Little cars added to Shannons Sydney Autumn Auction
Of the three, the oldest is a 1971 Fiat 500F. Arguably the best of the 'Nuova' 500s, the F model was introduced in 1965 and was a safer, faster, more comfortable and generally better overall car to own and drive. The example being auctioned was purchased by the vendor in 2003, and was completely refurbished and personalised, including chromed bumpers, Minilite-style wheels, modern rearview mirrors and a repaint in bright purple. The attention to detail extends to the fully detailed engine bay and boot area - including a fuel tank and jack coated in metalflake paint.
Inside, the 500F was also treated to a number of upgrades as part of the restoration, including leather seats, Pioneer CD player, racing-style pedals, colour-matched purple carpet floormats, and Momo steering wheel. The Fiat is reported as driving as good as it looks, which give the vendor is a professional auto mechanic, is no idle boast. Given its upgrades and all-over exceptional condition, Shannons expect this Fiat to sell in the $18,000 - $24,000 range.
Citroen's 2CV is one of those classics that, while still very much a niche vehicle, has an enduring popularity. The lot on offer with Shannons is a 1988 'Dolly' special edition, which would potentially make it the last produced in France, as 2CV production was transferred to Portugal in the same year.
The Dolly was one of the numerous special edition models produced over the 2CV's lifespan, and while arguably not as popular as the Charleston or Beachcomber editions, still has a lot of 'cute' appeal in its 'Plum & Custard' paint, one of at least four different colour combinations available on the Dolly, some of the other known examples being red & white, green & white, and blueberry & cream.
This one was originally imported to Australia in 2011 and restored, which included the fitting of new sills, floors and door pillars, stainless steel bumpers, vinyl hood and a colour-matched interior. Recently treated to $2,000 of mechanical refurbishments, the 2CV presents exceptionally well and has been given a pre-auction estimate of $12,000 - $16,000.
The final 'tiddler' of interest to be consigned for this auction is one that most Aussie car enthusiasts will have never seen. The 'Pao', one of a series of compact 'kei' cars produced by Nissan and released to the Japanese domestic market in the late 1980s. Apart from their compact size, what set the Pao and its siblings, collectively known as the 'Pike' cars, apart was their quirky styling, usually with retro touches.
In the case of the Pao, there are traces of Citroen's 2CV in the design, but the Pao was more 'inspired' by classics, rather than being a direct copy of a particular make and model. That influence extended to the interior, too, which was painted and trimmed in a similar retro theme.
Based around Nissan Micra running gear, the Pao features a 48kW 987cc four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. The lot on offer is one of only 10,000 produced in 1989, and features an Olive Grey exterior and Ivory interior, both of which appear to be in very good overall condition.
Imported in 2004, the Pao has racked up almost 63,000 kms and has recently been treated to a new sliding roof. Along with the similarly-themed Figaro, Be-1 and S-Cargo produced by Nissan, the Pao has a quirky appeal that could see it find appeal as a business or promotional vehicle. Being offered at No Reserve, the Pao has been given a pre-auction estimate of $7,000 - $9,000.
Shannons Sydney Autumn Classic Auction will take place at Shannons' Sydney auction rooms, 65 Reserve Road, St Leonards, on Monday, May 7, from 7:00pm.
For further details, go to www.shannons.com.au
