Australia’s pre-eminent collector at the height of the classic car boom in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Late Kerry Manolas had an abiding passion for the golden age of motor racing and his success in business life allowed him to track down, purchase and restore some of the world’s finest competition machinery.

A regular entrant at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Manolas also developed a taste for historic motor racing and his beautifully restored and prepared racing cars were piloted by Spencer Martin at circuits both here in Australia and around the world. Kerry loved the Mille Miglia and was one of the first Australians to make the pilgrimage to Brescia, entering everything from his Gullwing Mercedes to “Lucybelle”, a fabulous pontoon-fendered Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. His collection included priceless gems such as the Le Mans-winning Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Team Car, a Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod and the ex-David McKay Aston Martin DB3/S Team Car, alongside modern supercars like the Ferrari F40 and Jaguar XJ220 – cars that are now regarded as collector’s pieces in their own right.

Kerry was a true connoisseur and student of automotive history, who carefully curated the collection of automobilia we are proud to offer here today. Ranging from some of the rarest Ferrari literature in existence, including an example of the very first Yearbook published in 1949, to the Peter Collins family trophy collection, there is plenty here to tempt the serious collector. Concluding on July 25-26, the expansive Kerry Manolas collection will be sold in two parts (with Part I comprising Ferrari and other Italian marques and Part II reserved for Motor Racing and other fine marques) and the online catalogue is now available at Donington Auctions website.