Bolwell Nagari 302 V8
The Bolwell Nagari holds a unique place in Australian automotive history as the country's only volume-produced sports car. Designed and built by brothers Campbell and Graeme Bolwell in Melbourne, the Nagari featured a striking fiberglass body, a tubular steel backbone chassis, and a mid-mounted Ford 302 Windsor V8 engine. Just 118 were built between 1970 and 1974, making it extraordinarily rare.
The Nagari was a remarkable achievement for a small manufacturer. Its fiberglass body was aerodynamically efficient with a drag coefficient that rivaled contemporary European sports cars. The mid-engine layout provided excellent weight distribution, and combined with the lightweight fiberglass construction, the car weighed just over 1,000 kg — giving it a spectacular power-to-weight ratio with the 302 V8.
Performance was genuinely impressive. The Nagari could sprint to 60 mph in around 6 seconds and reach a top speed of 140 mph, figures that put it in the same league as many European exotics costing several times more. The car also proved competitive in Australian production car racing, with factory-backed entries achieving notable results.
The Bolwell brothers ceased production in 1974 due to the introduction of Australian Design Rules that made compliance prohibitively expensive for a small manufacturer. Every surviving Nagari is now a treasured piece of Australian automotive heritage. A modern Nagari 500 was briefly produced in the 2000s, but the original remains the definitive Bolwell.
With only 118 built, provenance is critical. Check the fiberglass body for cracks, repairs, and delamination. Ford 302 mechanicals are readily available in Australia. Verify chassis integrity — the tubular backbone should be free of corrosion. Interior trim was handmade and difficult to reproduce. Most surviving examples are well-documented through the Bolwell Car Club. Racing history adds significant value.
Hand-built by the Bolwell brothers in Melbourne. Fiberglass body over tubular steel backbone chassis. Used Ford 302 Windsor V8 and 4-speed Toploader transmission from the Falcon GT. Only 118 units produced. Production ended due to costly new Australian Design Rules compliance requirements.