Shannons Sydney MotorEx Auction - 2009

Buyers also showed that a good muscle car always has "drawing potential", with a number of US cars also subject to spirited bidding. The top-selling vehicle lot was a rare left hand drive factory big-block 1970 Chevrolet Corvette 454-cid Convertible in restored condition with four-speed manual transmission that sold on estimate for $80,000. A Poppy Red left hand drive 1965 Mustang Fastback restored to show standards made an excellent $60,000; a 1990 Holden VN Group A SS Sedan (number 182 of 302 built) that had travelled just 47,000km since new sold for a solid $54,000 and a Chateaux Mauve three-owner 1972 Torana XU-1 in top condition brought an equally strong $55,000. Other good American Muscle Car sales were a left hand drive 1969 Mustang Grande Convertible that went for $40,000 and a right hand drive 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible that sold for $32,000.

Aussie Classic
However the biggest applause from the crowd of nearly 600 at the auction went to the purchaser of a much more humble 1952 Glacier Green 'FX' Holden Coupe Utility laden with period accessories that brought the hammer down at $30,000. Standout results amongst the other vehicle lots were the $45,000 paid for a well maintained 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL 'Pagoda Roof' Coupe Roadster; $35,000 for a 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL600 Convertible - one of only around 20 to come to Australia; $28,000 for a former left hand drive 1969 Porsche 911 Targa fitted with a later 2.7 litre engine and $8,750 for a very original 1977 Holden HZ Premier 5.0 litre sedan offered with no reserve price. Three of the four NSW black and white numeric number plates in the auction also sold for excellent figures, mirroring the results of Shannons recent number plate only auction conducted last month for the New South Wales RTA, with '8686' bringing $50,000, '2360' going for $35,000 and '48343' selling for $18,00.