A number of records were broken at Shannons Melbourne Motor Show auction on Monday 14 March. Total bidding approached $2.3 million for 85 vehicle and 46 memorabilia lots, including some special cars and motorcycles from the collection of former Holden dealer and grand prix racing driver, Reg Hunt.
A lively crowd of over 1,000 and sale of over 76 per cent of vehicles gave Shannons their best result in the 10 years they have conducted the annual Motor Show Auction. Worth noting were the excellent results achieved in the $30,000-$60,000 price range, showing continued popularity of the ‘affordable collectables’ market.

Among Reg Hunt’s vehicles, the rare, very original H.J.Mulliner-bodied 1930 4-litre Bentley saloon earned the top price of the auction as expected, selling for $190,000 after the fall of the hammer. Three other of his vintage Bentleys – a rare 1930 Corsica body 8-Litre Drop Head Coupe, a 1924 3-4.5 Litre Taylor 4-Seater Tourer and a 1925 3-4.5 Litre H.J.Mulliner Boat Tail roadster, were also sold privately to a local collector for an undisclosed price. All four cars will remain in Australia.

Hunt’s personal Maserati Kyalami coupe, which he bought new in 1980 and had only driven 12,672km, brought $55,000. His superb 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3, again with only 65,000km on the odometer, sold for $39,500. The1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 saloon and a neat 1954 MG TF 1250 roadster each sold for $27,000. The 1955 Holden FJ Special Sedan, considered to be one of Australia’s best examples, that Hunt owned for 40 years, brought $26,000.

Over the years, Hunt has also been a passionate motorcycle collector. His magnificent 1950 Vincent Rapide Black Lightning sold for $40,000, but his two Manx Norton Featherbed racers were both passed in just under their reserve prices at $43,000 and $47,000 respectively. However, a 1934 BSA 500cc motorcycle from the Keith Raper collection eventually sold for $28,000 after competitive floor and phone bidding.

Below the 4-litre Bentley was the second major sale of the auction, $152,000 paid for a beautiful 1934 Packard Super Eight Coupe, although strangely, a rare 1933 Packard Eight 1001 Custom Body Sedan sold for only $52,500. Other notable results included two total restorations, a 1968 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 litre Drop Head coupe going for $108,000 and a 1966 rhd Ford Mustang convertible for $55,000. An imposing 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 ‘Grosser’ Limousine once owned by The Age newspaper publisher David Syme brought $50,000.

Two fine mid-1950s Chevrolet Bel Air models attracted some attention, with a multi award winning 1955 ‘Street Custom’ coupe selling for $85,000 after a fierce bidding war, while a spectacular turquoise1956 Bel Air Convertible went for $90,000.

Australian muscle cars were also in strong demand, with $34,000 paid for a collectable V8-engined 1968 Holden Monaro HK GTS. Meanwhile, Ford enthusiasts competed to buy two Falcon XW GT sedans. The immaculate Grecian Gold 1970 model, driven only 55,000 miles, brought $50,000 and a 1969 in Reef Green, $31,000.

For bargain-hunters was a tidy 1981 Bentley Mulsanne saloon selling for $28,000 and a beautiful 1959 Borgward Isabella TS coupe bringing just $21,500. A 1981 Porsche 911SC Targa sold unreserved for $21,000. On the fun side, a very original 1959 Volkswagen Kombi Campervan was offered complete with period furniture and an original metal Esky, and went for $17,500.