Bolwell Mk VIII Nagari History

The Mk VIII, named 'Nagari' (believed to derive from an Aboriginal word meaning 'flowing'), marked a decisive step up: it was fully factory-built rather than sold in kit form, used a steel backbone chassis, and was powered by Ford Windsor and Cleveland V8 engines. Graeme Bolwell's 1966 working experience at Lotus in England directly shaped the car's engineering philosophy — designing around fibreglass rather than treating it as a substitute for steel.

The Nagari debuted in 1969 at MotorClassica's predecessor event and entered production shortly after. The coupe was available from 1969; a convertible (Sports) body option followed in 1972. Total production reached 118 examples — 100 coupes and 18 convertibles — making each car a rare commodity even in period.

Production ended in 1974 as a combination of the 1973 oil crisis, rising material costs, and tightening Australian Design Rules for small-scale manufacturers made continued production economically unviable. The Nagari is now the most sought-after Bolwell and commands serious money at Australian classic-car auctions.