The first priority for Cortina devotee, Richard Coles, after stepping off a long-haul flight from Blighty, was to find a sweet set of wheels to help get him around his new home. It took no less than 24hrs to secure the purchase of a 1968 2 door Mk2 Cortina.

One of the earliest Holdens built, this 48-215 from 1948 is also one of the most original.

Take a glorious Italian sports car body and add a reliable Ford V8 engine, then price it at half the cost of your competition. The De Tomaso Pantera of the early 1970s put supercar ownership in reach of the common man.

Pre-bidding is open now for 27-29 July live auction, with one of the strongest lineups of Australian muscle, classic and collectable vehicles Burns & Co has offered this year, plus projects, affordable classics and automobilia.