$164K for Porsche Turbo at Shannons online auction

The timed auction, conducted exclusively online due to Coronavirus social distancing rules and combining lots from Sydney and Melbourne, saw just over 100 lots consigned. In addition to 46 cars, the auction included seven motorcycles, 22 heritage number plates and several lots of automobilia and garagenalia.

Held from 20 May to 3 June, the auction saw keen bidding for several lots, including American muscle, European classics and Aussie commercials, with the timed nature of the sale seeing some spirited last-minute bidding battles, too.

The best-selling car within the auction’s timeframe was a 1977 Porsche 911 Turbo, which was an Australian-market model, originally registered in Western Australia and with only three local owners from new.

Finished in factory-original Oak Green metallic paint, with Tan leather trim and tartan cloth seat inserts, the car’s turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine was stripped, checked, upgraded and reassembled at 138,590km. The upgrades included a new K27 turbocharger, a new clutch, new front brake calipers and other components. Since the upgrades, the Porsche had covered a listed 56,410km, and was described as being in good order despite its age.

Shannons placed a conservative $140,000 to $170,000 pre-auction estimate on the 911 Turbo, which proved to be accurate, as the car sold for $164,000.

Other Porsches consigned for this auction included a restored T-1 model 356A coupe that had also been mechanically enhanced, with its original 1600cc engine enlarged to 1720cc and fitted with fuel injection in place of carburettors. A short-shifter, Rudge-style knock-off wheels and nose-mounted amber driving lights were also fitted during the restoration, with the door trims and Speedster model bucket seats retrimmed and the carpets replaced.

With import papers and a copy of an original ‘driver’s manual’ included, the 356A was expected to sell in the $170,000 - $190,000 range and ultimately sold after the auction for $171,000.

The third Porsche in the timed auction, a 1996 911 Targa, was an Australian-delivered car equipped with the optional Tiptronic adaptive automatic transmission. Consigned by its third owner and coming to auction with 148,334km on the odometer, the 993-era 911 Targa was given a $70,000-$90,000 pre-auction estimate and sold for $72,000.

For further details, go to: https://www.shannons.com.au/