'No reserve' 1967 VW Microbus brings $158,000 at Shannons Melbourne Summer Auction.
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'No reserve' 1967 VW Microbus brings $158,000 at Shannons Melbourne Summer Auction.

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By Shannons - 24 November 2015

• ‘Australian record price’ for 11-window Kombi

• Euro classics perform strongly

• Excellent results for Aussie Muscle Cars

• Black and white numerical number plates prove their investment value

A two-owner, 1967 ‘Split Window’ Volkswagen Microbus presented in stunning comprehensively restored condition inside, outside and underneath, sold with ‘no reserve’ for an exceptional $158,000 at Shannons Melbourne Summer Classic Auction on November 23.

This two-owner, 1967 ‘Split Window’ Volkswagen Microbus presented in stunning restored condition sold with ‘no reserve’ for a record $158,000.

Continuing a string of high value results for early VW commercial vehicles at recent Shannons sales, the two-owner, Australian-assembled and right hand drive VW was pursued relentlessly by two floor bidders, who matched each other bid-for-bid before the hammer fell to applause from the large auction crowd.

The result was nearly double the VW’s pre-auction high estimate and capped an excellent Auction outcome in which 81 per cent of all vehicles and 100 per cent of all memorabilia sold for a combined $1.8 million result, continuing the buoyancy of recent Shannons classic Auctions.

Shannons National Auction Manager Christophe Boribon said the result was the best result for an 11-window Kombi at auction in Australia and was surpassed only by a 1960 model, ‘23-window’ Samba Microbus that brought $202,000 at a Shannons auction earlier this year.

This 1968 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 Saloon from a private collection almost doubled its pre-auction estimate to sell for $50,500 at Shannons Melbourne Summer Auction.

Amongst other European Classics to sell strongly was a nicely presented metallic gold 1968 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 Saloon from a private collection almost doubled its pre-auction estimate to sell for $50,500.

Once the world’s fastest four-door saloon, these saloons, which were a technical tour de force in their era, have been undervalued for many years, according to Boribon.

“The price this car achieved is an indication of the true importance of these great cars internationally,” he said.

Also performing strongly in the auction was a very collectible 1989 BMW M3 Convertible that has been converted professionally to right hand drive that also sold above estimate for $53,500.

In other very strong results at Shannons Melbourne Summer sale:

This nicely restored 1929 Rolls-Royce 20/25HP Coupe fitted with very stylish Martin & King coachwork emerged from long-term storage to sell for $101,500.

• a nicely restored 1929 Rolls-Royce 20/25HP Coupe fitted with very stylish Australian coachwork by specialist Martin & King emerged from long-term storage to sell for $101,500

• a lovely, right hand drive and restored 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible sold for an excellent $52,000

• a 1938 Dodge 1.5 tonne truck in project condition offered with ‘no reserve’ more than doubled its pre-sale high estimate to sell for $16,500

• a 1937 Rudge Ulster and a 1956 BSA Gold Star motorcycle each sold for $18,500

This weird early 1950s three-wheeler ‘special’ in project condition sold with ‘no reserve’ for $6,300 – three times its pre-sale high estimate.

• a weird and wonderful early 1950s three-wheeler ‘special’ in project condition sold with ‘no reserve’ for $6,300 – three times its pre-sale high estimate 

• the three-digit black and white numeric Victorian number plate ‘180’ brought $141.000 – the second best result of the auction – while the $39,000 achieved by the four digit ‘1.116’ was also above expectations.

View all November 23 Shannons Melbourne Summer Auction results

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