The 'Smart' money was on 'Agent 86' at Shannons
The 'Smart' money wasn't spent on shapely metal at Shannons Melbourne Spring auction on Monday September 3. It went on a pair of black and white number plates bearing the number '86' - numerals forever linked to Special Agent 86, Maxwell Smart, of TV fame.
Selling on estimate for $220,000, they headed an extraordinary night of bidding that saw record or near-record prices achieved for 53 of the 67 vehicle and memorabilia lots on offer for a combined total of $1.35 million - around $500,000 of this on spent number plates.
Chasing '86' closely for the top sale of the night were the similar black and white Victorian plates '95', which sold for $198,000.
The triple-digit plates '261' sold for $75,000 - the same price as the top vehicle lot of the auction, a factory original 1970 Daytona Bronze Holden HT Monaro GTS 186S coupe that had covered just 35,300 miles since new.
This Australian auction record price for a six cylinder Monaro GTS was in part due to the exceptional overall condition of this particular vehicle - particularly underneath.
It was one of five classic Monaros to sell at the auction, all above their pre-auction estimates.
Even the South Australian black and white plate '52' made history when it sold for $73,000 - eclipsing the $70,000 paid for a Bright Blue metallic 1968 HK Monaro GTS 307 V8 coupe.
Another outstanding result was the $38,000 paid for a Silver 1974 HQ Monaro 308 GTS coupe, while a 1973 Cian Blue HQ Monaro GTS 253 V8 coupe brought $33,500.
Even more impressive was the sale of a 1970 Mandarin Red 1970 HG 186 manual coupe, which stunned everyone when it sold unreserved for $30,000 - well above its pre-auction guiding range of $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 engine removed and disassembled was almost overshadowed when it sold above estimate for $23,000.
Other notable sales of the evening included the $16,500 paid for a beautifully restored 1949 Fiat 500C 'Topolino' coupe, an unreserved 1958 Ford F100 'Custom' Step-side Utility and a superb 1936 Velocette KTS 350cc motorcycle. Meanwhile, a beautiful 1951 Sunbeam Talbot MkII 90 Convertible made $24,000 and a 1965 Austin Healeym 3000 MkIII BJ8 convertible in excellent condition went for $65,000.
Shannons National Auction Manager Christophe Boribon said it was the strong interest shown in all types of vehicles that made the auction an outstanding result.
"We naturally expected the Monaros to do well with the current interest in Australian Muscle Cars, but it was the response to the British and European cars like the Fiat Topolino and the Sunbeam Talbot that really demonstrated the strength of the classic car market today," he said.
For media information and publication quality photos, please contact:
Michael Browning (03) 9879 9111 / 0418 324 328
For further auction information, contact:
Christophe or Greg on (03) 8543 2288 or 0413 567 308.
To view all auction lots click here
