The Bolwell Mark 3.

An absolute highlight of the Phillip Island weekend just has to be the appearance of the Bolwell Mk.3. Victorian members have had the opportunity to see it before as in recent times it has appeared in many sprints and hillclimbs.

I haven't seen it since Pat Ryan took delivery of it from Iain McPherson many years ago and discovered the unique windscreen and bonnet (although about a foot short) elsewhere.

After Graeme had sold it, it was later called the Elgaram when Rex Styles owned it and competed in it. The name Elgaram came from Bob Minogue's street name, Maragle Ave., spelt backwards.

For those that don't know, the car has a 3.8 litre Jaguar engine on an Austin Healey chassis and was built by Graeme Bolwell in 1962. Imagine the delight for Graeme and Campbell to see this car again. Campbell actually had a drive. I'm not sure if Graeme did but he certainly reacquainted himself with the seating arrangement.

Phil quite rightly, on another site, pointed out that there were 2 Mark 3s. This one, built by Graeme, must be the Mk.3 Mk.2. The other one (Mk.3 Mk..1), built by Winston Bolwell, was along similar lines, a Jaguar powered Austin Healey with a fibreglass front. After driving it on the road for some time, Winston subsequently swapped it with a good friend for a Mini. He was later killed in a road crash in that Mini. So upset at what happened, Winston's friend parked "the Bolwell" under a tree, covered by a tarp and there it could stay. Years passed and the tarp finally rotted away.

Offers to place the car under cover were refused and it remained in the trees for even more years until no-one was game to move it in case it broke in half. In about 2010 or before, the car was saved and a rebuild was in progress.

6 or 8 years ago it was advertised for sale in the Victorian AHOC magazine. I have not heard about it since until John Noble, who was driving Graeme's Mk.3 for Pat on the weekend, emailed me a recent photograph of it.