Bonhams & Goodman conducted an lively auction of Collectors’ Cars at their Bay East premises in Sydney’s Waterloo on 19 June. There was an intriguing mix of buyers, lookers and cars from veteran to muscle, and many vintage cars brought good results.  

One of the highlights was a 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental from the estate of car dealer Gunnar Sundell. The car came to Australia from the UK in 1938 when Baritone legend Peter Dawson purchased it.  Bidding was fiercely contested between an Austrian telephone bidder and a local Sydney collector present in the room. The auction room fell silent before the hammer came down at $121,000 to the local Sydney buyer, with an outbreak of applause from the huge crowd.  

Single family veteran
Other notable results included a 1909 Panhard Levassor that had been in the same Australian family since new, remarkable considering its age although a number of pre-WWI Panhard Levassors survive. Bill Moss initially bought it in 1909 for the princely sum of £975 cash, and Bonhams was offering it for sale for the first time since new. It went to a New Zealand enthusiast for $57,000. The original Sydney dealer delivered it with a promise to return shortly to teach Bill to drive it but when this never happened, he simply taught himself. It was one of the first cars in his neighbourhood and the police borrowed it occasionally. It was even used to deliver returning WW1 troops back home. Bill’s grandson Ken later claimed the car and joined the Veteran Car Club as member number 36, participating in many of their events. 

Collector’s muscle
The collection of the late Jim Scott, NSW auto enthusiast, racer, restorer and dealer, also created huge interest and all but one car from his collection found a new home. The two Chrysler Valiant VH Chargers caused a stir when both examples sold way over their top estimate of $25,000, at $40,000 each. The odometer of the 1971 RT Coupe, which Jim purchased new, showed a reading of 86,492 miles, believed to be the original mileage, and was offered for sale with an unused, unmarked VH series Car Care Plan. His 1972 RT Coupe, in very original condition with 92,529 miles, is a desirable manual floor change version finished in Mercury silver with black interior. The original buyer was Scott's stepbrother Cyril Wrigley.

A 1958 Jaguar XK150 Coupé sold well for $65,000. The final version of Jaguar's 'XK' series of sports cars released in the spring of 1957, this model was a progressive development of the XK120 and XK149 and retained the same basic chassis, 3.4-litre six cylinder engine and four-speed Moss transmission of its predecessors. A new, wider body provided increased interior space and improved visability due to a wrap-around windscreen. Partly restored when the current vendor purchased it at the end of 2004, it was sold with the original seats in good condition, although fitted with XJS seats, and the original steering wheel. 

Number plate record
Other strong results on early cars were a 1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Saloon with Park Ward coachwork, $74,580, 1931 Cadillac V12 Dual Cowl Phaeton for $124,300, a 1931 Austin Seven Tourer at $11,300 and a 1907 Humber 10-12hp, $25,990.

The NSW single digit number plate ‘6’ sold for an undisclosed amount after the auction, believed to be nearly $1million to a private Sydney buyer. The auctioneers estimated the lot at $700,000 - $1,000,000 prior to the sale. This is believed to be a new world record price for a number plate, the previous record standing at $680,000 for NSW ‘2’ sold through Bonhams & Goodman in 2003.

Head of Collector’s Cars Robert Glover commented, ‘Not only did nearly all of the cars find new homes with a 90% clearance rate but we were extremely encouraged by the strong local interest in the sale in general, and particularly in the more valuable lots in the sale.” He believes the results are due in part to the strong local dollar. Their next Collectors’ Motor Cars Auction will be held in Melbourne on 7 September with their inaugural New Zealand sale the weekend after.  Enquiries - contact: Robert Glover, +61 02 8306 2206, robert.glover@bonhams.com.