Used Unique Cars For Sale from $100,000 to $1,000,000 in Queensland

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.

1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 2+2

Jaguar E-Type Series 3 5.3 Black 4 Speed Manual Roadster (roof conversion), multiple trophy winner, near concours condition, very little use since complete 'ground up' resto. Black with Biscuit leather.

1958 Jaguar XK150 Drophead Coupe

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 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

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 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.