Euro Classics ‘on the money’ at Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction
• Rare Renault Alpine A110 in traditional 'Tricolour' top-seller at $110,000!
• Citroen Light 15 brings $25,700
• 1960 Fiat 500 Giardiniera sells for $22,000
• Nearly 20 per cent of all lots sold ‘online’
Mid-range European Classics were in high demand at Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction on July 21, with strong prices achieved for a wide range of vehicles.
The top-selling vehicle of the Auction was a rare Renault Alpine A110 coupe believed originally to be a 'lightweight competition cliente' 1300S model built in 1972 and presented in the traditional French ‘Tricolour’ colour scheme.
This circa 1972 right hand drive Renault Alpine A110 coupe that was the subject of a 14-year restoration was the top-selling vehicle of Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction on July 21, appropriately bringing $110,000.
Imported from New Caledonia and restored for the vendor by Melbourne-based marque specialists Alpine Affaire over a 14-year period, the A110 was converted to right hand drive in the process and its mid-mounted engine was enlarged to 1550cc ‘rally spec’ at the same time, making it an entertaining road-going vehicle or a competitive Classic Rally car.
It sold to an interstate Shannons On-line Bidder, appropriately for $110,000.
A range of other European and British Classics also sold strongly:
• a nicely-presented 1960 Fiat 500 Giardiniera went for $22,000;
This nicely presented 1960 Fiat 500 Giardiniera sold for an excellent $22,000 at Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction on July 21.
• a pair of restored MGAs – a beautiful red 1956 1500cc Roadster and a rare Off-White 1960 1600cc Fixed Head Coupe - brought $25,750 and $26,500 respectively
• Two Classic 1980s Porsches – a Turbo-bodied 1983 911SC Cabriolet and a beautifully-presented 1986 Porsche 928S Coupe - sold on expectation for $42,500 and $17,500 respectively after competitive floor and phone bidding.
• Two beautiful, milestone Citroens from the same small private collection made excellent money, with the 1960 ID19 Sedan proving excellent buying at $17,000, while the striking 1948 Light 15 Sedan in Black with Deep Red mudguards went for $25,750
In other excellent results, a 1949 Morris Minor ‘Low Light’ two-door sedan sold with ‘no reserve’ for $12,500, a 1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider sold for $20,000, a 1999 Rover Mini Cooper ‘40th Anniversary’ model made $20,500 and a circa 1964 Jaguar Mk II prepared for Group Nb Historic Racing sold on estimate for $34,000.
This circa 1964 Jaguar Mk II prepared for Group Nb Historic Racing sold on estimate for $34,000 at Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction on July 21.
Online and floor bidders battled for this striking 1961 Dodge Polara coupe before it was sold with 'no reserve' for $46,000 at Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction on July 21.
Amongst other strong results from the auction, three enthusiasts pursued a ‘no-reserve’ 1961 Dodge Polara coupe before it eventually sold on estimate for $46,000 to a floor bidder. Five lots later, one of the losing bidders didn't go home empty-handed and went on to purchase a highly-modified, right hand drive 1957 Ford F100 van for $40,000.
However the bidding duel of the evening was for a 1971 Ford ZD Fairlane Sedan 351 ‘K Code’ sedan. This sought-after second-tier Muscle Car was chased by five phone and four floor bidders before selling for $36,000.
Five phone and four floor bidders chased down this sought-after 1971 Ford ZD Fairlane Sedan 351 ‘K Code’ sedan, before a floor bidder scored it for $36,000.
Amongst the motorcycles in the auction, the standout result was the $21,500 paid for a 1956 Ariel Square 4 1,000cc solo offered in exceptional condition.
The top-seller of the 13 black and white Victoria Heritage number plates in the Auction was predictably ‘83’, which sold on estimate for $210,000.
However it was the sale of the plate ‘4904’ that had the most interesting story.
Canberra-based Ashley Carr knew the plate from old family photographs, as it was once on a car owned and driven by his late grandfather Harold Carr and 12 months ago he resolved to track it down.
VicRoads told him that they would put it to auction by Shannons in Melbourne, where he outbid two other collectors to purchase it for $18,000.
“I was pretty determined to get it” he said. “My first car was my grandfather’s and so there is a lot of family nostalgia in that plate.” It will go on his Land-Rover for the moment “but I’d like to see it on an old car again in the future,” he said
Another feature of the Melbourne Auction was the continued popularity of online bidding, which has grown steadily since it was introduced by Shannons in February this year, with nearly 20 per cent of all lots sold in the July 21 auction purchased by online bidders.
