New Nagari

The legendary Aussie Bolwell Nagari is back… again.

First launched in 1969 by brothers Campbell and Graeme Bolwell and then totally overhauled for the 21st century as the Toyota V6-powered Bolwell 300 in 2009 (top), the third iteration of the Nagari will be all-new and drive its rear wheels via a mid-mounted 373kW 6.2-litre Chevrolet LS3 V8 and six-speed manual transmission.

A bona de attempt at an Aussie supercar, the original Nagari was an automotive sensation down under. The 920kg two-door

(insets) was usually powered by a Ford 302 Windsor V8, which meant it could accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.4 seconds and dash across the quarter mile in 14.3 seconds.

In 1970 these were stunning numbers and a little bit terrifying considering the steering came out of an Austin Tasman. Later, Nagaris were tted with Ford’s more powerful and heavier Cleveland 351 V8 that slashed acceleration time and lifted the top speed beyond 240km/h… if you were brave enough to go there.

Fifty years on the new Nagari 500 (a reference to its expected horsepower rating) aims to replicate the same low-weight highpower philosophy of the original, with a kerb weight under a tonne and a 0-100km/h aim of around 3.0 seconds.

“We’ve been going at this for three years,” Campbell Bolwell revealed to carsales.com. au. “The two people involved in the rst Nagari 50 years ago, namely my brother Graeme and Ross McConnell, are back for this car.”

But Campbell Bolwell remains the heart and soul of the sports car project and he says the new coupe will combine a salute to the past with a hell of a lot of modern technology.

That will include driver-adjustable adaptive

dampers, carbonceramic disc brakes, Brembo callipers, Bolwell’s own lightweight wheel design and, potentially, an optional sequential gearbox.

Bolwell has also con rmed traction control and other electronic drive assist systems, a 40/60 front-rear weight distribution and 250mmwide front and 300mm-wide rear tyres.

Creature comforts in the new Nagari will include an 8.0-inch central display, a digital instrument cluster, keyless entry and pushbutton starting and Recaro seats.

The Nagari 500 will be based around a composite tub built from carbon- bre, Kevlar and breglass. Just like a racing car, then it will act as a safety capsule in the event of an accident. Suspensions will mount on subframes attached to either end.

The Nagari 500 will be a rolling advertisement for Bolwell Corporation’s vacuum-assisted composites skills, which the brothers rst developed producing the original Nagari’s beautiful one-piece breglass body.

Speaking of bodies… the Nagari 500’s exterior is expected to be shown off to the public for the rst time at the popular MotorClassica event in Melbourne in October.

“In terms of styling, there’s some similarity between the early Nagari and the latest Nagari,” Bolwell told Motor magazine. “A scooped-out back, the crinkle along the edge, the grille’s not that far different, but of course now it’s been quite modernised.”

Bolwell has also con rmed the Nagari 500 will be built in Australia but in very limited numbers, probably just 25 per years.

In that way the 500 continues to pay tribute to the original, as about 100 Nagari coupes and few convertibles were built over a four-year production run between 1970 and 1974.

The rst oil shock and the introduction of Australian Design Rules did for the Nagari, but at least this time round Bolwell has con rmed the 500 will be fully ADRed.

And what will it cost? Great question, Bolwell says he hasn’t even crunched the numbers yet. We reckon if you need to ask, you won’t be able to afford it.