Australia’s Bolwell Plans Lightweight Supercar

Australia’s Bolwell Corp. is developing a new Nagari supercar to unveil at the Motorclassica classic car in Melbourne this autumn.

The Nagari 500 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the company’s Mk VIII Nagari sports car. The new model will feature a composite tub that teams carbon fiber and Kevlar. Bolwell says the construction will keep the two-seater’s overall weight to less than 2,200 lbs.

Power will come from an LS3 6.2-liter V-8 engine sourced from General Motors Co. Mated with a 6-speed manual transmission, the engine will be tuned to generate 500 hp.
 

The new Nagari also will get adaptive dampers and Brembo brakes with carbon-ceramic rotors. Other goodies include Recaro seats, a digital instrument cluster and “lots of interesting tech,” co-founder Campbell Bolwell tells Motoring.

Production, which is due to start next year, will be limited to 25 units. But Bolwell says the run could be extended, depending on demand in Asian markets. Pricing hasn’t been announced.

Founded in 1962, Bolwell initially made fiberglass-bodied kit cars with GM engines. The company produced 100 Mk VIII Nagaris from 1970 through 1974. That vehicle was powered by a Ford V-8.

The nameplate was relaunched in 2008 with the current Nagari 300 (pictured), which uses a 3.5-liter V-6 sourced from Toyota. That car starts at about $150,000.

Bolwell also produces composite parts for commercial vehicles. Customers include Caterpillar, Iveco, Kenworth and Mack.