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Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Waiting, waiting.

 


Until the shockers turn up from the UK, they'll jus t have to keep on waiting.

Speaking of Bernie......

 .......his Volvo just looks magnificent.

Especially when he photographs it.

Monday, March 15, 2021

VESKandA

 



Leadership and vision.
Bernie Van Elsen - the visionary responsible for the idea, motivation and funds to realise the design and manufacture of Australia’s fastest race car in history.
A very successful artist, business man and avid motorsport enthusiast.
Through the development and maintenance of his beloved and well known Bolwell Nagari sports car the foundations for the VESKandA were already laid.
When the FIA announced the scheduling of the final round of the 1984 World Endurace Championship (Group C Sports Cars) at the Sandown, Victoria circuit Bernie decided it was time we showed the motorsport world that the Aussie battler was capable of competing on the world stage.
The rest is history.
He painted in the colors of his home state, South Australia.
In the words of Bernie, in deference to the 12 metre yacht South Australia challenging at the time for the right to defend the Americas Cup in Fremantle, “We’ve got our boat and now we’ve got our car.”
Thank you Bernie.

And thank you Mark.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

From CarAdvice about a year ago.

  

Australian-made Bolwell Nagari could get new Corvette V8

The upcoming Bolwell Nagari 500 – on display at the 2019 Motorclassica show in Melbourne – could be fitted with the new Corvette V8 if the Chevrolet is sold locally.

Campbell Bolwell, founder of the Australian sports car company Bolwell, told CarAdvice development on the new Nagari 500 is progressing well, but the car was currently "too fast".

It's understood the Nagari is in the process of being fitted with electronic traction control and anti-lock braking systems in an effort to make it safer for drivers.

Bolwell said if the new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette makes it to Australian showrooms, its engine could end up powering the Nagari. Both vehicles are mid-engined and rear-wheel-drive.

The Bolwell Nagari 500 prototype currently uses a GM-sourced 6.2-litre LS3 V8 with around 372kW (or 500 horsepower – hence the name), whereas the new Corvette 6.2-litre V8 produces a claimed 364kW.

Bespoke alloy wheels are being developed for the Nagari, with Bolwell telling CarAdvice the company is trying to reduce unsprung weight.

A five kilogram weight reduction is expected with each newly-designed alloy wheel, with plans to fit 10-inch-wide front wheels and 12-inch-wide rear wheels.

Carbon ceramic brakes will also provide a weight reduction as well as improved braking performance.

The Bolwell Nagari is expected to weigh 950kg. No date has been set for the launch of the Australian-made sport car.



Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Favourite 3-wheelers no.70

 

This man doesn't impress me. The Bond minicar's not that heavy at the rear. This is more impressive.

Remember Don Shinners, the vintage MG specialist at Myrtle Bank? He never needed a jack as long as he had his Russian weightlifter wife, Lydia. She lifted the cars up while he crawled under them.
Lydia : Jesus Don, how much longer are you going to be down there?
Don : Just another 15 minutes Lyd!


Monday, March 8, 2021

Something different.

 A fibreglass bodied Statesman.




There are a number of subtle differences to a steel one. Can you pick any?


A not-so- shabby Condor for $17,500.

 


Well, let's face it, there don't seem to be many Bolwells on the market lately. Everyone seems to want to hang on to them.




Kapunda - week 113

 Kapunda resident and health guru, Brenton, is very close to completing his 8 year project, the Statesman 308 powered Model A pickup.

 Lots of work and inspiration has gone into this project for instance the widening of the doors to make it possible for the modern man to enter and leave.

Brenton might be remembered from the 70's for this dragster at AIR which was considered at the time as being the fastest side-plate Holden "in the world."