Sourcing a rare and special car can be a tedious process. It involves a lot of phone calls, paperwork and planning, which is very difficult for just one person to handle. An entire team of people is required to do this, and many specialist dealerships have popped up for this very reason. There’s a lot of money to be made in the enthusiast car market, but a different type of expertise is required compared to the “regular” dealerships. This is where Dutton Garage comes in. The place opened in 1911 as a service centre for well-to-do folk who could actually afford cars, but it eventually turned into a dealership dedicated to buying and selling some of the most prestigious cars. I won’t delve too deep into the history because I don’t know a whole lot, but what I do know is that the shop has exploded in popularity. People come from all over to see the exotic collection of vehicles up close, making it a honeypot for enthusiasts of all ages.
I visited Dutton Garage for the first time in 2016, but I can’t remember how I found them. Perhaps it had something to do with Doug DeMuro visiting a few years ago, however I didn’t subscribe to his YouTube channel until 2017 so maybe not. Anyway, I got to see some really special cars on that day and I’ve gone back a few times since then. The profile of the shop was boosted significantly when famous car YouTuber Shmee150 visited in 2018, cementing it’s place as Melbourne’s best enthusiast car dealer. The collection of cars visible to the public is quite extraordinary, with some truly iconic machines worth several million dollars like the Porsche Carrera GT and Pagani Huayra alongside contemporary favourites such as the Ferrari 360 featured here. The 360 was built over 20 years ago and it’s become a cult classic in the car world, providing handsome looks with a naturally aspirated V8 engine that people can’t get enough of. The smooth curves and tastefully crafted air vents capture the eye like very few cars can, making it a joy to photograph. There’s no bad angles if you ask me.
Another good thing about Dutton Garage is the ease of access. It’s located next to Burnley train station and just off the CityLink after the Burnley Tunnel, so getting there isn’t a complete disaster for me. There’s no need to negotiate busy streets buried deep within the south eastern suburbs. To be honest I probably don’t go here enough, but let’s not get bogged down with that because I want to tell you a story about my first “dream” car: the Jaguar XJ220. For as long as I can remember, this big kitty has been one of my favourite cars, thanks to my dad’s love for it and Tom Walkinshaw; the genius who was partly responsible for this stunning machine. In the late 80’s, he ran a very successful racing program with Jaguar, delivering victories at Le Mans and Bathurst, along with a few World Endurance Championship titles. The car was presented in 1988 as a four-wheel drive V12 powered machine, but Jaguar decided to use a twin-turbo V6 and rear-wheel drive for the production version. People who put down orders for the car were disappointed, but Jaguar made the right call because a four-wheel drive V12 would’ve been too heavy. The 220 part of the name refers to it’s top speed in miles per hour, but the record books will tell you that it didn’t quite get there. The car, driven by Martin Brundle on the Nardo test track in 1992, hit 217 miles an hour. It was a world record, right up until the McLaren F1 obliterated it a few years later. The Jaguar engineers suspected that if it was on a dead straight road instead of a massive banked oval, it would’ve hit 220 MPH. I love this thing because it was ahead of it’s time and still looks incredible 32 years on.
The 991 generation 911 GT2 RS is already a formidable track weapon, but this version is even wilder than that. Legendary race team Manthey (man-tie) Racing has worked together with Porsche for many years, taking on the biggest GT races in the world with drivers such as Kevin Estre and Timo Bernhard, who have subsequently become household names. The GT2 RS MR is an official aftermarket package offered by the team, providing a lot of additional upgrades to make it even faster than the factory specification. Improved aerodynamics, more aggressive suspension and a small bump in power allow this car to crush the notorious Nurburgring with ruthless efficiency. The engineers at Manthey don’t stuff around and with the backing of Porsche, you can rely on them to provide the ultimate rear-engined thrill.
Sorry to use the same image again but I just have to talk about the Pagani Huayra (why-ra) because it’s one of my favourite cars. As a huge fan of the Zonda, I was naturally very intrigued by the follow up effort when it was announced 13 years ago and brought to market in 2011. The numbers were ridiculous: 720HP in a car weighing just over 1350KG, with a 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged V12 built by AMG. It killed the Bugatti Veyron on the Top gear Test Track with it’s superior handling and power-to-weight ratio, showing to the world that power isn’t everything. My strong feelings for this car has only grown over the years, especially since the creation of 1000+ HP boutique hypercars that struggle to handle their own power. Horacio Pagani always pays attention to the quality of the chassis, along with all the other little details both inside and out. His consideration for each component ensures a complete car that’s engineered to be driven without scaring the crap out of you. Deciding not to follow Koenigsegg and Bugatti in the quest for more and more power is something to be applauded, because there’s more to life than going fast in a straight line and telling everyone that your car produces 1500 HP.
Now for what many people will call the ultimate air-cooled 911: the 993 generation GT2. This vehicle was a force to be reckoned with in the latter half of the 90’s, dominating the competition it was named after. Of course, the production version had a few more bells and whistles compared to the race car but it wasn’t that far off and with a few modifications, it was ready to hit the track. Customers from all over the world jumped in on this and Porsche’s unwavering support allowed this car to spread like a parasitic fungi. They were everywhere and no matter how hard the other brands tried, they just couldn’t kill it. Truly one of the finest GT cars ever built.
Here is said race car in the front window of the shop. I freaked out a little bit when my brother saw it a few months ago, so I was keen to see it for myself. A factory race car as old as this one is extremely hard to come by. You don’t usually see one sitting alongside road cars.
I know it’s a cliche but there’s really nothing like Dutton Garage. It’s always a pleasure to visit and see some of the most exotic cars in the country. All the people that work there are car enthusiasts and the passion is clear to see. Part of being a car enthusiast is sharing the passion with others and Dutton Garage understands the importance of this, hence why they allow bums like me a chance to poke around without any trouble. It’s something that no amount of money in the world could ever replace. That’s why I do what I do, and that’s why Dutton Garage is the best enthusiast car dealer.
BONUS! Pictures from my first visit:
DevMacCars 