Australian Classic Car

MONAROS REACH NEW HEIGHTS

 

 

Australians love Monaros and don’t seem to mind paying for them. The top vehicle lot at Shannons Melbourne Spring auction on 3 September, a totally factory original 1970 Daytona Bronze Holden HT Monaro GTS 186S coupe, with just 35,300 miles since new, sold for $75,000. This Australian auction record price for a 6-cylinder Monaro GTS was partly due to the HT’s excellent condition – particularly underneath. In fact, it was just one of five classic Monaros to sell at the auction, all above their pre-auction estimates. The $70,000 paid for a Bright Blue metallic 1968 HK Monaro GTS 307 V8 coupe was a surprise, as well as $38,000 for a Silver 1974 HQ Monaro 308 GTS coupe and a 1973 Cian Blue HQ Monaro GTS 253 V8 coupe bringing $33,500. Even more impressive on a smaller scale was a Mandarin Red 1970 HG 186 manual coupe, selling unreserved for $30,000 – well above the expected $10,000-$14,000 and an auction record for a basic model Monaro.

In contrast, a 1972 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 coupe ‘project car’ with its disassembled engine was almost overshadowed when it sold above estimate for $23,000. Other notable sales included the $16,500 paid for a beautifully restored 1949 Fiat 500C ‘Topolino’ coupe and an unreserved 1958 Ford F100 ‘Custom’ Step-side Utility. Meanwhile, a beautiful 1951 Sunbeam Talbot MkII 90 Convertible made $24,000 and a 1965 Austin Healey3000 MkIII BJ8 convertible in excellent condition went for $65,000. Monaros aside, Shannons believe it was this strong interest shown in all types of vehicles that demonstrated the strength of today’s classic car market.

Nevertheless, the number plates completely upstaged all these vehicles once again. The night’s highest price was spent on two black and white number plates bearing the number ‘86’ – numerals forever linked to Special Agent 86, Maxwell Smart of TV fame and his Sunbeam Tiger - selling on estimate for $220,000. Christophe or Greg on 03 8543 2288 or 0413 567 308. View all lots at www.shannons.com.au

RACING HEROS BEAT GREAT EXPECTATIONS

 

Intriguing automobilia with significant history and background was up for sale at Bonhams & Goodman Collectables auction in Melbourne on 12 August. Most of the lots sold well above the expected price. The first 30 lots of the sale were associated with Australian motor racing greats Joan Richmond and Peter Brock. A highlight was a collection of Richmond’s personal photographs and ephemera, which sold for $3,840 against estimates of only $100-150. A Richmond scrapbook with press cuttings from 1932-38 sold five times above estimate for $1,320 and her British Racing Driver’s Club badge sold for $6,000 after an estimated $600-800. Of the lots relating to Peter Brock, an early autographed poster sold for $1,440 and his Number 5 armband worn during the 1975 Bathurst 1000 sold for $4,320 – 3 times the estimated price
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Joan Richmond (1905-1999) of NSW was in the first women’s team to win an international motor race at a time when women very rarely competed. Richmond won the International 1000 Mile Race held at the Brooklands track in England in 1932 co-driving her Riley Nine with driver Elsie Wisdom. Initially, she competed in hill climbs and built up her skills to enter the 1931 AGP at Phillip Island, where she came fifth. She also successfully completed the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally, beginning a career racing cars for Riley, Singer, Triumph, MG, FIAT, Delage and others. Giles Moon, National Head of Collectables 03 8530 3900 or email giles.moon@bonhams.com.