I have convinced my mate Mike Stockdale to join me as team "TO HELL AND BACK" in the Shitbox Rally next May. Should be a lot of fun as we join 250 other teams in vehicles worth no more than $1000.00 driving from Alice Springs to the Gold Coast via the Gulf of Carpenteria, all to help cancer research through the Cancer Council. We would really like your help as we embark on raising $5000 before we get to the start line. If we make it to the finish line our Shitbox Limo and all the other cars get donated to an auction to raise more funds.
So, have a look at our invite to a fun night on 9 Nov with live music from The Superchargers, the hottest rockabilly trio around, plus a meal and plenty of fun and dancing. If you can't be there you will miss a great night. Tickets are easy to get, just pay $45 each through our website, below, using the DONATE NOW link and leave a message with your names and you will be on our list of attendees. Or see me or Mike and we will happily take your cash. If you REALLY can't be there we would love you to make a donation.
This month’s car report. Cant make it the meeting – apologies.
Painting
Finally get to paint the engine bay – couple of spray cans. The first one wasn’t mixed right and was too yolk yellow. Had to get new cans made up (for free….) and sprayed it again.
Now painted I can mount some of the items and get the bay ready for popping the engine up into it J.
Brake/Clutch
I had the Brake and Clutch master cylinders done up at Perth Brake – stainless sleeved. These are new items as part of the Bolwell Kit. Expensive to sleeve, but worth it for longevity. Will be using silicone fluid in both.
Floors
I have had some aluminium sheet cut for the floors – checker plate for strength. I had them powder coated satin black and the foot plates ends in silver. I also made a dead pedal foot support for the left foot – I am moving the pedal plate for the clutch pedal lever over a bit to make room.
These get glued in next week and the floors are finished.
Getting glove box trimmed this week in vinyl that matches the original interior and also having the Perspex head light covers professionally polished to remove 50 years of garage scratches.
The gear box tunnel cover and boot mount is next, then on to the back end!! Getting closer to have the body back on the chassis.
At Motorclassica 2019, October 11-13 at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, the legendary Australian sportscar maker will preview their latest creation: a sub-tonne composite-construction mid-engined V8 supercar dubbed the Nagari 500.
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the first Bolwell Nagari, the ‘500’ hints at the new car’s benchmark power output: 500hp (372kW).
Bolwell estimate the car to launch from a standstill to 100km/h in a mere 3.0 seconds with spectacular handling and braking to match, afforded by its lightweight construction.
Fun bit of trivia: that's no show plate, but a genuine Victorian registration that Campbell Bolwell personally sought from a Bolwell Nagari club member eight years ago!
While reborn Nagari’s chassis and construction has brought the boutique local sports car maker firmly into the 21st century, the powerplant sticks with Bolwell’s V8 roots – with a Chevrolet LS3 V8 longitudinally mounted mid-ship within the carbon-kevlar composite structure.
Bolwell Technologies founder Campbell Bolwell stated: "We’ve had it out for a few drives, and it’s a real supercar".
"As with the original Nagari, this is a proper road car – it’s hugely powerful, but you can drive it to the shops. It even has a boot".
Campbell Bolwell lead a small but dedicated team in the creation of Bolwell’s new car: comprised of his brother Graeme, and long-term Bolwell team member Ross McConnell (who developed the first Nagari), and Nagari 300 developer Toby Hunt.
Underpinning the carbon-kevlar body and Occupant Safety Capsule (all created in-house by Bolwell’s closed moulding vacuum infusion system) is classic dual wishbone suspension with pneumatically adjustable adaptive dampers. Brakes are monstrous 355mm ventilated and cross-drilled discs, with the car cornered by 19x10.5 inch wheels up front shod in 265 tyres, and 19x12 inch wheels out back wrapped in 305 section tyres.
While the Nagari 500 may draw comparisons in its design language to the Nagari 300, the only part carried over is the windshield; with Graeme and Campbells working extensively to finesse every detail of the design to evoke yet evolve the spirit of its predecessors.
The Bolwell Nagari 500 will be previewed at Motorclassica next week, and while it’s not yet available for driving, Bolwell states the opportunity will arrive next year. We look forward to getting a closer look next week!
NEW NAGARI... first photos of the new Bolwell Nagari which will have its 'Technical Preview' at Autoclassica in Melbourne later this month.
Bolwell Technologies is releasing limited info... but enough to get the picture... under 1000kg weight from its revolutionary carbon-kevlar construction, 500bhp (370kW) V8, exceptionally low profile/low drag coefficient, world-leading rigidity and safety engineering in the occupant capsule.
Mooted to run 0-100 in under 3 secs.
I have been sitting on this photo for nearly 2 years... and it gives me great pleasure to show you the car with creator Campbell Bolwell (right) and designer Graeme Bolwell, the modest genius who also crafted the original and legendary Bolwell Mark8/Nagari.
The automotive release will not occur until next year... opening the door to the inevitable speculation about price and delivery.
There are things that put this supercar into a class of its own... these include the immaculate and compact lines that make it completely unique from all other supercars, and the extraordinary power to weight ratio... the overall weight 200-400kg lighter than some of the most famous units - yet it boasts rigidity and safety levels not seen in other supercars.
Some.more pix below... but the overhead view remains the best to appreciate the proportions of this exciting beast.
