Australian-Built Zeigler/Bailey Z/B 4.4 Revives Analogue Sports Car Ethos

A segment of the sports car market continues to seek vehicles that prioritise mechanical engagement and individual character, qualities that have become less common in modern showrooms. Features such as manual transmissions, analogue driving feel and distinctive design are increasingly rare, even among limited-production supercars.

Developed to address this niche, the Zeigler/Bailey Z/B 4.4 is an Australian-engineered coupe that combines retro-inspired styling with modern engineering and a high level of customisation. While its origins trace back to the Porsche 911 G-series models produced between 1975 and 1989, the Z/B 4.4 incorporates extensive re-engineering across its platform, components and systems. This includes a bespoke 4.4-litre air-cooled engine machined from aluminium billet.

Designed for international markets, the Z/B 4.4 features a symmetrical platform that allows both right- and left-hand drive configurations to be assembled with equal efficiency, with the ability to convert between layouts retrospectively. The project was conceived by entrepreneur and classic Porsche collector John Zeigler Jr in collaboration with automotive and mechatronics engineer Greg Bailey, with design and assembly carried out in Melbourne.

Six vehicles have been pre-sold, with three nearing completion and a further three body shells prepared for final assembly. Planned production is limited to 10 vehicles per year for the Australian market. The Zeigler/Bailey Z/B 4.4 coupe is priced at AU$1.6 million, with an estimated delivery time of approximately 12 months from order.

See Spec sheet [PDF]