International variety at Burns & Co. October auction
There’s an abundance of cars from the US, Europe and Japan on offer at Burns & Co. Auctions’ Classic Car & Motorbike Auction this coming Sunday, 23 October, as well as plenty of Aussie classics.
A total of 82 lots in this auction include dozens of cars, as well as motorcycles, number plates, dealership signage and memorabilia.
Pre-bidding for registered bidders is open, with selling commencing from 12 Noon (AEDT) on Sunday, 23 October, at Burns & Co’s Melbourne auction rooms in Bayswater.
For more details on this live webcast auction, click HERE.
Here are a few of the highlights amongst the going to auction this Sunday:
1955 Buick Special pillarless sedan
Despite being the entry-level Buick for 1955, the Special was still a pretty glamorous car, far superior to a Chevrolet from the same year and priced only below a Cadillac in GM’s range.
A ‘Riviera’ hardtop sedan, like the car offered, was even more glamorous. Initially offered in coupe form only, a pillarless Riviera sedan was added for 1955, but only available on a Special or Century, while the Rivera hardtop coupe could be had on all four Buick model lines that year – Special, Super, Century and Roadmaster.
Power for the 1955 Buick Special came from a 264ci ‘Nailhead’ V8, while the other model lines were fitted with a larger 322ci V8 from the factory. A manual transmission was still available at this time, but the vast majority of Buick buyers went with the automatic, including the original owner of this car.
Reflecting the era when this car was built, the two-speed auto is selected off the column that sits in a bejewelled dash that’s equally reflective of America’s ‘Chrome Age’
The subject of a high-end restoration in the US before it came to Australia, receipts show over US$100K was spent, including new and refurbished chrome, which highlights the Titan Red over Dover White paint.
Buick styling features of the period, like the chrome side spears, ‘gunsight’ bonnet emblem and ‘ventiport’ openings in the front guards are all there, with a similar level of detail inside, including a radio, full carpeting and two-tone red and black trim on the seats and doorcards.
As consigned, the odometer on this car reads 16,697 miles and everything works, making it a great, easy-to-use driver for club use or maybe even formal/wedding here, given its striking appearance.
For more details, click HERE.
2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10
With performance utes and pickups gaining in popularity here in Australia (Ranger Raptor, Amarok W580, etc), here’s a chance to purchase one of the earliest examples of the breed – and one that’s rarely seen in Australia.
Dodge introduced the Ram SRT-10 pickup in 2002, but it wouldn’t go into production until 2004, making the unit offered a first-year model.
What defined the SRT-10 was its 8.3-litre V10 engine, sourced from the Dodge Viper and producing 500hp (373kW). Matched to either a 6-speed manual (in this vehicle) or 4-speed automatic, the Ram SRT-10 could reach a top speed of 248km/h and go from 0 to 100km/h in around 5.0 seconds.
To maximise the performance of this drivetrain, the Ram body was extensively modified, with a unique bonnet and bumpers, with a later addition being a rear spoiler attached to a hard tonneau.
This Ram SRT-10 has been fitted with a rear wing as part of a long list of modifications that includes LED headlights, traction bars, upgraded brake discs and calipers, colour-coded mirrors and grille, lowered suspension and more.
Extensive engine modifications, including diamond forged pistons, a Roe Racing camshaft, Belanger headers and Magnaflow 3-inch exhaust system, mean this pickup now produces a dyno’d 584hp at the wheels.
An RHD conversion has also been done on this low mileage (64,047km), well cared for and rarely driven vehicle.
For more details, click HERE.
1976 Toyota Celica
One of the most popular and enduring Japanese sports cars, the Celica was introduced in 1970 and would last through seven distinct generations. But the early examples, like this one, have become the most popular.
A variety of engine options were available on the initial Celica, determined by trim level in most instances and including 1.4-, 1.6-, 1.9- and 2.0-litre fours, paired with a variety of transmission options.
This example, an LT spec version from 1976, runs the 1.6-litre four, matched to a 5-speed manual, that defined both the LT and ST spec.
The green paint on this example isn’t original, but everything else is, including the cream interior. More importantly, this car is described as having no rust and appears to be in good mechanical order, too.
The current owner has had the car for 22 years, most recently on club registration, and is believed to be only the second owner.
First-generation Celicas like this one rarely come on the market, and even with 38 pre-bids, it was sitting at $7,300 at time of writing, meaning it may be able to be picked up for a bargain.
For more details, click HERE.
1963 Sand Flea VW dune buggy
The original Meyers Manx dune buggy from 1964 spawned a horde of imitators and this is one of them – a ‘Sand Flea’ from the US.
Like the original Manx, this used a fibreglass body on a cut-down VW Beetle floorpan and running gear to create an open-air fun vehicle that was road legal in most countries.
This example, finished in an unusual pale green, but with the rich metalflake finish common to these vehicles, also features white deep-dish wheels, a black vinyl interior and white sports steering wheel.
Suspension has been upgraded with sway bars front and rear, with a new Petronix ignition and tri-mill exhausts added to the 1.8-litre flat four engine.
Fully restored, with less than 2,000 miles covered since completion, this standout street roadster is ready for summer enjoyment.
For more details, click HERE.
This is just a snapshot of what’s on offer, so for more details on all the other lots from this auction, as well as information on how to bid, click HERE.
