OLDTIMER GARAGE AUSTRALIA P/L

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this striking Australian delivered, factory right hand drive Maserati Merak.
The documentation on file from Maserati Classiche confirms that this car was completed on the 11th June 1974 and sold to Auto Italia in Melbourne. Its production date makes this quite an early car. The car was originally delivered in orancio (orange) with a dark grey velvet (velour) interior.
Apart from being sold new into Adelaide, the early history of this car is not known. The earliest documentation on file is a South Australian registration certificate dated 30th October 1987 and a transfer of ownership to a Mr H Clisby dated 1st May 1988. At that time the car was registered as UMZ 377.
There is a detailed write up on file from a previous owner, a Mr Don Venn from Adelaide, in which he mentions he purchased the Merak in 1990. In his ownership the car was stripped back to bare metal including the engine frame and the engine bay. All corrosion was cut out and replaced with new metal. There are photos on file documenting the work done. The car was then painted using Dulux acrylic lacquer in Ferrari Fly Yellow. Mechanically, the car also underwent a full refurbishment. Everything was assessed and what needed to be replaced was replaced.
In 1994 the car was sold to its next owner, Mr Tony Chapman from Sydney, NSW. At that time the car had 74,000 miles on the odometer. Chapman used and enjoyed his Merak through his 22 years of ownership clocking up some 24,000 miles.
Chapman sold the car through Shannons 2016 Sydney Spring auction. Its new owner was a classic car enthusiast in Perth. Whilst he loved his new yellow Merak he thought it would look even better finished in its original colour of orange! He engaged the services of Italian car specialists, Auto Delta, in Perth Western Australia to generally freshen up the car and have it repainted. One thing led to another and the car essentially underwent a second restoration. In addition to a repaint, the interior was retrimmed and a significant amount of mechanical work was also undertaken. The mechanical work included overhauling the hydraulic system, cooling system, brakes, steering and fitting a new clutch. The engine was rebuilt, which included refurbishing the cylinder heads and replacing the block which was in poor condition.
At that time the odometer read 98,437 miles.
After the restoration was complete the car was shown at Perths premier classic car event, the Celebration of the Motorcar in November 2020 where it won the Classic Sports Car class.
The cars owner then moved to Brisbane and decided to move in a different direction with his collection.
This fabulous Maserati Merak was sold through Oldtimer Australia to its current owner in February 2022, at which time the odometer read 98,537 miles.
After the current owner acquired the car he ironed out a few post restoration bugs and had the paint work ceramic coated. He has subsequently regularly used and enjoyed the car. It has been taken to various classic car events in and around south east Queensland, where it has been a regular trophy winner. It won the Peoples Choice award at the Lakeside Euro Day in May 2022 and European Sports category at the Noosa Beach Classic Car Show in July 2022 and again in September 2023.
The car was also taken to Auto Italia in Canberra in March 2023 where it was awarded the Chief Judges Choice award.
Today the odometer reads 01,912 miles, so in two years of ownership the car has travelled almost 3,400 miles or 5,600 km.
It is great to see that the car has been driven, but we should point out it presents even better than when we sold it back in 2022!
The Maserati Merak is one of Giorgetto Giugiaros finest pieces of work. The trademark flying buttress softens the look of the car and as a result it carries colour exceptionally well.
The first thing youll notice when you walk up to this car is the colour. It is ORANGE, very ORANGE, however, it is just so seventies and it really suits the car. It shows off the lines perfectly and contrasts well with the painted Campagnolo wheels.
Overall, the first impressions of the car are really good. It presents exceptionally well and the paint has retained a deep gloss and a mirror like smooth finish. Walking around the car we struggled to find any imperfections. There is a small mark in the swage line of the passengers door and a small bubble at the bottom of the passengers door, near the font. You have to kneel down and look closely to see both.
The external trim is minimalistic, however, it is all in very good condition. This includes the bright work, lights/lenses and the glass.
The car sits on its original and unique Campagnolo wheels. The wheels are in very good condition with no kerb rash. They are shod with period correct Michelin XWX tyres, size 205/70/15 which are still in excellent condition. They are date stamped 3815 (week 38, 2015).
Open the door and you are welcomed by a very good looking interior. These early Meraks had the same dashboard as its big bother, the Maserati Bora. The upholstery is relatively fresh and the seats are in very good condition with no sign of any cracks or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and provide plenty of support. The Merak is a token 2+2 and the two rear seats appear to have never been used, other perhaps for an overnight bag. The centre console, door cards and dashboard all presents equally well. The carpets remain plush and are clean. All the instruments are clear and appear to be in good working order.
Under the front bonnet youll find a small boot which is clean and the carpet is in good condition.
The engine bay also presents very well. Everything looks clean, neat and tidy. The space saver spare wheel, running a Pirelli tyre that appears to have never been used, sits in the rear of the engine compartment. It is quite an incredible design that the engine sits so far forward in this 2+2 mid engine sports car! On closer inspection everything in the engine bay looks to be essentially correct.
Our memory from early 2022 was that this car drove really well. After being fettled, then used and enjoyed we were keen to take the car out for a current test drive. The starting procedure is typically Italian car of that era. Turn the ignition on, allow the fuel pump a little bit of time to fill the Weber carburettors, then give the accelerator pedal a few pumps and turn the key to start the car. It fires up easily, even from cold and the fairly quickly settles into a smooth idle.
Out on the road this Maserati Merak is fun to drive. By modern standards it is not fast, but it feels light and nimble on the road. The engine responds quickly to the slightest touch of the accelerator pedal and you often feel like you are travelling faster than you actually are. The Citroen controls are quirky, but once you get used to driving the car it is very rewarding. The gearbox, which should be used to maximise the power band from engine feels precise and direct. The gear changes are smooth both up and down the box. The steering is direct and precise, which coupled with the superb handling ensure that the car feels glued to the road at all times. The brakes are very direct and pull the car up easily and in a straight line.
All too soon our test drive comes to an end and we return the car to our showroom.
Unfortunately, there are quite a few tired Maserati Meraks out there, which can bring no end of problems. Good cars that are sorted, ready to use and enjoy are few and far between.
This car is a very well sorted example of an iconic 70s Italian junior super car which is ready for its next owner to use and enjoy.
Accompanying the car is a very good history file, various trophies, a car cover, a copy of a parts manual, a copy of a workshop manual and a copy of an owners manual.
Highlights:
- Australian delivered, factory RHD early Merak.
- Beautifully presented example of this iconic Maserati
- Recently restored in its original colour
- Good history file
- Ready to be used and enjoyed.
Price $119,950.
Background:
The Maserati story is a fascinating one. It is the story of a family with daring, courageous and forward-thinking ideas. The story starts with Rodolfo Maserati, a railway engineer who was employed by the Italian monarchy and the father of seven sons who all had a passion for engine design and racing cars. The Maserati brothers all became involved in the automotive industry in some way or another, however, it was on the 1st of December 1914 that Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati officially opened Alfieri Maserati Workshop in Bologna, Italy.
Maserati chose the trident logo to adorn its cars. Its design was based on the Fountain of Neptune in Bolognas Piazza Maggiore. The colours chosen for the logo were also the colours of Bologna, red and blue.
The business was focused on repairing, servicing and preparing cars, however, the World War cut business short and it wasnt until 1926 that Maserati built its first car, the Tipo 26.
It was all about motorsport back then and in 1937 the Orsi family acquired ownership of Maserati which was in desperate need of financial backing to be able to survive. During the Orsi years Maserati grew from a boutique but very successful race car builder to one of the worlds leading manufacturers of hand-built sports and GT cars.
Maserati built its first road car in 1946 even though times were tough in post War northern Italy. The car was the Maserati A6 where A was for Alfieri and 6 for the number of cylinders. The initial reception of the car was positive and a production Maserati A6/1500 was then shown at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show.
This was a significant milestone in the Maserati legend and subsequent models included the A6G/2000, 3500 series cars, 5000GT, Mistral. Quattroporte, Mexico, Sebring and Ghibli. Maserati also continued to build very successful race cars that dominated tracks around the world including the 250F, 300S, 150S, 450S and the Birdcage.
Orsi sold to Citroen in 1968. Soon after, the idea of a two seat mid-engined super car was conceived. It was then in the summer of 1969 the first prototype of Maseratis new car was built. This car was known as Tipo 117 and was ultimately named Bora after a wind from the Northern Adriatic Sea. The car became a reality in relatively short time and it was officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971.
Like the Ghibli before it Maseratis new flagship was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, this time for Ital Design. In many ways the Bora was a unique design and its trademark was that its roof and A pillar were finished in brushed stainless steel in contrast the rest of the painted body.
The early seventies were tough time for supercar manufacturers as the oil crisis hit hard, effecting the sales of cars with large displacement engines.
Maseratis answer was the V6 engined Merak.
The Maserati Merak (Tipo 122) was introduced at the 1972 Paris Motor Show and it followed in the footsteps of its big brother the Bora. The models name, chosen by Maseratis commercial director Dominique Drieux, was not a name of a wind and is not to be confused with the Eponymous Indonesian city in Java. It receives its name after a star in the Ursa Major constellation.
Like the Bora, the Maserati Merak was designed by Ital Designs Giorgetto Giugiaro and its ancestry is obvious though there are many subtle but significant differences in the cars design. The Merak is one of Giugiaros finest pieces of work. Whilst based on its big brother the Bora, the Merak doesnt have a full glass fastback, but rather a cabin ending abruptly with a vertical rear window and a flat, horizontal engine cover pierced by four series of ventilation slats. Giugiaro completed the vehicles silhouette by adding open flying buttresses, visually extending the roofline to the tail.
The Merak is a 2+2 though its rear seats are best described as occasional or for an overnight bag or golf clubs only! Its Italian competitors all ran V8 engines, however, Maserati opted to use a longitudinally mounted 2,965cc V6 engine that had its roots in the Citroen SM. Given the company was owned by Citroen at the time it is not surprising that a number of Citroen components were used, including the engine as well as Citroens hydraulic systems and much of the interior.
Maserati built some fabulous cars during Citroens ownership (including the Indy, Bora, Merak and Khamsin), however, times were tough and the company struggled financially. Citroen placed Maserati into liquidation in May 1975 and it was ultimately saved by the Italian government and Alejandro de Tomaso took control shortly thereafter.
Interestingly when Alejandro de Tomaso acquired Maserati the Merak underwent a make over of its interior which was well received at the time. In addition to the standard Merak, Maserati brought out the Merak SS in 1976 which was lighter and had a more powerful engine and also the Merak 2000 in 1977 specifically for the Italian market which imposed a heavy tax on cars with engines greater than 2,000cc capacity.
The Merak was one of the seventies junior supercars, much like Lamborghinis Urraco and Ferraris 308 GT/4, that was going to tackle Porsche head one and be sold in significant quantities to underpin the cash flow of the company during the oil crisis.
The formula made good sense and Maserati enjoyed much success with its Merak and 1,820 examples were built in a twelve year period from 1972 to 1983.

1974 MASERATI MERAK

Details:
A new offering at Oldtimer Australia is this incredible Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix by Pur Sang.
Back in the 1920s and 1930s Argentina rivalled almost any country in Europe. It was the place all the wealthy Europeans went to get away from the war time chaos. Buenos Aires was often referred to as the Paris of the South. They brought everything they had from Europa to Argentina and as a result Argentina became well known as a leader in wine making, horse racing, polo and of course motorsport.
Some of the worlds great cars, from marques such as Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo, were delivered new in relatively significant numbers into Argentina. However, when the owners needed parts, they still needed to order them from Europe and it would often take months for them to arrive. As a result, when something broke, the mechanics had to be innovative and creative. Necessity is the mother of invention and this resulted in some serious craftsmanship being developed in a highly skilled workforce.
Pur Sang Argentina was founded over forty years ago with its roots firmly linked to countrys industrial past. The business was established in the 1980s in Paraná, a city some 500 km north of Buenos Aires. It soon developed an excellent reputation for creating excellent tool room copies of Bugattis from the 1920s and 1930s. In more recent times they have been building Alfa Romeo and Mercedes-Benz recreations from the same era.
The Bugatti Type 51 by Pur Sang has been produced using original factory specifications, both in design and material. Whilst the cars produced by Pur Sang are close to tool room copies, they do make subtle improvements and small modifications. Most of these are not visible but make for a more reliable and usable car. The application of forged pistons, plain bearings and modern oil seals to make the engine, gearbox, and rear axle oil tight have helped increase performance while reducing maintenance. The frame is hand formed in the same fashion as it was originally built by Bugatti way back in the 1930s.
The current owner ordered this car directly from Pur Sang, Argentina in October 2006 and took delivery of the car in July 2007. He immediately decided to further improve the car with modifications including: the manufacture and installation of a new manifold, the fitting of 2 inch SU carburettors, electronic ignition as well as a modified Magneto. He also fitted an electric fuel pump.
The owner used and enjoyed his Type 51 on various club runs and social outings, however, he is a perfectionist and became frustrated with light surface corrosion that appeared on the bare steel components of the car. His solution was to take the car to well respected classic car restoration specialists Historic and Vintage Restoration (HVR) in Melbourne to nickel plate all the bare steel parts on the car. At the same time he decided to have the car repainted and fit a new set of period correct alloy wheels from Crosthwaite & Gardiner in the UK. This work was completed around five years ago.
Today this Type 51 presents like a new car. The striking yellow over black colour scheme really suits the car and the paint is still in excellent condition. One has to look hard to find any imperfections. The only one we found is a small chip on the top of the bonnet. All of the external trim, including the trademark radiator are similarly well presented.
The wheels are shod with soft compound Dunlop Racing tyres size 5.00 19 front and rear. Both the wheels and the tyres are in excellent condition.
The interior is functional yet very basic as you would expect in a car like this. Everything is in excellent condition and presents essentially like new.
The more you look at the car the more detail you will notice. The devil is in the detail and some of its features are the delicate gear lever and hand brake levers, the safety wire for the external bolts, the leather straps to secure the bonnet and of course the oh so cool bonnet mascot!.
The original Bugatti Type 51s are not to be underestimated when it comes to performance. With a healthy 160hp from its supercharged, dual overhead cam, straight eight, 2.3 litre engine and the car only weighing around 800kg . . . they were frighteningly fast! Our Bugatti Type 51 by Pur Sang would most likely outperform an original car and even by todays standards it is a very fast and capable car.
Driving this car is an incredible experience. The theatre begins with the process of starting the car. You cannot simply jump in, turn the key, fire up the engine and drive away. There is a process to be followed but once you have completed all the steps you are rewarded with a magnificent symphony from the jewel of an engine and the relatively inconspicuous twin exhaust pipes. The car is a little cranky as she fires up, but in no time at all the engine is soon firing on all eight cylinders. The instructions are to wait for everything to warm up before taking the car out on the road.
The positioning of the gear lever is quit interesting. The car is right hand drive and like many similar cars of this period it features a right hand gear shifter. The gate is inside the car and the lever sticks out through the body work at an angle. This creates quite an interesting experience when you are driving the car but one you quickly get used to. Once you master the gear changes the driving experience is most rewarding.
Out on the road this car is heaps of fun to drive. It is quick, responsive and very nimble. It also feels surprisingly solid on the road. The car is equipped with original style drum brakes all around and that also takes a bit of getting used to but they do pull the car up well and in a straight line when required. The engine in this car is something special and it just wants to go. Did we mention the noise . . . incredible!
We can only imagine what it must have been like to own one of these cars back in the 1930s and drive it in anger.
Since arriving in Australia, the car has been used sparingly. The owner estimates he has probably only travelled around 800 km, the majority of which were completed prior to works completed by HVR.
This car is documented in Bob Kings fabulous book Bugattis in Australia and New Zealand 1920 to 2012.
Highlights:
- Beautifully presented recreation of an iconic prewar sports car.
- Powered by a supercharged, dual overhead cam, straight eight of 2.3 litre capacity.
- Fabulous colour scheme.
- Recently refreshed to a very high standard by HVR.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy
Price AUD $399,950
Background:
Ettore Bugatti was born in Milan Italy on the 15th September 1881. He was part of a very entrepreneurial and creative family. His grandfather was an architect and sculptor, his father a furniture and jewellery designer of some note and other members of the family were sculptors and artists. Ettore was obsessed with the evolution of the automobile and in 1898 he built his first car as a teenager. Over the next ten years he built a number of cars, however, it wasnt until the 1st January 1910 that he founded Automobiles Ettore Bugatti in the then-German city of Molsheim, Alsace. Bugatti started building cars in earnest and the Type 13 is today considered to be the first real Bugatti. The First World War proved to be temporary roadblock for Bugatti and once the Treaty of Versailles was signed on the 28th July 1919 it was back to work! Following the War, the region of Alsace became part of France and Ettore Bugatti lost no time in refocussing his energy on automobiles. At the last minute, Bugatti wasable to obtain a stand at the 15th Paris Motor Show held in October 1919. He exhibited three light cars and not surprisingly all of them were closely based on their pre-war equivalents. Each model was fitted with the same overhead camshaft 4 cylinder engine of 1,368cc capacity with four valves per cylinder. The three cars were the Type 13 (built on a 2,000 wheelbase), the Type 22 (built on a 2,250 mm wheelbase) and the Type 23 (built on a 2,400 mm wheelbase).
The Bugatti name soon became synonymous with high performance cars. Their road cars were purchased by the rich and famous and their race cars dominated on circuits all around the world. By the mid 1930s Ettore Bugattis son, Jean, was effectively running the factory overseeing the production of the cars, whilst Ettore spent most of his time in Paris. Times were good, however, things changed quickly and when Jean Bugatti was killed road testing a Type 57 race car in August 1939 it was the beginning of the end. The Second World War broke out shortly thereafter and the Bugatti factory was essentially destroyed and seized. The War ended in September 1945 and attempts to restart the factory were ultimately futile Ettore Bugatti died in August 1947. A handful of cars were built from 1945 through until the original incarnation of Bugatti ceased operations in 1952.
Models such as the Type 35, the Type 41 (Royale), Type 57 and Type 59 have become legendary and are amongst the most desirable cars ever built.
One of Bugattis most significant cars was the Type 30 that was introduced in 1922. The Type 30 was powered by the same 1,991 cc engine used in the Type 29 race car. It shared its chassis, axles and gearbox with the Type 13 Brescia. Around 600 examples were built from late 1922 through until 1926 in varying specifications. The successor to the type 30, the type 35 was first introduced at the 1924 French Grand Prix. It was powered by a single overhead cam eight cylinder engine with a capacity ranging from 1,092cc to 2,262cc. Some engine were even supercharged and delivered up to 130hp. The type 35 and its variations was a huge success and over 1,000 races were won.
In 1931 its successor went into production, the Type 51. It was power by a straight eight, twin overhead cam, engine with a capacity of 2,262cc which produced 160hp. Though the Type 51 struggled in competition against newer and more technologically advanced state-sponsored machines from Italy and Germany, the model was a long term success with marque enthusiasts and vintage racers. During its four years of production some 40 examples were produced. The Bugatti Type 51 is today considered to be at the pinnacle of Bugattis most celebrated race car design.
Incredibly, Bugatti built almost 8,000 cars through until 1956.

BUGATTI TYPE 51 Grand Prix by Pur Sang

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

1960 Goggomobil Dart Restoration Projects

GOGGOMOBIL DART

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

1987 FERRARI 328GTS

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III (DB MkIII).
The British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate and factory records both confirm that this example was built on the 6th March 1958 and despatched on 1st April 1958 to Brooklands of Bond Street Limited (Guy Salmon Automobiles) for W M Perring & Company Limited, London in the UK.
The car was delivered new in Elusive Blue with a blue/grey interior. It was delivered with the following equipment: overdrive, instruction book, front disc brakes, rear alfin drum brakes, Avon Turbospeed tyres, twin SU HV6 carburettors and Armstrong shock absorbers.
There is an interesting note on the factory records which states this car competed in the 1958 Tulip Rally. There is a photo on file showing the car parked with other participants in the town of Champagnole in France during the rally.
In July 1967 Dr AR Adams, who worked at the Hollywood Repatriation General Hospital in Perth, decided he wanted an Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III. He contacted Motorservices Automobile Engineers in Christchurch, UK to see if they could help him find one. There are various letters on file from Motorservices. It took until February 1969 before they were finally able to find the right car for him.
A follow up letter from the 3rd March 1969 gives the following details about the car: Registration number XXL 475, originally registered on 13th March 1958, changed hands in October 1959 when it was acquired by Mr GD Greaves of Berkhamstead, Hartfordshire. At that time the odometer showed nearly 60,000 miles.
Dr Adams engaged Motorservices to refresh his new Aston Martin prior to it being shipped to Australia. The car was completely repainted in its original colour at the cost of £100. The engine, radiator, suspension and wheels were overhauled, the exhaust system and headlight wiring were replaced.
There is a letter on file dated 15th July 1969 confirming that all the work on the car was complete. There is an accompanying invoice on file for a grand total of £548.
Dr Adams flew to the UK for a holiday and whilst he was there used his Aston Martin. After that the car was returned to Motorservices for some final checks and adjustments.
The car finally made its way to Australia onboard the Discovery Bay which left the UK on the 8th December 1969.
By at least the early 1980s Dr Adams had relocated to Quindalup, just south of Busselton in Western Australia, taking his beloved Aston Martin with him.
Incredibly, Dr Adams owned this car for more than 40 years! Following his passing in February 2012 the car was sold to a well known Perth based classic car enthusiast and collector. The car remained in his care from September 2012 through until December 2022 when it was sold by Oldtimer Australia to its current Melbourne based owner. At that time the odometer read 86,732 miles.
The car was immediately sent to highly respected Rolls-Royce, Bentley and British car specialist Simon Elliott at the Derby Works. The brakes were serviced, the steering box was adjusted and the suspension was greased. The horn and battery isolation switch were repaired. A new set of Michelin X tyres were fitted. It was noted that the exhaust was tired and the owner decided to order a new exhaust system from QuickSilver Exhausts Ltd in the UK.
In October 2023 Derby Works were engaged to overhaul the suspension. All new parts were ordered from Aston Service Dorset in the UK. This included new front and rear springs as well as an uprated anti roll bar.
In February 2024 Derby Works adjusted the handbrake.
Today this Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III presents as an incredible time capsule. The car was repainted in its original colour back in 1969 but apart from that everything looks to be essentially original. And, as the say . . .it can only be original once!
The overall presentation of the car is consistent with what one would expect given its originality. This is a car that has obviously been used and enjoyed as its makers intended, but it has clearly been cherished and very well maintained over the years. The work completed in Adams ownership is too extensive for our write up, however, most notably the engine was rebuilt, including new liners and pistons, and the gearbox was rebuilt. This work was completed by Samios Restorations in Northbridge (Perth) from mid 1996 through until early 1997. At that time the odometer read 38,287 miles
Elusive Blue is a unique a stunning colour for the car. From say a meter away the paint presents well, but on closer inspection you will notice some imperfections and wear and tear consistent with what the car is. There are few bubbles evident on the body caused by electrolysis. These are most noticeable on the lower right rear panel near the edge of the door and on the lower front section of the right door itself. There are also a few dents on the roof and bonnet, which looks as though it may have been caused by hail damage or an errant golf ball!
The brightwork on the car is generally in a good condition, especially when you consider the age of the car. The bumpers, the overriders, the strip on the side of the car and the window surrounds present well. The glass is also in good condition and there are no cracks evident.
The wire wheels are in good condition with no kerb rash evident. They are shod with Michelin X tyres, size 185R16. These are date stamped 1422 (week 14, 2022) and are in excellent condition
The condition and presentation of the interior is consistent with the exterior of the car. The upholstery is most likely all original. The seats are in a good condition with no cracks or tears evident in the leather, though they have faded a little over the years. The same can be said of the carpets which are generally in a good condition though they do show signs of wear and are faded in certain areas. The dashboard is typically 1950s with large Smiths instruments behind a large steering wheel. On our test drive all the instruments appeared to be in working order, though we did notice that the speedo and tacho do waver.
From cold the car will need the choke to start. It then starts easily and you can back the choke off straight away and use the throttle to gently warm the engine up before driving. First impressions are good, the engine revs freely and responds well to the slightest touch of the throttle. The gearbox also feels firm and the gear changes are smooth both up and down the box even when cold. The car is fitted with overdrive, which works well. The brakes are adequate and pull the car up in a straight line when needed.
The car feels solid on the road though we did notice play on the steering wheel, which looks to be coming from the steering box.
Accompanying the car, is its complete original tool kit including the jack and hammer as well as a spare wheel.
The history file with this car, which is three full lever arch files of documentation plus original owners manual, parts manual and more, is simply amazing. There is a huge amount of correspondence and invoices on file covering the 40 plus year ownership of the car by Dr Adams.
The current owner has thoroughly enjoyed his time with this incredibly original Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III, however, a change in direction is resulting in him reluctantly offering the car for sale.
Fun fact: The Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III was the first James Bond Aston Martin, described as a DB III in Ian Flemings 1959 novel Goldfinger.
Highlights:
- Factory RHD example with overdrive.
- Fabulous original colour scheme.
- An incredible time capsule.
- Documented 5 owners from new.
- Amazing history file.
Price: $329,950
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 2922cc 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 with 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. 462 hatchbacks, 84 drophead coupes and 5 fixed head coupes. Of the 551 83 were LHD.
The MkIII was nearly 9 longer than the DB2 and weighed about 159kg more, an increase of about 15%, but more than an extra 50% power was available from the standard DBA engine, compared with the original LB6B engine.
The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martins finest with the company winning Le Mans 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.

1958 ASTON MARTIN DB 2/4 MK III

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this fantastic 1983 Aston Martin V8 Oscar India.
The Heritage certificate on file confirms this car was built on the 7th September 1983 and it left the factory on 11th October 1983. The car was originally delivered in storm red (paint code 9017) with a fawn pipe burgundy interior (trim code VM.3234/DV6171), a colour scheme the car still carries today. The car retains its original matching numbers engine.
The Heritage Certificate also states this car was delivered with Weber carburettors, Avon tyres, beige with burgundy edged carpet, beige leather headliner and a miles per hour speedometer.
This car is a highly desirable later model Oscar India with the V580 Series engine and BBS wheels. It also has the blanked out radiator grill that was standard on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Like the majority of the Aston Martin V8s built, this car is equipped with a Chrysler Torqueflite three speed automatic transmission.
The documentation on file confirms that this Aston Martin was delivered through Victor Wilson Limited in Edinburgh, Scotland to its first owner, Mr M Carney from Glasgow, Scotland. It was first registered as MAT 78.
Around 1989 the car was sold to Mr M Blackall, an Englishman temporary living and working in Belgium as the Area Director of Operations for a major hotel group. At that time the car was registered as A946FSF. The car spent the next two years in Belgium before the owner moved back to the UK and took the car with him. In 1993 he upgraded to an Aston Martin V8 Volante and this car was sold to Mr M Walker from Edinburgh in June 1994. In September 1996 the car was advertised for sale by the Murray Motor Company in Edinburgh and sold to Mr R Forrester from Cairneyhill, a small village just north of Edinburgh. In 2000 the Murray Motor Company advertised the car for sale again and subsequently sold it to Mr Keenan from Apperley, Gloucestershire, UK. The car was registered with the registration A4 SFK. These UK plates are still fitted on the car.
The current owner, who has an extensive and eclectic collection of cars, acquired this Aston Martin in the UK in mid 2006 and subsequently imported it into Australia. There is an Import Approval on file dated 31st July 2006.
Shortly after arriving into Australia the car was repainted in its original colour of storm red. The car has not been driven any distance since arriving in Australia. It has essentially been in static storage for some fifteen years, though from time to time it was started and driven a short distance. It was last started and driven about five years ago prior to arriving to us.
Since arriving at Oldtimer Australia the car has been recommissioned by classic car specialist Steve Ward from SJ Classics and it runs and drives well. It may require some further fettling to be a reliable driver, but the car has done everything as expected when we have had it out on the open. From the first turn of the key when awoken from its hibernation, the big V8 engine burst to life and it sounds fantastic. Not surprisingly the car seems to get better and better the more it has been driven. The oil pressure is good and engine has loads of power on tap. The gear changes are smooth up and down the box and the car handles, steers and stops as one would expect.
Today the odometer reads 69,688 miles, which based on the information on file, is genuine.
Even though the car carries what is now considered an older repaint, the paint still presents very well. As a result of the car not being driven since it was repainted, the paint has never been exposed to the harsh Australian sun. It retains a deep gloss and a strong depth of colour. There are only two small defects in the paint. There are two very small chips on the boot lid and there is also a small scrape on the edge of the drivers door. Subsequent to our photo shoot, these defects have been touched up using original touch up paint supplied with the car.
All the glass, which looks to be original, and external trim is in very good condition. The same can be said for the bumpers and the other bright work on the car. It is all in very good to excellent condition.
The BBS wheels, which are a real feature on these later Aston Martin V8s present like new with no curb rash. They are shod with Avon Turbosteel 70 tyres, size 235/70/15. The thread on the tyres still present like new, however they are date stamped 4400 (week 44, 2000), and should really be replaced on age.
Open the door and you feel like you are stepping back in time. The interior has been beautifully preserved and is in beautiful condition. It is also very English! The fawn leather seats are in excellent condition with no cracks or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and still provide plenty of support. The rear seats appear to have hardly been used. All the carpets are in excellent condition. The dashboard presents like new. The timber veneer inserts are in excellent condition as is all the leather. Even the top of the dash is still in excellent condition. The instruments are all clean and present well. There is a row of push switches on the centre console and you often see these with faded text. Not in this car. The text is as clear as it was on the day the car left the factory.
In the boot everything is clean and tidy and there is an original spare wheel present.
Open the bonnet and you are presented with a magnificent looking V8 engine. It is hard to miss the Aston Martin Lagonda text on the valve covers and of course there is the plate with the name of the person who assembled the engine. The engine in this car was built by Fred Walters. All very Aston Martin! Everything presents as one would expect. The engine is bay is neat, clean and tidy.
The underside of this car presents well. There is light surface corrosion on some of the components, however, this is not a typical English car underneath. The overall presentation is consistent with a 41 year old car that has been well cared for.
Accompanying this car is a comprehensive history file dating back to new, which includes the original service book.
This car has an incredible presence and it presents fabulously in the striking colour of storm red.
A unique opportunity.
Highlights:
- Rare and desirable example of one the iconic Aston Martin V8 series.
- Beautifully presented example of a quintessential British GT.
- Fabulous original colour scheme.
- Known history from new.
Price $259,950
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. The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martins finest with the company winning LeMans in 1959 and the sixties producing the legendary DB4, DB5 and DB6 models.
The first of the Newport Pagnell designed cars, the DBS, was introduced in 1967. The DBS was initially powered by Aston Martins tried and true 6 cylinder engine as the companys new V8 engine was not ready.
From September 1967 through until May 1972 Aston Martin produced 829 DBS chassis. One of these was used in a crash test and 26 of these were later fitted with a V8 engine which leaves a total of 802 six cylinder Aston Martin DBS. Of these 802 cars, 621 were right hand drive and 181 left hand drive. The DBS was available with a five speed ZF manual gearbox or an automatic gearbox or. Interestingly, 317 of the right hand drive cars were fitted with the five speed manual gearbox. It is understood that Aston Martin only built circa 70 right hand drive examples equipped with the Vantage engine.
In September 1969 the DBS was superseded by the DBS V8, powered by the all new 5.3 litre V8 engine which was finally ready for production. The DBS V8 remained in production through until April 1972 and circa 400 cars were built. It was then renamed and became the Aston Martin V8, which became a great success for the marque. The Aston Martin V8 was produced for 17 years, with production finally coming to an end in 1989. Just over 2,000 cars were built, plus the Volantes and Vantages.
In October 1978 Aston Martin introduced the Aston Martin V8 Series 4, otherwise known as the Oscar India (Oscar India = October Introduction, from the phonetic alphabet). The car now sporting burr walnut trim, a blanked off bonnet scoop and a revised boot lid and rear wings to create a sculpted spoiler was visually very similar to the Vantage. The car remained in production through until 1985 and only 352 examples were produced.

1983 ASTON MARTIN V8 Oscar India

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo.
The BMW Birth Certificate on file confirms this car was delivered new to the Balcom Trading Co. Inc in Tokyo, Japan. This was the local BMW importer which got later absorbed into BMW Japan Corp, the first 100% owned subsidiary of a foreign car maker in Japan. The car has a production date of the 18th October 1974 and a delivery date of the 15th November 1974. The Birth Certificate states the cars original colour was chamonix (BMW white), which is how the car is presented today.
The Japanese history of this car is not known. The car was imported into Australia in the second half of 2007. There is an import approval on file dated 18th of June 2007. It is understood it then resided in New South Wales. There is a photograph of the car on file with the NSW registration BJ82HS. The car was acquired by the previous owner who is a doctor and BMW enthusiast who lived in Adelaide, South Australia.
In October 2018 the car was acquired by its current Melbourne based owner. The car was in a partially disassembled state as the previous owner had commenced pulling the car apart to restore it. This was perfect for the cars new owner who was looking for his next project. His plan was a nut and bolt restoration to a concours standard. He engaged Concourse Automotive Restorations in Geelong to do the body and paint, Auto Sprint Motors in Melbourne for the mechanicals and Unique Auto Interiors in Melbourne to do the trim. The fuel injection system was sent to highly regarded experts Saxon Parts in The Netherlands to be overhauled.
This was to be a no expense spared restoration and where possible NOS parts were sourced for the car. Anything that needed to be replaced or repaired was replaced or repaired. The majority of the new parts were acquired from classic BMW specialists Jaymic in the UK, Rogers tii in the USA and Wallotnesch in Germany.
The restoration was completed just in time for the car to be displayed at Motorclassica in 2019. At that time the odometer read 85,379km.
Since the car was restored, it has been used and enjoyed clocking up some 12,000 km in the last 5 years. The car is a credit to the current owner and all who were involved in the restoration as it still presents today as a fresh restoration.
At some stage the engine block in the car was replaced. There is correspondence on file from BMW in Germany confirming that the engine currently in the car belonged to a BMW 2002 Turbo which was delivered new to France in January 1975. It is unknown when and where the engine was replaced.
Walking up to the car you just cannot help but being impressed with its appearance. The paint is in excellent condition and the decals on the car immediately tell you this car is not your everyday BMW 2002. The flared wheel arches and the decals give the car a very aggressive stance. Even for the uninitiated, it only takes you a few seconds to realise the decals on the front air dam spell Turbo 2002 in reverse. This sends a firm warning to the car driving in front of you when they see you in their rear view mirror . . . please move out of the way!
Walking around the car it is difficult to find any imperfections. There is the smallest of blemishes in the paint on the lower part of the drivers door and there are also some very small marks on the rear spoiler which have been touched up at some stage. All the decals on the car, which are a real feature, are in excellent condition. The stainless steel belt line trim, a unique design feature which runs right around the car, is in very good condition with only a few very small imperfections. The rest of the external trim, including the badges, lights and lenses is in excellent condition. The Hella headlights are the correct type and taillight lenses have the correct BMW markings on them.
The car is fitted with the correct 13 inch Mahle wheels, shod with Pirelli Cinturato tyres, size 185/70/13, which are date stamped 5118 (week 51, 2018).
Open the door and the first thing you will notice is the red instrument binnacle. This is another unique design feature that tells you this is not an ordinary BMW 2002. The interior itself is immaculate. The seats, door cards, dash, centre console and even the carpets present like new. The seats are firm and comfortable and provide ample support. When the current owner decided to restore the car he also decided to make it a more usable classic for the Australian climate and discretely install a modern electric air conditioning system. The air is fed to the cabin using period correct vents. The car is also fitted with EZ power steering.
Getting behind the wheel is easy and it does not take long to find that comfortable driving position. As you would expect from a BMW the interior is very business like and everything is exactly where you would expect it to be. The Turbo version of the 2002 also had an extra instrument binnacle with two gauges above the centre console. One gauge showing the turbo boost and the other one a clock. On this car the clock has been replace with a voltage meter.
We were very eager to find out if this car lives up to its reputation. The car starts easily and quickly settles into a smooth idle. With great anticipation we wait for the engine to warm up before taking the car out on the road for a short test drive. First impressions are good. The car feels solid, yet very nimble on the road. There are no rattles or squeaks and the car is easy to drive. This BMW 2002 Turbo is equipped with the more desirable 5 speed dog leg gearbox which works well with that typical German precision. Out on the road you quickly forget you are driving a 50 year old car. This car is just a lot of fun to drive and when pushed it is somewhat of a pocket rocket. The 4 cylinder engine is only a 1,990cc but with the KKK (Kuhnle, Kopp and Kausch) turbocharger it pushed out an impressive 170 bhp. Top speed was quoted as 210 km/hr (130 mph) and the car could dash from 0 100 km/h (60 mph) in around 7 seconds. There is just something about hearing that turbo spinning up every time you getclose to 4,000rpm.
A BMW 2002 Turbo is a very unique and rare car anywhere in the world with only 1,672 having been produced. They were never sold new in Australia and only a handful have found their way to our shores. They tend to be tightly held and a result the opportunity to purchase this care presents a unique opportunity.
Accompanying the car is an extensive file, including photographs documenting the restoration of this car, a spare wheel, a tool kit, a first aid kit, a safety triangle, a fitted car cover, a workshop manual, a parts manual and various period brochures.
Highlights:
- Rare and desirable example of one the most iconic BMWs.
- Beautifully presented example.
- Fabulous original colour scheme.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy
Price $259,950
Background:
On 7 March 1916 the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) was established. The company was the result of a reorganisation of the Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik, a company founded by Gustav Otto in Bavaria, Germany, in 1910. The company was one of the aircraft pioneers in the early 20th century. A year later, in 1917, a Bavarian aircraft engine manufacturer by the name of Rapp Motorwerke changed its name into Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH (BMW). That company transferred all its engine production assets to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in 1922 and that company was then renamed to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW).
The company survived World War I and started focussing on the production of motorcycle engines, farm equipment, household items and railway brakes. In 1923 BMW produced its first motorcycle, the BMW R23.
In 1928 BMW purchased the Fahrzeug Fabrik Eisenach which built Austin Sevens under license. That is when BMW officially became an automobile manufacturer. The first car BMW sold under its own name was the BMW 3/15 which was basically a rebadged Austin 7. Throughout the 1930s BMW focussed more and more on producing their own cars and expanded its range into sports cars and larger luxury cars.
During World War II the BMW factories were heavily bombed and severely damaged. Motor vehicle production was curtained and BMW has concentrated on building aircraft engines during the War. As a result, after the war the company was prohibited from producing aircraft or motor vehicles. Miraculously the company survived by making pots, pans and bicycles. It began manufacturing motorcycles again in 1948 and cars in 1952.
Its first post war effort was the BMW 501 which was built in a new factory in Munich. The car was reasonably successful and it effectively relaunched BMW. At the time BMW was also building its fabulous little Isetta, but the company was doing it tough financially. In 1955 the BMW 507 made its debut at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. The 507 was roadster powered by a 3.2 litre V8 engine and was meant to revive the companies sporting image. Instead, the high production cost led the company to the verge of bankruptcy. Only 252 examples were built before production ceased in 1959. As it turns out, it would take BMW nearly 30 years before it would produce another roadster. The company was in serious financial trouble in 1959 and only a large investment from a third party saved the company and prevented a takeover by Daimler-Benz.
It was the launch of the BMW New Class cars in 1962 that proved to be a game changer for the company. Initially these were 4-door compact sedans aimed at the executives. The first one was the BMW 1500 which was first introduced at the September 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show. Other models like the BMW 1800, the successor of the 1500 the BMW 1600 and the BMW 2000 followed soon. In 1965 BMW introduced a coupe versions of the 2000, the 2000C and he 2000CS.
Around the mid 1960s BMW recognised there was a market for a slightly smaller version of their New Class cars. Around the same time they stopped producing the BMW 1600 they introduced the BMW 1600-2 which was a shorter two door model. In 1968 BMW started producing the two door BMW 2002 with its stronger 1,990cc M10 engine.
In 1973 BMW introduced its first turbo charged production car at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW 2002 Turbo. It produced 170hp and had a top speed of 211 km/h. It was only available in two colours Chamonix (white) and Polaris (silver) and all cars featured BMW motorsport colour scheme stripes and decals on the sides as well as the front air dam. Interestingly the car was introduced just before the 1973 oil crises and as BMW themselves said; BMW had built a car that contradicted the spirit of the times like no automobile before.
Only 1,672 were ever built between July 1973 and June 1975, including twelve pre-production cars constructed between July and December of 1973. The BMW 2002 Turbo was only built as left hand drive.

1974 BMW 2002 Turbo

Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1966 Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser.
There is a copy of the Mercedes-Benz data card on file which confirms this to be an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example. It was originally finished in dunkerrot (dark red), colour code 542G with white grey upholstery and cream carpets (trim code 221). The car has a number of options, including air conditioning (option code 306).
Interestingly, the cars data plate notes option code 901, which is for a flagpole right, so perhaps this was either an embassy or government owned car.
The cars history file dates back to the early 1980s and at that time the car was owned by a Mr Ian Haggerty from Sydney, NSW. It is understood that Haggerty was a long term owner of this Mercedes-Benz 600 and the documentation on file suggests he sold the car in June 1990.
The car was acquired by a classic car enthusiast from Noosa on Queenslands Sunshine Coast, most likely in the late 1990s. He wanted to restore the car and in 2001 engaged the services of Sleeping Beauties in Brisbane, one of Australias leading high end restoration shops. Sleeping Beauties are classic Mercedes-Benz specialists and they have restored cars that have been exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance.
The journey was a slow one and over the next five years the car was cosmetically restored and the interior was refreshed. In conjunction with Sleeping Beauties the owner chose to have car repainted in Mercedes-Benz light ivory (a very light yellow) and retrimmed in light olive green.
The major mechanical components were checked and deemed to be in very good order, hence, not rebuilt. Three Point Classic in Mount Gravatt were engaged to overhaul the air suspension, hydraulics and other mechanical ancillaries
The work was completed in 2015 and the end result was simply stunning. The colour combination is unique and a refreshing change from the more common palette of black, white and silver often seen on these Mercedes-Benz grand limousines! The car was shown at the Mercedes-Benz Club of Queenslands 2015 Concours dElegance where it was very well received, winning its class.
In 2016 the cars owner relocated overseas and made the difficult decision to sell his car collection, including this Mercedes-Benz. In August of that year it was sold to a prominent Brisbane based motor trade executive and classic car collector. At that time the odometer read 76,544 miles. He used the car sparingly but as with all his cars decided to go on a journey to take an exceptional motor car to the next level. Additional mechanical work was undertaken by Three Point Classic along with other adoc jobs by his own private mechanic/restoration specialist.
In August 2022 the car was sold to the current owner who lives in country Victoria and at that time the odometer read c77,000 miles. He is another classic car tragic who has a significant collection of cars. He is a fussy owner who regularly services his cars and if something needs to be done, he gets it done. Throughout his ownership the car has been maintained by the highly respected Auto Projects in Ballarat, Victoria. They recently completed a complete overhaul of the braking system.
The current owner has enjoyed his time with this Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser, travelling over 3,000 miles in his three years of ownership. He is taking his collection in a different direction and as a result this car is now offered for sale.
At the time of photographing the car the odometer read 80,286 miles.
Today this car presents essentially as it did back when the restoration was completed in 2015. The light ivory paintwork presents beautifully, complimented nicely by all the chrome trim which is in excellent condition. Defects are hard to find. The balance of the external trim, including the lights and lenses as well as the glass is all in equally as good condition. The panel gaps are excellent and the doors shut with that thud exactly as they would have back in 1966!
Inside the cabin it is all luxury. Whilst the exterior of this car is stunning, we think the interior is even better! Everything presents essentially like new. It is most likely that no one has even sat in the rear seats since the car was restored. The upholstery, the timber, the headlining and even the carpets are all beautifully presented. At the time of our test drive all of the instruments and controls looked to be in working order. The air conditioning has just been regassed and blows cold air. The cockpit is aeroplane like with all of its switches and buttons that operate the various accessories such as the windows, front and rear seats, the suspension and more. Even the cowl vent is hydraulically operated by a switch on the dashboard. All of these items are hydraulic and operate rapidly and silently in a way that is impressive even today.
Under the massive bonnet the engine bay presents well and everything is neat, clean and tidy.
The boot is also clean and tidy. The hard plastic lining looks to be original and it is in good condition with no cracks evident. The hydraulic service kit is still present in its original case and the spare wheel lives in its own compartment.
Unfortunately, many of our test drives are over too quickly! However, on this occasion we had this car out and about for well over an hour and as a result were able to get a really good feel for how it performed.
The car was ready for us when we arrived so the engine was warm. At the turn of the key the stonking V8 cranks over and soon fires, catching on all cylinders. As you would expect, the engine is incredibly smooth. It is also incredibly quiet. With a wheel base of 3.2 metres and an overall length of 5.54 metres make no mistake this is a big car. Interestingly the length kind of disappears once you are behind the wheel but seated in the back its hard not to be somewhat overawed by the size of the car. This fabulous Mercedes-Benz just goes about its business in a very efficient and considered manner. The ride is quite unbelievable for a fifty year old car . . . it just glides along the road without any fuss. You push the accelerator and the car proceeds effortlessly, you turn the steering wheel and the car just follows in the direction you want it to go, you apply the brakes and the car slows or rather decelerates effortlessly again . . . the whole experience is just so incredibly refined. Even thoughit weighs in around two and half tonnes, the big Benz pulls hard when needed. Mercedes-Benz quoted a top speed of near 130 mph (210 km/hr) and a 0-60 mph (100 km/hr) sprint of under 10 seconds!
This Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser is truly outstanding and its presentation today is a testament to the build quality of the car as well as the quality of the restoration work completed.
Often referred to as the Grand Mercedes or the Grosser, which is German for the big one the 600 continues to set the benchmark for luxury vehicles to this day. From its powerful V8 engine to its groundbreaking hydraulic system and lavish interior, the 600 is a symbol of power, prestige, and technological prowess. Finding one in this condition is rare.
Accompanying the car is a thick history file with some pre restoration documentation, a wad of restoration receipts & photographs, two owners manuals (reproduction), a maintenance booklet (reproduction not used), hydraulic service kit and spare wheel.
Highlights:
- Factory RHD example.
- Restored by highly regarded Sleeping Beauties & Three Point Classic.
- Presented in a unique and STUNNING colour combination.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy.
Price $349,950
Background:
Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Europes car industry was decimated. In Germany both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars post-war, however, times were tough. A merger between Daimler and Benz would ensure that both companies survived and following a technical co-operation agreement in 1924, the companies formally merged on the 1st July 1926. Mercedes-Benz was born!
Subsequently, Mercedes-Benz went on to build some of the greatest cars of all time. The cars from Stuttgart bearing the three-pointed star all had one thing in common . . . they were renowned for their technical innovation, build quality, luxury and performance.
In 1951 Mercedes-Benz introduced the Type W187 220 series cars, which was the first model to be powered by a six cylinder engine post World War II. This model was a great success and built in relatively big numbers. It was succeeded by the Type W180 series cars in 1954, which like its predecessor was available as a sedan, coupe and convertible.
In the 1950s Mercedes-Benz produced one of the greatest cars of all time the iconic 300SL Gullwing and 300SL Roadster. Whilst fabulous sporting cars, they were very expensive and generally sold to the rich and famous. The Type W186 and Type W189 300 series four door luxury tourers were built alongside the Type W198 300SL Gullwing and Roadster and they were indeed fabulous cars in their own right, though still very expensive.
In the early 1960s Mercedes-Benz also wanted to go back to their roots of the 1930s and build the worlds best saloon car.
First introduced back in 1963 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser or Grand Mercedes was a luxury car with few peers at that time. The new Type W100 set about re-establishing Mercedes-Benz as the maker of the finest automobiles in the world. The car was powered by a thumping 6.3 litre V8 engine delivering 250bhp that was capable of taking a car that weighed in excess of 2.5 tonne to well over 200 km/hr.
The car was an engineering marvel and its air suspension gave the car a ride that was smooth on just about every surface. The car also featured a very complex hydraulic system that powered the windows, seats, the sun roof and even an automatic close on the boot lid.
The car was produced in two main models being the 600 Grosser (short wheel base) and 600 Pullman (long wheel base). Interestingly the short wheel base cars were intended to by driven by the owners whereas the long wheel base cars were intended to be driven by chauffers.
Incredibly the Mercedes-Benz 600 series was in production for almost twenty years from 1963 through until 1981 during which time 2,677 cars were built. The breakdown of cars is:
Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser 2,190 cars
Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman (4 door) 304 cars
Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman (6 door) 124 cars
Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet 59 cars
These cars were very popular with royalty, world leaders, celebrities, movie stars, rock stars as well as the rich and famous. Today these cars, and particularly the Pullman, are highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors alike.
To quote Mercedes-Benz . . . in the illustrious history of automobiles, few vehicles have left their mark like the 1963 Mercedes-Benz 600. Designed by revolutionary French designer Paul Bracq and launched at the International Motor Show in Germany, the 600 transcended the boundaries of luxury.
Often referred to as the Grand Mercedes or the Grosser, which is German for the big one the 600 continues to set the benchmark for luxury vehicles to this day. From its powerful V8 engine to its groundbreaking hydraulic system and lavish interior, the 600 is a symbol of power, prestige, and technological prowess.
At the heart of the Mercedes-Benz 600 beats a powerhouse the formidable and iconic M 100 6.3-litre V8 engine (the first in a Mercedes-Benz passenger car) that set a new standard for performance in the luxury segment. The M 100 V8 became legendary, eventually forming the foundations of Mercedes-AMG but thats another story.
The true marvel of the 600 extended beyond its engine to an innovative hydraulic system that powered various aspects of the vehicle, redefining automotive engineering. From the adjustable air suspension that ensured a smooth ride, to the power-assisted brakes and the automatic door-closing system, the 600 was a technological marvel. It represented an ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation from Mercedes-Benz.
The Mercedes-Benz 600 transcended mere transportation and became a cultural icon. The interior was a masterpiece, meticulously designed to cater to the discerning tastes of its owners. Personalisation options abounded, with a selection of wood trims, premium leather upholstery and a spectrum of interior colours. The rear compartment, a sanctuary for passengers, could also be equipped with a privacy divider an option that heightened the exclusive feel of this already prestigious vehicle.
Many were drawn to the unmatched luxury and performance of the 600 including iconic figures such as John Lennon and Elvis Presley making it not just a symbol of status, but a cultural icon.

1966 MERCEDES-BENZ 600 Grosser

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