Classic 'Cats' drive solid results at Shannons Sydney Auction
• Early VW Microbus tops Sydney Auction sales
• ‘World Market’ $72,000 achieved for 1975 Porsche 911S
• Strong results for Hot Rods and Modified vehicles
A pair of classic Jaguars built 15 years apart and two very different German vehicles were amongst the stars of Shannons Sydney Late Autumn Auction on May 18, driving the sale’s solid $1.1 million result.
A restored 1969 Jaguar E-Type Series II Roadster offered for sale with ‘no reserve’ was the most anticipated vehicle in the auction.
Bidding for the beautifully presented Imperial Maroon with Biscuit leather interior right hand drive ex-Californian car began at $60,000 and rose in $5,000 increments from five phone and a number of floor bidders before closing above its high estimate at $96,000.
Six lots earlier, a lovely Pastel Blue 1954 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe that had been the subject of a recently completed ground up restoration sold for $97,000.
A pair of stunning early 1930s Ford Hot Rods – both right hand drive and fitted with 302-cid Windsor V8s – also staged a duel for bragging rights in the auction after being offered in consecutive lots.
After the floor bidders and phones fell silent, it was a bright yellow 1934 ‘Three-Window’ Coupe built in 2008 on a strengthened 1934 frame that claimed the honours at $64,000, just edging out a ‘no expense spared’ ’32 Ford ‘Five-Window’ Coupe that went for $60,500 – both going to floor bidders.
However the two standout sales in the auction went to dramatically different, rear-engined German Classics.
An Australian-delivered and well-maintained yellow 1975 Porsche 911S 2.7 litre Coupe was chased relentlessly by floor, phone and online bidders before two determined enthusiasts raise its price to $72,000 – around double its pre-auction estimate.
This World-class result underscored the rapidly increasing value of all earlier 911 Porsche models on the International market, particularly the more sporting ‘S’ models.
However the top price of the auction belonged to another German – a rare, right hand drive 1966 Volkswagen De Luxe ’21 Window’ Samba Microbus.
Cosmetically upgraded to show standards and featuring mechanical upgrades including a disc brake front end, independent rear suspension, a dual-port 1641cc engine and rack and pinion steering.
Making it even more collectible, the Microbus was fitted with the rare factory Sliding Door option.
With once-humble Volkswagen commercial vehicles currently setting record prices at auction, the Microbus was expected to bring big money. Shannons quoted a guiding range of $100,000-$130,000 which proved to be right on the money, with the Microbus eventually selling for $126,000 after a protracted duel between floor, phone and internet bidders.
Other ‘World Market’ cars to attract International interest was a beautifully-restored and rare 1958 Austin-Healey 100/6 BN6 two-seater Roadster, which is now making its way back to England after selling to a British phone bidder for $54,000.
Meanwhile a rare surviving right hand drive 1934 Fiat 508S Balilla Sport originally delivered new in Jakarta and restored comprehensively in the 1980s after arriving in Australia, found a new home post-auction when it sold for $95,000.
Other standout results of the Sydney Auction included $33,500 paid for a beautiful and stately 1928 Chrysler Royal 72, 6-wheel-equipped Sedan, a restored, black MG TF 1250 Roadster that sold after the auction for $31,000, a circa-1934 Riley-Wolseley ‘Special’ race car built in Sydney in the early 1990s that brought $29,500 and a now-rare 1955 Austin Champ 4x4 military vehicle that sold for $18,500.
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