Description
1975 Melbourne Motorshow Car
One of only 88 right-hand drive examples
Restored to its original Argento over beige specification
Delivered new to Australia in October 1974 via Victoria based Ferrari importer W. H. Lowe, this beautifully presented Ferrari 365 GT4 BB was displayed at the Melbourne Motor Show in March 1975.
Chassis 18159 was originally finished in Argento with beige upholstery, and its first owner was Dr John Pierce. In November 1980, Pierce sold the Ferrari to Barry Batagol, a committed marque enthusiast whose collection also included a 400 Superamerica, 750 Monza and 512 BB. The original contract of sale remains in the history file, recording the transaction on 28 November 1980 for A$45, 000. During the Batagols’ ownership, the Boxer was used as Ferrari intended. Barry’s wife Cheryl Batagol competed in the car at an Alfa Romeo Owners Club sprint at Winton Raceway in Victoria, where she won both the Lance Dixon Trophy for fastest Ferrari and the C. F. Barnes Trophy for fastest lady driver. Period photographs also record the car taking part in other Australian motoring events, including the Geelong Sprints in September 1981.
In 1981, at approximately 15, 000 miles, the pinion shaft in the original transaxle failed. With the required original components no longer available, a replacement transaxle of the later, strengthened specification was sourced. Remarkably, the history file retains extensive contemporary correspondence concerning the episode, including Barry Batagol’s letter directly to Ferrari in Modena and subsequent correspondence with Maranello Concessionaires Australia, who provided a contribution towards the cost of the replacement unit. Batagol later sold the original transaxle to New Zealand, with further correspondence in the file documenting its sale and shipment. Batagol offered chassis 18159 for sale in October 1986, by which time it had covered approximately 23, 000 miles. It was acquired by Barry Jorgensen the following month and remained in Australia until mid-1988, when it was sold to a UK based owner and imported to Britain. The Ferrari was placed into dry storage in 1989, where it remained for many years before eventually emerging and being offered by RM Sotheby’s at its Paris sale in 2014.
Since its current owner purchased the car in 2015, chassis 18159 has benefited from extensive further restoration and mechanical work, including a repaint in its original Argento, returning the car to the handsome factory colour combination in which it was displayed at the Melbourne Motor Show almost half a century earlier.
In addition, the matching numbers engine was removed, cleaned and refinished, with a new flywheel fitted. During this time, the suspension was removed, inspected and rebuilt, the five spoke Campagnolo wheels were refurbished and the brake calipers stripped and replated. More recently, in the summer of 2024, the cambelts were replaced, the carburettors rebuilt and ancillaries including the starter motor and alternator overhauled.
Today, chassis 18159 presents as an exceptional example of Ferrari’s seminal first generation Berlinetta Boxer, combining its matching numbers engine and original colour scheme with an unusually rich and colourful documented history. From its appearance at the 1975 Melbourne Motor Show, through the enthusiastic ownership of Barry and Cheryl Batagol and its period competition use, to its later life in the UK, the car’s story is supported by an extensive archive of period photographs, correspondence, invoices and ownership records.
This Ferrari represents a compelling opportunity to acquire a particularly well provenanced example of one of Ferrari’s most important 1970s road cars.
The full history file and further pictures can be sent by email on request – please contact a member of our team for details.
This vehicle can be viewed near Cirencester. Viewing by appointment only.
