OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

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Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a rather unique 1928 Lea-Francis Special.
Founded in 1895 Lea-Francis started building motor cycles. They began car manufacturing under licence for Singer in 1903 and later built and sold cars under their own name. They quickly developed a reputation as an early innovator with roots in quality craftsmanship. By the mid 1920s Lea-Francis had become recognised as building quality cars with a sporting edge. Most notably, their S-Type (also called the Hyper) became the first British supercharged production car. As a result, many Lea-Francis were modified and used by boy racers for weekend motorsport, hill climbs and the like.
This Lea-Francis special has a rich and fascinating history, having initially left the Coventry factory as a Type O 12/50.
The car was featured in the March 1950 issue of Australian Motor Sports magazine. At that time the car was owned by Len Sydney from Brighton in Victoria. Prior to him acquiring the car it had led an interesting life. It was raced at Philip Island and reportedly used as a shooting brake for kangaroo hunting in the Northern Territory! Sydney was quoted in that article . . . the car had a hard life, but it always been well maintained. If only the car could talk!
Sydney acquired the Leaf (as he liked to call the car) in 1941 and immediately engaged the services of coachbuilders Giles Motor Body Works to build him a neat close coupled four seater sports touring body. The job wasnt simple and required a few modifications to be made to the chassis. The radiator had to be relocated and the fuel tank was relocated from the scuttle to between the rear dumb irons. The car was subsequently painted black. All the work was completely for the princely sum of £90!
Sydney used and enjoyed the Leaf for the next few years and in 1945 he upgraded the brakes with those from a 7th Series Lancia Lambda.
Next on Sydneys wish list was more speed! He wanted the car to be able to cruise at 80 mph, which was beyond the capability of the original Meadows 4ED, 1.5 litre, four cylinder engine. He managed to source a six cylinder Meadows 6ESC engine from a 1928 Bean. The engine was overhauled and its capacity increased to 2,974cc.
In 1952 Sydney decide the time had come to part with his beloved Lea-Francis. He advertised the car in the local newspaper from where it was acquired by Andre Chaleyer who only kept it for a year before selling to Peter Robinson. The car was raced by Robinson at the 1954 A.S.C.C. Fishermans Bend Air Strip meeting and other events. He sold the car in 1958 and it is understood that it remained in Victoria. In 1966 the car was purchased by Neville Webb and shortly thereafter suffered a catastrophic engine failure. Fortunately, he was able to source a similar Meadows engine which was installed in the car.
Over the next 30 years the car passed through a few further owners before Neville Webb rekindled his lover affair with this Lea-Francis in 2001. He purchased the car at a Sanford-Morgan auction in Adelaide. At that time the car was showing its age. Through his Gold Coast based business, The Vintage Garage, Webb decided to restore the car to its former glory. At that time the car was green. He repainted it back to its original colour of black, replaced the cycle guards, retrimmed the upholstery as well as refurbished the engine and gearbox.
In 2006 Webb sold the car to Paul Samuels from NSW. In Samuels ownership the car had further mechanical issues which necessitated another engine rebuild. The car was taken to Highlands Race and Classic in Mittagong who, together with LW Perry from Sydney, rebuilt the engine. There are invoices on file which document all the work completed back then.
In 2009 the car was sold to Ron Harris from Gympie, Queensland. He used and enjoyed the car, whilst continuously making improvements during his six years of ownership. The custodianship of the Lea-Francis turned full circle for the second time when in 2015 it was acquired by Warren Webb (Neville Webbs son).
The car passed through the ownership of two well known enthusiasts before being acquired by the current owner a short time ago.
The current owner purchased the car with the intention to compete in the Peking to Paris rally, however, a change in his circumstances means that this is no longer possible.
Today this fabulous Lea-Francis Special presents and drives well. It is a car that has a fabulous story to tell, having been owned by a number of very well known people in the Australian classic car scene. It has been driven in anger in various speed trials and competition events its entire life. It has also been used as a road car and it is therefore a car that you could race on Saturday and take to cars & coffee on Sunday!
Given the car has been driven it is not surprising that the paint work shows some wear and tear. That said, the car presents well, but there are stone chips, some gravel rash and other blemishes here and there. The external trim, including the brightwork presents quite well.
The painted wire wheels are fitted with chrome wheel spinners, all of which are in very good condition. The 19 wheels are shod with Blockley 5.00 19 4 Ply tyres all around.
The car has a soft top and side curtains, which are in good condition. This was important for its current owner given he was going to tackle the Peking to Paris rally.
The interior of the car presents well. The burgundy upholstery is well kept, presenting with just the right amount of patina. The driving position is relatively comfortable, though you sit quite low to the ground for a car of this vintage, which further reinforces the sporting pedigree of this car. The polished aluminium dash houses a plethora of instruments, more akin to a fighter plane than a motor car!
The starting procedure perhaps mirrors this somewhat . . . battery isolator off, retard the ignition, fuel pumps on, ignition on and then hit the starter button. The Meadows six fires instantly and it sounds very healthy. After the engine fires, the ignition is advanced and you quickly find its sweet spot.
What is immediately apparent is the engine has plenty of power and torque. The non-synchro gearbox with its non-traditional shift pattern takes some getting used to, but this is part of the challenge 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 100 year old car as driven in anger it would be a bit of beast. It weighs next to nothing and has more than enough power to get yourself into trouble if you are brave enough!
Accompanying the car is an excellent history file which includes a copy of the article published in the March 1950 issue of Australian Motor Sports magazine, various period photos of the car and other documentation outlining its history, owner correspondence and receipts.
Highlights:
A fabulous storied Australian vintage special.
Lovely driver condition.
Owned by the whos who of the Australian classic car scene.
A car that can be used for vintage motorsport, rallies or social events.
Great performance and value for money.
Price $69,950.
Background
It all started in the west Midlands industrial city of Coventry in the UK in 1895 when Richard Lea and Graham Francis decided to start a business to manufacture bicycles. They quickly built a reputation as a company which built reliable quality products.
In 1903 they decided to branch out and start manufacturing cars and in 1911 they started building motorcycles. There first car wasnt a great success and only three were built. After that they continued building cars under license from Singer.
It wasnt until 1919 that they introduced their next car, the 11.9HP. Reviewing the car, The Motor wrote on 27 October that year, For the country motorist who requires an all-purpose car the Lea-Francis would be almost ideal. Unfortunately it was not a great success for the company.
In 1922 Charles M Van Eugen joined the company and his first task was to redesign one of the prototypes, the C-Type and make it ready for production. After making some improvements to both the engine and chassis an initial batch of 50 was approved. The car was a success and in total 90 were sold. The C-Type also became the first Lea-Francis to be used in competition.
The C-Type was superseded by the D-Type which became the first Lea-Francis to be fitted with a Meadows engine. Approximately 420 were built between 1923 and 1926. It was then superseded by the E-Type. The E-Type remained in production from 1924 through until 1926 and 192 were built.
A variety of other models were introduced over the next few years. The F-Type (1924 - 1925), the G-Type (1925 - 1927), the H-Type (1924 - 1926), the I-Type (1925), the J-Type (1925 - 1928) and the K-Type (1925). All were built on slight variations of the same chassis with a variety of engines.
From 1926 until 1928 Lea-Francis built two cars with Vulcan Engineering of Southport. The Kirkstone and the 1LFS. Both could be considered a very early form of badge engineering as very few components in the cars were actually produced by Lea-Francis.
In 1926 Lea-Francis produced its first real sports car, the L-Type, which was powered by a Brooklands spec Meadows 4ED engine. At the same time the M-Type and the N-Type were introduced.
Also in 1926 Lea-Francis introduced its first purpose built race car. The Lea-Francis Special, was finished in polished aluminium and nicknamed the Lobster. It first appeared at Brooklands at the August Bank Holiday meeting in 1926. The car was also used for testing engine and supercharger combinations. Interestingly, when Lea-Francis had found a good working combination they werent ready to introduce a new model. The race car and another chassis, were fitted with fabric covered two seater bodies with pointed tails, a supercharged Meadows 4ED engine and road equipment. The two cars were registered for road use by Lea-Francis in August 1927 and road-tested by a number of motoring publications.
In 1927 Charles Van Eugen convinced the directors of Lea-Francis to allow him to design a completely new chassis assembly. It was fitted with a Brooklands specification Meadows 4ED engine and the chassis was designated the O-Type. It remained in production until 1930 and 55 cars were built.
It was superseded by the S-Type, also called the Hyper, the first British supercharged production car. In 1928 a Lea-Francis Hyper won the Ulster TT, a 30-lap race on the 13.5-mile (21.7 km) Ards circuit on the roads of Northern Ireland driven by race car driver Kaye Don. The race was watched by a record 250,000 spectators and the victory placed Lea-Francis firmly on the map.
Lea-Francis had always lead a hand to mouth existence, struggling to be financially viable. They continued to build cars until the start of the World War II in 1939, then production ceased and the factory concentrated on manufacturing for the war effort.
After the War the company recommenced manufacturing cars, but they struggled and the factory finally closed in 1962.

1928 LEA FRANCIS SPECIAL

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Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a stunning and unique 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster.
By the mid to late 1980s Porsche realised that other prestige car manufacturers were doing very well selling limited edition and special versions of their cars. Porsches answer was to bring back the iconic Speedster. Two prototypes were built for internal review and soon after the green light was given to show the car at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show. The public reaction was extremely positive and deposits came flooding in. Twelve months later, at the 1988 Frankfurt Motor Show, Porsche introduced the production version of the Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster.
Speedster production ran from January to September of 1989 and in total 2,104 examples were produced. Like the original Speedster, Porsches target market was the USA and as a result only 139 right hand drive examples were built. Notably, the majority of the cars built were Turbo body look (Option 491 Super Sport Equipment).
The car on offer is one of the rare factory right hand drive examples. This UK delivered car has the more desirable and more powerful 231 hp engine. It is presented today as it left the factory in 1989 with silver metallic paint (paint code S7), black soft top (V9), black leather interior (ATG), recoil bumpers (058), passenger sport seat electric height adjustment (383), driver sport seat electric height adjustment (387), deletion of front and rear Spoiler (470), super sport equipment (491), amplifier system (494) and luggage compartment trimmed in black velour carpet (975). The car is currently fitted with Porsche classic radio navigation system.
This car was delivered new on 1st August 1989 though Porsche dealer Chariots St Albans Ltd in St Albans, UK. Interestingly, the dealership was owned by Tom Walkinshaw of the TWR Group.
Over the next six years the car was used on a regular basis and by March 1995 the odometer had clocked 39,964 miles. During this time it was routinely serviced by the delivering dealer. Subsequently the car was used sparingly, travelling only 20,000 miles in the next 30 years. Importantly, it was always consistently serviced as confirmed by the service book.
In late 2017 the car was given to Porsche specialist Paul Stephens in Halstead, Essex, UK for a major refurbishment. The invoices on file note the mileage as 56,446 miles at that time.
Cosmetically, the car was stripped back to bare metal and repainted in its original colour, new window seals were installed and the stone guards were replaced.
Mechanically, the engine was cleaned and all ancillaries were removed and restored, all metal components in the engine bay were polished, a new exhaust system was fitted, corroded oil pipes were replaced, new shock absorbers were installed, the suspension was refurbished with new bushes, bearings etc, any parts which needed to be replated were replated, perished hoses and brake lines were replaced and all brake callipers were refurbished. Electrically, a new fuse box was installed.
The cars then owner decided to lower the ride height by 20mm, install a replacement chip giving the car more torque and install a Porsche classic radio navigation system.
In total some £46,000 was spent on the car and as you will see from the photos, the end result is simply STUNNING!
This Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster was subsequently purchased by an Australian on 6th August 2020 and at that time it had 57,000 miles on the odometer. There is an import approval on file for the car dated 10th September 2020. The car subsequently arrived into Melbourne, Australia in November 2020.
The car was shortly thereafter registered in Victoria.
The car was beautifully presented, however, its then owner wanted to take it to the next level. In August 2021 it was taken to Cairns Classic Modern Porsche Services in Hallam, Victoria who refurbished the Fuchs wheels and installed a new antenna. They also removed the seats for the owner who had them refurbished.
The current owner acquired the car back in April 2022 but he has only used it occasionally. He has recently had a change of direction with his collection and therefore reluctantly decided to sell a few cars, including this Speedster.
We have a soft spot for the Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 and havent had a Speedster for sale for some time. We think, given their rarity, they are a fantastic example of a collectible limited edition or special version sports car that is relatively affordable compared to its Italian rivals.
When this car arrived at our showroom our first reaction was . . . WOW! And how good does it look in silver! We of course had to park it next to our 1958 Porsche 356 A 1600 Super Speedster and the ancestry is plain to see. The shape of the windscreen is the elephant in the room, but the resemblance of the cars is uncanny.
A 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster has an incredible presence and it is a car that looks amazing from every angle.
On this particular car, the condition of the paint is excellent. It has a strong depth of colour and a deep gloss finish. We think silver metallic is a great colour for any 911 but it is just stunning for a 911 Speedster! It brings out all the lines and contours as well as contrasts perfectly with the black interior and the black accents on the car. We struggled to find any paint imperfections, other than one very small scratch on both sides on the top of the body near the B pillar where the soft top cover comes down. There is also some light gravel rash on the bottom of the sill at the front of the rear wheel arches. The black rubber strips in and on top of the bumpers often discolour on 911s of this period but on this car they are in excellent condition.
The same can be said for the rest of the external trim, including the lights and lenses. They are all in excellent condition with no cracks evident. Even the reflective strip between the tail lights presents like new.
The wheels were refurbished just over four years ago, however, the car has hardly been driven since. As a result they are in excellent condition with no marks or evidence of any kerb rash. They are shod with Pirelli Cinturato P7 tyres size 205/55 VR15 at the front and 245/45 VR16 on the rear which are date stamped 1819 (week 19. 2019). All four tyres are in excellent condition.
Inside the cabin, the interior is in exceptional condition. With the top down on warm summers evening it is just THE place to be! The black upholstery presents beautifully, with the slightest wear evident on the drivers seat bolster and aging of the leather. The seats are comfortable and provide ample support. There are no rear seats in a 911 Carrera Speedster. It is strictly a two seater car and behind the seats youll find a small storage area. The dash and steering wheel are similarly well presented. All the instruments are clean and work the way they should. Two aftermarket USB charging ports have been installed on top of the centre console, but these are easy to remove should the cars new owner decide to do so. Yes, the car does have a soft top, which is of course for emergency purposes only. It is actually more functional than you may think and it is easily accessible from behind the seats under the fibreglass cover. It is generally in very good condition, though we did notice a small tear onthe left rear bottom corner.
Being a UK delivered car you would have every right to be concerned as to how it presents underneath. We are pleased to confirm that this car is as clean underneath as it is on top. The underside received as much attention if not more when all the work was done by Paul Stephens back in 2017. There is no doubt this car presents better than most Australian delivered cars we have seen.
This car presents beautifully and we are pleased to report that it drives every bit as good as it looks!
The car starts easily, even from cold and quickly settles into a smooth idle. Out on the open road this car is a real delight to drive. It is hard to believe that it is actually 36 years old. It is easy to drive and everything feels just right. The engine has plenty of power on tap and it responds to the slightest touch of the throttle and the G50 gearbox is smooth, easy to use and precise. We love the feel of this car through the direct and very responsive steering. The ride is slightly stiffer than usual courtesy of the lowered suspension, but it is not uncomfortable. The brakes easily pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when necessary.
Porsche 911s of this era are so easy to live with and so easy to drive it is no surprise there are still plenty of people out there who use them as a daily driver. Yet at the same time they are exhilarating and this 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster is about as good as it gets from this era of Porsche.
At time of photographing, the odometer read 59,706 miles. The service book and MOT records on file confirm the mileage is genuine.
Accompanying the car is its original book set, tool kit, jack and unused space saver spare wheel.
Highlights:
- An iconic, rare and collectible Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 variant.
- One of only 139 RHD versions built.
- Matching numbers and presented in its original and STUNNING colour scheme.
- In excellent condition.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
Price $399,950.
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. 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 enthusiastshave seen great value in 1970s and 1980s model 911s.
The Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 was introduced in 1983 as a successor to the 911SC. Interestingly, it was the first time the Carrera name had been used since 1977. Visually the new car was similar to its successor, both internally and externally. The major change to the new car was its engine. Whilst based on the SCs 3.0 litre power plant, Porsche claimed the 911 Carrera engine was 80 per cent new. The capacity was increased to 3164cc and a revised piston design increased the compression ratio to 10.3:1 on all but North American cars. But the Carreras main innovation was its Bosch Motronic 2 engine management system. This was the first production 911 to feature an ECU to control the ignition and fuel systems. In addition, the fuel injection was updated to Bosch LE-Jetronic and the induction and exhaust systems were revised.
The upshot of these improvements was that power rose to 231 bhp at 5900 rpm, with torque hitting 284 Nm at 4800rpm. Porsche claimed fuel consumption to be 10 percent better than that of the SC, because of the greater efficiency of the electronically controlled engine. The last of the 911 Carrera 3.2s was built in 1989 and the model was most popular with circa 76,000 cars built during six years of production. The approximate breakdown of models was c35,500 coupes, c20,000 cabriolets and c18,500 Targas. Porsche also offered the 911 Carrera 3.2 with the option of the Turbo body (option code M491), which is most often referred to as the wide body or in some markets Supersport.
Today the Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 is recognised as an 80s icon and these cars are now becoming highly sought after.

PORSCHE SPEEDSTER

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1938 MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe by Salmons & Sons, affectionately known as Vera.
This car is understood to have been manufactured in August 1938 and was delivered to its first owner in the UK shortly thereafter. There is a copy of a document titled: MG VA Cars 1937 1939 . . . The Survivors on file, which is dated 22nd February 1989. This notes the following information on this car: Year 1938, Registration MPL268 and Owner: White, AJC. Its subsequent early history is not known.
At some stage the car then fell into disrepair and it probably lay dormant for many years. It was purchased in poor condition, most likely in the late 1980s, which is when its restoration started. A decision was made to build a new body in aluminium, with only the original steel guards, running boards and bonnets retained. The Pre-War MG Register of Australia notes that the body was understood to have been built by Rod Jolly, who is highly regarded for his work restoring Rolls-Royce and Bentleys. Progress was slow and the cars then owner apparently ran out of money. The car was sold to MG S, V and W specialists, SVW Spares, in the UK. Shortly after this, in early 2007 the car was purchased by Robin & Jenny Page from Melbourne in Victoria. The project was at a point where the Pages were able to choose the paint and upholstery colours for the car. They made the decision to paint the car in two tone grey, fit a black soft top and trim the interior in maroon. This is a beautiful colour combinationgiving this VA a very elegant appearance.
In February 2008, Vera as this car was christened by the Pages, arrived into Melbourne. The name Vera was chosen by the Pages from the model designation of VA and the memory of English singer and entertainer Vera Lynn.
In March the car was taken to the 2008 MG Nationals which were held in Tamworth, where it won Class A: Pre-War Touring with an impressive score of 569 points.
Unfortunately not all was well with the little VA as in October of that year the car suffered a major engine failure, necessitating a total rebuild. During the rebuild the capacity was increased from 1,548cc to 1,657cc and the compression ratio increased to 8.6:1. At the same time the gearbox was also rebuilt and other mechanical work completed.
Over the years the Pages kept on improving their beloved MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe. All that hard work paid off when in October 2012 the car was selected into Motorclassica, which was Australias premier Concours dElegance and classic car show. The car was very well received and it won the Pre-War (British and European) 1930-1939 class. That same year the car also won the Pre-War Touring & Saloons class at the MG National meet in Hobart. There it also won outright in the pre-MGA class.
Other achievements over the years are:
- 2010 1st place in class and outright winner at the MG car club Victoria Concours dElegance
- 2011 2nd place at Cars of the World Concours dElegance at Rochford Wines in Victoria
- 2014 Best Presented British Vehicle at the Great Macedon Grand Tour
- 2015 1st place pre-war class MG car club Victoria Concours dElegance
- 2015 Best Pre-War British Vehicle at the AOMC/RACV Classic Showcase.
After 12 enjoyable years of ownership and many great memories, the Pages decided to sell Vera. The car was sold to the current owners in January 2016. Like the Pages, they have thoroughly enjoyed their journey of ownership with this fabulous car. Unfortunately, they are selling due to ill health.
Today this 1938 MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe still presents and drives beautifully.
The two tone grey paint work contrasts perfectly with burgundy upholstery and it is the perfect colour choice for the car. The paint work is now almost 20 years old, however, it is still in excellent condition. There are a few minor blemishes and defects, most noticeably two hairline cracks on the swage line on the left hand bonnet and a small star on the right. The panels gaps are all very good.
The interior presents beautifully. The timber dashboard houses the most elegant cluster of instruments that are in excellent condition. The upholstery is all in excellent condition with no rips, tears or obvious wear. Even the carpets are in excellent condition!
Under the bonnet everything presents beautifully. You will note the wheel hammer and original crank clipped on the bulkhead. There is what looks to be a complete tool kit in the boot.
The painted wire wheels are in excellent condition. All the wheels, including the spare, are shod with Blockley tyres, size 5.00 19. The tyres are still in good condition.
We were able to take the car for a test drive following our photo shoot. Like most MGs of that era it required a choke to start from cold. The engine fired pretty much at the first pull of the starter and it immediately settled into a smooth idle. Once it had warmed up we went for a short drive and I can confirm the car is tight on the road and it drove every bit as good as it looks.
The current owners wanted the car to be reliable and essentially be able to jump in and drive it to wherever they wanted. There is no doubt that they achieved that objective as the car was driven from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast which is where it is currently stored.
The Tickford three position folding roof is a work of art and it is in a very good condition. When we photographed the car the roof was not folded down correctly. We have since discovered the correct way to fold the roof down and it does so in a very neat and tidy way.
This car is fitted with a factory replacement engine as noted on the engine ID plate, which we understand was installed many years ago. MG aficionados will note the replacement engine is burgundy in colour, as they were, whereas the original engines were painted green.
Accompanying the car is a toolkit, a crank handle, a history file with receipts and photographs of the restoration, a detailed list with some receipts showing all the work completed to the car since it was acquired by the previous owners as well as various books and MG literature.
Highlights:
- Beautifully presented example of a quintessential British prewar sports car.
- Rare and unique Tickford DHC.
- An older restoration that still presents beautifully.
- Fabulous colour scheme.
- Ready to be used and enjoyed.
Just a fabulous example.
Price: $114,950
Background:
MG is one of the worlds most iconic motoring brands.
In 1912, with the support of the Earl of Macclesfield, William Morris founded W.R.M. Motors Ltd and started the manufacturing of Morris designed cars. In 1919 W.R.M. Motors was liquidated and essentially replaced by Morris Motors.
In 1921 Morris hired Cecil Kimber as a Sales Manager for Morris Garages and in 1923 he became the General Manager. Kimber had a vision and started building sportier versions of Morris cars and labelled them MG. On the 1st May 1924 Morris Garages registered the MG Octagon as a trademark.
Demand grew, which necessitated a move to a larger premises in September 1925. This was quickly followed by another move in 1927. By 1928 the business had grown so much a decision was made to separate it from Morris and the M.G. Car Company was established in March 1928. In 1929 the company moved to Abingdon and on the 21st July 1930 the M.G. Car Company Limited was incorporated.
The first cars to be produced under the name MG in 1924 were special bodied Morris Cowleys. The first MG to specifically compete in sporting events is a car now known as Old Number One. It was produced in 1925 and was first seen at the 1925 Lands End Trial. Other MG models followed quickly but in 1928 at the Motor Show at Olympia MG introduced the MG M-Type Midget, which became the first of many sports cars produced by MG and was a big success for the company.
In that same year MG also introduced the MG 18/80. This was the first MG with a chassis designed and built by MG. The 18/80 was equipped with a six cylinder engine with a capacity of 2,468cc.
A milestone for the company occurred in 1933 when an MG Magnette K3 became the first non-Italian car to win its class at the Mile Miglia.
William Morris owned MG personally and in 1935 he sold it to Morris Motors.
In the late 1930s MG produced a series of sports saloons, the VA, the SA and the WA.
The VA, originally marketed as the MG 1½ litre was the smallest of the three and was available as a 4 door sports saloon and as a 4 seater open tourer and as a drophead coupe. The sports saloon and the open tourer were both built inhouse but the body for the drophead coupe was manufactured by Salmons and Sons of Newport Pagnell, UK.
MG also made a special version of the VA, powered by a 1,707cc engine for police use.
In total 2,407 MG VAs were built between 1937 and 1939. The breakdown of body types is: 1,238 saloons, 591 open tourers and 564 drophead coupes, 2 chassis and 12 unknown.
In 1952 Morris Motors Ltd and the Austin Motor Company Limited merged and became The British Motor Company Ltd, BMC.

1938 MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe

Oldtimer Australia is offering for sale a 1975 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible.
This first series Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible is one of 1,232 examples produced between 1971 and 1977.
The car specification sheet on file dated 30th July 1974 confirms this car was ordered to the following specification: paint colour - cardinal red (L68-RV-006), interior - black (VM.8500), hood - black (5218), headlining - grey (TRA.42), carpet - cherry red (21), fine lines - double black (PWS.1426). The car was ordered by Rolls-Royce dealer HA Fox (Washam Stringer) from London, UK.
This Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible was ordered with the following options: fog lamps, Firestone black radial tyres, plain Sundym glass throughout, fire extinguisher and a badge bar.
The first owner, L Archer-Davis from London, took delivery of his car on the 2nd May 1975 and it was first registered as HYK911N.
Accompanying this car is its original service book, which interestingly notes the first service was completed on the 30th May 1975 by Rolls-Royce dealer Turnbull & Gamble in Beverly Hills, California in the USA. At that time the odometer read 3,836 miles.
The next service was completed in November 1975 by Rolls-Royce in London, UK and at that time the odometer read 7,780 miles. Over the next four years or so the car was used and enjoyed as its makers intended. It was regularly serviced, as confirmed by the entries in the service book
In the early 1980s the car found its way to Australia. The last recorded service in the UK was executed by H.R. Owen on the 24th July 1980 and at that time the odometer read 64,300 miles. The first recorded service in Australia was completed by York Motors on the 27th July 1982 and at that time the odometer read 69,502 miles.
It is understood the car was acquired by Neville Burrow from Goulburn, NSW on the 28th of July 2012 and at that time the odometer read 16,212 miles (116,212 miles).
The current owner who lives on the Gold Coast acquired the car on the 22nd September 2015 and at that time the odometer read 17,617 miles (117,617 miles). He has used and enjoyed the car in the past 10 years ranking up some 23,000 miles and at the time of photographing the odometer read 40,980 miles (140,980 miles).
The car is owned by a passionate Rolls-Royce enthusiast who is an active member of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club and the car is regularly seen at events in and around south east Queensland.
In his ownership the car has been regularly serviced and maintained. In recent years it has been maintained and serviced by Pauls Nerang Mechanical Workshop, Prestige Mechanics Gold Coast and Eldens Autobahn, all based on the Gold Coast.
A Rolls-Royce commands attention wherever it goes, and this example is no different. The current owner says it consistently draws admiration and enthusiastic compliments every time he takes it out. The colour of Cardinal Red is quite unique and we think striking. With the top down the car has a commanding presence on the road.
As you approach the car, the first thing that captures your attention is the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, proudly poised atop the radiator. Few hood ornaments are as instantly recognisable as this legendary figure.
A Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible is a very elegant car and this particular example has aged very well. The paint on the car is generally in good condition. This is a car that has been used and enjoyed. It is definitely not a trailer queen and therefore, there are some stone chips and minor paint imperfections visible. A nice touch is the black pin striping, which matches the black upholstery and really suits the car. Importantly, all the panel gaps are really good on this car.
The bright work on the car is in good condition throughout. Most prominent, of course, is the grille, crowned by the Spirit of Ecstasy, which presents very well with no signs of damage. The bumpers, including the front badge bar, are also in good order. Likewise, the headlight surrounds, door handles, and window trims all show nicely. All lights are functioning correctly, and the lenses are clear and free from cracks. All the glass on the car is in a good condition with no cracks or chips evident.
The wheel trims and RR inscribed hub caps are another feature on a Rolls-Royce Corniche and they present well on this car. The steel wheels are shod with Nankang Toursport NS tyres, size 225/75R15. These tyres are date stamped 1524 (week 15, 2024).
The electric soft top operates smoothly and can be raised or lowered with ease, an effortless task that can comfortably be handled by your chauffeur alone! It remains in good condition overall, with a clear rear window that maintains excellent visibility.
Under the bonnet everything looks to be very original, neat and tidy. The boot is similarly well presented.
The interior presents very well. The seats are in good condition, displaying just the right amount of patina to reflect the cars character without detracting from its appeal. They are comfortable and offer excellent support, with leather that remains soft and free from any rips or tears. The rear seats are in similarly fine condition and appear to have seen very little use.
The timber dashboard is a standout feature, providing a beautiful contrast to the rest of the interior. Overall, the woodwork throughout the car presents very well, with only a few minor blemishes visible. The Smiths instruments are clear and display nicely. On our test drive they all appeared to be functioning as they should and in good working order.
We were keen to see whether the car drives as impressively as it presents. The short answer is that it most certainly does. The engine fires up readily, even from cold, settling into a smooth, refined idle. As a matter of course, we allow it to warm up before setting off. On the road, despite its considerable presence, the Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible is surprisingly a very easy car to drive. The engine is smooth and quiet, yet delivering ample power effortlessly when called upon. The gearbox shifts seamlessly, with changes that are almost imperceptible. The power assisted steering makes tight turns and manoeuvring effortless. When called upon, the brakes bring the car to a swift, straight and reassuring stop.
The car has speed control, though we did not get the opportunity to use it on our test drive.
The current owner has thoroughly enjoyed his time with this Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible, however, after 10 years of ownership feels the time is right for him to move in a different direction.
Accompanying the car is an owners manual, the original service book, the build sheets, a very good history file with receipts for all the work completed over the last circa 20 years, a complete original toolkit, a jack and a spare wheel.
Highlights:
- Well presented example in a unique, original colour.
- Matching numbers.
- Good history file which includes the build sheets.
- Excellent club car, ready to use and enjoy.
Price $89,950
Background
The legend that was to become Rolls-Royce was founded in May 1904 when a deal was struck between Frederick Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls. Shortly after, the first Rolls-Royce motor car the Rolls-Royce 10 hp was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in December 1904. It was agreed that Rolls-Royce would initially manufacture four different models being a two cylinder 10hp model, a three cylinder 15hp model, a four cylinder 20hp model and a six cylinder 20hp model. It was immediately apparent that to manufacture their cars Rolls-Royce would require a larger factory and the decision was made to establish their headquarters and manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Derby in the East Midlands of England.
On the 15th March 1906 the company Rolls-Royce Limited was formed and during this year Royce had been developing an improved six cylinder model with more power than the 30hp. Initially designated the 40/50hp, this was the companys first all-new model that was also to become known as the Silver Ghost.
Like all car manufacturers, Rolls-Royce was impacted by the First World War. Times were tough and post war the company made a strategic decision to manufacture a cheaper smaller car, enter the Rolls-Royce 20hp. This model was a success and produced alongside the Silver Ghost and its successor the Phantom ensuring the Rolls-Royce motor car company would survive and prosper.
In 1931 Rolls-Royce acquired the Bentley motor car company.
Post the Second World War a significant milestone in Rolls-Royce history was the introduction of the Silver Dawn, which was the first model with a factory built body. In April 1955 Rolls-Royce introduced the Silver Cloud and for the next eleven years this model was at the cornerstone of Rolls-Royce production. The Cloud evolved through three major model iterations, being the Silver Cloud I, Silver Cloud II and Silver Cloud III until it was superseded by the Silver Shadow. The last of the Silver Clouds rolled off the Crewe production line in 1965 although specialist coachbuilders were still offering the Cloud III in early 1966. During this time some 7,372 cars were built.
One of the major changes to occur during Silver Cloud production was to the engine. The 4.9 litre 6 cylinder engine used in the Cloud I was replaced by a 6.2 litre V8 engine for the Cloud II. This change ensured the Cloud II had far greater performance all round.
With the arrival of the Cloud III in 1963 the car had now evolved both internally and externally, albeit subtly. The major visual difference was the introduction of the quad head light set up that was to be continued on the Silver Shadow and a lowered bonnet. The Cloud III also shed a few kilos further improving performance and handling.
In 1965 the Silver Cloud III was replaced by the Silver Shadow. The Silver Shadow remained in production through until 1980 and became the largest production volume model for the company at that time with just over 30,000 produced.
In 1966 Rolls-Royce introduced a two door version of the Silver Shadow, the Mulliner Park Ward Coupe followed by a drophead coupe in 1967, the Mulliner Park Ward Drophead Coupe.
In 1971 Rolls-Royce decided to rename the Mulliner Park Models as a Corniche. The Corniche was great success story for Rolls-Royce and incredibly it remained in production for more than 25 years, spanning five different series. In total 5,172 Corniche Convertibles were built, plus an another 506 Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward Convertibles.

ROLLS-ROYCE CORNICHE

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

LANCIA APRILIA GRAN SPORT GHIA

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale 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 $299,950
Details:
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 magnificent 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale.
Open top classic Maseratis are rare, including the Mistral Spyder, Ghibli Spyder and 3500 GT Vignale Spyder. Maserati built only 242 of the 3500 GT Spyders by Vignale from 1959 through until 1964, of which only five were factory right hand drive.
Documentation on file from Maserati Classiche confirms that this particular car was completed on the 19th October 1960 and delivered to Torino, Italy. It was originally finished in 'Verde Acqua Metallizzato' (metallic green) with a 'Marrone' (brown) interior. The car was delivered new with carburettors and the manual type ZF S 4/17 4 speed gearbox. Note: the car has a 5 speed ZF gearbox which either means an error with the factory records or that the gearbox was upgraded at some stage. It has disc brakes.
Like many Maserati 3500 GT Spyders, this car does not have an engine number stamping. Maserati Classiche has confirmed that the interno number is correct for this car, hence, it retains its original 'matching numbers' engine.
There is a copy of the Avviso Spedizione (shipping notice) on file which notes a dispatch date of the 4th May 1961. It also notes that the cars was delivered to Adolfo Rossetto from Torino.
Walter Baumer's excellent book - Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale, also confirms a completion date of 4th May 1961. It also notes:
- 30th December 1961 - registered in Torino, Italy on plate TO 380265
- 14th December 1962 - sold to Vittorio Duca in Mila, Italy and registered as MI 609279
- 26th February 1964 - sold to Costantino Cattaneo in Gallarate, Italy
- a subsequent owner was Giuseppe Berlingieri
There is a hand written note on the Avviso Spedizione which notes 8/5/64 - full service at factory.
The car history through until the early 1980s is not known. At that time it found its way to Australia, at which time it was most likely owned by Rod McGaffin. Back then left hand drive cars were not permitted in this country (with the exception of consular cars), so it was converted to right hand drive.
Dr Arnold Singer acquired the car in 1988 and embarked on a major restoration that took him until 1994 to complete. There is comprehensive documentation and photos on file of the restoration, which cost in the order of $280,000. This was a huge sum back then. It is understood that Singer used the car sparingly throughout his ownership.
The current owner acquired this Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale some twenty years ago and has used and enjoyed the car as its makers intended. It was exhibited at Motorclassica in 2017 and more recently as part of a Maserati display at Motors & Masterpieces, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds, in November 2024.
Whilst the car is now considered an older restoration, it still presents beautifully. At the time of our initial inspection, we started the car and the Tipo 101 3.5 litre (3,485cc) straight six engine fired up easily. The engine sounds fabulous and the current owner advises that this car drives every bit as good as it looks.
One could just imagine cruising the Côte dAzur or through Beverly Hills back in the day in a Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale. Today, these beautiful cars are seldom seen and Oldtimer Australia is genuinely excited to offer a unique opportunity to acquire one of Maseratis most rare and desirable open top grand touring cars.
Highlights:
- rare and desirable open top classic Maserati.
- matching numbers chassis and engine.
- beautifully presented older restoration.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
More information and photos to follow soon.
Price AUD $899,950.
Background
The Maserati story is a fascinating one. It is the story of a family with daring, courageous and forward-thinking ideas. The story starts with Rodolfo Maserati, a railway engineer who was employed by the Italian monarchy and the father of seven sons who all had a passion for engine design and racing cars. The Maserati brothers all became involved in the automotive industry in some way or another, however, it was on the 1st of December 1914 that Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati officially opened Alfieri Maserati Workshop in Bologna, Italy.
Maserati chose the trident logo to adorn its cars. Its design was based on the Fountain of Neptune in Bolognas Piazza Maggiore. The colours chosen for the logo were also the colours of Bologna, red and blue.
The business was focused on repairing, servicing and preparing cars, however, the World War cut business short and it wasnt until 1926 that Maserati built its first car, the Tipo 26.
It was all about motorsport back then and in 1937 the Orsi family acquired ownership of Maserati which was in desperate need of financial backing to be able to survive. During the Orsi years Maserati grew from a boutique but very successful race car builder to one of the worlds leading manufacturers of hand-built sports and GT cars.
Maserati built its first road car in 1946 even though times were tough in post War northern Italy. The car was the Maserati A6 - where A was for Alfieri and 6 for the number of cylinders. The initial reception of the car was positive and a production Maserati A6/1500 was then shown at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show.
The Maserati A6 entered production and whilst it was only built in small numbers, it was hugely important to the history and identity of Maserati. It was basically where the brands road car legacy truly began. The A6 remained in production for a decade through until 1956 and during that period various versions were built.
Introduced in 1947, Maserati first production car was the A6 1500, of which around 60 cars were built through until 1950.The majority were powered by Maseratis 1.5 litre (1,488 cc) inline six cylinder engine with a single overhead camshaft and a single Weber carburettor, producing 65 hp.
With an engine bored out to 2.0 litre (1,954.3 cc) and triple Weber carburettors, the Maserati A6G 2000 introduced in 1950 was a step change up in performance with quoted power up to around 100 hp. Only 16 cars were built in 1950 and 1951.
In 1953 Maserati developed the A6GCS/53 to compete in the World Sportscar Championship. It may not have dominated overall victories, but it was highly competitive in its class. Maserati built 52 A6GCS/53s from 1953 through until1955, achieving regular class wins and podiums in endurance and hill climb events.
The next production car was the A6G/54, otherwise known as the A6G 2000 Gran Turismo which was introduced at the 1954 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. A total of 60 cars were built from 1954 1956., with bodies by top coachbuilders including Pininfarina, Zagato and Allemano. This is the most desirable and collectible Maserati A6 today.
Perhaps the most important Maserati GT car was the 3500 GT, which was first shown at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show in March of that year. The first production 3500GTs left the factory in late 1957. Designed by Carrozzeria Touring, the Maserati 3500 GT featured superleggera construction with an all aluminium body. The car was powered by a detuned version of Maseratis V6 engine found in the race cars, with wet sump lubrication. The engines were initially fitted with triple Weber carburettors and later fuel injection, though many customers ordered their later cars with carburettors. Maserati got the formula right and the car was a great success. From 1957 through until 1964 almost 2,000 cars were built, the majority of which were the standard cars bodied by Touring. A small number were bodied by specialist coachbuilders such as Allemano, Boneschi, Frua and Bertone.
At the 1958 Turin Motor Show a Maserati 3500 GT Convertible, bodied by Touring, was first shown. Interestingly, that car never entered production and Maserati opted for the Carrozzeria Vignale (designed by Michelotti) Maserati 3500 GT Convertible, which was first shown at the 1959 Paris Motor Show. The Convertible did not feature Touring's superleggera construction, rather a steel body with an aluminium bonnet, boot lid and optional hard top. The Convertible was built on a wheelbase that was 10cm shorter than the Coupe. The Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale is one of the most beautiful cars ever built and there are certainly similarities with Ferraris 250 GT Cabriolet by Pinin Farina and 250 GT California Spyder. Only 242 Maserati 3500 GT Spyders by Vignale were built from 1959 through until 1964. Of the total production there were only five factory right hand drive examples built.

1960 MASERATI 3500 GT

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, magnificently restored Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe.
This car is well known to Oldtimer Australia, having been sold by us to its current owner back in August 2015.
This is a UK delivered factory right hand drive example that was sold through Brooklands to Messrs Carr & Co Ltd of Shirley, Birmingham in the UK. The car was delivered new on the 25th March 1955. It was finished in blue haze with a blue leather interior. The soft top was grey plastic with a fawn headliner.
Incredibly, the previous owner of the car was distantly related to its first owner Mr Neville Carr (his wifes great uncle) and according to history he was the black sheep of the family. Having a reputation as somewhat of a rogue and playboy he is understood to have used the car as it was intended . . . and that was to drive it, hard! Mr Carr was an amateur racing driver and living family members recall him driving the car in numerous sprint and hill climb events, including Prescott. The car travelled circa 30,000 miles in its first five years of ownership! Carr owned the car until circa 1960.
According to the factory documentation, a replacement rear axle was fitted on the 25th May 1955 (@ 4,181 miles) and a replacement engine was fitted on the 21st August 1959 (@ 27,608 miles). This work was undertaken by Aston Martin. The mileage is noted as 38,772 on 19th June 1960 when the car was serviced by Aston Martin.
The factory documentation also notes subsequent owners as a Mr D Conyers Esq of 18 Egerton Garden Mews SW3 (London) and in 1982 RL MacKenzie from Houghton in South Africa.
Jaguar works racing driver Peter Sutcliffe spent significant time in South Africa whilst motor racing in the early 1960s and it is understood that he acquired the car in the UK and shipped it to South Africa to use when he was there. It is probable that he bought the car off Conyers.
According to a hand written letter on the file the car was subsequently acquired by an Attorney who lived in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. In 1977 the car was discovered in Elandsfontein (Johannesburg) by a Mr Mike Spencer. It was in generally poor condition and Spencer spent the next two years generally improving the car to a roadworthy condition. The car was then sold to RL MacKenzie in 1982.
The previous owner acquired the car from MacKenzie in April 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa and used it until early 1990 before deciding to take it off the road and restore it. As a senior mining industry executive his career took priority over cars and the to be restored Aston Martin travelled with his family across the world, firstly to the USA in 1990 and then to Australia in 1997
It wasnt until 2011 that the car was finally placed with a specialist to be restored. That task was entrusted to Jaguar and Aston Martin specialists, Concours Sportscar Restoration in Tuggerah just north of Sydney.
The car underwent a concours standard nut and bolt restoration and it was painstakingly restored to its former glory over a three year period.
The body was in reasonably good condition, however, it was fitted with a new boot skin, door skins and repairs were completed to both rear wheel arches during restoration.
Every mechanical component was disassembled and either refurbished or replaced. All of the instruments were refurbished. All of the bright work has been re-chromed and the trim restored. The interior and soft top have been completely retrimed to the highest standard.
The car has been restored in its original colour scheme of blue haze with a blue leather interior. The previous owner opted to have the soft top finished in blue rather than the original grey which really suits the car.
When the current owner acquired the car in 2015 the restoration had only just been completed. Therefore, it required some post restoration bugs to be ironed out, which was undertaken by the Classic Car Clinic at Biggera Waters on the Gold Coast.
This car is part of a significant Aston Martin collection and it has been kept in a climate controlled garage over the last 10 years. It has only been used sparingly in that time and today the odometer reads 1,076 miles, which is the mileage that the car has travelled since it was restored.
The car was exhibited at Motorclassica in October 2015, where it was incredibly well received. At that time Motorclassica was Australias leading classic car show and concours delegance.
Even though it has been some 10 years now since the restoration was completed, this Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe still presents as a freshly restored car. In fact, its presentation would be better than the day its restoration was completed, given the owners pedantic nature and attention to detail.
This car is simply magnificent and must be one of the best surviving examples of this highly sought after and collectible Aston Martin in the world.
Timeless elegance is perfectly embodied by the Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupé. Finished in its original colour scheme of blue haze with a blue leather interior, the colour combination beautifully enhances the cars presence. The deep blue paintwork is in exceptional condition, presenting as though it were applied yesterday, with a mirror like finish that retains remarkable depth and high gloss. The bright work and painted wire wheels provide a striking contrast to the bodywork, completing the cars outstanding presentation.
The painted wheels are like new and are shod with period correct Dunlop Road Speed tyres size 6.0H16.
The external trim is minimalistic and quite delicate. Its noted feature is the horizontal slatted trade marque DB2 front grill. All the bright work on the car is, as one would expect, in beautiful condition. The same can be said for all the lights and lenses, which present similarly well. The glass is also in excellent condition with no scratches evident.
The interior of this car is equally stunning as the exterior. Everything essentially presents like new. The leather upholstery, which is soft and supple, is free from blemishes. The seats are comfortable and provide ample support. The wooden dashboard is understated yet elegant and presents exceptionally well. All the instruments are crisp and clear, and during our test drive they appeared to be in proper working order. The carpets likewise present as new, completing the cabins refined appearance.
The car has never seen rain since it was restored and the soft top has only ever been raised for cleaning and photos! It also presents like new.
We were keen to discover whether the car would drive as well as it looks. It starts easily, even from cold, and quickly settles into a smooth, steady idle. As with all cars of this vintage, allowing a brief warm-up before setting off is advisable. Once on the road, the car does not disappoint. The engine revs freely and feels strong, the gear changes are smooth, and it keeps pace effortlessly with modern traffic. The suspension is firm yet compliant, absorbing road imperfections with ease, while the brakes bring the car to a confident, straight stop when required.
Whilst the car has been used sparingly in the last 10 years, it has been regularly maintained by the Classic Car Clinic and in more recent times by SJ Classics.
A thick and expansive history file accompanies the car, including a copy of the original factory records, documentation from its time in the UK and South Africa, as well as extensive documentation, receipts and photographs from the restoration. The car has its original jack and foot pump in the boot, a mallet and crank handle mounted under the bonnet in the engine bay, as well as a spare wheel under the boot floor. There is also a full set of tools in the tray under the centre console between the front seats.
It would be hard to find a better Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe anywhere in the world. This car is simply STUNNING in every regard and it is a credit to its current and previous owners as well as the team at Concours Sportscar Restoration.
Simply the best!
Highlights:
- a magnificent early Aston Martin.
- rare car, being 1 of 102 examples built.
- beautifully restored by Concours Sportscar Restoration.
- Stunning original colour scheme.
- ready to show, use and enjoy.
The price is AUD $749,950.
Background
Aston Martin has produced bespoke sports cars for over 100 years. The company began in 1913, when founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford realised their desire to build distinctive, high quality sports cars that were both exhilarating to drive and a beauty to behold. Martin regularly competed in hill climb races at Aston Clinton, and a simple combination of the name of the event and the driver gave birth to one of the most famous automotive marques. Source: www.astonmartin.com.
Whilst Aston Martin produced some wonderful cars in their early years, business was always a struggle and the company was severely disrupted during both World War I and II. The company went bankrupt on more than one occasion and has endured many different owners throughout its history.
David Brown acquired Aston Martin in February 1947 and the first car produced during his ownership was the Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports, later known as the DB1, which was built in extremely limited numbers from 1948 to 1950. This was succeeded by the Aston Martin DB2 in 1950, which featured a new double overhead cam straight six engine of 2.6 litre (2580 cc) capacity, and was a car that really put post war Aston Martin on the map. Some 411 cars were built from 1950 to 1953, of which circa 100 were the convertible or drophead coupes. Its successor, known as the DB2/4, was first shown at the London Motor Show in 1953 and production started soon thereafter. Initially the car had the same engine as its predecessor, however, it was enlarged to 2,922cc in April 1954. Compared to the DB2 the DB2/4 had an extended roof line with a larger rear window, a one piece curved windscreen and real bumper bars. The biggest difference between the two cars was inside the cabin where the successor had far more room withtwo small occasional rear seats. The DB2/4 sold well through until 1957. In total 764 DB2/4s were built which included 565 of the Mk Is and 199 of the Mk IIs. The biggest change for the Mk II was that the bodies were made in-house by the recently acquired Tickford Coachbuilding Works in Newport Pagnell, otherwise the differences between the Mk I and Mk II were subtle. The DB2/4 was available as a four seat fixed head coupe or two seat drop head coupe from the start of production with a two seat coupe introduced on the Mk II. The DB2/4 MkII was succeeded by the DB MkIII and 551 examples were built from 1957 through until 1959.
The Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe, particularly with its soft top down, is arguably the most elegant of the DB2/4 range. There were only 101 DB2/4 Drophead Coupe Mk Is and 17 or 18 DB2/4 Drophead Coupe Mk IIs.
The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martins finest with the company winning LeMans in 1959 and the iconic early DB series cars of the 1950s paving the way for the legendary DB4, DB5 and DB6 models of the 1960s.

ASTON MARTIN DB2/4

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