Shannons Sydney Winter Auction buyers go 'Green'
• (Green) Ferrari Dino 246 GT tops $2 million result
• (Green) prototype HDT Commodore brings $125,000
• Strong 91 per cent vehicle clearance rate
Enthusiastic buyers ‘went on the green’ to splurge on a range of hi-worth Classics at Shannons Sydney Winter Auction on August 10.
But green was also the colour of envy for the many floor and telephone losing bidders that saw several outstanding Classics slip into rivals’ hands.
The standout result of the $2 million sale was the sale of a beautifully presented and Australian-delivered 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GT Coupe to a local enthusiast for an Australian auction record price of $522,000.
Bidding for the special order Green coupe started at $250,000 with bidders from Singapore, the UK and Australia in pursuit, before coming down to a duel between two local floor bidders from $450,000 upwards.
This excellent result was a reflection of current world-market values of top Dino 246 GT Coupes, no doubt elevated since Ferrari recently announced plans to re-introduce the famous nameplate on a new entry-level model.
Equally outstanding was the $125,000 paid by another local enthusiast for a very special 1979 Holden VB Commodore.
The two-tone Malachite and Sage Green Holden started life as a 4.2-litre V8-engined SL/E model before becoming the first prototype of the now-legendary 5.0-litre V8 HDT ‘Brock’ Commodores.
Bidding for the totally-restored #001 HDT Prototype started at $70,000 and rose in a flurry of $1,000 floor bids to $121,000, before being resolved after further $500 bids between two floor bidders.
The Commodore eventually sold for $125,000 – $3,000 more than the very good $122,000 commanded by a highly optioned right hand drive 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible.
Another Australian Classic to post an excellent result was a prize-winning and fully restored 1949 Holden 48-215 ‘FX’ sedan coming from a noted collector after long-term ownership that made $43,500.
Other excellent results achieved by world-class British and European sporting cars included a personally imported 1966 Mercedes-Ben 230SL ‘Pagoda Roof’ Convertible with just 34,519 miles on its odometer that sold for $88,000.
A nicely refurbished and desirable two-seater 1970 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Series II Coupe that was one of the last of 600 Series 2 examples built sold above its high estimate for $85,000
Three desirable MGs from the 1950s and 1960s all made good money when offered with ‘no reserve’. The best result of the trio was achieved by a fully restored 1962 MGA 1600 MKII Roadster presented in exceptional condition that sold for $49,000. A well-restored 1951 MG TD Roadster made $27,000 and a nicely presented 1964 MGB Mk1 Roadster set up for track work brought $18,000.
Other British Classics to post good results included a comprehensively restored 1968 Ford Cortina MkII 1600E saloon that sold for $26,000, a 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II offered with ‘no reserve’ brought $23,000 and a now-rare 1964 Vanden Plas Princess 4 Litre Saloon sold on estimate for $13,000.
Amongst other impressive results, a very appealing 1949 Fiat 500C ‘Topolino’ Cabriolet was chased mercilessly by a number of floor bidders before eventually selling for $24,000 and a rare and imaginatively restored left hand drive 1959 Volkswagen Transporter ‘Splitie’ went for $34,000.
Amongst the Veterans in the auction, the best result was $39,500 paid for a c1911 Ford Model T Torpedo Roadster in wonderful restored condition, while the best motorcycle result was $32,000 paid for a very original and highly collectible ‘Mike Hailwood Replica’ Ducati MHR900.
Several unusual road and racing cars were also in the auction, with a c-1928 Canadian-built 1928 Model A Ford Miller-Schofield ‘hot rod’ special and a 1928 Austin Seven Meteor Sports roadster both selling with ‘no reserve’ for $15,000 each.
