RL 1929 CLASSIC GENTLEMAN'S SPEEDBOAT

Introducing 'Malolo' - quite possibly New Zealand's most historically significant and unique classic vessel. Built in 1929 and designed by Francis Arlidge, likely inspired by the iconic American Hacker Craft, this pre-war gentleman's speedboat is believed to be the only surviving runabout of her era. Her name, a Polynesian word for 'flying fish,' befits her elegant lines and storied past - thought to have been commissioned by legendary sports fisherman Zane Grey, whose boatman was none other than her designer, Francis Arlidge. Following a museum-quality restoration by Mike Lyon and The Woodshed in Whangārei - with an estimated $120,000 invested - 'Malolo' emerged to win the New Zealand Classic Boat Festival at Lake Rotoiti on her very first outing in 2017. Her beautifully rebuilt Flathead Ford V8 (Model 59A, 1942 vintage, rebuilt from the block up by H&H Flatheads in Sacramento with a marine camshaft grind) delivers authentic period performance. A custom heat exchanger designed by Savage Marine ensures reliable running. Inside, the attention to detail is extraordinary: a varnished kauri dashboard with replica V8 dials, a 1940 Italian steering wheel, bronze engine controls from an original Wellington ferry, and deep red seating. Her transom signwriting is an exact replica of the original 1929 paint layer discovered during restoration. Offered at NZD $88,000 - a rare opportunity to own a genuine piece of New Zealand maritime history.