The Bolwell Nagari was one of the cars built by the three Bolwell brothers, Campbell Bolwell, Winston Bolwell and Graeme Bolwell, who started an Australian car company in Mordialloc, Victoria that initially produced kit cars for assembly by the buyers. The brothers each designed their own car Mk I, Mk II and Mk III.
Family firm
Kit car production started with the Mk IV and V for 4 and 6 cylinder Holden engines and the Mk VI was a mid engined competition car. The Mk VII was the first big success with a backbone chassis and 450 were made before the brothers decided to move into complete cars.
Nagari
Nagari is an aboriginal word meaning "flowing," and the Bolwell Nagari, also known as the Mk VIII, was the company's first full production sports car with 127 coupes and 13 convertibles made. It was manufactured from 1969 to 1972 and became the best known out of the 9 Bolwell car designs: the Mk I-VIII and Ikara. The Nagari featured a Ford 302 or 351 cubic inch V8 engine mounted in a Vorlage:Convert, Vorlage:Convert wheelbase body and backbone chassis. Other components came from Ford (suspension and dampers) and Austin 1800 (steering).
In 1979 an attempt was made to return to the car market with the Ikara fitted with a Volkswagen Golf 1588 cc engine mid mounted in a space frame body with suspension and steering from the Holden Gemini. It was well received but not a commercial success and only 10 were made.
The company returned to its roots in industrial fibre glass work.
2006
In late 2006 it was announced that the Bolwell company intends to produce a new, carbon fibre-bodied car under the 'Nagari' name. If production proceeds, it is likely to be fitted with a supercharged or turbocharged Toyota V6 engine that should ensure a high power to weight ratio.
2008
The latest Bolwell Nagari has now been confirmed for production. The prototype appeared at the 2008 Melbourne Motor Show powered by a supercharged 3.5 litre engine from a Toyota Aurion, although this is likely to change as the Toyota engine is only compatible with a six-speed automatic gearbox. It is a mid-engined two-seater coupé with a carbon-fibre tub, front and rear subframes and a carbon-reinforced composite body. Late-model Honda Integra tail-lights are used in the exterior.