Unique Cars For Sale from $90,000 to $500,000 in northgate

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a very early factory right hand drive Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 2+2 with the desirable manual gearbox. The Heritage Certificate on file confirms this particular example was delivered to its first owner through Henlys in London, UK. The car was manufactured on 9th September 1970 and dispatched on 24th March 1971. The car was delivered in warwick grey with a red interior. It was first registered in the UK with the registration JGP 2K. The Heritage Certificate also confirms this car was built with a manual gearbox and that it still retains its original matching numbers V12 engine. The early history of this car is not known, though it is understood to have come to Australia very early in its life. We pick up the ownership trail in the early 1980s at which time it was owned by Mr JD Staines from Chermside in Queensland. At that time the car was registered as 800 NMZ. He sold the car in March 1984 to Mr Ronald Hughes from Ballina in NSW. In Hughes ownership the car was registered in NSW as RH 4696. When Hughes purchased the car, he was under the impression it was in fair condition. Sometimes, things are not always as they seem and that was certainly the case here. What started out as a plan to generally improve the car, turned into a cosmetic restoration! The body was stripped to bare metal and repainted. The car was repainted in regency red (maroon), which at that time was understood to be its original colour. We now know this is not the case, suggesting that the car had a colour change very early in its life prior to Hughes ownership. The interior was also retrimmed at that time. Hughes enjoyed the car for a few years before selling to its next owner, who was then based in Valla on the mid north coast of NSW on the 1st March 1988. This E-Type has been retained in the same family ever since, during which time it has clearly been loved and cherished. There are numerous receipts on file showing all the work that was done to the car over the last 35 years. It has been religiously maintained and whenever something needed to be done, it was done. The car now resides in Brisbane and in more recent times it has been maintained by classis Jaguar specialists Classic & Prestige. To make it more usable in the hot Queensland climate air conditioning was installed in 2020 and the side and rear windows have been tinted. Today the car presents beautifully. Walking around it, first impressions are very positive. The colour combination is just perfect and really suits the car. The regency red paintwork has withstood the test of time very well and it retains a nice gloss finish and a strong depth of colour. This car has been used and enjoyed, so yes there are a few very small imperfections here and there but you have to look closely to identify them. Generally, the bright work on the car is in very good condition, though there are some very small scratches on the bumpers, but again you have to look closely. The lights and lenses are all in good condition. The same can be said for all the glass. This car retains its steel wheels with the chrome Jaguar hub caps running Bridgestone Conselfa 205/70R16 tyres all around. These should be replaced based on age. Open the door and you are welcomed by a very good looking interior. The biscuit upholstery provides a perfect colour contract with the regency red paintwork, giving the car a very sophisticated look. The seats are very comfortable and all in very good condition with no rips or tears evident. The rear seats appear to have hardly been used over the years. The door cards and the carpets are also in good condition. All the instruments present well. They are clear and in good working order. The aftermarket air conditioning system has been discretely installed and it works well. As with all Jaguars from this period you need to use the choke when starting the car from cold. The big V12 then starts easily and it quickly settles into a smooth idle. After a short time you can slowly back the choke off and use the throttle to warm the engine. These Series 3 E-Types are very comfortable, but with the 4 speed manual gearbox they are also great fun to drive. They are completely different to the 6 cylinder early E-Types. When introduced, the Series 3 cars were targeted at the lucrative American market. They are slightly bigger, a lot more comfortable and they also feel much more like a GT car than a sports car. But, make no mistake, when pushed they go pretty hard! Given how particular the current owner is about this car it is not surprising that it is an absolute delight to drive. The 5,343cc 12 cylinder engine has loads of power on tap and the gear changes are smooth and easy both up and down the box. Once warmed up, the engine purrs. This car handles well and it is equally at home on a windy mountain road as it is cruising the motorway. The brakes on the car work well and pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed. Accompanying the car is an extensive history file dating back to 1984, an operating, maintenance and service handbook, a book titled E-Type an End of an Era, some period magazines, a spare wheel, jack and toolkit. There is also a car cover and some miscellaneous spare parts. We are genuinely excited to be able to offer this fabulous car for sale. It wont win the concours, but as a car you can use and enjoy it would be hard to find better! It would make a very good impression at any classic Jaguar event or Cars and Coffee. Highlights: - Factory RHD example, with matching numbers - Desirable 4-speed manual gearbox. - Beautifully presented car that is just a delight to drive. - Ready to use and enjoy. Price $134,950 Background: The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley. In 1934 Lyons formed SS Cars Limited to effectively take over the operation from Walmsley. The SS brand was quite successful, though their cars had a reputation for having more show than go. The Jaguar name first appeared as a model name on an SS 2½ Litre Sports Saloon introduced in 1936. For political reasons, Lyons changed the name of his company to Jaguar Cars in 1945. The SS100 built between 1936 and 1941 is today regarded as one of the great pre-war sports cars, however, it was the launch of the legendary Jaguar XK120 at the London Motor Show in 1948 that really put Jaguar on the map. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. The XK120 morphed into the XK140 and ultimately the XK150 and in total, just over 30,000 cars were built over 15 years of production. In 1961, at the Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar introduced the E-Type, which like the XK120 all those years ago, took the motoring world by storm. The body styling was simply gorgeous and technologically the E-Type was an engineering masterpiece and it set new standards in all areas. Whilst automotive styling is somewhat subjective, the E-Type is often ranked atop lists of the most beautiful cars and in fact it has been described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever made. And its not just about the looks as the E-Type is often at the top of other lists such as the best sports car ever built or the most significant cars. It is truly a motoring icon. As a testament to the success of the E-Type, production evolved through three series from 1961 until 1974 during which time circa 70,000 cars were built.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1928 Auburn 8-115 Boat Tail Speedster. The early history of this car is not known; however, it is understood to have been in Australia for a very long time. The car offered for sale was the dream of late Auburn enthusiast Neil Burns. Burns had always wanted to own an Auburn Boat Tail Speedster. In the early 2000s he acquired a mostly complete Auburn 8-115. He subsequently located a factory built Auburn Boat Tail Speedster in Western Australia from which he could copy the body. Measurements were taken, drawings were made and Burns started to build the car of his dreams. It is understood the original body has been preserved from the scuttle forward. By 2010 all major mechanical components had been reconditioned, including the engine, the gearbox, the carburettor and the radiator. All trim, lights and brackets had been rechromed, all the dash instruments had been fitted and a hood assembly had been manufactured. Unfortunately, Burns never got to see the finished product. He passed away in May 2010 and the car was sold from his estate to Ian Waller from Gordon, Victoria. Waller completed the restoration and the car was subsequently displayed at Motorclassica in Melbourne in 2019. In February 2022 the car was displayed at the Torquay Rotary Motor Show where it won the pre 1959 class and was also the outright Best of Show winner. During its restoration, the car was given a few sympathetic upgrades to make it a more reliable and usable classic. According to the documentation on file, the original Warner gearbox which has known reliability issues, has been replaced. The gearbox fitted to the car is a period correct three speed plus reverse crash box, though it is not branded and its make and model is unknown. A Mitchell overdrive has been installed, which gives the car more cruising flexibility. The electrics have all been upgraded to 12 volt, a modern fuel pump has been installed and an alternator has been discreetly installed underneath the car. The current owner acquired this fabulous Auburn 8-115 Boat Tail Speedster in 2022 and he has spent a considerable amount of time and money fettling the car. He has thoroughly enjoyed his brief love affair, however, due to a change in direction he has decided it is time for a new custodian to take ownership of this amazing car. This car looks STUNNING in the photographs, however, in the flesh it has an even more incredible presence. Make no mistake, this is a big car. The sleek art deco styling is a work of art and the more you look at this car the more details you will you notice. The massive bonnet and flowing guards meet at the trademark Auburn grill mounted with the most elegant hood ornament. The most unique feature of the Auburn Speedster is the relatively small vee shaped rakish front windscreen which evokes a sense of speed but at the same time emphasises the size of the car even more. The boat tail rear end just finishes the car off in terms of the uniqueness of its design. The colour combination of black over maroon is just perfect for the car and all the bright work just sparkles. The paint is in very good condition with a strong depth of colour and a high gloss finish. We struggled to find any obvious imperfections. We did find a very small blemish on the lower edge of the right rear guard. You cannot miss the bright work on this car. The massive and very imposing grill, the almost oversize Monogram headlights, the smaller driving lights, the spotlight as well as the wiper motor covers and the mirrors are all beautifully chromed and present in very good to excellent condition. The only exception we noticed is the small mirror mounted on the back of the spotlight that is showing some light wear. Interestingly, rotating this mirror operates the on and off switch for the light for the light. The painted wire wheels are in very good condition with no evidence of any curb rash. They are currently shod with Excelsior Stahl Sport radial tyres, size 5.50R18 which are date stamped 0917 (week 9, 2017). The tyres are still in excellent condition. There is a small door on either side of the boat tail section of the body which provide access to the storage compartment. This is where the soft top is kept and there is also adequate room for some overnight bags. Open the door and you are welcomed by a very simplistic, yet quite elegant interior. The bench seat is in excellent condition with no rips or tears in the leather. It is comfortable and provides ample support. You can also tilt the seat forward to access the storage compartment. The dashboard contains a very simple instrument cluster, that is both functional and in keeping with the style of the car. You literally climb up and into this car. The driving position is relatively comfortable and once settled behind the wheel it is time to hit the road! The starting procedure is as simple as turning on the ignition and waiting a few seconds for the fuel pump to do its work. Then turn the key further and the big V8 bursts to life at pretty much first crank. The engine sounds just fabulous and it very quickly settles into a smooth idle. First impressions are good, in fact, they are really good! After selecting first gear and getting acclimatised to the relatively long travel of the clutch you are soon moving. On our first test drive, instinct says to dab the brake pedal to get a feel for the stopping power of this car. Surprisingly, the brakes are pretty good for a car of this vintage. On pulling out of our showroom and into traffic one cant help but notice that the turning circle isnt the best weve come across. The steering is also quite heavy, but once you are moving it becomes a lot easier. The three speed gearbox is easy to use despite not having synchros. The gear leaver travel is direct which makes the gear changes relatively easy. So many prewar cars have the show, but lack the go . . . but not this car! The engine in an Auburn 8-115 is quoted as producing 115 hp and not surprising this car pulls strongly through the rev range. It accelerates surprisingly quickly and easily keeps up with modern traffic. The brakes are also adequate and they pull the car up in a straight line when needed. The car feels solid on the road and is a real pleasure to drive. Accompanying the car is a soft top, tonneau cover, parts manuals, an instruction manual, some historical documentation and various parts including a spare, correct carburettor. Highlights: - Unique and iconic car from the golden age of American motoring. - The pinnacle of art deco design for an American car. - Fitted with some modern upgrades to make it a more usable classic. - Beautifully restored. - Ready to use and enjoy. Price $209,950. Background: In 1874 Charles Eckhart founded the Eckhart Carriage Company in Auburn, Indiana, USA. When his sons Frank and Morris joined the business they started experimenting making automobiles. In 1903 the two brothers established the Auburn Automobile Company (AAC). That year, at the Chicago Automobile Show, they launched their first car, a chain-drive, single-cylinder, 6hp two seater, with two speed planetary transmission. In 1905 they launched two-cylinder version. By 1909 they had outgrown their dads workshop and they moved to a larger premises in Auburn, Indiana. In 1911 they produced their first four cylinder, 25hp model. A year later they produced a six cylinder car powered by a Rutenberger engine. The car was quite advanced for its day having electric headlights and tail lights. Unfortunately, World War I put a hold to the business and material shortages forced the factory to close. In 1919 the brothers sold the business to a group of investors from Chicago headed by Ralph Austin Bard. The new owners managed to revive the business but were not able to make it profitable. In 1924 they approached Errett Lobban Cord, who at that time was a very successful automobile salesman, with an offer to run the company for them. Cord countered with a leveraged buyout proposal that was accepted. Cord managed to sell off all the old stock quickly and then focused on what would become the glory days for Auburn. 1925 was like a new beginning for Auburn. The new cars introduced that year expressed distinct styling. The new 8 cylinder engines provided both the prestige and performance Cord had desired ever since he became involved in Auburn. In 1927 Auburn even made a name for itself in stock car racing by winning at Salem, finishing third at Pikes Peak and they managed to exceed 108 mph at Daytona Beach. In 1928 the first of the now famous Auburn boat tailed speedsters was introduced, styled by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. The car was powered by a straight 8, 4.8 litre, Lycoming engine which produced an impressive 115hp. The speedster was a fast car, especially in its day which is supported by the fact that Auburns test driver Wade Morton set a AAA stock car record on the sands at Daytona Beach, Florida on the 20th February 1928 driving a stock bodied 1928 Auburn 115 Speedster at 104.347 miles per hour. All was good for Auburn and despite the looming recession they managed to sell 22,000 cars in 1929. Somehow Auburn attracted sufficient buyers during the Depression years to keep afloat and its 1930s designs were magnificent. Designers, including Alan Leamy and Gordon Beuhrig styled Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs of that period. 1930 saw only a slight dip in sales and in 1931 sales increased again. In fact, 1931 was the greatest sales year in the history of the company. They managed to sell 33,000 cars and made a profit of $4.1 million. Unfortunately, sales dropped significantly in 1932 and by 1933 Auburn realised they had to make some drastic changes to survive. In 1934 the company made a huge investment in a new car and whilst sales did increase after that, it was not enough to make the company profitable again. In 1937 Auburn declared bankruptcy.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1973 De Tomaso Pantera. This particular example was sold new into the USA and is understood to have spent its early years in Pennsylvania. There is still a Pennsylvania registration sticker that states it is void after Jan 31, 1977, on the front windscreen. This car is incredibly original and it retains its original American compliance plate (which is dated 1/73) in the drivers door jamb, its original ID plate (which has the engine number stamped on it) and body service number tag (both under the front bonnet), the chassis number plate on the top of the dash and even the engine number tag (used for ordering parts) in the engine bay. The engine number stamped on the ID plate matches that stamped on the engine number tag and what is stamped on the block, confirming this to be a matching numbers car. The car found its way to Europe in 1977 and there is a copy of its Dutch registration on file. This shows that it was first registered in the Netherlands on 24th November 1977 with the registration 52-TR-44. Its Dutch history is not known, other than there is a document on file with a change of particulars dated 2nd November 1989 on file. The name on that document is Mr A.H.P Oostveen, who lived in Brasschaat, Belgium at the time. The current owner acquired the car in 1999 from a dealer who was selling the car on behalf of Mr Oostveen and subsequently imported it into Australia. There is an import approval on file for the car dated 15th December 1999. The current owner recalls picking up the car from a private garage in central Amsterdam and driving it along the canals and then south to Rotterdam to have it shipped to Australia. He was told that Mr Oostveen was the second owner of the car, making this De Tomaso Pantera a three owner car. The car arrived into Australia in early 2000, joining an extensive and eclectic collection. It was essentially kept as part of a static collection and never registered or driven in anger on the roads in Australia. This car is a somewhat of a time capsule. The odometer currently reads 31,888 miles and it is understood to be genuine. Today this De Tomaso Pantera presents very well, for an essentially original car. The paint on the car is in good condition, though there is evidence that it has had a blow over at some stage. It is not known when exactly that was done but it was done prior to the current owner acquiring the car. The underside of the car has been painted with Tectyl, which is a rust preventer. This has been sprayed literally everywhere! There is a Dutch Tectyl sticker on the left rear quarter glass, which confirms this was done during the time the car spent in the Netherlands. The panel gaps are generally very good, though as you will see from the photos the right hand side headlight pod needs to be adjusted. The glass appears to be all original. Every window has the correct Sicursiv Climaglass etching. The presentation of the external trim is consistent with paint work. It is generally in good condition for a car of this age. The chrome is presentable, the lights and lenses are clear with no cracks and the rubber bumpers are presentable. There are two small holes in the front bumper, most likely from where a number plate was fitted at some stage. The trademark De Tomaso Campagnolo wheels are the correct type and present pretty well. They are shod with Goodyear NCT VR60 tyres, size 235/60 VR15 at the rear and 205/60 VR15 at the front. The tyres are old and will need to be replaced. The interior is most likely original and it still presents really well. The seats are firm and still provide ample support. The bottom section of the drivers seat is showing some wear on the right side, most likely from the seat belt. There is also a small mark on the bottom section of the passenger seat and a small tear in the underside of the arm rest on the passenger door. The door cards are similarly well presented. The same can be said for the carpets, which are are clean and in good condition. The dashboard and centre console are in excellent condition and present with no cracks. All the instruments are clean and present well. The switches appear to be original and the symbols on them are clear. The car is fitted with a period correct Blaupunkt radio. Under the front bonnet everything looks to be original and correct, though the compartment could do with a tidy up. The space saver spare wheel, which has never been used, is present as well as what looks to be the original Ford tyre inflator canister, a jack kit and tool roll. Under the rear lid the engine bay cover is present with the carpet showing some wear. Once removed you see the stonking 351 cubic inch Ford Cleveland V8 engine. The engine itself could do with a clean. This car has not been driven on the road since it was imported into Australia and it will require recommissioning. The engine turns over easily and should be relatively straight forward to recommission. Accompanying the car is an owners manual, an Australian import approval, a copy of the Dutch registration, an original spare wheel, a jack, an original Ford tyre inflator canister and a tool role, though most of the tools are missing. We envisage that this car can be reasonably easily recommissioned, then used and enjoyed as a very original car. Price $169,950 Background: Born on 10th July 1928 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Alejandro De Tomaso grew up among a family known to be quite politically influential and very wealthy. From an early age racing and race cars had been a real passion for De Tomaso. In 1945 he drove his first race in a modified Bugatti Type 35. In 1954 he was offered the opportunity to race for Maserati in the 1,000 km race of Buenos Aires and returned to win that race in 1955 a Maserati A6GCS. That same year De Tomaso moved to Italy and started working for OSCA in Bologna as a test driver. In the meantime, he kept racing. In 1957 he won the 1,500cc class at the Buenos Aires 1,000 km race driving a new OSCA. In 1958 he drove an OSCA with a 750cc engine at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished a very credible 11th overall, averaging over 140km/h. In 1958 De Tomaso built his first car. It featured the 750cc OSCA engine mounted in front of the rear axle, quite an unusual design for that time. Unfortunately, the car never raced as the Maserati bothers, who owned OSCA, forbid him to use the engine. In 1959 De Tomaso moved to Modena and built his second car, an F2 race car, again which an OSCA engine which this time he was allowed to use. The car made its debut at Sebring in 1959. The car was called Isis after his wife. Unfortunately, mechanical issues forced the car to retire from the race. After many more adventures and attempts to produce various race cars, De Tomaso introduced their first production car in 1965, a two seater coupe named Vallelunga. The car remained in production until 1967 and 59 examples were built including the prototype. In 1966 De Tomaso opened a new factory which allowed him to follow his dreams and expand production of his cars. In 1967 the De Tomaso Mangusta was introduced. The stunning Mangusta, which was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro whilst working for Ghia, remained in production through until 1971 and 401 examples were produced. In 1967 De Tomaso acquired Carrozzeria Ghia and 1969 he acquired Carrozzeria Vignale. These acquisitions were not financially successful, however, they did provide an introduction to Henry Ford II, which ultimately had a big impact on his future. The Ford Motor Company subsequently took a controlling stake in De Tomaso as well as Ghia and Vignale. This relationship led to one of the worlds most iconic sports cars being developed the legendary De Tomaso Pantera. Designed by Carrozzeria Ghias American born Tom Tjaarda, the Pantera was built with the American market in mind. De Tomaso had the rights to sell the Pantera, except in North America, where Ford sold the car through their Lincoln-Mercury dealers. The Pantera was a huge success, with more than 7,000 cars built before production ceased in 1992. Models included the standard Pantera, Pantera L (for the US market), Pantera GTS, Pantera GT5, Pantera GT5S and Pantera 90 Si.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely magnificent Mercedes-Benz 190SL. The Lieferschein or Delivery Note on file confirms this example was delivered in November 1957 and exported to New York. The car was finished in the classic Mercedes-Benz colour of white (paint code DB50) with a black interior and black soft top. It also confirms that the car is matching numbers. The car was restored by SL Classics in Germany in 2015. It was then sold by Gooding & Company at their Amelia Island auction in March 2016 to a UK collector. More recently, the car has found its way to Australia. Today the odometer reads 285 miles, which is most likely the mileage since the car was restored. This car is STUNNING in every regard, apart from a very minor scrape under the front bumper which most likely occurred when the car was shipped. Accompanying the car is an unrestored hard top. Hard to find better. Highlights: - Restored by SL Classics in Germany to an exceptionally high standard. - Original colour and matching numbers. - Fitted luggage. - Ready show, use and enjoy. Price $314,950 Background: Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Europes car industry was decimated. In Germany both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars post-war, however, times were tough. A merger between Daimler and Benz would ensure that both companies survived and following a technical co-operation agreement in 1924, the companies formally merged on the 1st July 1926. Mercedes-Benz was born! Subsequently, Mercedes-Benz went on to build some of the greatest cars of all time. The cars from Stuttgart bearing the three-pointed star all had one thing in common . . . they were renowned for their technical innovation, build quality, luxury and performance. In the 1950s Mercedes Benz produced one of the greatest cars of all time the iconic 300SL Gullwing and 300SL Coupe. Whilst fabulous cars, they were very expensive and generally sold to the rich and famous. Mercedes wanted to build a sporting luxury car that still looked classical in the mould of the 300SL, but it had to be affordable and the plan was to build such a car in far greater numbers than the exclusive 300SLs. Enter the Type W121 or 190SL as it became known in the mid 1950s. This model was an outstanding success and circa 25,000 cars were built over the next 8 years of production. The formula worked and Mercedes Benz carried it on with great success in the 1960s with the Type W113 230SL/250SL/280SL models. This evolved into the Type R107/C107 280SL(C)/350SL(C)/380SL(C)/450SL(C) models built throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Mercedes-Benz marketed the 190SL as . . . as sports car for all seasons. To quote their website: . . . Sporting elegance, safety and comfort with these qualities the 190 SL conquered a whole new circle of enthusiastic fans of dynamic driving. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the prototype of the 190 SL (W 121) at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, alongside the production version of the 300 SL Gullwing. Although the two-seater roadster with folding soft top stirred passions, it was to undergo a further thorough revision by the Mercedes-Benz designers known at the time as stylists. In March 1955, a full year after the New York premiere, the production version went on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Like its elder brother, the spectacular 300 SL Gullwing, the 190 SL rapidly became one of the most coveted dream cars of its day. Although less powerful than the 300 SL, it generated no less excitement and opened up the SL legend to a wider circle of customers. By 1963 sales had totalled 25,881 units. And even long-distance drives were enjoyable thanks to the comfortable suspension. The handsome sports car for all occasions was particularly popular among female drivers, who appreciated not only the sporting elegance of its design, but also the open-air feeling that came as standard. With its easy-to-operate soft top and optionally available coupé hardtop, the 190 SL was the first SL to combine the possibility of open-top driving with absolute all-weather capability.

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 and it has been in static storage for some fifteen years. It was last started about five years ago and today the engine turns over easily. 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. As mentioned earlier in our write up, this car has not been driven since it arrived in Australia all those years ago. Before the car can be driven it will require recommissioning. 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. We envisage the recommissioning to be relatively straight forward and have no doubt this car will drive every bit as good as it looks! 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 $289,950 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.

1969 Aston Martin DBS Vantage - Manual with A/C

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 1986 Lamborghini Jalpa. According to the Lamborghini Registry this car was completed on the 24th November 1986 for Australian importer A.A. de Fina. The car was originally rosso (red paint code 215157) with a panna (cream) interior, which is how the car is presented today. The Australian compliance plate is dated 1/87. The early history of this car is not definitively known, however, it is understood to have come from long term Sydney ownership. The car was then sold to another Sydney owner in circa 2005 before being sold by Oldtimer Australia to the Gosford Car Museum in July 2015. At that time the odometer read 45,005 km. The current owner acquired the car from the Gosford Car Museum in early 2018. At that time the car presented well cosmetically, but it was a little tired. In July 2018 Melbourne based classic Lamborghini specialist, Sports and Classic Car Services completed a major mechanical refresh of the car. They rebuilt the engine, which included reconditioning the cylinder heads and engine ancillaries, rebuilt the gearbox, installed new rear shock absorbers, replaced the brake hoses and installed new rear wheel bearings. At the same time a new Quicksilver exhaust system was installed. In total, $43,000 was spent on the car to bring it up to its current condition. At that time the odometer read 45,054 km. In May 2020 Sports and Classic Car Services performed an annual service and safety check and at that time the odometer read 45,819 km. The next service was performed in June 2022 and at that time the odometer read 47,242 km. The current owner has used the car sporadically in the last eighteen months and today the odometer reads 47,630km. First impressions of this car are good, really good! Overall, it presents well. It is understood the car was repainted back in 2005 shortly after it changed hands. The rosso paint has retained a high gloss and a strong dept of colour. However, if you look closely you will notice some small paint imperfections. The most noticeable one is on the edge of the B pillar on the drivers side and there are some small paint bubbles on the rear bumper. The Lamborghini badge on the front is showing its age and is the first thing we would replace! The Lamborghini and Jalpa badges on the rear of the car are in good condition. All the glass presents well with no cracks or delamination evident. The targa top is in very good condition. The original and quite unique Route Oz wheels present well. There is some very minor curb rash visible, but nothing too noticeable. The front wheels are shod with Pirelli Cinturato P7 tyres, size 205/55 R16. These are date stamped 5117 (week 51, 2017). The rear wheels are shod with Hankook Ventus RS4 tyres, size 225/50 R16. These are date stamped 1221 (week 12, 2021). Both the front and rear tyres are still in good condition. Open the door and you are welcomed by a sharp and very good looking interior. The interior was refreshed less than twelve months ago and as a result the seats present well and are in very good condition with no rips, tears or cracks evident. They are surprisingly comfortable and provide ample support. The matching door cards are also in very good condition. The seats and door cards are both trimmed with red piping, which is so eighties and as the car was finished new. The matching carpets are also in very good condition with no excessive wear evident. The dash presents well and the top has not been affected by the harsh Australian sun. There are no cracks evident nor is there any discoloration. Overall the instruments and controls present well and appear to be in good working order. A known problem with Italian cars from this period is that the needles on the speedo and the tacho have a tendency to warp. Both instruments on this car are slightly warped, but both are working and look to read correctly. The metal gear shifter gate is showing its age and is something we would have cleaned up and polished. The Nardi steering wheel is most likely original and generally in good condition, though there are a few cracks appearing in the leather. A good leather doctor would attend to this easily. Under the front bonnet everything is very original. Unfortunately, the space saver spare wheel is missing. The engine bay presents well and behind it, underneath the rear spoiler, youll find the boot, which whilst relatively small is bigger than it looks! There is plenty of room for a few overnight bags. The boot retains its original carpet and is in quite good condition. Shortly after the car arrived at our showroom, we found a break in the inclement Brisbane weather and were able to get it out for a quick test drive and photo shoot. The car starts easily, even from cold. The Quicksilver exhaust system has a fabulous note to it without being too noisy. Out on the road the car drives easily and the more you drive it the more you like it! The engine has loads of power and the gear changes are smooth, both up and down the box. The steering feels precise and is not too heavy. We did notice the AC was not working and upon further investigation we discovered that the hoses have been disconnected and the compressor is missing. Whilst the car runs and drives well, it would benefit from a tune and it probably needs to used and enjoyed more regularly. In 2019 Motortrend wrote an interesting article about the Jalpa called Driving the Lamborghini Jalpa: A Classic Supercar Worth Remembering. In the article the Jalpa is described as . . . an intriguing car with a beguiling personality far different from the bigger, better-known Lamborghinis. In the article automotive historian Massimo Delbo describes the Jalpa as . . . simply and enigmatically: If you know, you know. Unfortunately, the Jalpa was introduced at the wrong time, America was pulling out of a recession and people favoured its bigger brother the Countach or even Ferraris entry level car, the 328. As far as the nouveau riche were concerned, there was only one Lamborghini worth considering. Motortrend questions this; Was their belief correct? The Jalpa is arguably the better sports car, a ballerina compared to the brutish Countach. The author, after his test drive, states: Given the choice between a Countach and a Jalpa a guy can dream, right? I know which I would pick. A week ago, my answerwould have been different, but now I know and hopefully you do, too. With only 410 examples ever made and approximately 35 in right hand drive, the Jalpa is indeed a very rare car. Here is a unique opportunity to own an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example and become part of the small group of people who can experience first hand how good and how much fun this junior super car is to own and drive. This car wont win a concours, but it is a really nice example that presents and drives well. It can be used as is or easily taken to the next level should one desire to do so. What a fabulous alternative to a Ferrari 308 / 328! Highlights: - Rare Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example. - Major mechanical work, including engine rebuild, in July 2018. - Quicksilver exhaust system fitted. - Recent interior refresh. - Join an exclusive club. Price $189,950. Background: The Lamborghini story is fascinating in itself, but for the company to have survived all these years and indeed celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2013 is quite amazing. Ferruccio Lamborghini was an entrepreneur, a very successful businessman and a lover of the finer things in life, including sports cars. He was fortunate enough to own some wonderful cars including Ferraris however, he found fault with them all. According to the legend following a meeting with Enzo Ferrari to discuss some of the short comings of his cars Enzo dismissed Ferruccio and he subsequently decided that he could build a better car. Not long after, in May 1963, Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SPA was established and the small town of SantAgata Bolognese, located between Modena and Bologna, was chosen as the location to build the factory. Born under the Zodiac sign Taurus Lamborghini chose the raging bull as the emblem for his sports cars. Lamborghini knew what he wanted and he put together a highly skilled team. His first car the 350 GTV was shown at the Turin Motor Show in October 1963. This car received mixed reviews; however, Lamborghini was not deterred and made a number of improvements and design changes to the original concept. The first Lamborghini production car the 350 GT left the factory in mid-1964. The 350 GT evolved into the 400 GT 2+2 and later the Islero. In parallel to building these classic front engine V12 GT cars Lamborghini wanted to build a super car, enter the Miura first shown as a rolling chassis in 1965, and also a GT car that could comfortably seat four people, enter the Espada in 1968. The mid to late sixties were good times for Lamborghini and his cars were revered the world over. In 1970 the Islero was replaced by the Jarama. Lamborghini also wanted to enter the junior supercar market and introduced the Urraco or little bull, named for the fighting bull which killed the toreador Manoleten, at the 1970 Turin Motor Show. The Urraco attracted huge interest from the motoring world and Bertones classic wedge shape received critical acclaim at the time. It wasnt until some two years later, in 1972, that the first production cars rolled off the Sant Agata production line. Lamborghini hoped to build the Urraco in big numbers, however, this never eventuated and only 520 of the P250s were built up until 1975 when the P300 was released. The world economy changed quickly and the early 1970s were a tough time for Lamborghini. Additionally, the Urraco had some teething problems early on and the car unfortunately developed a reputation as unreliable. This was perhaps unfair as once Lamborghini ironed out the bugs the car was in fact a little gem and properly sorted was a genuine threat to Ferraris 308, Maseratis Merak and the Porsche 911 of the day. The Urraco P300 was indeed a fabulous little car and in Sports Car World magazine July September 1976 Mel Nichols wrote: . . . I was not hard pressed to conclude that the Urraco 3-litre is the most enjoyable car I have ever driven. In the October 1978 issue of Car Magazine Nichols pits the Lamborghini Urracoagainst a Ferrari 308 GTB and a Maserati Merak SS. The article is compelling reading and Nichols picks the Urraco as his favourite. Only 205 Urraco P300s were built. Lamborghini also built 66 Urraco P200s (with a 2 litre V8 engine) specifically for the Italian market. The Lamborghini Silhouette was a further development of the Urraco and it was first shown at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show. The Silhouette was a genuine 2 seater and the 2+2 seating of the Urraco was removed to allow space behind the seats to store the targa top. The Silhouette is one of the rarest Lamborghinis with only 54 cars built, of which only ten were factory right hand drive. Lamborghinis last iteration of their V8 engined junior supercar was the Jalpa (pronounced YAWL-pa), named after another breed of fighting bull. The Jalpa was introduced at the 1981 Geneva show and 410 examples were built spanning seven years from 1982 through to 1988. Of these it is understood that only 35 left the factory as right hand drive and perhaps there are 10 in Australia.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1955 factory right hand drive Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) split screen 23 window De Luxe Microbus, otherwise known as a Samba or Kombi. The Zertifikat on file from Stiftung Automuseum Volkswagen dated 1st September 2011 confirms this is a factory right hand drive model 244 VW De Luxe Microbus. It was built on 11th March 1955 and left the factory on 18th March 1955. It was delivered to Volkswagen dealer Kemsley in London, UK. The certificate also tells us it was delivered with the following options: sealed-beam headlamps (M011), towing hooks front and rear (M029), Westfalia camping equipment (M108) and Safari windscreens (M113). At some stage this Kombi found its way to Australia. It is not known exactly when it was imported, but the Department of Transport has confirmed this must have been prior to 1989. There are receipts on file from the early 1990s indicating its then owner initially lived in Seymour, Victoria before moving to Brisbane mid 1990s. The car was sold in 2001 to its next Brisbane based owner. The current owner, who is also Brisbane based, acquired the car in October 2004. At that time it was painted in green and white. The odometer read 13, 354 miles. The car was used and enjoyed through until 2010, at which time its owner decided to return his Kombi back to its former glory. He enlisted the services of Das Resto Haus on the Gold Coast for the restoration. The owner wanted to return the car to its original colour scheme of Chestnut Brown (Code: L73) over Sealing Wax Red (Code: L53). The owner opted to make some upgrades to the Kombi to make it a more usable classic. The engine was replaced with a new 1, 654 cc engine of the correct type. The rear suspension was upgraded to an independent rear suspension setup and the original drum brakes were replaced with disc brakes. All the body work was completed around June 2012 after which the Kombi was repainted. The interior was retrimmed in correct light brown vinyl. The owner also managed to find the very rare foldable left seat to complete the interior. There is a thick file of invoices on file documenting most of the work done. It has now been just over 10 years since this Kombi was restored, however, it has been well cared for and today it still presents very well. From a meter away the paint work looks magnificent, however, when you get closer to the car you will notice some orange peel in the paint. This is mainly below the swage line and most noticeable on the drivers side of the car. There are no significant stone chips or other imperfections. All the panel gaps are very good. The external trim is minimalistic, but presents well. The glass (of which there is plenty!) is in good condition and, with the exception of the two front windows, appears to be all original. The steel wheels are shod with Coker Classic tyres, size 165R15, date stamped 2313 (week 23, 2013). They appear to have hardly been used but probably should be replaced based on age if one would consider doing some serious driving. A cool detail on these early Kombis are the semaphores. They are operational, however, for safety the current owner has installed additional indicators which are discretely positioned underneath the bumpers front and rear. Open the door and it immediately becomes obvious that this Kombi has been sparingly used since it was restored. Everything still presents like it would have done 10 years ago and there is hardly any sign of usage. The front seats present well and provide ample support. The back seats present equally well and it appears as if they have never been used. The carpets are in excellent condition. All the instruments in the dashboard present well and appear to be in good working order. There is an aftermarket RetroSound radio fitted. After getting comfortable behind the steering wheel, we make ourselves familiar with the very basic controls in preparation for our test drive. The car starts easily even from cold and quickly settles into a smooth idle with that familiar Volkswagen sound from its air-cooled engine. There is something about this car, it is just cool and we are genuinely excited to see how it performs on the open road. After allowing the engine to warm up, we move the gear lever to select first gear and off we go. For someone not familiar with a Kombi, the driving position takes a little bit of getting used to as you are basically sitting on top of the front wheels! As a result, driving around a corner feels a little bit weird initially. You get the feeling you are turning too late to make the corner, yet you do so easily. This Kombi just wants to go! The engine revs freely and there is enough power on tap to easily keep up with modern day traffic. The gearbox is smooth both up and down the box. The upgraded brakes stop the car quickly and in a straight line when required. With the 23 windows it is needless to say the visibility is good all around. It also makes the Kombi feel spacious and bigger than it actually is. Today the odometer reads 65, 631 miles. In recent years these Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) split screen 23 window De Luxe Microbus (otherwise known as Sambas or Kombis) have become highly collectable. These early cars are extremely rare and the ones to have, particularly in right hand drive. This particular example ticks a lot of boxes and can be used and enjoyed as is or taken to the next level by rectifying the paint issues. This Kombi would be a perfect beach house car and would turn plenty of heads at any cars and coffee! The Volkswagen club scene is very active in Australia and this Kombi would definitely be a welcome sight at any of their events Highlights: - Factory right hand drive early 23 window Microbus - Original colour combination - Sympathetically upgraded - Ready to use and enjoy or take it up to the next level. Price $229,950 Background: In the early 1930s cars were a luxury. Most Germans could afford nothing more elaborate than a motorcycle. Only one German out of 50 owned a car. Seeking a potential new market, some car makers began independent peoples car projects, such as the Mercedes 170H, Adler Autobahn, Steyr 55, and Hanomag 1. 3L. The trend was not new. Béla Barényi, an Austro-Hungarian engineer is credited with having conceived the first basic design in the mid-1920s. In Germany, Hanomag produced the 2/ 10PS Kommisbrot a small, cheap, rear-engined car from 1925 1928 and Czechoslovakia produced the popular Tatra 7. Ferdinand Porsche had been trying for years to get a manufacturer interested in a small car suitable for a family. He built a car named the Volksauto from the ground up in 1933, using many popular ideas and several of his own. Key features of the car were an air-cooled rear engine, torsion bar suspension, and a beetle shape with the front hood rounded for better aerodynamics (necessary as it had a small engine). In 1934 Adolf Hitler became involved. He ordered the production of a basic vehicle that needed to be able to transport 2 adults and 3 children at 100km/ h. He wanted all Germans to have access to a car. The peoples car would be available at 990 Reichsmark. A special savings plan was introduced. A person could save 5 Reichsmark a week to realise their dream of owning their own car. Over 300, 000 people participated in this savings plan, however, the whole project was financially unsound. No private industry was able to meet the requirements and produce a car that could be sold for 990 Reichsmark. On the 28th May 1937 the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens GmbH (Company for the Preparation of the German Volkswagen Ltd) was formally established by the German Labour Front and in 1938 the first prototypes of the KdF-Wagen (Kraft durch Freude) started to appear. On 16th September 1938 the company was renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH and the company built its main plant in KdF-Stadt which later became Wolfsburg. The outbreak of the Second World War and integration into the arms industry prevented mass production of the Volkswagen peoples car. Instead, military vehicles and other armaments were produced using forced labour. In April 1945, KdF-Stadt and its heavily bombed factory were captured by the Americans, and subsequently handed over to the British, within whose occupation zone the town and factory fell. The factories were placed under the control of Saddleworth born British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst, by then a civilian Military Governor with the occupying forces. One of the factorys wartime KdF-Wagen cars had been taken to the factory for repairs and abandoned there. Hirst had it repainted green and demonstrated it to British Army headquarters. Short of light transport, in September 1945, the British Army was persuaded to place a vital order for 20, 000 cars. The rest as they say is history. The Volkswagen or VW Beetle was born. In 1946 Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon visited the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg with the intention to purchase Beetles for import into the Netherlands. During this visit he saw an improvised vehicle based on the Beetle chassis being used to transport materials around the factory, a Plattenwagen. That made him think and he came up with a sketch of what became the Type 2 Volkswagen. That sketch, dated 23 April 1947, can today be found in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Volkswagen liked the idea, however; the Volkswagen factory was at capacity producing Beetles. Eventually, the Type 2 was approved for production on 19th May 1949 and the first example rolled off the production line on 12th November 1949. The rest as they say is history. The Volkswagen Bus, otherwise known as Microbus, Transporter, Samba or Kombi depending on the body style and market, became very popular all around the world and is still produced today.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a lovely 1949 Bristol 400. There is documentation on file that states that this particular example was despatched on the 1st February 1950 to Messrs Commonwealth Motors Ltd in Melbourne. It also tells us the car is a factory right hand drive, matching numbers example which was delivered in its current colour of maroon. Two extra sun visors were fitted to the car as an option. It is understood the car was initially used as a demonstrator by Claridge Motors of Unley, Adelaide. Around December 1951 the car was sold to its first owner. Sometime in the next 6 years the car was painted black. The car then passed through several owners but remained in South Australia. It is understood that around 1974 the car was repainted in its original maroon colour. In July 1988 the car found its way to Bowral in NSW. In August 1993 the car was purchased by a Mr Lino Bertollo from Castle Hill, a suburb in the north west of Sydney in NSW. In 2001 the car was sold to Mr Heinz Haupt from Corawa, NSW. He later moved to Victoria and subsequently registered the car there. In his ownership the car was retrimmed in approximately 2002 prior to participating in the NSW South Coast Rally in 2003. The car was sold in 2009 and then again in 2016, when it ended up with a well known collector in South Australia. He kept the car for almost 4 years before selling it to another well known collector, this time in Melbourne, Victoria. The current owner acquired the car by chance in November 2022. Somewhere along the line the cylinder head on the car was replaced with a non-matching but correct cylinder head. Fortunately, a previous owner managed to purchase the original cylinder head at the 2016 Motorclassica auction and it remains with the car. Today this fabulous Bristol 400 presents and drives really well. Its presentation and condition is a true testament to how the current and previous owners have looked after and maintained the car. First impressions are good, really good! The car certainly has a real presence and the maroon colour suits it quite well. Generally, the paint is in a good condition but upon closer inspection you will see some stone chips and other imperfections. Most noticeable is a small scrape on the lower part of the left rear guard. There are also two small bubbles in the paint on the lower rear section of the passenger door and a very small one on the left lower panel. The brightwork on the car presents well and is in a good condition. All the glass is in good condition with no cracks or scratches evident. The mechanism to open the rear window is in good working order as are the clamps to hold open the rear quarter windows. The steel wheels are in reasonably good condition. There are some marks on them from either old balancing weights or perhaps just general wear and tear. The hubcaps are in good condition and feature the Bristol logo. The wheels are shod with Michelin X tyres size 5.50 R 16. They are date stamped 2711 (week 27, 2011) and whilst they are still in reasonably good condition, they should be replaced based on age. Open the door and you are welcomed by a typical English interior. The first thing you will notice is the big yet delicate steering wheel and the long gear lever, quite typical for a car of this vintage. The timber dashboard is another feature. The whole interior suits the car very well and is exactly what you would expect in a car like this. The seats are comfortable and soft, yet they provide ample support . . . very much like your favourite lounge chair. The leather is in a good condition and there are no cracks or tears evident in either of the front seats. The rear seats appear to have hardly been used and are in very good condition. The carpets also present well and are in reasonably good condition. The roll down sun visors are rather unique! All the instruments are clear and all appear to be in good working order. The car is also fitted with a period correct wireless of the type 4014VD. The serial number tag states Made in England specially for The Gramophone Co Ltd (Australian Branch) Sydney, NSW. Under the bonnet you will find a clean engine bay and there is the original and complete toolkit as well as a foot pump which are both in excellent condition. In the boot you will find the jack, the wheel brace, a bleeder drain tube for the hydraulic brakes, a set of original tyre levers and a crank handle. It is amazing to see that after seventy five years all these tools are still with the car and still in excellent condition. When the car arrived at our show room we were rather excited and very keen to take it out for a test drive to see what it was like to drive. It is hard to believe this car is some seventy five years old! We were not disappointed . . . this car drives every bit as good as it looks! There is a procedure one has to follow to start the car, particularly if it hasnt been started for a period of time. These cars do not have an electric fuel pump and as a result, if the car has not been used for a while you first have to manually prime the fuel pump. Once you have done that you get in the car, pull out the knob to activate the starting carburettor, turn the ignition on and press the starter button. This car fires up pretty much at first crank. You then use the hand throttle to keep the revs up and turn the starting carburettor off. After patiently allowing the engine some time to warm up, you are ready to hit the roads. As noted above, when the car rolled off the truck the first impressions were good, really good. After a very short time behind the wheel the first impressions of the drive were also good, really good! The car was surprisingly firm on the road with no significant rattles or squeaks. The engine feels strong and it pulls strongly through the rev range. The gearbox is smooth and the gear changes are easy both up and down the box. This car is very easy to drive and you tend to forget it was born in the 1940s . . . quite incredible really! Even the brakes are quite adequate and pull the car up in a straight line. With only around 500 ever made the Bristol 400 is quite a rare car and they do not often come up for sale. Here is a unique opportunity to acquire an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example that is ready to use and enjoy. This is quintessential British motoring at its best. The Bristol 400 was so far ahead of its time it is not funny and today this car offers incredible value for money. Accompanying the car is the original cylinder head, toolkit, jack, an original spare wheel, an original Bristol 2 Litre Type 400 instruction manual, an original spares handbook and a copy of a workshop manual for a type 85a engine and gearbox. Highlights: - Australian delivered, factory RHD, matching numbers example. - Known ownership from new. - Original toolkit, jack, and foot pump. - Beautifully presented car that is just fabulous to drive. Price $94,950. Background: The Bristol Car Company has a rich and fascinating history. Its origins date back to the Bristol Aeroplane Company (formerly The British and Colonial Aeroplane Company) that was founded in February 1910 by Sir George White, chairman of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, along with his son Stanley and his brother Samuel, to commercially exploit the fast-growing aviation sector. The Bristol Aeroplane Company developed into a British industrial powerhouse and they built some of the worlds most technologically advanced aeroplanes. Some of the most well-known and successful aircraft built by Bristol were the Bristol F2 Fighter (used during World War I), the Bristol Bulldog and the Bristol Beaufighter (used during World War II). Following the First World War the British aircraft industry suffered a dramatic downturn and subsequently significant financial challenges. In an endeavour to keep its workforce employed the Bristol Aeroplane Company undertook the manufacture of a light car, the single seat Bristol Monocar which was powered by a motorcycle engine, the construction of car bodies for Armstrong Siddeley and bus bodies for their sister company, Bristol Tramways. The company survived, but times were tough. Aircraft manufacturing ramped up again with the outbreak of the Second World War, however, management had learned that they must plan for the future. It is understood that discussions started as early as 1941 to establish a post war car manufacturing division. Bristol began working with AFN Ltd, makers of Frazer Nash cars and British importer of BMWs before the war, on plans for a joint venture in automotive manufacturing. What ultimately eventuated was that the Bristol Aeroplane Company took over AFN Ltd and established its car manufacturing division, Bristol Cars. A purpose built factory was constructed at Filton Aerodrome, near Bristol. The first Bristol was designated the 400 and not surprisingly given the Frazer Nash and BMW connection it was based on a BMW 326 chassis with BMW 327 styling. The engine, whilst built by Bristol, was also based on a BMW 327. The first prototypes were built in late 1946, however, the car was formally introduced at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show. The car was a great success for Bristol and almost 500 examples were built through until 1950. This included 17 Drophead Coupes with coachwork by Pininfarina. In 1949 Bristol introduced successor to the 400, the 401, which was designed and bodied by Touring of Milan in Italy. The new model was aerodynamically sleeker and featured superleggera construction with an aluminium body over a steel frame. As a result the car weighed significantly less and its performance was greatly enhanced. Bristol was gaining a reputation for building technologically advanced motor cars that were luxurious, very reliable and offered genuinely exciting performance on the road. Their cars were not cheap and as a result they remained somewhat exclusive. Buyers of new Bristols back in the day were typically wealthy businessman who wanted a car to stand out in a crowd. They also wanted a car they could drive and enjoy and many Bristols were used for hill climbs and weekend motor racing. Bristol developed the 450 specifically for motor racing and it made its debut at the 1953 Le Mans 24 hour race. Two cars were entered in the race, however, they both retired with engine failures after about 10 hours. Bristol returned to Le Mans in 1954 and entered three cars, with uprated engines and improved aerodynamic bodywork. In contrast with the previous year all three cars finished the race, coming home in first, second and third place in their class and seventh, eighth and ninth overall. Their performance also earned Bristol the team prize. Bristol returned to Le Mans again in 1955 and again performed exceptionally well achieving the same results as in 1954. The race became famous for the wrong reason when a major accident resulted in debris flying into the crowd killing 83 people and injuring many more. Following this race a number of manufacturers, including Bristol, retired from motor racing indefinitely. Subsequent road cars included the 403 (1953-1955, 287 cars built), which was a further development of its predecessors, the 404 (1953-1958, 52 cars built), the 405 (1953-1958, 308 cars built and the 406 (1958-1961, 174 cars built). Bristol Cars was sold after its parent company joined with other British aircraft companies in 1960 to create the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), which later became part of British Aerospace.

1952 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint by Touring