Unique Cars For Sale from $100,000 to $500,000 in Queensland

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an absolutely delightful, Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 1959 Porsche 356 A 1600. There is a letter on file from Porsche, Germany dated 5th July 1990 confirming this car was manufactured in June 1959 and delivered new through Porsche dealer Hamilton in Australia. The car was delivered with the following specifications: colour: orange (paint code 711), interior: vinyl, optional equipment: green tinted windscreen, right hand drive, hub caps with badge, US bumpers and moldings. We can confirm that this car retains its original matching numbers engine. The early history of this car is not known. The story starts in 1983, when on the 26th August, ownership of this car transferred from Chris Katos to Andrew McRitchie. There is also a note on file confirming McRitchie purchased the car for the sum of $3,500. At that time the car was carrying the Victorian registration HEA111 but it was sold unregistered with the note it required extensive renovation. McRitchie decided to restore the car and what followed was an 8 year journey. Importantly, he meticulously documented everything he did. There is a 35 page document on file showing exactly what he did, when he did it and the number of hours he spend doing it! There is also a thick file of receipts. The project started in May 1984 and it was finally finished in October 1992. In total he spend 3,910 hours restoring his Porsche and as the document states, this didnt include the hours spend by brothers, sisters, father, friends, the paint shop, the machine shop and the time spend on collecting the necessary replacement parts! We have seen many good history files but rarely do we come across a write up as detailed as this. McRitchie was obviously a very detail minded, dedicated and meticulous owner. There is a Vic Roads Certificate of Roadworthiness on file, dated 7th March 1993, at which time the odometer read 45,922 miles. In December 2006 the current owner acquired the car from McRitchie. At that time the odometer read 49,521 miles. There is a valuation report on file from a week after he purchased the car which states: Vehicle fully restored from ground up, on inspection many restoration photos of the vehicle sighted also, Michelin 165×15 tyres, drivers side mirror, vehicle immaculate condition throughout. The previous owner had clearly cherished his car after he completed the restoration. The current owner is a real Porsche enthusiast and he has thoroughly enjoyed his 17+ years of ownership of this fabulous 356. He has used the car, travelling just over 22,000 miles in his ownership. The way the car presents today you would think it has travelled only 2,200 miles in his ownership! Today the odometer reads 68,861 miles. The car has been maintained and regularly serviced by well known and respected classic Porsche specialist McKernan Restoration in Kippa-Ring, Queensland. During one of these services it was noted that the split case gearbox in the car was in very poor condition and in November 2012 the decision was made to replace it with a period correct gearbox from a slightly later model 356A. To make the 356 more reliable and easier to start a electric fuel pump was fitted in January 2015. In September 2020 the carburettors were overhauled. The most recent service was executed in October 2023 and at that time the odometer read 68,030 miles. Today this car still presents exceptionally well. It has hard to believe that the restoration was completed some 30 years ago. The car is a credit to its current and previous owner, but particularly to the quality of the restoration. When you first see the car you are immediately charmed by its colour. The blue is truly striking and it really suits the car. It also contrasts perfectly with the tan interior. The paint on the car is generally in a very good condition. This car has been used as its makers intended by both its current and previous owner and as a result there is some light wear and tear evident. There are some stone chips and very small paint imperfections here and there, but you have to look. The glass on the car is all in excellent condition with no evidence of any cracks, though there are a few very small chips on the windscreen. All the external trim, including the lights and lenses are in good condition. The painted steel wheels are generally in good condition. There are a few small chips here and there and one or two marks that look to be from balancing weights that were previously fitted. The wheels are shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, size 165HR15, date stamped 0116 (week 1, 2016). The tyres are still in a good condition. Open the door and you are presented with a minimalistic, yet very good looking interior. First impressions are good. The seats present well with no cracks or tears in the leather. In the back you find two small seats which appear to have hardly been used, if at all, since the restoration. The door cards present well and even the carpets are in very good condition. The dashboard also presents well. In Australia, the top of the dashboard often gets affected by the harsh sun, but that is not the case here. All the instruments are crisp and clean. The engine bay presents well. It is neat, clean and tidy. The same can be said for the boot, where you will find the rubber mat, spare wheel and jack. Sliding in behind the wheel is like putting on your favourite old leather jacket. It just feels right! The seats are comfortable and still provide ample support. Everything you see is basic, yet that is exactly how you expect it to be. The steering wheel is in excellent condition and is a real feature on these cars. Once comfortable behind the wheel you ready to go. The starting procedure is simple. This car is fitted with an aftermarket fuel pump and a battery isolator. Switch both on, insert the key into the ignition and turn the ignition on. After allowing the fuel pump a little bit of time to fill the carburettor, turn the key further to start the car. This car still runs its original six volt electrical system and as a result you might think your battery is low on voltage when you crank the engine. However, that is normal and the engine starts easily, even from cold, and the car quickly settles into a smooth idle with that typical air cooled engine sound. After allowing the engine to warm up, select first gear and away you go! We were curious to see if this Porsche 356 would drive as good as it looks. Would we be disappointed? The short answer is no . . . it drives superbly! The engine sounds great and it pulls willingly through the rev range. The car just wants to go! The gearbox feels tight and the gear changes are precise and direct. The car feels solid on the road, the steering feels direct and the brakes pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed. We did notice that the speedo waves a bit every now and then, especially when you accelerate from low speed. However, once you are at cruising speed it settles and indicates the correct speed. The oil temperature gauge is not working. This is a very well sorted Porsche 356 A that is just a lot of fun to drive. This is the type of car you can just get in, use and enjoy. There are a few small things one can do to further improve the car but nothing that requires immediate attention. Accompanying the car is a very good history file, including a detailed restoration dossier, some photographs, a Porsche letter confirming the cars provenance, a spare wheel and a jack. Highlights: - Australian delivered, factory RHD 356 A. - An older but high quality, meticulous restoration. - Great colour combination. - Matching numbers, engine and chassis. - Very well presented car, ready to use and enjoy. Price $259,950. Background: The Porsche story is a fascinating one and its roots go back to the 1930s when Professor Ferdinand Porsche was instrumental in the design of the first Volkswagen and also Auto Union race cars. By 1939 he had built three Porsche cars to compete in the 800-mile race from Berlin to Rome. Unfortunately, the race was cancelled due to the war and Porsche was forced to focus on supporting the German war effort, however, he had always wanted to build his own cars. In 1944 Porsche was forced to leave Stuttgart and he set up a small operation in Gmünd, Austria. Soon after the Porsche family and many of their engineers were captured and sent to jail. Ferdinand Porsches son. Ferdinand junior, or Ferry as he was known, was released six months later and he returned to Gmünd to rebuild the family company. Things moved quickly and Porsche was involved with cars again and in mid-1948 the first Porsche 356 was built. It is understood Porsche built some 50 aluminium bodied cars by hand in their small factory at Gmündbefore relocating back to Stuttgart, Germany in 1949. Instead of building the body of the car himself Porsche decided to collaborate with an old partner, the body manufacturing company Reutter who had both the expertise and infrastructure to mass produce the bodies for the 356 coupe and cabriolet. Nowadays, the first series of the 356, built from 1948 through until 1955 are known as the 356 Pre A. In 1955 the 356 A was introduced. The internal factory designation for this model was Type 1 which was quickly adapted by enthusiasts who referred to the 356 A as the T1. The 356 A became available as a coupe, cabriolet and a Speedster. Buyers had the choice between a 1,300cc and a 1,600cc engine and later the Super version. A second revision of the 356 A was introduced early in 1957. It became known as the Type 2 (or T2). Late 1958 the Speedster was replaced by the Convertible D which was now build by coachbuilder Drauz. Late 1959 the 356 A was replaced by the 356 B. The 356 remained in production through until 1965 and evolved into one of the most successful sports cars ever built.

1965 Maserati Mistral

2 seat 1923 Open Top "Speedster". Had the race No. 23 on its radiator prior to a major recent restoration in Adelaide. Only recently offered for sale, for the first time in 50 years, when we acquired it. A most rare and magnificent part of motoring history. One of Belgiums most famous exports in the 1920s and known to be favoured by the Kings and Queens of Belgium, Norway & Sweden

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.

1952 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint by Touring

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this 1973 Lamborghini Jarama S (GTS). The documentation on file details a rich and interesting history of this car dating back to its birth in Italy in 1973. According to a copy of the build sheets on file this left hand drive Lamborghini Jarama S was completed at the factory on 2nd October 1973 and was sold to its first owner, Mr Camnasio Bianca Maria the co-owner of Hotel Bianca Maria in Milan through Achilli Motors in Milan on 6th March 1974. The car was delivered in grigio londra (a silver/grey) with a beige interior. The original Lamborghini libretto di assistenza e garanzia (service and warranty booklet) and factory records both confirm that the car retains its original matching numbers engine. Bianca Maria owned the car for a few years, selling it on the 22nd April 1977 to Charles Curtis Jones, otherwise known as Chuck Jones, the co-owner of the Ensign Formula One racing team. Jones left the car in Europe and used it occasionally. It is understood the car was also used by one of his drivers, Swiss Formula One ace Clay Regazzoni. Around 1980 Jones imported the car into the USA, but never registered there it in his name. The car was given to classic Lamborghini specialist Gary Bobileff in San diego, California to be federalised. It was then sold to Terry Tusher in June 1981. At that time the odometer read 34,999 km. It was in his ownership the car was repainted in its current colour, though it is not exactly known when it was done. In correspondence on file, Tusher describes the colour as silver metallic brown which apparently was a Mercedes Benz colour of that period. Tusher used the car as a daily driver. He initially lived in the San Diego area, but later moved to Honolulu, Hawaii and he took the car with him. Tusher was a long term owner of the car and after some 27 years of ownership engaged the services of classic car specialists Fantasy Junction in California to sell the car for him. They sold the car in April 2008 to John Bauer from Libertyville, Illinois. Bauer intended to completely restore the car but unfortunately life got in the way and he ended up selling it to Lamborghini enthusiast John Britton from Solihull, UK in October 2010. In Brittons ownership the car received a major refresh, which included a repaint, all the bright work was replated, the bumper rubbers were replaced, the interior was retrimmed in the best Connolly leather hides complete with Wilton carpets, the gearbox was rebuilt, a new clutch was fitted, the differential was overhauled, the brake servos were overhauled, a factory original sport exhaust was fitted, all new light lenses front and rear were installed to comply with the UK regulations, new rubber seals were installed, the badges were all replaced and the under bonnet area was meticulously detailed. In total about GBP 20,000 was spent on the car. The current owner acquired the car from Britton in October 2022 and subsequently imported it into Australia. There is an import approval on file dated 6th December 2022. At that time the odometer read 21,900 km (121,900). The car has hardly been used since it arrived in Australia. Today the odometer reads 21,983 km. First impressions of this car are really good. The car is presented in the unique and stunning colour of sand metallic, which really suits the car highlighting its unique Bertone styling. Whilst the paint has retained a high gloss and a strong depth of colour, closer inspection reveals humidity blisters on all panels. It is most likely that the car was not properly prepared when it was last painted. The bright work on the car presents well along with the rest of the external trim, including the trademark Lamborghini and Bertone badges. All the glass presents well with no cracks of chips present. It all appears to be original to the car. The car retains its correct and original Campagnolo wheels which are shod with period correct Michelin 215/70/ R15 XWX tyres. They are date stamped 3522 (week 35, 2022) and are in very good condition. The wheels themselves are also in good condition though the centre caps are faded. Open the door and you are presented with a unique and very good looking interior. It is immediately obvious the car has not been driven much since the interior was retrimmed. The seats are in excellent condition and provide ample support. The rear seats are similarly well presented and appear to have hardly been used if at all. The carpets are also all in good condition with minimal wear shown. The dashboard is in good condition, however, there is some discolouration to the alcantara. A rather unique feature of the Jarama is the positioning of the radio. Contrast to most cars where it is usually mounted in the dash, on this car it is mounted against the roof above the rear view mirror. Currently a period correct Motorola AM radio is fitted. The boot presents well and is carpeted with the same material as the interior. In the boot you will also find an original spare wheel. There is also a hidden switch that will isolate the fuel pumps. Open the bonnet and you will find a well presented engine bay. Everything looks neat, clean and tidy. With the exception of the chrome plated cooling system overflow tank, everything looks to be finished correctly. The underside of the bonnet is neatly trimmed with diamond patterned insulation to keep the heat of the engine away from the paint. Ferruccio Lamborghini loved the Jarama and it was his favourite model. He was quoted as saying: I preferred the Jarama to all the others, because it is the perfect compromise between the Miura and the Espada. The Miura is a sport car for the young at heart who wants to go like hell and love to be seen. Myself, I considered the Miura too extrovert after a while. In turn, the Espada was my Rolls Royce: still quite fast, but also large and comfortable. The Jarama is the perfect car if you just want to have one car. We were keen to see first hand what Ferruccio was talking about and get this Jarama out on the open road for our test drive and photo shoot. The car starts easily from cold if you follow the correct procedure. The Weber carburettors do need some time to be primed before you can start the car when the engine is cold. The correct procedure is to turn the ignition on, wait for at least 15 seconds for the fuel pumps to do their work, then pump the accelerator pedal a few times and turn the key to start the engine. Once the engine catches you have to initially feather the accelerator to keep the revs up and then patiently allow everything to warm before you take the car out on the road. Out on the road this Jarama performed well and the more we drove it the better it got. The engine pulls well, though we suspect the carbs are way out of balance and the car would benefit from a tune. The gearbox is tight and the changes up and down the box are direct and smooth. Whilst the car handles well and it felt tight on the road, there is a slight knock coming from the suspension. During our photo shoot the car attracted plenty of attention. A Lamborghini Jarama is a rare car anywhere, but incredibly so on Australian roads. Most people came over to ask us what it was! Lamborghini only built 351 Jaramas of which there were only 152 Jarama S. They are a very unique car and those get it, will get it! There are no issues to register this left hand drive car in any state of Australia. Accompanying the car is an excellent file describing its full history and ownership as well as a copy of the original build sheets, the original Lamborghini libretto di assistenza e garanzia (service and warranty booklet) in its original leather pouch from Achilli Motors and a copy of a drivers handbook. Highlights: - A very rare car, being one of only 152 Jarama S ever built. - Matching numbers example. - Interesting ownership history. - Unique colour combination. - Use as is or repaint and bring up a level or two. - Competitively priced for a quick sale. Price $199,950. 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 Lamborghini introduced the successor to the Islero at the Geneva Motor Show. The Jarama. It wasnt a simple redesign of the Islero but rather a brand new car using a shortened Espada chassis. The Jarama was powered by the same 3,929cc V12 as was used in the Islero and the Espada. It produced 350hp. Lamborghini produced 179 standard Jaramas. In 1972 Lamborghini introduced the Jarama S, also known as the Jarama GTS. The exhaust system, the cylinder heads and the carburettors received an upgrade and the engine now produced 365hp. The exterior of the car also received some updates as did the interior. Lamborghini produced 152 Jarama S models before production ended in 1976. In a interview published in Thoroughbred & Classic Car in January 1991 Ferruccio Lamborghini stated I preferred the Jarama to all the others, because it is the perfect compromise between the Lamborghini Miura and the Espada. His personal Jarama S is on display at the official Lamborghini museum at the companys factory in SantAgata Bolognese, Italy.

1963 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

1979 Maserati Khamsin

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive, 1966 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Coupe.

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.