Fiat top seller at Shannons Sydney auction

A rare car today – one of only three in Australia – the Dino 2400 was released in 1969 as the ‘second generation’ of a model that had debuted in 1966.

Defined by a V6 engine developed by Ferrari and placed in the Fiats to homologate the engine for Formula 2 racing, the Dino was initially released in 2.0-litre form, with a 2.4-litre version following in 1969.

First offered in Spyder (convertible) form with a body by Pininfarina, a coupe version styled and bodied by Bertone followed a few months later.

The unit consigned with Shannons was sold new in Rome and came to Australia circa 1980/81.

In the early 2000s, the Dino was subject to a ground-up restoration that included an interior re-trim in black leather, an exterior colour change from the original orange to dark metallic blue and conversion to right-hand drive – the only known RHD 2400 Spyder in Australia.

The rarity of this Sydney-based Dino saw it come to auction with a $150,000-$170,000 guiding range, but after an opening bid of $130,000, that was swiftly overtaken. With the price going up in $5,000 increments, the Dino Spyder eventually sold to a phone bidder for $280,000 – an Australian record for the model.

The next best-selling vehicle was a 1920 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost Brougham De Ville that had received much publicity prior to the auction.

Originally delivered to Sir Thomas Sopwith, founder of the Sopwith Aviation Company in the UK, the Silver Ghost came to Australia in 1924 and was rebodied as a limousine by its first local owner, then as a hearse by the next owner. A Brougham de Ville body followed, fitted more than fifty years ago, and it’s in this configuration that the car has remained.

With the body carrying the patina of that 50+ year age, the Rolls-Royce came to the auction with an estimate of only $160,000-$200,000 but topped that - just - to sell for $210,000.

Third on the sale podium was a 1963 Porsche 356SC Coupe in a rare combination of pastel blue and a red leather interior. Sold new to a US Air Force pilot stationed in Europe, the Porsche went to the US when that pilot returned home, then came to Australia some years later.

Treated to a no expense spared, ground-up restoration by Mark Poole Motorsports that was completed by early 2006, the Porsche also exceeded its estimate, selling for $197,000.

Total sales from the Shannons Sydney Winter Auction exceeded $2.25 million. For full results and further details, go to: shannons.com.au