Heard of this one?

A French car called a Monica.

(1975)
I've been doing a bit of reading and apparently the production run was only about 5 or 6 vehicles but there were 30-odd prototypes. This is one of the prototypes.
Simon found this:-

on the same page as the Monteverdi.

Starting to look like a Mk.4.

MM again.

Reid got a few shots of the Repco head.

No wonder he was drooling.

Amphicar.

Good to see the Amphicar get a guernsey at this year's Motorclassica.

Their club rallies are a bit different.

Remember this?

This is the bit the replica builders had trouble with.

Ugly flares.

This must be what they mean by "boxed flares".

Sounds fair dinkum.

We all grow up digging around in sand boxes hoping to strike it rich and find some hidden  

and valuable ancient treasures.

What we typically find is an old Matchbox car or a present left behind by a cat.  

Either way, it’s very rare to find something desirable.  

Well, that’s not quite the case with a young group of boys in California .  

They were digging in their yard when they found something that would make anyone’s jaw drop and  

their mouth start drooling.  

These kids were digging in their yard when they came across something big, something metal, and something  

very very valuable.

  

A buried Ferrari!

The boys actually discovered  

a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS  

buried just a few feet under  

the dirt in their yard.  

The family had just moved into  

the house and immediately called  

authorities who came and  

roped off the area.  

A team of investigators arrived and  

unearthed the very valuable rare car.

file:///Users/vidstud/Desktop/buried-ferrari-2.jpg

After exhuming the Italian sports car,  

it was obvious that someone had planned  

on returning to retrieve the vehicle.  

It was very crudely mummified with towels  

in the vents and tape on many of the seams  

however the windows weren’t fully closed  

causing a lot of interior damage.  

  

Farmers Insurance was contacted and because  

of the VIN number they traced the last owner. After the investigation,  

it turns out that the owner of the car had  

actually hired thieves to steal the car  

and dump it in the ocean so he could  

claim insurance on it. The thieves buried  

the car with the intention  

of returning to pick it up.  

The buried Ferrari was then auctioned off  

after being on display with the incredible story being reported across the nation.  

It was purchased by a young mechanic  

who owned his own shop in California .  

The going price was estimated to be  

between $5,000 and $9,000,  

that he paid for the car.

​ ​

He fully restored the buried Ferrari  

and often enters the car into car shows.  

Here are the pictures of the car  

after the complete restoration.  

His initial investment is now  

worth in the millions!

Everything on the car has been restored  

to the exact factory condition.  

However, this car comes with some  

incredible history and an awesome story.  

The car even has a vanity plate which reads  

“DUG UP”. How perfect is that? 

My kind of Kombi.

I often think back to Johnny Szabo's Transit van with the 289 plonked right in the centre of the cargo area.

A batch of gearboxes for GT40 or Pantera done by Quaife.

QBE62G 5-speed H-pattern synchromesh gearbox for GT40 and deTomaso Pantera    Our latest batch of transaxle sequential gearboxes has been built and are available off-the-shelf today. The new batch of QBE62G gearboxes, designed as a direct replacement for the ZF original transmission can be fitted to many mid-engined supercars including our very own GT40. Our newest batch comes with the very latest upgrades including a billet end cover, forged shaft retaining bolt and repositioned high performance pinion bearing enabling it to work comforatbly behind the larger V8 engines. We have manufactured and built over 100 of these high performance transmissions for GT40 and Pantera owners as well as some custom mid-engined road and track cars. The modern synchromesh internals give a smooth ride on the road whilst offering a fast and precise gear change on the track.

MM special auctioned tonight.

A 1953 MM Holden Special Chassis: N/A 

Conceived in the Molina Albert Park backyard the MM (Molina/Massola) Holden was indeed something special. It consisted of a Silvio Massola home made chassis, Standard 12 front end, H.R.G differential and gearbox, early 1948 Holden motor and a very attractive body by Brian Burnett. 

The MM had its first serious outing (after having run at Fishermen's Bend on the 3rd October) on November 21st at the 1953 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Lou Molina piloting the car over the 64 lap 200 mile event finished in a remarkable 5th place. This was an even more remarkable feat considering this locally built race car was so new that it had only been run up and down some of the nearby streets in the dark of night before the 18th Australian GP meeting being held for the first time at Albert Park in Melbourne. The 2290cc MM Holden started at 30th place on the grid with the race including such legends as Stan Jones in the Maybach Mk 1, Jack Brabham who failed to start in his Cooper Bristol, Lex Davison in the HWM Jaguar and Bib Stilwell in an Austin Healey. The race was won by Doug Whiteford in his Lago Talbot T26C whilst 5th position for the MM secured 75 pounds prize money. The MM raced the following year at the 1954 New Zealand Grand Prix with Molina competing alongside other Australian drivers including Jack Brabham, Stan Jones, Tony Gaze, Alec Mildren and Maurie Stanton. January 9th 1954 was the first NZ GP at Ardmore south of Auckland but unfortunately on this occasion the MM was not so successful retiring early on with mechanical problems whilst a similar fate also befell 1951 Le Mans winner, England's Peter Whitehead with his V12 Ferrari 125. Amongst other notable runs, in1956 the MM Holden Special finished in the top six at the Argus Cup again at Albert Park and also clocked 15.3 seconds for the standing quarter mile at the Geelong Sprints.  

According to John Blanden's definitive book 'Historic Racing Cars in Australia' first published in 1979 and in which this car features extensively the MM was destroyed by fire in 1963. "In the late 1990s CAMS was approached by Roy Williams of Geelong seeking to build a recreation of the original MM Holden." The project was approved "..with the construction with enthusiasm and with the assistance of Sil Massola, the Molina and Leech families." 

This important piece of Australian motor racing history is a fast and competitive historic racer, its current owner of the last ten years now deeming it too speedy for his years and worthy of a new more daring owner in the cockpit to continue the legend. The car today can still be run as a either a racing car stripped for action or sports car with road equipment as it did in its heyday in the 1950s. 

The auction takes place tonight at Motorclassica. You don't have to be there to bid. Go to the Motorclassica website to register. Yet another grey Holden powered special of some significance. Estimated value expected to be between $140,000 and $180,000.

UK news.

The yellow Nagari is in tear-down mode.

Things are progressing well, but this is a bit disappointing, the "new" engine is completely seized, the previous owner having let water into the cylinders 6 years ago and it's been that way ever since.

When all the fossil fuel is gone.....

........how's a bloke meant to do his sewing?

Sporties that caught Phil's eye on Saturday.

And why wouldn't they?

A big thank you, especially to the volunteers.

Eureka National Meet.

This year the Eureka owners (or Reek owners as they like to be called) descended on Ballina, NSW, this weekend just gone.

Ascort TSV 1300.

I'm very fond of the Ascort. 19 of them were built and at least 13 of them remain. Here's a project for sale. I'll let the owner tell you about it.

Unfortunately, I have conceded that at this rate I will never get to finish this build, so I have decided to put it up for sale to fund another project which needs a tonne of money to get off the ground. 

What I have for sale is a VW-based Ascort TSV-1300, there are only 13 Ascorts known to exist, and this example is one of less than six that still have its original Okrasa TSV-1300 crate engine. This is an extremely rare Australian coach built car and I’m very sad to see it go, I’m certain I’ll never have the opportunity to purchase another one. If you want to read up on the car, head to Mark Agnew’s great website dedicated to these unicorn cars here: http://www.ascort-tsv-1300.com/.

This Ascort is in need of a full restoration, although the body and pan is in sound condition and all the hard to find parts will come with the car:
- Original Okrasa engine with all the Okrasa parts (requires full rebuild)
- All original gauges that includes 3-in-1 motometer gauge, Lowlight Karmann Ghia trip speedo and tachometer (uber rare)
- Original Petri Banjo steering wheel with horn ring in beautiful condition
- Custom interior with period bucket seats and rear seat covers (will need a full resto)
- All glass including brand new front and rear windscreens
- Other parts in varying condition such as the headlights and tail lights, window winder mechanisms, etc
- Repop of original badges recut

The previous owner before last commenced a resto but did not complete it, he was the second owner and had the car from the 1970s. It comes with its original number plates, the hand-written owners manual and a heap of documentation, books and articles that have been written up on the Ascort. I have been stripping the car and in the process of getting it ready for primer. All parts have been removed and stored in boxes. 

This is an ultra rare classic that deserves a thorough restoration, in the current climate of coachbuilt VWs and old speed fanaticism; this car will be very valuable once finished. If you have been following the prices on the parts included you’ll realise that there is over $10,000 in rare bits alone. With this in mind, I have listed the car for sale at $21,000 and will be giving local buyers the first opportunity to purchase the car before listing elsewhere. 

The car is located in Northcote and can be viewable most days after work. There are many photos available but I would prefer prospective buyers to view in person. If you have any questions or would like to arrange an inspection, please contact me via phone on 0404 003 038.

Here's a few restored ones.

Mirek Craney, the designer, was supposedly inspired by the VW Karmann Ghia. Here are the 2 cars together. What do you think?