Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction

Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction showed that there is still a strong demand for locally built Aussie cars.

Amongst the muscle cars on offer, a rare and mechanically correct three owner 1990 Holden VN Commodore Group A SS (number 83 of just 302 built) brought $40,000, an equally rare Nugget Gold 1971 Ford ZD Fairlane 'K Code' sedan with a factory fitted 351-cid V8 and three-speed automatic transmission sold well above its high estimate for $35,000 - the highest price achieved for a ZD Fairlane at auction in Australia - while a right hand drive 1971 Ford Mustang Convertible went unreserved for $32,000.

Other strong results amongst the American and Australian vehicles sold was the $22,000 paid for a restored and beautifully presented metallic blue 1964 Ford Falcon XM Futura Coupe, $21,000 for an unreserved 1966 left hand drive, six cylinder Ford Mustang Fastback, and $11,000 for a two owner and very original Gold 1969 Holden HK Brougham 307 sedan.

Affordable classics
Buyers after a classic were not disappointed at the Winter Auction. Results were generally good with 70 percent of all vehicles sold on the night - most on or above their pre-auction high estimates.

The top seller of the night was a very original and well maintained 1972 Jaguar E-type Series III V12 manual coupe that achieved $46,000 after keen floor and telephone bidding.

Colin Hay's 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 V8 coupe that was in unrestored condition and requiring refurbishment sold unreserved for an excellent $19,500, with the former "Men at Work" lead singer currently living in the United States.

Amongst the other British and European classics, a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible requiring further restoration work sold unreserved for $27,500, an Australian-delivered 1977 Arrow Blue Porsche 911 Coupe with the rare Sportomatic transmission option brought $25,000, a 1956 Bentley S1 sedan sold unreserved for $19,500 and a restored 1961 Jaguar Mk2 2.4 litre manual saloon went for an excellent $16,000.

Floor and telephone Vintage enthusiasts pursued a carefully restored 1930 Graham Standard Six sedan before it was knocked down for $21,000 while there was equal interest in a 1996 Gazelle SSK Replica Roadster, which eventually brought the hammer down at $16,500.

Source: JUST CARS, August 2009, Collectors Issue #162