Bolwell Mk IV History

The Mk IV was the car that launched Bolwell as a commercial enterprise in 1962. Campbell Bolwell, then 20, drew inspiration from the Elfin Streamliner and Lotus 11, building the car on a spaceframe chassis of his own design with only two structural compartments instead of the conventional three — positioning the engine rearward for better weight distribution.

Offered in kit form, the Mk IV used Ford four-cylinder engines (buyers could fit other units) and a fibreglass body. The Bolwell Car Club of Australia records approximately 80 body/chassis units built (including 12 GT versions), while Wikipedia and other secondary sources cite 'over 200' (sources vary; ~80–200).

The Mk IV proved there was a market for an affordable, lightweight Australian sports car and gave Bolwell the commercial foundation to develop more refined models through the 1960s.