OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a rare Australian delivered factory right hand drive 1971 Maserati Indy.
According to the Maserati Classiche documentation on file this car was originally finished in oro metallizzato (gold metallic), paint code 106Y54 with a white leather interior.
The car on offer has the 4,200cc engine mated to the desirable five speed manual gearbox. This car is one of the 13 Australian delivered cars and one of the only eight factory right hand drive cars built with non power assisted steering.
It was collected from the Maserati factory in Italy by its first owner, a Mr Percy Arena, from Sydney in NSW on the 19th April 1971. The dealer is noted as being Alec Mildren Pty Ltd.
Mr Arena enjoyed his Indy in Europe before importing it into Australia. The cars subsequent early history is not known, however, its next owner is understood to have been Mr Eddie Battestello from Warrnambool in Victoria.
It was in his ownership that the Recaro seats, which are still in the car today, were fitted.
The Indy was then sold circa 1980 to Mr Andy Fraser from Hamilton, Victoria who is well known in classic car circles in Australia. The next owner was a Mr Max Ormerod from Lismore, NSW, who acquired the car in October 1985. At this time the odometer read 69,478 miles.
It is fair to say that Ormerod was a fastidious owner and he kept a diary of the car detailing its history, including service records and work done. In July 1990 (at 75,200 miles) he had the car was repainted Alfa Red.
In September 2000 the car was purchased by Mrs Diane Orford as a present for her husband Colin, from Mick Arnold Classic Cars in Southport on the Gold Coast. At that time the car needed some work and it was parked up in storage for many years.
In late 2007 work commenced to recommission the car and get it into a road going state. Over the next 9 months the front suspension was completely rebuilt, the steering was rebuilt, the diff pinion seal was replaced, the brakes serviced, the cooling system overhauled and the car was serviced and generally sorted mechanically. The interior was also refreshed at this time. There is a roadworthy certificate on file dated 2nd September 2008 at which time the odometer was at 87,338 miles. The car was completed just in time for the annual Noosa Beach Classic Car Show which in 2008 was celebrating Maserati as the featured marque. This Maserati Indy was awarded a second place from the 18 Maseratis on display.
Throughout 18 years of ownership this Maserati Indy was treated by the Orfords as part of the family. Even though the car was sparingly used over the years, travelling a modest 2,000 miles in that time, it was fastidiously maintained regardless of cost. In early 2019, with the odometer showing 89,361miles, Orford decided the time was right for his treasured Maserati to pass on to its next custodian.
Oldtimer Australia sold the car to its current Brisbane based owner in March 2019. At the time the car presented well, though the paint showed some minor blemishes, most noticeable were some small humidity blisters on the nose and bonnet.
After acquiring this Maserati Indy, the current owner used the car for the next two years. The paint imperfections were slowly getting worse and this was the catalyst for him to repaint the car. He debated whether to keep the car red or repaint it in its original colour of oro metallizzato (gold metallic). Thankfully, he chose the latter and he engaged the services of highly respected restoration shop GT motors in Brisbane to do the work.
The project commenced in April 2021 and after stripping the body back to bare metal it was immediately apparent that this was not going to be a straight forward repaint. The job quickly turned into a full body restoration. There are about 500 photos on file detailing the work that was undertaken to prepare the body for the repaint. There was significant rust in the nose of the car as well as the floor, sills, doors, boot lid and just about everywhere else! All the corroded metal was removed and replaced with new metal where required.
Once all the body work was completed, the car was then prepared for painting. As they say colour maketh the car and this Maserati Indy now presents absolutely superbly in its original and STUNNING colour of oro metallizzato (gold metallic).
The front and rear bumpers as well as the wheel nuts and wheel centre caps were rechromed by Pacific Plating in Brisbane. A new windscreen was installed and Maseratis characteristic diamond stitched under bonnet insulation was replaced.
In October 2022 all the work was completed and the car was back on the road.
The end result is simply spectacular and the car is a credit to its owner as well as Frank Toaldo and his team at GT Motors.
Today the odometer on this car reads 91,142 miles. It has travelled perhaps 1,000 miles since it was repainted three years ago and as a result it still presents superbly.
The paint has retained its high gloss finish and strong depth of colour and one has to look hard to find any imperfections. There is one very small defect just in front of the left rear wheel arch. It is hard to see but it is there. The external trim is all in excellent condition.
The wheels are in excellent condition having all been repainted. They are shod with period correct Michilin XWX tyres, size 205VR14, which are date stamped 2317 (week 23, 2017). They are still in excellent condition.
Inside the cabin everything remains very fresh. The leather remains in excellent condition on the seats and door cards. We only noticed some marks on the drivers seat bolster caused by the seat belt. A good leather doctor can easily correct this.
The dashboard, instruments and controls are also in excellent condition. Everything looks to be in working order. The car has a fabulous Blaupunkt radio cassette fitted which is most likely original. The front seats, whilst not original to the car, are period correct and very comfortable. They provide ample support.
The car is very clean all around and the engine bay is no exception. The boot is similarly well presented.
The Maserati Indys were highly regarded as very comfortable grand tourers and with a quoted top speed of 250 km/hr, one could only image blasting from Rome to Paris back in the day at high speed and in style and comfort!
Whilst we couldnt get to the autostrade we could stretch this cars legs on Brisbanes M1. In summary, this car drives every bit as good as it looks.
As with all Maserati V8s of this period you need to prime the carburettors once the ignition key has been turned on. The fuel pump eventually slows and after three or four pumps on the throttle the engine bursts into life with a final turn of the key. The 4.2 litre V8 in this Indy sounds fabulous. The exhaust note is spot on building anticipation as the engine warms. On a warm Brisbane day it does not take too long for the car to reach operating temperature. You select first gear, release the firm but not heavy clutch and you are away. Within minutes it is obvious this Indy is mechanically sorted. The car pulls strongly and willingly through the rev range and the actual gear change is firm and precise. The ride of the car is exceptional; there are no rattles or squeaks and it handles particularly well. The brakes pull the car up swiftly and in a straight line. We like the fact that this car does not have power steering. It is a little heavy at parking speed but the feedback whilst actually drivingthe car is superb!
The current owner is getting to the pointy end of another classic Maserati project and space does not allow him to keep both cars. As such, he has made the difficult decision to part ways with this car and it is ready for its next owner to use and enjoy.
The big money has been spent on this car and its next owner will be able sleep at night knowing that cosmetically this car is better than new!
We think that Maserati Indys are under rated and they offer great value at approximately half the cost of a Ghibli and significantly less than its cross town rivals from Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Accompanying the car is an excellent history file which includes a plethora of invoices for the work completed over the years, photographs of the car from its cosmetic restoration, an original parts manual, a copy of an owners manuals, a jack kit and various new & used parts.
Highlights:
- 1 of only 13 Australian delivered, factory right hand drive Maserati Indys.
- Matching numbers example.
- Recent bare metal repaint in its original and STUNNING colour.
- Good history file.
- An absolute delight to drive.
Price $189,950.
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 Salone dAutomobile de Genève 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. It was offered initially with its 4.2 litre quad cam V8 and later with the 4.7 litre and 4.9 litre engines also. The car was available with either manual or automatic transmission.
Maserati anoraks will appreciate the Indy production data (provided by Maserati) that notes a breakdown of cars as: 4,200cc engine (440 cars), 4,700cc engine (364 cars) and 4,900cc engine (300 cars of which 200 cars had Citroen brakes). Of the 1,104 Maserati Indys built only 74 were right hand drive. There were only 13 Australian delivered, factory right hand drive Maserati Indys. Of these, 7 had the 4,200cc engine (5 had manual transmission / 2 had automatic) and 6 had the 4,700 engine (4 had manual transmission / 2 had automatic).

1971 MASERATI INDY 4.2 Manual

A new arrival at Oldtimer Australia is this freshly restored, Australian delivered, 1950 Land Rover Series 1 80.
There is a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate on file which confirms that this particular example was despatched from the factory on 23rd May 1950. Its destination was Annand & Thompson Pty Limited in Brisbane, Australia. The certificate also confirms this car was delivered with a 1.6 litre petrol engine.
The early history of this lights through the grill Land Rover is not known however, it found its way into the ownership of a family who lived on a property near Gladstone in Central Queensland. It is understood that the car sat in shed on the property next to a World War II bomber for at least 30 years! It was ultimately sold as part of an estate sale from which it was acquired by the current owner and noted Land Rover restorer Guy Bedington from GB Restorations in Toowoomba.
When the car was recovered a few years ago, it was found to be essentially complete and in remarkably good condition, with virtually no rust. This was as a result of it being very well stored in a dry environment.
Affectionately known as Matilda, the car has undergone a 650 hour fully detailed restoration by GB Restorations using almost entirely original parts. The engine, gearbox and axles are original equipment to the car with all correct numbers, as is the carburettor, distributor and other components.
Every component has been stripped and meticulously overhauled using original parts where possible or new old stock components. All body bolts and screws were sourced from a Birmingham UK company specialising in BSF products with the correct sherardised plating.
The car presents in the original specification Land Rover deep bronze green with correct green vinyl trimmed seats. To make it more comfortable for the people sitting in the back seat cushions were fitted using the same green vinyl. For the purists, these can be easily removed as they are not attached. The same for the rubber mat in the back, its only there to protect the paint on the floor.
The canvas hood presents in the correct khaki colour and it has the correct door top flaps.
The windscreen is two separate panes of glass. The left hand pane is most likely original as it retains the original Triplex XXX Toughened etching. Even though it is scratched, the decision was made to retain it. The right hand pane is new glass.
The devil is in the detail and the car presents with correct Lucas original headlights and Lucas wiper motor.
The car rides on 16 body coloured steel wheels that are fitted with Speedways Military tyres, size 6.00-16. A correct load space spare wheel is currently mounted in the tray, however, it can also be mounted on the bonnet.
GB Restorations usually build cars to order, however, a change in circumstance of the buyer of this car, has resulted in it being available for sale.
The restoration of this Land Rover has only just been completed and as a result everything presents as new. Today the odometer reads 16 miles, which is the distance travelled since the car was restored.
There are photos on file which show the extent of the restoration. The car was stripped down to a bare chassis and every component, including the drive train has been rebuilt.
Land Rovers were originally built for agricultural and industrial work. They were practical, no frills vehicles designed purely for function - not comfort - and as a result, they are very basic. The driving position is upright, the seats are simple, there are no carpets and the dashboard is minimalistic, featuring only the essential instruments needed to operate the vehicle.
Under the bonnet everything is clean and tidy as one would expect from a recently restored car. The car retains its original ID plate, which matches the stamped chassis number, as well as its Annand & Thompson dealer plate. The radiator has the date stamp 1149 (November 1949), which would be correct for this car.
All you have to do to start the car from cold is to turn the ignition on, pull the choke out and press the starter button located on the fire wall. The car starts easily and the 1.6 litre (1,595cc) petrol engine will fire up at pretty much first crank. You can then almost immediately push the choke back and use the accelerator to further warm up the engine. After about 10 seconds the engine will idle smoothly.
The instruments and switches are all original and have been fully restored. On our test drive all the instruments were working as they should.
As one would expect from a car that wasnt built for comfort the controls are very basic and need a firm hand. The gearbox is precise and tight, but you do need to be deliberate when changing gears. With its top speed of around 50-60mph (if you are brave enough!) the Land Rover is not the fastest car on the road. The steering is also relatively vague by modern standards. Theres noticeable play in the wheel, so you often need to make small corrections to keep the vehicle tracking straight, particularly on the open road. But that is not what this car is all about. On the road it is best described as slow but capable, but it is off-road is where it really shines. It was built to handle mud, hills, and rough terrain with ease!
We were keen to put the cars off road capability to the test, but decided that discretion was the better part of valour!
The brakes are quite adequate for the car and will pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed.
In summary, these early Land Rovers are full of character and incredibly engaging to drive.
These early Land Rovers are becoming thin on the ground and the opportunity to acquire a brand new 1950 Land Rover Series 1 80 that has been correctly and freshly restored presents a unique opportunity.
Matilda is ready for its next custodian to show, use and enjoy!
Accompanying the car is a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate as well as photos of its restoration.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered.
- Desirable 80 lights through the grill model.
- Recently restored by passionate Land Rover specialists.
- Ready to be shown, used and enjoyed.
Priced at significantly under its replacement costs at $82,950.
Background
One of the fundamental principles of economics is the law of supply and demand. During World War II the US army had a need for a light 4WD vehicle capable of carrying troops as well as cargo. And so the Jeep was born. From 1941 through until 1945 Willys and Ford were the major supplier of Jeeps, in various configurations, to the US military and their allies.
The history of the Rover Company dates back to the mid-1800s when it was selling sewing machines and then 'safety' tricycles and bicycles. By the 1930s, it had evolved into a car company but was hit badly by the Great Depression. In common with many British industrial companies during World War II, its factories were turned over to the war effort and produced engines for tanks and aircraft. By 1945 and the end of World War II, Rover found itself with two excellent factories and a highly skilled workforce. It was looking at restarting car production and had ambitious plans to build 20,000 cars per year. A new model, the M'-Type was dropped when it became clear that it would be unsuitable for export and that tooling costs would be excessive. Plans to produce 15,000 of the pre-war designs per year were quickly quashed by the Government which refused to allocate steel for more than 1,100 cars per year. This serious shortfall led Rover to realise that a stopgap solution was required until sufficientsteel was available. The stopgap also had to have export potential. Just to make things difficult, Rover had never exported any vehicles before!
Maurice Wilks, Rovers head of design, had been using ex-army Jeeps on his farm and realising that there was no real alternative decided that Rover would provide one. The first prototype Land Rover, developed in late 1946, was actually built on Jeep chassis. The bodywork was made of an aluminium alloy called Birmabright.
Using similar dimensions to the World War II Jeep, the first Land Rovers had an 80" wheelbase. The new Land Rover was first unveiled at the Amsterdam Motor Show on the 30th April 1948. It featured a steel box section chassis with an aluminium body and was powered by a 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder Rover engine from the P3 Rover car range developing around 50 hp. The gearbox was four speed Rover mated to a two-speed transfer box thus allowing 4WD operation. A PTO (power take off) was also fitted to enable the Land Rover to be used as a stationary power unit.
Rover didnt know what to expect but they need not have worried. The Land Rover was an outstanding success and the order books quickly overflowed. A legend was born! This humble Land Rover is in many ways the pioneer of the ubiquitous SUVs seen on our roads today.

1950 LAND ROVER SERIES 1

The documentation on file confirms this UK delivered, factory right hand drive example was ordered by Maranello Concessionaires Ltd in Egham By Pass (Surrey) on the 5th January 1972. This E Series Dino was completed and despatched from the Ferrari factory in Maranello on the 13th March 1972.
This Ferrari Dino 246 GT left the factory in the high desirable colour combination of Rosso Chiaro (red - paint code 20-R-190) with a Nero Plastica (black vinyl trim code 161) interior. It was ordered with the optional electric windows.
The car was sold by dealer Ian Anthony from Prestwich, Manchester in the UK.
This Dino found its way to Australia very early in its life and it was owned by Ken Graves from Sydney from 1976 through until 2013. It was acquired by Oldtimer Australia in a disassembled state, ready to be restored. It was sold to a Melbourne based enthusiast on the 10th October 2013 and at that time the odometer read 37,098 miles. It was subsequently restored and back on the road in 2018.
Oldtimer Australia sold the car to its current Brisbane based owner in September 2021 and at that time the odometer read 39,107 miles.
The current owner has used and enjoyed the car through his (almost) five years of ownership and at the time of photographing the odometer read 40,833 miles.
Today this fabulous Dino presents and drives superbly.
Highlights:
- Factory RHD E-Series Dino.
- Fully matching numbers - chassis, engine & body.
- Original colour scheme Rosso Chiaro (red) with a Nero (black) interior.
- Restored by marque experts to a very high standard.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
More information to follow soon.
Price $999,950
Background
Apple, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Nike are brands recognisable the world over. So is Ferrari and interestingly the iconic Italian luxury sports car manufacturer was named The Worlds Strongest Brand in the 2019 Brand Finance Global 500 Report.
Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 out of Alfa Romeos race division as Auto Avio Costruzioni the company built its first car in 1940. The Second World War halted Ferraris dream, which was finally realised in 1947, when the first car bearing his name, the Ferrari 125S, was built. From that day on Ferrari race cars dominated the world over, winning race after race and many world championships in Formula One, sports car racing and endurance racing. Ferrari built exclusive sports cars for the road too, but in the early days, this was primarily to fund his motor racing!
The Cavallino Rampate or prancing horse was the symbol chosen by Ferrari and like the golden arches it is recognised by just about every man, woman and child on the planet!
The Ferrari road cars from the 1940s and early to mid-1950s were built in very small numbers and it was not until the introduction of the 250 series cars that production numbers increased. Almost 1,000 Ferrari 250 GTEs were built from 1959 1963. The 250 series also produced some of the most special Ferraris ever built, including the Ferrari 250LM, 250 SWB, 250 California Spider and of course the 250 GTO. The 250 series cars were superseded by the 275 series cars, the 330 series cars and later the 365 series cars. The nomenclature designated the cubic capacity of each cylinder. So a Ferrari 330 was powered by a 12 cylinder engine of 3967 cc capacity.
Ferraris iconic Dino was first shown to the world as a prototype at the 1965 Paris Motor Show. The car morphed into the 206 GT of which only 150 cars were built from 1967 to 1969. This car was built with an all alloy body and had a 1,987cc V6 engine. In 1969 the 246 GT was released, which whilst a similar looking car in many ways was actually quite different. The car sat 3 taller than its predecessor and the body was now built from steel. Mechanically the new car was powered by a 2,418cc V6 engine. Enzo was keen to tackle Porsche head on and to do this he needed to increase production. The Dino was a hit and incredibly 3,569 of these cars were built from 1969 to 1974, 2,295 246 GTs and 1,274 246 GTSs.
Concerned at how the world would accept his lower priced, affordable 6 cylinder sports car and concerned that a cheaper car may diminish the Ferrari brand, Enzo Ferrari decided the car would not carry the badge of the prancing horse. Rather it would simply be known as a Dino to also commemorate the life of his son who designed the 6 cylinder engine.
Today the world knows the Dino as a Ferrari, and a real one at that! These beautiful cars are adored by car people across the world and good ones are most sought after.

FERRARI DINO 246 GT

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

1930 PACKARD 740

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 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

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

1964 FERRARI 330 GT

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly desirable 1957 Aston Martin DB2/4 MKII.
The factory records on file confirm that this is an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example that was delivered new to the Penfold family in South Australia. The car was delivered through Aston Martin agent D Brown (Australia) on the 8th July 1957. The original colour choice for this car was stunning. It was originally finished in sea green with a green interior, which is how the car is presented today.
This particular car is fitted with the desirable special series VB6J/***/L1 engine quoted as delivering 165 bhp, being 25 bhp more than the standard engine. It is also fitted with a larger sump.
The factory records note that a replacement engine, with the same number, was despatched to David Brown Australasia on the 13th November 1957.
It is understood that the Penfold family owned the car for many years. The history file picks up the ownership of the car in the 1980s when it was owned by former politician John Goss from Brisbane, Australia. It may well be that Goss acquired the car from the Penfold family. Goss used and enjoyed his Aston Martin for many years before selling to Donald Lane from Buradoo, near Bowral in the NSW southern highlands in 2001. The current Melbourne based owner acquired the car off Lane in c2005.
Over the last 20 years the current owner has used and enjoyed his Aston Martin as its makers intended. Even though the car presents beautifully, he is unashamedly a driver and not a polisher! To ensure the car is a reliable classic and available to be driven on a whim, he has had it maintained and regularly serviced. In 2017 the front Alfin brake drums were overhauled by TypeCast in the UK. In 2018 the cylinder head was overhauled. The car has been upgraded with a Jaguar differential to enhance drivability.
Today this Aston Martin DB2/4 MkII presents resplendently in its original colour scheme of sea green with a green interior. The current owner chose to remove the bumpers for two reasons. Firstly, to give the car that Aston Martin GT look and secondly to reduce the cars weight. The bumpers are heavy! The paint work, which was refreshed by Lane some 20 years ago, is in very good condition with some minor blemishes and stone chips evident. Its presentation is totally consistent with a well cared for car that gets driven. The external trim is minimalistic, particularly with the bumpers removed. The trademark Aston Martin grill is in excellent condition and a real feature.
The chrome wire wheels and spinners really compliment the paintwork beautifully. All of the wheels are in reasonably good condition with no kerb rash or damage. The chrome has started to pit/peel in places. The wheels are shod with Michelin X tyres, size 185R16 all around.
The cabin of the Aston Martin DB2/4 is quintessentially British. It is relatively simple, elegant and beautifully presented. The timber steering wheel is a feature and in excellent condition. The timber dash facia houses the cluster of Smiths instruments and both are also in excellent condition. The leather upholstery is soft and supple with no splits or tears. The seats are comfortable and provide good support. An Aston Martin DB2/4 has occasional rear seats which look to have been sparingly used.
Opening the rear hatch provides access to a large boot area. This area can be expanded by folding a panel down over the rear seats. There is plenty of room for the golf clubs here! The boot presents well, with very minor wear evident.
The massive bonnet hinges forward to reveal a beautifully presented engine bay, revealing the unique independent coil spring front suspension and chassis components as well as the 2,922cc Lagonda twin cam engine. The engine itself is a work of art, resplendent with polished aluminium features, traditional red cylinder head and proper finishes. Everything is neat, clean and tidy.
This Aston Martin DB2/4 MkII is a drivers car. The car starts easily, settling into a smooth idle without hesitation. Out on the open road it performs superbly offering a very spirited and rewarding driving experience. The engine has loads of power on tap and it pulls strongly through the rev range. The gearbox is tight and with a relatively short shift it provides slick gear changes. The car delivers a firm yet comfortable ride, direct steering and excellent braking.
Accompanying the car is an original leather bound Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II handbook, an original and well used workshop manual, a copy of a parts catalogue, a factory sales brochure, Aston Martin factory records and a thick history file with many service receipts.
There are also the original bumpers, which are in excellent condition, the original differential, a spare wheel as well as the jack and basic tools which are stored in the engine bay.
If you are looking for an early pre DB4 Aston Martin it would be hard to find a better example.
Aston Martin only built 199 DB2/4 MkIIs, of which 146 were saloons. Of these 146 cars only a small number would be factory right hand drive with the high performance engine.
This car presents exceptionally well and drives superbly.
Highlights:
- Rare Australian delivered, factory RHD example.
- Sold new to the Penfold family in Adelaide.
- Fitted with the desirable special series VB6J/***/L1 high performance engine.
- Fabulous, original colour scheme.
- Great driving car.
Price $364,950
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 drop head 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 roomwith two 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 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.

1957 ASTON MARTIN DB 2/4 MKII

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this lovely restored Alvis Speed 20 SC Sports Saloon by Charlesworth.
In total Alvis built 1,165 Speed 20s from 1932 to 1936. This includes 289 Speed 20 SCs, of which 165 cars were bodied by Charlesworth and 131 of them were sports saloons.
According to documentation on file from the Alvis Speed 20 SC Register, this particular car was originally bodied by Charlesworth and dispatched from Alvis factory on the 13th January 1935.
This car retains its Alvis ID plate, Charlesworth body number plate and retains all its original and correct factory stampings for chassis and engine numbers. The above mentioned documentation confirms that this cars chassis, car, body and engine numbers all match.
This cars history is not documented, however, it is recorded in the Alvis Car Club of Victoria Newsletter from January 1992 as attending an Alvis Day in NSW on the 9th November 1991. At that time the car was dark green in colour and it was owned by Gary Coxon.
It was then understood to have been owned by a south east Queensland based Alvis enthusiast who was an aviation engineer. He restored the car himself over a long period of time. There are photos on file of the car from 2008 and 2009 and at that time it was light green in colour. The photos from 2009 were taken at the David Hack Classic held in Toowoomba.
The current owner acquired this car at Shannons Autumn Classic 2015, held in Sydney on the 2nd March, 2015. At the time Shannons noted that the car had a substantial Australian history.
A short time after purchasing this Alvis, the owner quickly realised it was not at the level he wanted it to be and he decided to go on a journey to completely restore the car.
For the mechanicals he engaged the services of Alvis specialists Red Triangle in the UK. The engine and gearbox were packaged up and sent to the UK to be fully rebuilt. The body, paint and assembly were completed by Dion Willcox at The Kustom Shop in Brisbane and the interior was retrimmed by Lee Brothers in Brisbane.
The restoration was essentially an open cheque book and a significant amount of money has been spent. There are invoices on file from Red Triangle for in excess of £50,000.
The car has been subject to some sympathetic upgrades during the restoration, including the fitment of an electric water pump and electronic ignition.
The restoration was completed some years ago and the car has been kept in static storage ever since. As a result, the current owner has decided the car should to an enthusiast who will hopefully use this fabulous motor car. Prior to coming to us to sell the car was recommissioned and checked over.
This car has an incredible presence. The owner decided on the most stunning and very Alvis bold colour scheme of black with a red sash. You will note from the photos the black front wheels and the red rear wheels, which essentially are a continuation of the sash. The colour scheme looks great and coupled with the low waist line it also creates a visually sleek and very sporting profile. The overall look is further emphasised by the imposing Lucas headlights and mesh radiator grill.
Whilst the car now carries an older repaint, the paint work still presents well having a strong depth of colour and a nice gloss finish. We only noticed some very minor defects. The most noticeable defect is where the paint has peeled off in certain areas on the bonnet hinge. The majority of the external trim is all chrome and it is excellent condition. The same can be said for all the glass, which is in excellent condition with no chips or cracks evident. Unfortunately, the front Alvis badge has two chips of red colour missing.
Open the door and you are welcomed by a very good looking interior. You can immediately tell this car has not been used since its restoration. Everything looks new, most notably the red upholstery, carpets and head lining. The timber has been refurbished and along with the black dash full of typically British Smiths instruments, it provides a nice contrast with the red upholstery.
The engine bay is neat, clean and tidy but its presentation is probably not quite at the level of the rest of the car. The boot is very small but presents well.
The wire wheels are in excellent condition and are shod with Excelsior tyres, size 525/550 -19. They are date stamped 1715 (week 17, 2015).
Getting into the car can be a bit of a challenge with the hand brake being positioned on the right side of the drivers seat but you quickly get used to that. The driving position is quite upright which actually helps with the visibility. The view out over the long bonnet is very impressive!
Once we have familiarised ourselves with the car and got comfortable behind the steering wheel, it is time for a short test drive. Starting the car is easy, even from cold. Firstly, there is a battery isolator hidden under the dash. You then turn the ignition switch on and you will hear the electric water pump start up. For a cold start you will need the choke, which you pull out . . . then it is simply a push on the starter button. The 2.8 liter inline six cylinder engine fires immediately and sounds good. We let the car warm up for a little bit, then turn the choke off.
The Alvis Speed 20 was a modern, advanced and very sophisticated car in its day and from the Speed 20 SB model used a constant mesh gear box. This model was also the first British car with independent front wheel springing and steering. And with 95hp available the car was quoted as having a top speed approaching 160 km/hr or 100 mph in the old money.
We were keen to see how this all stacked up out on the open road. First impressions were positive. The car feels tight on the road and there is ample power available to ensure you are able to keep up with modern traffic. For a mid 1930s car the gear changes are very good and they are smooth both up and down the box. The steering feels precise. The car still has mechanical brakes and whilst they do pull the car up nicely and in a straight line, they do take some getting used to. All in all the car performed very well.
There is no doubt this Alvis Speed 20 is a car that the more you drive and get accustomed to the better it will get.
Accompanying the car is a good history file, which contains a huge amount of documentation from the restoration as well as an owners handbook (copy) and a spare parts catalogue.
In period Alvis advertised their cars as The Silent Speed 20 and . . . now with all silent performance setting a new fashion is sports car design. The Alvis Car & Engineering Company Limited was certainly a competitor for Britains best, being Rolls-Royce and Bentley, companies that have always been synonymous with engineering excellence.
The Alvis Speed 20 was one of the most respected and successful pre war cars. The later Type SC and SD models with the smooth constant mesh gear box and more powerful 2,762cc litre straight six engine are the best of the breed. We think these sporting pre war grand tourers present great value in todays market.
Highlights:
- 1 of 131 Charlesworth bodied Alvis Speed 20 SC Sports Saloons.
- Beautifully restored.
- Huge money spent on the restoration.
- A well presented car that has just been recommissioned.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
Price $134,950
Background:
In 1919 naval architect TG John took over a small Coventry based carburettor manufacturer named Holly Bros and founded the company TG John and Co Ltd. The company initially focused on making stationary engines, carburettors and motor scooters. Shortly after founding the company, John was approached by Geoffrey de Freville who was looking for a company that could manufacture and potentially use his advanced designs for a 4-cylinder engine with aluminium pistons and pressure lubrication.
Many people think de Freville was ultimately responsible for the name Alvis, something he himself has always denied.
In 1920 the first Alvis was introduced to the world, the Alvis 10/30. The car was available with a range of different body styles and was powered by a 4 cylinder engine designed by de Freville with a capacity of 1,460cc. The car was an instant success and it gained a reputation for quality workmanship and performance, something for which Alvis became famous. The Alvis 10/30 remained in production until 1923 and in total 770 were made. The Alvis 10/30 was succeeded by the Alvis 11/40, the Alvis 12/40, the Alvis 12/50 and the Alvis 12/60.
On the 14th of December 1921 the company name was officially changed to The Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd.
Like many car manufacturers in those days, Alvis wanted to go motor racing. Their greatest achievement came in 1928 when their team finished 1st and 2nd in class at Le Mans and a highly creditable 6th and 9th overall. The car was powered by a 1.5-litre 4 cylinder supercharged engine with a single overhead camshaft. Interestingly, it was front wheel drive. Building on their success in racing, Alvis decided to offer a production Super-Sports front wheel drive for the experienced driver. The Alvis 12/75 was an instant success and achieved high acclaim in the press. Unfortunately, the cost of producing such an advanced vehicle was high and with the great depression looming Alvis decided to stop the production in favour of more profitable models. In the end, only 143 were produced.
In 1927 Alvis introduced their first 6 cylinder model, the Alvis 14.75. The engine in the 14.75 became the basis for a long line of luxury 6 cylinder cars. The 14.75 was succeeded by the 16.95 in 1928 which was renamed Silver Eagle in 1929. In those days Alvis didnt produce their own coachwork, instead they relied on the many available coachbuilders in the Midlands area. Companies like Car bodies, Charlesworth Bodies, Cross & Ellis, Duncan Industries, E. Bertelli Ltd, Grose, Gurney Nutting, Hooper, Lancefield Coachworks, Martin Walter, Mayfair Carriage Co, Mulliners, Tickford, Vanden Plas, Weymann Fabric Bodies, and Arnold of Manchester.
In 1931 Alvis introduced the Speed 20. It featured a heavily modified version of the 6 cylinder engine featured in the earlier Silver Eagle. By now it had increased to 2,511cc. In October 1933 Alvis introduced the Speed 20 SB which featured a new, all-silent gearbox that featured a synchromesh on the bottom gear, a worlds first. This model was also the first British car with independent front wheel springing and steering. The car also had a built-in jacking system. In 1935, with the third iteration of the Speed 20, the SC, the engine size increased to 2762cc. Later that year Alvis introduced another iteration of their 6 cylinder engine, the 3 ½ Litre. Initially, the car was named 3 ½ Litre SA, but in 1936 it was renamed Speed 25.
In total 1,164 Speed 20s were produced, 289 were SC versions, 165 of them were body by Charlesworth and 131 of them were saloons.

1935 ALVIS SPEED 20 SC

Details
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly desirable 1964 Aston Martin DB5.
The Heritage Certificate on file confirms this UK market factory right hand drive example was built on the 16th October 1964. Finished in California Sage (light metallic green) with a fawn interior, the car left the factory on the 10th December 1964. The Heritage Certifcate notes the car was delivered with Selectaride shock absorbers, chrome wheels and a heated rear window.
The car was delivered new through J Blake & Company Limited for Hills Garage in Woodford Green, Essex in the UK.
The Heritage Certificate also notes a recorded registration of YYW 327G. Interestingly, the suffix G indicates this is a plate issued between 1st of August 1968 and the 31st of July 1969, so it is most likely the car carried a different registration before that.
Importantly this car retains its original ID tag and the stamped chassis and engine numbers are visible. The Heritage Certificate confirms all the numbers are correct and matching.
There is a UK V5 on file from May 1997, which is when the car was acquired by Alistair Jefferey from London. Jefferey is an Australian who was living and working in London at the time. The V5 states the car had three former keepers since January 1982.
Jeffery acquired the car from Nigel Mark Osmond Smith from Lingfield, UK who himself had acquired the car on 22 September 1995. When Jeffery acquired the car it was blue.
In early 2000 Jeffrey moved back to Sydney and brought the car with him. There is an Australian Import Approval on file dated 26th July 2000.
After arriving in Australia Jefferey had the car assessed by Concours Sport Restoration in Tuggerah on 27th September 2002. At that time the odometer read 153 km. The car was serviced and some rust repairs completed. He was given the advice that the car probably needed to be restored in the not too distant future.
In 2005 he engaged the services of The Classic Connection in Riverstone a suburb in Sydneys west to restore his Aston Martin to its former glory. A decision was made to strip the car and repaint it in the iconic Aston Martin colour of silver birch.
The job progressed slowly over the next few years and in 2009 Jeffrey decided to sell the car as a partially completed project. By then a significant amount of mechanical work had been completed, the car had been mostly reassembled and the refurbishment of the interior had commenced.
The car was purchased by a Brisbane based Aston Martin enthusiast. The car joined a significant collection, which included an Aston Martin DB4 and DB6 as well as a number of Jaguars and other British classics. He continued the restoration, which essentially involved finishing off the assembly and refurbishing the interior. In 2012 the car was back on the road. This Aston Martin DB5 was the pride of his fleet and it was only used sparingly throughout his ownership.
In 2022 the cars owner had decided to start downsizing his collection and the DB5 was sold quietly in April 2022 to the current owner. Over the last three years the car has continued to be used sparingly, though it was shown publicly at Motors & Masterpieces held at the Melbourne Showgrounds in November 2024.
Oldtimer Australia took great pleasure to exhibit the car on our stand at Rippon Lea Concours dElegance in Melbourne, held on the 23rd or March 2025, where it attracted a lot of attention.
Today the odometer reads 440 km.
The Aston Martin DB5 is an iconic car and finished in silver birch it is one of the most recognised cars on the planet. It was made famous of course for its role in various James Bond films, starting with Goldfinger in 1964.
First impressions of this car are really good. It certainly has a presence and it just oozes sophistication. Designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, there is no doubt the Aston Martin DB5 is a beautiful car. Walking around this example you cannot help but be impressed. The car just pops!
Even though this car was repainted some 20 years ago, the paint still retains a strong depth of colour and a nice gloss finish. Up close you will notice a few small imperfections but generally the car presents well. The panel gaps are generally good, though the bonnet would benefit from a minor adjustment. Both bumpers require minor adjustment.
The chrome is a real feature on an Aston Martin DB5. There is plenty of it and on this car it is generally in very good condition. The one defect we noticed is a small chip on the left side of the rear bumper. The chrome wire wheels are stunning and in excellent condition. They are shod with Bridgestone SF-373 tyres, size 205/70 R15 all around. The tyres are still in excellent condition, but they might need to be replaced based on age if the next owner would like to do some serious driving in the car.
When you open the door you are greeted with a very elegant interior that is just so quintessentially British. The first thing you will notice is the correct style 15 inch Moto-Lita wooden steering wheel which is in excellent condition and really suits the car. The dashboard has every instrument you need and everything is in excellent condition. In the centre of the dashboard youll find a beautiful clock and the chrome switches for the windows. There is an abundance of leather which is soft and in great condition with no rips or tears to be found. The seats are firm and provide ample support. The rear seats probably have never been used and present similarly well. All the carpets are in excellent condition.
The important question to be answered is of course . . . how does the car drive? It was an early Sunday morning and it was time to channel our inner 007 and find out! It was a beautiful morning and the sun was shining, so a perfect start to the day. From cold the car needs a full choke to start and it does so easily. As soon as the engine is running you can ease the choke off to about a third and then wait patiently as the engine warms up. As soon as the temperature gauge start moving the choke can be turned off all together.
After we have made ourselves comfortable and the engine has warmed up sufficiently, we gently move the car out onto the road. After only a few miles behind the wheel you are hooked. The engine sounds great and it has loads of power on tap. It responds well to the slightest touch of the throttle and it is a delight to drive. The gearbox in this car is precise both up and down the box and importantly the brakes pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed. This car feels really solid on the road and the steering is responsive and provides excellent feedback.
The reality is the Aston Martin DB5 is more than just a movie car! With a quoted top speed close to a 150 mph in the old money and able to sprint from 0 60 mph in just over 7 seconds the DB5 was no slouch back in 1964. It is not a sports car, rather a true gentlemens express.
After just getting started we reach our destination all too soon. We would have loved to drive this car all day!
Accompanying the car is a reasonable history file, which includes a Heritage Certificate, an original owners manual, a workshop manual (copy), a parts manual (copy) and an original sales brochure. There is also jack and two sets of keys.
It is not often one gets the opportunity in Australia to purchase such an iconic car as an Aston Martin DB5. There are not many examples left on these shores.
This example ticks a lot of boxes and would be a welcome addition to any car collection in Australia or in fact anywhere in the world.
Highlights:
- UK delivered, factory RHD example.
- Matching numbers engine.
- Beautifully presented example in a stunning colour combination.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
Price: $1,499,950
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 drop head 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 roomwith two 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.
In 1958 Aston Martin introduced the successor to the DB2/4 series, the DB4. The DB4 remained in production till 1963 and a total of 1,204 were produced.
In 1963 Aston Martin introduced what was to become the most famous Aston Martin ever, the DB5. The DB5 became a legend when it appeared in the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger. The DB5 is considered to be the quintessential vehicle associated with the Bond character and it has reappeared in many subsequent Bond films.
Whilst visually similar to the Aston Martin DB4 MkV, the DB5 was a step up mechanically with most changes under the bonnet. The new car was powered by a 4.0 litre version of Aston Martins straight six engine fitted with triple SU carburettors as standard it was quoted as producing 282 bhp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Power was sent through a five speed manual gearbox (a three-speed automatic was also an option) to the rear wheels. It was the first time this engine was used by Aston Martin in a road car, having first seen service in the Lagonda Rapide (based on Astons DB4) and some of Aston Martins prototype race cars of that period.
The Aston Martin DB5 remained in production through until 1965 and only 1,059 examples were produced. This figure includes DB5, DB5 Vantage and DB5 Convertible or Volante.
In 2020, as part of their continuation program Aston Martin produced 25 new DB5 Goldfinger-themed cars at the factory in Newport Pagnell.
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.

1964 ASTON MARTIN DB5

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 a factory right hand drive 1972 Maserati Bora. It is understood that Maserati built only 42 factory right hand drive Boras making this an exceptionally rare car. 

According to the factory records this factory right hand drive example was completed in October 1972 with a 4.7 litre engine. Its original colour scheme was Celeste Chiaro (light blue, Salchi code 1069.A.20) with a black interior (Connolly code PAC.1560). 

The car was delivered in the UK to its first owner through Citroen Cars Ltd in Slough, UK. It is understood the car left the UK shortly after, making its way to the Channel Islands, then to Norfolk Island before arriving in Brisbane in 1974.
After arriving in Australia, the car is understood to have found its way to Perth in Western Australia where it remained for about 10 years. One of the subsequent owners remembered seeing the car on the Kwinana Freeway around 1977. The car then found its way to Bathurst in New South Wales where it was owned by Nicholas Dutton. In his ownership the car was registered in NSW as QYB443. Dutton sold the car through Oldtimer Australia in the early 2000s to a well known Melbourne based classic car enthusiast and collector. He only kept the car for a short period as he quickly realised that a Maserati Bora is not really designed for people who are over 64 tall! He loved the car, but couldnt get comfortable in it, so he reluctantly made the decision to sell. The car was again sold through Oldtimer Australia, to Ken Graham from Perth in Western Australia. At that time the odometer read 56,240 miles.

Graham owned this Maserati Bora for the next 14 years and in his ownership a lot of work was done to the car. Accompanying this car is a huge history file(s), including one thick file with substantial documentation, invoices and photos for all of the work Graham had completed on the car.

In August 2003 Graham decided to have the engine rebuilt. At that time the odometer read 58,000 miles. The engine was removed from the car, completely stripped and all components were thoroughly examined. The engine was rebuilt with new JE forged pistons and new OEM bearings from Kyle Fleming Maserati in the USA. Chapman Bros in Mosman Park in Perth bored and honed the block and refurbished the crankshaft. After crack testing, the crankshaft was machined, polished, re-nitrited and, then balanced. The engine block was chemically cleaned, the heads and the block were machined (only .005) and new valves & followers were installed. A decision was made to also install valve stem seals, something the factory never did. The engine was then reassembled. The gearbox and differential were also disassembled. Bearings were replaced and some of the gears were relapped. Unfortunately, after all the work was completed there was some noise from the gearbox and differential. The owner decided to live with it, however, in 2011 it was the one thing that still annoyed him about the car. He then removed the gearbox and differential again and this time he renewed all the synchromesh cones as well as the crown wheel and pinion. 

In November 2007 a decision was made to repaint the car. It was taken to Lombardi Panel works who assessed the car and made a list of all the work to be done. When examining the car they found paint fragments under the rear window which were of a slightly different colour, confirming that the car had previously been repainted. After further examining the car, they determined the paint to be a Ford colour found on the XF Fairmont. Work commenced and the body was taken back to bare metal. Maserati Boras are prone to rust and this car had obviously benefited from having lived the majority of its life in Australia. There was some metal work required, but overall the boidy was in good condition. When it came time to paint the car the owner decided on a colour change and selected rosso rubino, which was the colour of the car featured in the 1972 factory sales brochure.

During that same period the interior was also retrimmed.

In Grahams ownership pretty much every element of the car was refurbished. The engine, carburettors, gearbox, differential, suspension, steering, hydraulics, exhaust system, brakes, electrical system and the air conditioning were all overhauled. The car was repainted and the interior refreshed.

The current owner, who is based in Melbourne, acquired the car from Graham in March 2016. At that time the odometer read 63,685 miles. He has used the car sparingly and travelled circa 1,200 miles in his nine years of ownership. Today the odometer reads 64,849 miles. In his ownership he had the car regularly maintained by Zagames and Beninca Motors.

First impressions of this car are really good. It certainly has a presence and the colour scheme really suits the car. The paint has certainly withstood the test of time. It has been nearly 18 years since this car was repainted but it has retained a deep gloss finish and a strong depth of colour. Upon closer inspection you will notice a few small imperfections. The most noticeable ones are three small bubbles on the lower part of the drivers door, near the bottom edge and one on the lower section of the right front guard. There are also a few small stone chips, consistent with a car which has been used. The stainless steel roof on a Bora is a real feature and it is in very good condition on this car. The same can be said for all the other bright work. Whilst the car has a few small imperfections here and there, generally speaking its overall presentation is very good.

All the glass is in good condition with no cracks or delamination evident. The same can be said for all the lights and lenses, which are clear and in good condition.
The Campagnolo wheels and chrome finished hub caps are another unique design feature on a Bora. On this car they are generally in a good condition though we did notice some very light kerb rash on the right rear wheel. It is very minor and only the paint has been affected, not the actual rim. The hub caps are all in good condition. The wheels are shod with period correct Michelin XWX 215/70 VR15 tyres on all four corners. They are date stamped 3120 and 3220 (week 31 and 32, 2020) and are in excellent condition.

When you open the door you are welcomed by a very unique looking interior. The first thing that will capture your attention are the seats. They look like something you might have seen in an 80s sci-fi movie or perhaps found in a funky period lounge room! Both seats are in good condition with no rips or tears evident in the leather. They are also firm and provide plenty of support. Sliding behind the wheel you cant help but be impressed with the dashboard. All the gauges present well and on our test drive they all appeared to be working as they should. The period correct radio is a nice touch. The door cards and the headlining both present well.

Ever since this Bora arrived in our showroom we have been keen to take it out for a test drive. We had to wait for the weather gods to cooperate but when the opportunity finally presented itself, we were not disappointed. The car starts easily even from cold and fairly quickly settles into a smooth idle. The big V8 has a fabulous almost baritone exhaust note that you take in as the engine warms up. In time we are inching the nose into traffic as we slowly exit our showroom and hit the open road. The first impressions, even though the engine had not quite warmed up yet, were extremely positive. The car almost squats on the road and it feels really solid. This Maserati Bora is a fabulous car to drive. The engine has plenty of power throughout the rev range and the gear changes both up and down the box are easy and smooth. The car handles very well and responds to the smallest movement in the steering wheel. When needed the brakes are there to pull the car up quickly and in a straight line. Once everything had warmed up properly, the driving experience only got better!

This wonderful Maserati Bora was shown at Motors & Masterpieces in Melbourne in November 2024 as part of the display celebrating 110 Years of Maserati. It is also featured in the upcoming issue of Benzina magazine.

The Maserati Classiche documentation on file confirms that this car is fully matching numbers, including its Carrozzeria (body number) and Autovettura (production number).

The car comes with an extensive history file which contains the original build sheets, lots of photos, write ups and invoices documenting all the work done over the years. It also has a correct spare wheel.

It is not often a factory right hand drive Maserati Bora comes onto the market in Australia or in fact anywhere in the world. 

We think the Maserati Bora is a real sleeper and it presents a fabulous opportunity when compared to its cross town rivals from Ferrari and Lamborghini!

Highlights:
	Rare factory right hand drive example, being one of only 42 ever built.
	Matching numbers, engine, chassis and body.
	Nicely presented.
	Extensive history file.
	Sorted, ready to be used and enjoyed.

Background

The Maserati story is a fascinating one. It is the story of a family with daring, courageous and forward-thinking ideas. The story starts with Rodolfo Maserati, a railway engineer who was employed by the Italian monarchy and the father of seven sons who all had a passion for engine design and racing cars. The Maserati brothers all became involved in the automotive industry in some way or another, however, it was on the 1st of December 1914 that Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati officially opened Alfieri Maserati Workshop in Bologna, Italy.
Maserati chose the trident logo to adorn its cars. Its design was based on the Fountain of Neptune in Bolognas Piazza Maggiore. The colours chosen for the logo were also the colours of Bologna, red and blue.

The business was focused on repairing, servicing and preparing cars, however, the World War cut business short and it wasnt until 1926 that Maserati built its first car, the Tipo 26.

It was all about motorsport back then and in 1937 the Orsi family acquired ownership of Maserati which was in desperate need of financial backing to be able to survive. During the Orsi years Maserati grew from a boutique but very successful race car builder to one of the worlds leading manufacturers of hand-built sports and GT cars. 

Maserati built its first road car in 1946 even though times were tough in post War northern Italy. The car was the Maserati A6 - where A was for Alfieri and 6 for the number of cylinders. The initial reception of the car was positive and a production Maserati A6/1500 was then shown at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show.
This was a significant milestone in the Maserati legend and subsequent models included the A6G/2000, 3500 series cars, 5000GT, Mistral. Quattroporte, Mexico, Sebring and Ghibli. Maserati also continued to build very successful race cars that dominated tracks around the world including the 250F, 300S, 150S, 450S and the Birdcage.

Orsi sold to Citroen in 1968. Soon after, the idea of a two seat mid-engined super car was conceived. It was then in the summer of 1969 the first prototype of Maseratis new car was built. This car was known as Tipo 117 and was ultimately named Bora after a wind from the Northern Adriatic Sea. The car became a reality in relatively short time and it was officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971.

Like the Ghibli before it Maseratis new flagship was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, this time for Ital Design. In many ways the Bora was a unique design and its trademark was that its roof and A pillar were finished in brushed stainless steel in contrast the rest of the painted body.
Like the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, the Maserati Bora was one of THE supercars of the seventies. Despite the fuel crisis, Maseratis supercar was relatively successful with 564 cars built from 1971 through until 1978. Of those only 42 left the factory as right hand drive.

1972 MASERATI BORA

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