Innholdsfortegnelse for #266 18-09 i Just Cars

After reviving the E-type Lightweight in 2014 and XKSS in 2016, Jaguar will give their much-decorated D-type the same treatment, announcing this past February that they will build 25 track-only replicas of their three-time winner of the 24 Hours of LeMans race. THE LOST 25 Like the previous two continuation models, there is some pretext to bringing the D-type back to (limited) production after more than 60 years. In this case, it concerns 25 unused chassis numbers from the run of 100 D-types originally planned by Jaguar in 1954. Following on from the C-type that had won LeMans in 1951 and 1953, the D-type was an even more competition-focused model, with an all-new magnesium central monocoque, to which was attached a complex frame that supported the front-mounted engine and suspension.…

After a swift rise to prominence in the collectable car auction scene in Australia, Mossgreen has experienced an even faster fall, collapsing in late January with debts of $12 million. Founded in 2004 by Paul Sumner and Amanda Swanson, Mossgreen initially dealt in fine art, but expansion into other areas followed, including the addition of a motoring department in 2014 and the acquisition of other specialist auction houses, including Webb’s in New Zealand. After several Melbourne auctions in 2015 and 2016, Mossgreen held their first Sydney auction in 2017, where the ex-Bob Morris Torana A9X sold for $705,000. Mossgreen also hosted the sale of the Clem Smith Collection in South Australia last August and ran the 2017 Motorclassica auction, where the ex-Duncan Hamilton and Bib Stillwell Jaguar D-Type was the…

Mazda has released a high-spec, limitededition version of the MX-5 RF (retractable fastback) that’s exclusive to Australia. Based on the GT variant and only available with the Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre petrol engine and 6-speed Skyactiv-MT manual transmission, only 110 units of the ‘MX-5 RF Limited Edition’ will be offered here. From that GT base, the Limited Edition adds a front strut brace and upgraded Bilstein shocks to improve ride and handling, while the addition of 17-inch BBS alloy wheels is aimed at improving steering feel and feedback. An upgraded Brembo brake package includes opposed-piston four-pot front calipers and specially-ventilated discs that claim to improve fade resistance by 26 per cent, while also reducing weight by almost 2kg. Externally, the Limited Edition gets the ‘Kuroi Sports Pack’ that includes front wheelarch winglets…

Ford Australia has confirmed that the new, 2018-model Mustang will reach our shores by the middle of this year. As previously reported (JUST CARS #259), the MY18 Mustang will be an advance over the current model, with more power and torque from the GT V8, more torque for the EcoBoost 4, and the debut of new features, including a 10-speed automatic transmission. Styling has also been updated and more in-cabin tech added. IMPROVED ENGINE, TRANS AND NOTE On the MY18 Mustang GT, the 5.0-litre V8 remains, but power is up, mainly thanks to the adoption of dual-fuel, high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection. The result, says Ford, is robust lowend torque, high-rpm power, and improved fuel efficiency. Peak power is now 339kW, a 33kW improvement over the current…

FOR SALE Perception, as defined in the Cambridge English dictionary, is a belief or opinion, often held by many people and based on how things seem. It can also mean being aware of something through the physical senses (sight, sound, touch, etc.). In the same dictionary, Misconception is defined as an idea that is wrong, based on a failure to understand or faulty thinking. The latter usually follows the former, and in the case of the car featured, these two nouns have come together quite often. SPECIAL, BUT NOT THAT SPECIAL When GM-H debuted the Premier on the EJ series in 1962, it was the most elite Holden you could buy. That status had changed by 1971, when the Statesman became the new “elite” Holden. However, while not as big…

Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) recently unveiled a very special vehicle in the form of a 1951-model Beetle. In unveiling the rare car, Michael Bartsch, VGA Managing Director, said it will be the first piece in a planned museum of historic Volkswagens to be housed at VGA’s headquarters in Chullora, NSW. The museum will be open to VW customers, fans and the general public. Bartsch acquired the Beetle from Australian collector Andy Roberts in 2017, but its history in this country goes back much further. Alongside Bartsch and Roberts at the unveiling was Dieter Regel, whose father was the original owner of the car back in 1951. What’s more intriguing is that Dieter’s father had the car converted to RHD when it was basically new. The reason is because the elder…

Across the four major auction houses – Bonhams, RM Sothebys, Barrett-Jackson and Gooding & Co. – in action at January’s Arizona auction week, Gooding & Co. led the field with the top-selling vehicle. Presented as part of their 11th Annual twoday auction in Scottsdale, Gooding & Co’s top seller was a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale. A desirable model in its own right, what made this unit extra special was that it was the only example bodied by Pininfarina (instead of Scaglietti) and had been originally owned by Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina of the famous Italian coachbuilders. Built for Battista’s personal use, the 275 GTB Speciale featured numerous bespoke coachwork details, an Alfa Romeo paint colour, bespoke interior, electric windows and no driver’s side vent window. Displayed at several European motor…

One of the world’s rarest and most unusual cars was recently added to the collection of the Gosford Classic Car Museum (GCCM) in the form of a 1966 Amphicar 770. While not the world’s first amphibious car (nor the last), the Amphicar does have the distinction of being the only one produced in anything like a commercial quantity. Between 1961 and 1968, it’s estimated that 3,878 Amphicars were built by German company IWK to a design from fellow German Hans Trippel. Of that total, almost 80 per cent went to the USA, where the GCCM’s example was sourced from late last year. First producing amphibious cars back as 1932, Trippel built similar vehicles for the German army in World War II, then developed the amphibious theme further after the war,…

"If you love what you’re doing, you’ll never work a day in your life,” says Clive Massel of Melbourne-based Makulu Vehicle Services. A track and concourse competition winner, Clive now stores classic and race cars for a living. EARLY STARTER Born and raised in South Africa, Clive acquired his first car - a 1937 Ford V8 – at the age of 8! A precocious whiz kid entrepreneur, Clive went on to buy and sell many interesting cars before he was legally able to terrorize the roads of Johannesburg (which he did, to great effect). His teenage trading gave him not only a good basic knowledge of both cars and the market for cars, but also an accurate eye for collectables that would rocket in value. Clive next transferred these skills…

Just as Holden shut down its local manufacturing facilities – ending a 69-year tradition of large cars – along came a car that could fill the void it leaves. The Kia Stinger is one of the more surprising cars to arrive from the Korean car industry. After all, rear-wheel drive large cars are out of favour globally, with most mainstream manufacturers instead switching to more practical and fuel efficient front-drive configurations. But along with its sister brand Hyundai, Kia has developed a car aimed at driving enthusiasts who don’t want to shell out for a luxury performance car. Available with a four-cylinder turbocharged engine or a potent 3.3-litre twin turbo V6, the Stinger is targeting the market vacated by the locally-made Holden Commodore. WHAT IS THE KIA STINGER? Kia’s most…

Isuzu Motors is primarily known internationally for its trucks but after WWII the company decided to join the movement to passenger cars and to this end forged an alliance with the Rootes Group of Coventry, England. The agreement was to manufacture the Hillman Minx in Japan initially using imported components but with the aim of sourcing all components locally as quickly as possible. The program got under way in 1953 and ended in 1964 with the cars being 100 percent Japanese–they were probably the best Hillman ever made! Out of this came the desire to build their own Isuzu cars and after the large Bellel, the company decided to manufacture a compact sporting sedan which became the Bellett. Studies began in 1960 and quickly settled on a wheelbase of 92-ins…

Marking 70 years since the “conception” of the original VW Transporter, which evolved into numerous variants, including the much-loved Kombi, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has released a limited-edition special – the Multivan ‘Kombi 70’. Dutch VW importer Ben Pon first posited the idea of a commercial vehicle derived from the Beetle in April, 1947, but the idea wasn’t approved for development and production at Volkswagen until November, 1948, with the first units going on sale in March, 1950) Based on the short-wheelbase, dieselengined, DSG transmission Multivan TDI340 Comfortline variant of the current (T6) generation VW van, the Kombi 70 is available in a choice of four different two-tone colour schemes inspired by the original, including the Candy White/Curcuma Yellow pictured. Other special touches include 18-inch ‘disc’ alloy wheels, wood-effect flooring, a…

Following its announcement last year, the limited-edition, rear-wheel drive version of Audi’s R8 supercar has been confirmed for Australian delivery from April. Only 999 units of the R8 RWS (Rear Wheel Series) will be produced, across both coupe and spyder body styles, of which a handful are allocated to Australia. While the Audi brand is rightly famous for its quattro all-wheel drive system, the RWS is the product of racing, specifically GT3 racing which requires entrants to be 2WD only. On the racetrack, that manifested itself in the R8 LMS that recently won the Bathurst 12 Hour for the third time, but the upcoming RWS marks the first time such a configuration has been transferred to the road on a modern Audi. Like the R8 quattro, the RWS version features…

On 12 February, four years to the day since it dropped into a sinkhole that opened up in the ‘Skydome’ section of the National Corvette Museum (NCM) in Kentucky, a ’62 Corvette made its return – fully restored - to the Skydome’s main display. The Tuxedo Black roadster was the third and last Corvette to be restored from a group of eight that fell into the 65 foot by 45 foot (19.8mt x 13.7mt) and 30 foot (9.1mt) deep sinkhole in 2014. Following the incident, General Motors committed to restoring two of the Corvettes: a 1992 convertible (the millionth Corvette built); and the ZR1 ‘Blue Devil’ prototype from 2009, but had no interest in restoring the ’62 convertible, as it was not considered a significant example. In February, 2017, on…

Motorcars don’t like standing idle - they need to be stretched and exercised. But sometimes that’s not possible. Storing cars incorrectly can have costly results, so any storage for an extended period - six months or longer - needs special attention and preparation on your part before tucking that little baby away. I hope these tips of mine can be helpful to experienced collectors and novices alike. 1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT STORAGE FACILITY Beware of all water leaks in the building, including condensation from the roof. Also, make sure that air circulates through the facility from time to time. It’s vital there are no rats, mice, birds, bats or ants sharing the space! Rodents love to nest in cars, wreaking havoc with wiring and upholstery, while ants seem fatally attracted…

Pebble Beach in California may have the world’s most renowned and picturesque annual classic car show, but for a scaled down and more accessible Australian equivalent, a trip to Noosa each October holds rich reward. The Queensland holiday spot has a large band of locals seriously into their special cars, with many signed up to the popular Noosa Beach Classic Car Club. Its yearly show is its biggest fundraiser and a generous contributor to local charities, and the Club’s members and other invitees put on a sublime show of varied metal right in the heart of town. Just like Pebble Beach, the location is key, and at Noosa the show is right on the water with views of multi-million dollar homes to match the rare and often valuable cars. Unlike…