Bold Originality - Back in the late 1970s, automotive innovation didn’t just belong to the big names. It also thrived in quiet corners, in humble workshops, far away from global spotlights. While the rest of the world was chasing polished luxury and roaring horsepower, one small group in Melbourne, Australia, led by a passionate car builder named Campbell Bolwell, decided to go in a different direction. They created something odd, bold, and delightfully different — a car that looked like it came from a sci-fi movie, sounded like nothing else, and demanded that you climb in through the roof. This was the Bolwell Ikara.
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| The Bolwell MkIX Ikara, a car that looked like it came from a sci-fi movie, sounded like nothing else, and demanded that you climb in through the roof. (Picture from: CollectingCars) |
Unlike most cars, the Ikara wasn’t designed for the showroom or for Sunday drives down the boulevard. It was made for those who wanted to get their hands dirty, who found joy in assembling a machine themselves and feeling every inch of its movement on the road. When it debuted at Calder Park Raceway in November 1979, the Ikara — officially known as the Bolwell Mark IX — instantly set itself apart, not because of flashy marketing or brand prestige, but because of its singular philosophy: function before fashion. |
| The Bolwell MkIX Ikara featured a lightweight steel tube space frame and a fiberglass body with only 12 kits ever produced between 1979 and 1980. (Picture from: CollectingCars) |
By the time he created the Ikara, Campbell Bolwell had already made a name for himself with earlier models like the Mark VII and Mark VIII, and most notably the Mk X Nagari — a muscular V8 sports car that gained a loyal following. But instead of chasing more power and refining luxury, Bolwell pivoted. The Ikara was about minimalism, agility, and creativity. It wasn’t a finished product; it was a kit. Buyers didn’t just drive the Ikara — they built it.
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| The Bolwell MkIX Ikara featured a bare, minimalist interior with simple seats, exposed framework, and no unnecessary comforts, emphasizing pure driving focus.. (Picture from: CollectingCars) |
Each of the only 12 Ikara kits ever produced between 1979 and 1980 featured a lightweight steel tube space frame and a fiberglass body. Those panels were crafted using hand lamination and a chopper gun spray technique — an approach more common in boat building than car production. And in a move that baffled and intrigued many, the Ikara had no doors. You got in by climbing through the roof. That wasn’t a gimmick; it was a choice driven by simplicity and weight reduction.
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| The Bolwell MkIX Ikara used a 1.6-liter engine and rear axle from a Volkswagen Golf, reoriented into a mid-engine setup producing 74 hp and 119 lb-ft of torque. (Picture from: CollectingCars) |
Under its quirky shell, the Ikara borrowed parts from more familiar vehicles. The front suspension and steering came from the Holden Gemini, complete with unequal-length wishbones and disc brakes. The rear axle and 1.6-liter engine were taken from a Volkswagen Golf, with the whole setup cleverly reoriented to fit a mid-engine layout. That engine produced 74 horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque — modest by sports car standards, but when paired with a body that weighed only 1,377 pounds (just over 620 kg), it was more than enough to deliver a thrilling ride. The top speed? Around 101 mph (162 km/h). Not blistering, but fast enough for a car that was more about curves and corners than straight-line sprints.
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| The Bolwell MkIX Ikara’s compact size — just 145 inches long, 43 inches tall, and with a 92-inch wheelbase — gave it go-kart-like responsiveness. (Picture from: CollectingCars) |
The Ikara’s compact size — just 145 inches long, 43 inches tall, and with a 92-inch wheelbase — gave it go-kart-like responsiveness. It rolled on Simmons 13-inch alloy wheels, with 185/60 R13 tires at the front and wider 225/60 R13s at the back. A 10.5-gallon fuel tank gave it decent range, with fuel economy close to 26.8 miles per gallon. And for those who wanted even more customization, Bolwell allowed engine swaps from Renault, Honda, or Mazda, adding another layer of individuality to each build.
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| The Bolwell MkIX Ikara survives today with eleven of the twelve kits still known and one prototype in Australia, standing as a rare tribute to Campbell Bolwell’s vision and a daring era of build-your-own sports cars. (Picture from: CollectingCars) |
Buyers could choose from four kit stages, ranging in price from AU$4,890 to AU$9,490. Most owners reported spending only about AU$150 more to complete the car, making the Ikara not just unique, but surprisingly affordable. In 1985, the dream shifted overseas when the molds and tooling were sold to a Greek company. But no further Ikaras were ever produced. | GihLmAubmyo | KTQAPCUUOGU |
Out of the twelve kits built, eleven are still known to exist today, each one a rare relic of a wildly imaginative moment in Australian automotive history. One original prototype remains in Australia — a quiet tribute to Campbell Bolwell’s vision and to an era when building your own car, and climbing in through the roof, wasn’t such a crazy idea after all. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BOLWELL CAR COMPANY | CAR SALES | MOTOR AUTHORITY | CARSCOOPS | COLLECTINGCARS ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
