name first started appearing on the SS cars.
In 1936 the company introduced one of the greatest pre-war sports cars ever, the SS Jaguar 100 which remained in production until the start of World War II. Like so many British companies production ceased during the war to free up resources to support the war effort.
One of the first things that happened after World War II was the renaming of the company. At a general meeting held on 23rd March 1945 the shareholders agreed to change the name of the company to Jaguar Cars Limited.
In 1948, at the London Motor Show, Jaguar introduced a car which really put them on the map, the legendary Jaguar XK120. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. The XK120 morphed into the XK140 and ultimately the XK150 and in total, just over 30,000 cars were built over 15 years of production.
In 1961, at the Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar introduced the E-Type, which like the XK120 all those years ago, took the motoring world by storm. The body styling was simply gorgeous and technologically the E-Type was an engineering masterpiece and it set new standards in all areas.
Whilst automotive styling is somewhat subjective, the E-Type is often ranked atop lists of the most beautiful cars and in fact it has been described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever made. And its not just about the looks as the E-Type is often at the top of other lists such as the best sports car ever built or the most significant cars. It is truly a motoring icon.
As a testament to the success of the E-Type, production evolved through three series from 1961 until 1974 during which time circa 70,000 cars were built.

1970 JAGUAR E-TYPE Series 2

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this magnificent Maserati 450S Re-Creation.
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!
The objective was to build an authentic recreation of one of the most formidable sports racing cars of the 1950s. The brief was the car had to have a faithful reproduction of the original tubular spaceframe chassis, the body had to be made of aluminium with accurate dimensions, panel shapes and detailing. Importantly, the drive train had to be genuine Maserati with the correct period look. Most Maserati 450S Re-Creations were built with a modern gearbox set up, which is not faithful to the original design. The original Maserati featured a rear transaxle setup, which is what this car had to have. Like all the original nine Maserati 450S built, this car had to be right hand drive.
The task of building the car was given to the highly respected classic car restoration specialists, Historic and Vintage Restoration (HVR) in Melbourne, Australia. HVR has restored a number of great cars of the years and also built a number of exacting recreations, including a 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS Berlinetta Aerodinamica, 1937 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 MM Spider and a 1933 MG K1 / K3 Recreation.
After a worldwide search, the decision was made to source the aluminium body and the chassis from Nestor Salerno in Argentina 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. Paul Chaleyer, the managing director of HVR, personally flew to Argentina to inspect and purchase the body and chassis on behalf of the owner.
Next challenge was to find a suitable engine to power the car. As per the brief, 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 period correct. It was modified to have twin plug ignition with a distributor for each bank. The block was also bored out to approximately 5. 0 litres. The quadruple Weber carburettors were modified and fitted with individual 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.
As per the original brief, the car needed to have a transaxle setup. A decision was made to source a six speed transaxle from a modern Maserati 4200. Inside the car, the gate was beautifully disguised to look like a five speed gearbox with reverse, giving a similar look to an original 450S.
To stop the car, 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.
When the body and chassis arrived in Australia, HVR checked it over and spent considerable time to prepare it for paint. The car was painted by Resurrection Auto Restorers in Melbourne.
The project was finished in 2014 and the end result is simply stunning. The car is visually an authentic recreation, however, it also delivers an experience that reflects the engineering brilliance, raw performance and uncompromising spirit of one of the greatest Maseratis ever built.
The car has been used sparingly since it was completed. 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, was sold by Oldtimer Australia in September 2024.
This Maserati 450S Re-Creation has an incredible presence. This car is stunning in every regard and its proportions are just right. The curvaceous body is a sculptured work of art, however, the ceramic coated exhausts on either side of the car immediately signal that this is a thoroughbred racing machine, built with performance as its foremost priority.
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 elegant three spoke timber steering wheel has a solid feel and is indistinguishable from the original that Stirling Moss would have had in his hands back in the day. 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. The seats are covered in period correct leather and are firm and relatively comfortable. Both seats are fitted with a five point harness.
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 a 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 give the throttle one pump and press the starter button. The big V8 bursts to live almost immediately with an almighty roar. You have to feather the throttle to warm the engine up but that doesnt take too long and it quickly settles into a smooth idle.
The sound is both brutal and sophisticated. The engine and exhaust create a powerful mechanical symphony that echoes across the landscape. When warming up in our showroom the windows shake and the walls vibrate!
Once the engine is warm and you comfortable in the car, buckle up and it is time to hit the road. We select first gear and ever so cautiously inch the car out of our showroom. 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 has a normal shift pattern with first gear being left and forward. It is an absolute delight and with a relatively short shift the gear changes both up and down the box are easy and smooth.
Just like any race car, everything needs to be full operating temperature for the car to be driven properly.
Once we felt comfortable with the car we were able to find a quiet piece of road to see what this car was all about. 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 pedal 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 and the fact that it was built here in Australia makes it even more special.
We are genuinely excited to be able to offer this magnificent Maserati 450S Re-Creation for sale.
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 & chassis built by Nestor Salerno in Argentina.
- Powered by 5. 0 Litre Maserati V8 engine.
- Beautifully presented.
- An absolute delight to drive.
- Ready to use and enjoy.
Price AUD $359, 950
Foot Note: we were delighted to see that a 1957 Maserati 450S recently won the Concours de Sport Best of Show at the 2026 Greenwich back in May.
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

Oldtimer Australia is genuinely excited to offer for sale this incredible 1947 Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport Ghia.
We love rare Italian cars at Oldtimer Australia and this bespoke masterpiece is about as good as it gets. This car encapsulates the very best of what Italian engineering and coachwork were capable of in an era when everything was hand made by master craftsmen.
This car was the brainchild of Italian Giovanni Basso who designed the chassis, incorporating Lancia Aprilia running gear. There is some debate as to who designed and built the body. The previous to current owner, who found and restored the car, conducted extensive research into its history and has confirmed that the body was designed by Giovanni Michelotti, built by Rocco Motto and badged by Ghia.
The streamlined body is simply a work of art, its form is perfectly smooth with no edges or interruptions, giving it a clean, uninterrupted flow from every angle. Its features include a sharply raked windscreen, svelte Lancia badged grill, wafer thin bumpers, flush door handles and tail lights as well as an enclosed fuel tank filler.
The standard Aprilia engine was quoted as delivering 48 bhp at 4,300 rpm, however, the Nardi modified engine in the Aprilia Gran Sport Ghia delivered 60+ bhp. The increased power came courtesy of an alloy intake manifold fitted with dual Zenith carburettors (the standard Aprilia used a single unit), along with a modified extractor system and reprofiled camshafts.
It is understood that Basso built eight cars of which there were only two Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport Ghias, this car and another that resides in the UK. Four of the other eight cars were Spiders and two were Berlinettas, both bodied by Stabilimenti Farina.
The early history of this car is not known, however, at some stage it found its way to America. The first known owner was a Mr Gary Schmidt, who was understood to be from New York. Schmidt was working overseas at that time and the car was stored in a restoration shop in Long Beach, California. In 1984 it was acquired by a very well known Lancia enthusiast from Melbourne.
At that time the car was in very poor condition, with its running gear missing.
The car was imported into Australia and painstakingly restored over the next few years (1985 1987). The body work was completed by Brian Hawke and the mechanical work by Don Wright. At that time a Tipo MOT97 1,352cc V4 1st Series Aprilia engine, which came with the car, was rebuilt and installed. A Nardi intake manifold was sourced and dual Zenith carburettors were fitted. The original Nardi water pump was with the car. It was refurbished and also fitted.
The restoration was carried out to an exceptionally high standard and over the following 30+ years, the car has been regularly shown, driven, and enjoyed. It has been a frequent participant at numerous Lancia events, rallies, and other car shows.
The car was sold in 1992 and it has remained in continuous family ownership ever since. It was offered for sale at the Shannons 1996 Melbourne Motor Show auction, but did not sell.
This fabulous car was exhibited at Motorclassica in 2017, as part of the display paying tribute to Lancias 110th anniversary, where it was one of the stars of the show.
Not surprisingly, this car has won trophies everywhere it was shown. Most notably it was the outright winner of the Lancia Concours held in Castlemaine in 1987, it won the Exotic Class at Auto Italia, Canberra in 1992, it was the outright winner of the Lancia Concours held on the Gold Coast in 1993 and it won its class at the 1994 Darling Harbour Concours dEleganace to name but a few.
Over the last ten years the car has been used sparingly. The engine has recently been rebuilt and a new cylinder block installed. The spare block, which also came with the car, is a Tipo MOT99 1,486cc V4 from a second 2nd Series Aprilia.
The time has come for this car to pass on to its next custodian.
Today this 1947 Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport Ghia presents superbly. Whilst clearly now an older restoration, it has been lovingly cared for since it was restored. The paint work is still vibrant and you have to look hard to find any blemishes. There are some small stone chips and defects evident. The external trim, which is minimalistic to say the least, is all in very good condition.
The wheels are fitted with elegant hub caps and dress rings which compliment the look of the car. They are shod with brand new Michelin 165R400 X Stop tyres all around.
The olive green upholstery is a bold colour choice but it just works on this car, contrasting perfectly with the red paint. The leather shows light patina, presenting just like your favourite leather jacket that has been worn regularly but always cared for. There are no rips or tears in any of the upholstery. The seating position is typical for cars of that era, being quite upright, but it is relatively comfortable. The matching green carpet is also in good condition. The timber rimmed steering wheel and the two main instruments, being the counter rotating tacho and speedo, are a real feature. The fuel gauge, operated by a dash mounted button, sits within the tacho and it is a quite something! The level is indicated by how many lights come on. On our test drive all of the instruments looked to be in working order.
The car has a soft top and side curtains, all of which are in excellent condition. The soft top itself is an engineering masterpiece that Porsche would have been proud of! It folds away discretely behind the seats and into the boot.
The boot, which is carpeted like the cabin, presents very well.
Under the bonnet Lancias rather impressive 1,486cc V4 engine takes pride of place. Not surprisingly, the engine bay is neat, clean and tidy.
This car is an absolute jewel, a work of art and it arguably belongs in the Musée du Louvre in Paris! But, it is after all a car and therefore it needs to be driven. Sceptics would say any car built in the late 1940s is not going to be great to drive. A test drive in this car has quickly proved the sceptics wrong! Lancias V4 engine was one of the companys most distinctive engineering achievements, being compact, innovative, and unusually refined for its era. The engine delivered a blend of efficiency, durability, and performance that set the brand apart for decades. The car requires the choke to start and with the ignition on and a firm push of the key (which is the starter button), the engine fires up easily. The instructions are to back the choke off quickly and feather the throttle to warm up the engine. The raspy exhaust note definitely has an edge, which builds the anticipation to get the car out on the open road. After a few short miles, we were impressed by how tight the car is on the roadand how much power it has. Despite the car running a small 4 cylinder engine, it weighs next to nothing and easily keeps up with modern traffic. The non-synchro gearbox takes some getting used to, but that is part of the theatre and enjoyment you get from driving the car. The more you drive it the better you get, which is actually very rewarding. You have to pinch yourself that this is an almost 80 year old car and driven in anger it would be quite something. The brakes are adequate and being so light the car handles with remarkable agility and confidence, responding almost instantly to driver input.
This car has been featured in a number of publications over the year, including various Lancia Club magazines and newsletters, Volume 16 No 1 the March 1998 issue of The Automobile, November 1997 issue of Unique Cars and Volume 30 Number 3 the Spring 1992 edition of the prestigious Automobile Quarterly series. In this book, the author Gavin Farmer, states that the body was designed by Ghias Mario Boano. This information was provided to Gavin by the previous to current owner early in his ownership. It was later found to be incorrect.
Over the years we have had the absolute pleasure to handle some of the worlds great cars, including the best from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti and the like. But, there is something that is hard to put into words about this 1947 Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport Ghia . . . it is simply magnificent and one of the very best cars we have offered for sale.
Highlights:
- A bespoke Italian masterpiece.
- Eligible for all the worlds great events.
- An older, but magnificent restoration to a very high standard.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
- A true world market
Price AUD $399,950
Background
Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin founded Lancia & C. Fabbrica Automobili on the 29th November 1906 in Turin, Italy. The first car produced by the company was the Tipo 51 otherwise known as the 12 HP, which was in production from 1907 until 1908.
The company quickly became renowned for innovation and is noted for naming many of its cars using letters of the Greek alphabet. The Theta, introduced in 1913, was the first European production car to feature a complete electrical system as standard. The Lambda, produced from 1922 until 1931 was the first car to adapt a monocoque chassis. The Aprilia introduced in 1937 was one of the first cars designed using a wind tunnel to improve aerodynamics. The Ardea (Series 3), introduced in 1948, was the first car to use a five-speed gearbox. The first full production V6 engine was fitted to the Lancia Aurelia in 1950 and Lancia was also the first manufacturer to produce a V4 engine. The Aurelia and Flaminia range were the first production cars to be fitted with independent suspension.
The constant drive for innovation and excellence came at a cost. All Lancias essentially were handmade and the production process was complicated. This led to rising costs at a time where demand flattened.
Fiat made a successful takeover bid for Lancia in late 1969 and set about returning the business to profitability. Under Fiats ownership, Lancia introduced the Beta, Gamma and Startos during the 1970s. The Stratos was particularly important because it started Lancias success in rallying, winning three consecutive World Rally Championships from 1974 to 1976.
The Lancia Aprilia is widely considered one of the most advanced and influential cars of the 1930s. The key features of this car were:
1. Remarkably advanced aerodynamics the car was designed with the help of wind-tunnel testing at the Politecnico di Torino, which was very unusual for the era. It featured a streamlined, teardrop influenced body with a low drag coefficient, contributing to excellent performance and efficiency.
2. Innovative narrow angle V4 engine Lancias signature compact V4 was smooth, light and space efficient. It was of aluminum construction and sophisticated engineering for the time. It provided lively performance relative to its modest displacement.
3. Fully independent front and rear suspension a major technological leap in the 1930s. It delivered superb ride, comfort and exceptional handling precision compared to rivals.
4. Advanced chassis & construction featuring a steel monocoque body (unitary construction), years ahead of most manufacturers. It provided low weight combined with excellent rigidity.
5. Exceptional road manners the car was praised for its balance, agility, and remarkably modern driving feel. It provided the driver with light steering, predictable cornering, and a supple ride.
6. Elegant and functional design with distinctive, compact proportions with flowing lines. The car had superb visibility and an ergonomic, well-designed interior.
7. Engineering innovation that influenced later Lancias the Aprilia set the template for post-war Lancias like the Aurelia and Appia. Many consider it the car that best represents Vincenzo Lancias engineering philosophy.
8. Competition pedigree successfully used in period rallies and endurance events, including the Mille Miglia. It was known for durability and composure over long distances.

LANCIA APRILIA GRAN SPORT GHIA

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