Porsche sells for $180K at Shannons Sydney Auction
The top-selling vehicle of the auction was a 1964 Porsche 356SC Coupe that eventually sold for $180,000 - well over its $60-$80K pre-auction estimate - after a relentless duel between a telephone and a floor bidder.
Australian-delivered (to Hamilton's of Melbourne) and a two-owner car from new, the Reutter-bodied factory right hand drive 356SC had been in the hands of its current, now-elderly German engineer owner for more than 40 years.
Finished in red with black interior, the Porsche retained its original Type 616/16 1600 95HP engine, fitted with the correct 40 PII-4 Solex carburettors.
Still fresh and lightly used after an exhaustive 15-year restoration, it was described by Shannons before the auction as probably the finest Porsche of its type available in Australia, with the final sale price confirming that.
At the same auction, a 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster also exceeded its $90,000-$100,000 pre-auction estimate when it sold to a floor bidder for $137,000. Finished in Cardinal Red with cream leather interior, the factory RHD 190SL also came with a factory hardtop and was a regular show winner until 2004, as well as a successful participant in classic tours and rallies for the past 15 years.
Another Mercedes-Benz SL to 'star' was a 1967 'Pagoda Roof' 250SL convertible, finished in blue with beige interior and a factory hardtop, that brought $70,000, while another style icon to achieve good money was a well-presented, Australian-delivered RHD Jaguar XK120 that sold within its pre-auction estimate for $105,000.
Other British and European sporting cars to sell included a rare 1963 Triumph TR4 'Surrey Top' coupe that sold on estimate for $22,000, while a restored 1951 MGTD made $20,000. A 1972 Volvo P1800ES Estate wagon sold for $16,600 and an RHD 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia convertible made $13,100.
Overall, the Sydney Winter Classic Auction saw an 81-percent clearance rate and total sales of $1.7 million. This auction also saw the best result to date for Shannons' online bidding option launched earlier this year, with more than 200 online bidders registered.
Full results and further details at www.shannons.com.au.
