Hot rod leads the way at Burns & Co auction

Burns & Co. Auctions are reaping the benefits of their new presence in New South Wales, with several consignments for their 25 February auction coming through the Newcastle facility that opened late last year. In total, more than 70 lots were consigned for this auction, with a very strong clearance rate of 85.9 per cent (incl. post-auction sales).

Normally, Aussie muscle or modern performance cars are the top sellers at these auctions, but in Burns & Co’s January classic car auction, a pre-war Rolls-Royce Phantom II achieved the best price, while at the February auction, honours went to a well-known hot rod.

The ’33 Ford 3-window coupe, known as ‘LEETHL,’ was built by Deuce Customs (body, drivetrain) and Rod City (chassis) 20 years ago. The all-steel body received a 3-inch roof chop, filled roof opening, new firewall and new floors. Additionally, the front guards were blended to the running boards and an 80-litre fuel tank made. 

Driveline was made up of a supercharged 350 SBC V8, four-speed manual and Ford 9-inch diff, with other features including disc brakes, bespoke wheels, air con, power windows, leather seats, full carpeting, Dakota gauges and lots of billet accessories. 

Costing an estimated $500,000 to build, with $65,000 spent on a cosmetic makeover in 2019, this award-winning hot rod sold for $159,000.

The next best seller was a 2015-build, 2017-plated Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe. With only 15,226km on the odometer at time of listing, this 6.2-litre V8 Stingray with a 7-speed manual was bone stock aside from the RHD conversion. Finished in Velocity Yellow with colour-matched calipers and featuring a factory option carbon fibre roof panel and black leather interior, this neat, low-km Corvette sold for $131,500.

Just beating out a custom HQ Monaro coupe for the third best-selling vehicle at this auction was a 1970 Ford XW Falcon utility transformed into a GT-HO Phase II tribute. Finished in Brambles Red with a black vinyl interior and powered by the GT 351 Cleveland with 4-speed Top loader manual and GT-spec interior, this tribute was incredibly well executed, with no expense spared in its 4-year build. As such, it was no surprise that it sold for $112,000.

For full results from this auction and details of upcoming auctions, go to: burnsandcoauctions.com.au