• Convertibles in demand at Shannons Melbourne Spring sale
• Holdens win ‘pre-Bathurst’ race
• B&W Heritage number plates deliver strong results
Spring brought buyers out and tops came down for Shannons Melbourne Spring Auction on September 17, with convertible classics in demand, led by a stunning 1957 Cadillac.
Meanwhile, Victorian Heritage B&W number plates continued to attract enthusiasts, with the three-digit Victorian plate ‘247’ delivering the auction’s top sale of $175,000.
Then, in an early predictor for the annual Bathurst 1000 race, a brace of Holden Toranas out-sold three Ford Falcon Aussie Muscle Cars.
With summer around the corner, the clear preference of bidders was for convertible cars, with the top-seller being a stunning Harley Earl-designed, right hand drive 1957 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible.
Previously owned by renowned car collector Ralph Plarre, this gorgeous machine with its deep dark blue metallic paint, offset by a beautiful leather and brocade cloth interior, white convertible roof and fat whitewall tyres, was pursued by a floor and an equally determined online bidder, who together drove its price above its high estimate to sell online for $113,000.
Another Earl-designed American classic – a rare, winged and wondrous 1959 Le Sabre Convertible that had been given a comprehensive restoration – sold on estimate for $56,000.
From England, a lovely 1998 XK8 Convertible excited several bidders, who drove its selling price well above its high estimate to $39,000, while a 1969 MGB MKII ‘V8 Special’ sold for $22,000.
Niche and ‘tribute’ soft-top classics also performed strongly, with a 1999 DAX AC Cobra V8 Replica Roadster, bringing $86,000 – $1,000 more than a New Zealand-built 1997 Porsche 550 Replica Spyder fitted with a 914 engine enlarged to 2.5 litres. Meanwhile a 1985 Caterham Super Seven Clubman, based on the legendary Lotus Super Seven, brought $33,500.
However the lot that up-staged many traditional sporting classics was a genuine and fastidiously-restored, left hand drive 21-window Volkswagen Kombi Samba wagon that was pursued by several keen bidders before selling for $126,000 – the top vehicle price of the auction.
Enhancing its appeal, the former Californian Kombi was fitted with an enlarged and enhanced 2053cc engine and fitted with ‘highway gearing’ for more relaxed high-speed cruising.
Two 1970s Holden Toranas, both offered with ‘no reserve’ slugged it out for ‘Bathurst’ bragging rights amongst the six Australian Muscle Cars on offer.
Victory at $115,000 was shared by a ‘Plum Dinger’ six-cylinder 1970 Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 believed to have been amongst the first batch of 12 XU-1s built and offered in genuine survivor condition and a super-rare Tuxedo Black on black 1974 Holden LH SL/R 5000 Sedan – the first of only a handful of the high performance models finished in this colour scheme – whose first owner was Holden designer, Paul Beranger.
The top Ford sale was achieved by a mechanically-restored factory manual 1975 Ford XB Falcon GT Sedan, while a 1980 Holden HDT VC Commodore Sedan (No.39), sold on estimate for $55,000.
Amongst notable sales in the auction:
• a one-owner from new Series 3 Mazda RX7 with a full history sold with ‘no reserve’ above its high estimate for $25,750;
• a 1960 Holden FB Special Sedan in the rare period colour combination of Desert Glow (pink) and Corona Grey sold for $25,000;
• a rare and beautifully-presented 1964 Ford Falcon 260 V8 Futura Coupe in good driver condition sold above estimate for $36,500.
The two classic motorcycles in the auction both sold with ‘no reserve’ above their pre-sale high estimates, with a circa-1934 New Imperial 250cc 30 Deluxe bringing $10,500 and a ‘barn find’ 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA 750cc V-Twin in need of recommissioning selling after protracted floor and phone bidding for an excellent $22,000.
Black and white Victorian Heritage numerical number plates created their own ‘weather zone’, with the three-digit ‘247’ selling to a floor bidder for $175,000, just pipping the $171,000 paid 10 lots earlier for ‘689’.
The top-selling four-digit Victorian plate was ‘8-778’ that brought nearly $100,000 less at $74,000, while the top five and six-digit plates were’10-801 ($29,500) and ‘188-880’ ($14,000).
Another strong result that reflects the increasing value of Victorian Bicentennial plates was the Victorian plate ‘1795’ that sold for $28,000.
View all Shannons September 17 Melbourne Spring Classic Auction Results
For more information on the auction contact Christophe Boribon on (03) 8588 0809, or 13 4646 (Option 5) or email auctions@shannons.com.au.
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