Dick Johnson' Citroen to be auctioned
At Shannons Late Spring Classic Auction in Sydney on November 17, Johnson will put a classic Citroen 2CV up for auction. The car, a 1984 model in the popular 'Charleston' black and maroon colour scheme, has been the favoured ride of Dick's wife, Julianne, for the past seven years.
Nicknamed 'Tootsie', the Johnsons' 2CV already had a famous past when they acquired her. It originally belonged to actress Trudie Goodwin - who plays Sergeant June Ackland in the popular UK television series, The Bill - and was previously her mother's car.
"Julianne always loved 2CVs, so when we saw this one for sale we had to have her," said Johnson, who said he had thoroughly enjoyed the 1,500 miles he has spent behind Tootsie's large steering wheel.
"They say 'happy wife, happy life', but I've also become very fond of Tootsie, too. It will be like saying goodbye to a member of the family, but since we've downsized to a unit, we have run out of car spaces.
"She's still like new - she looks as good today as any 30 year old!
"With its loping, long-travel suspension, it's about as far away from a V8 Supercar as you can get, but as it was designed to cope with French cobblestones, it is perfectly at home on Queensland roads!," Johnson cheekily added.
The slowest car in the Johnson garage, the 2CV is expected to sell in the $14,000 - $18,000 range. The top price for a 2CV at an Australian auction was $40,000, achieved by a low-mileage 1985 model at a Shannons auction in 2010.
Other lots consigned for the Sydney auction include an increasingly collectable Australian-delivered and low kilometre 1989 Porsche 911 wide-body Speedster ($80,000-$90,000), a beautifully presented 1954 Austin-Healey BN1 roadster with a four-speed gearbox ($50,000-$55,000), a very rare 4WD Overlander-style Holden Sandman panel van ($34,000-$38,000), a rare, mechanically good 1950 Austin A90 Atlantic two-door saloon in need of new paint ($20,000-$25,000) and a 1972 MGB Mk II roadster that has had around $50,000 spent on restoration ($20,000-plus).
Shannons Late Spring Classic Auction will take place on Monday, November 17, at Shannons Sydney auction rooms. For further details, go to: shannons.com.au.
