• 3-digit NSW plates lead the bidding and prices
• Quirky Borgward Isabella & Saab 96 V4 steal limelight with strong prices
• Nissan Skyline GT-R NUR creates overtime bidding frenzy selling for excellent $332,000

Early New South Wales black and white numerical number plates attracted the top money in Shannons Online Winter Auction that closed on August 22 despite fierce opposition from a number of world-class performance cars.

The top bid of the seven day online sale was $431,000 paid for the NSW Heritage plate ’262’, with the best-selling vehicle being a 2002 Nissan GT-R M-Spec ‘NUR’ coupe that brought $332,000.

Three-digit number plates from Victoria and New South Wales filled places two and three in the sales, with the NSW plate ‘929’ selling for $361,000 and the Vic plate ‘942’ bringing $360,000.

Australian Muscle Cars commanded strong bidding, with a restored 1969 XW Falcon GT Automatic selling for $160,000, followed by a pristine 1986 Holden VL SS Group A Sedan that was in demand before selling for $131,000, while a 1974 XB GT Falcon Manual Coupe sold as a ‘running project’ for an excellent $96,000.

Amongst the American Muscle Cars, victory went to a restored, red, right-hand-drive 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback (M Code) at $112,000, but buyers were also torn between a stunning 1968 metallic green left hand drive Dodge Charger Coupe ($105,000) and a red and restored right hand drive 1965 Ford Mustang A-Code Fastback that finally sold for $87,000.

Of the 52, two and three wheelers in the auction, the top price of $77,000 was paid for a concours-standard 1974 Ducati 750 Sport while the top performer of the older bikes was $71,000 paid for a 1948 Vincent Rapide Series B 1000cc while a low-slung and restored 1929 Indian 101 750cc sold for $52,000.

Amongst the 10 Ducatis from a Queensland collector, a rare and very desirable 1996 Ducati 916 Senna was pursued by enthusiasts before selling for $41,000, while a 2009 Ducati 1098R Troy Bayliss LE was even more popular, bringing $44,500.

The four ‘project’ vehicles in the auction were sought-after by enthusiasts, with a 1972 Aston Martin DBS V8 in need of a restoration, selling for an excellent $63,000 ahead of a 1972 Holden HQ GTS ‘project’ coupe fitted with a 253-cid V8 engine and a three-speed Trimatic automatic transmission that brought $61,000; a 1955 MG TF 1500 roadster selling for $28,500 after a late flurry of interest and a Australian-assembled 1969 Mini Cooper S ‘project’ bringing $31,000.

The top-selling of the four Porsches in the auction was a 1983 911SC coupe that sold for $110,000 after several bid extensions still creating good buying.

A surprise of the auction was the $75,000 achieved by a stylish 1959 Borgward Isabella Coupe, while a quirky left hand drive 1967 Saab 96 V4 Montecarlo coupe also sold above expectation for $41,500.

Other stand-out vehicle sales included:

• $86,000 for Holden 1984 VK SS Group A Tribute;
• $72,000 for a (base model) 1968 Holden HK Monaro 186 (six cylinder) automatic coupe;
• $74,000 for a 1973 Morgan Plus 8;
• $64,000 for a right hand drive 1966 Mustang convertible;
• $36,000 for a restored 1937 MG TA roadster;