R8 Gordini of Geoff Tapp

Pix are of my R1135. They were taken at the local garage where the brake servo was being overhauled in readiness for an Australia-wide rally in April next year. 2000 cars pre 1971 will travel from all states to the capital, Canberra, for a week of events and socialising. The R8G was the only one in Australia that was for sale when I got it three years ago as an early retirement project. The trouble is that it required very little work. It currently runs a 4sp box and the original 5sp is in pieces with a severely damaged lay shaft and other problems to various cogs. I bought a R8 1130 new in 1965 after it was chosen as the "Car of the Year" by a leading auto magazine. Naturally, I always aspired to the pocket rocket version and finally got one. It was assembled in Australia in 1969 and has done only 100k miles (180k kms). The car was well restored about 20 years ago and spent most of its time in a shed after that - travelled only 8000 kms in that time.