• Australian Classic vehicle auction record
• Record $4m-plus paid for B&W NSW numerical number plates
• ‘Uncaged’ Torana A9X makes auction record $275,000
• Excellent 97 per cent overall sale rate
It was night of record prices at Shannons March 12 Sydney Autumn Classic Auction, with nearly $6.5 million in total sales making it Australia’s highest-grossing Classic vehicle auction.
Setting the tone from the outset, the 30 black and white numerical NSW number plates on offer sold for a combined $4.26 million, while many of the following 26 vehicle lots brought Australian record auction prices.
The free-spending, positive mood of the auction was set from the first lot, with the ‘lucky’ number plate ‘88688’ selling for $85,000 – an auction record for a five-digit plate.
Number ‘1.777’ set the high-water mark for a four-digit plate at $133,000, while the top-seller of the (record) 19 NSW plates offered on behalf of the NSW’s Roads & Maritime Services – all of which topped $100,000 – was $226,000 invested in ‘251’.
However, it was the cars that ultimately attracted the highest prices of the auction, with an extensively refurbished right-hand-drive 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT Coupe coming from long-term ownership selling after the hammer within its $620,000-$680,000 guiding range for an undisclosed amount.
The best result of the Australian-built cars on offer was the $275,000 paid for a Jasmin Yellow 1977 Holden LX Torana A9X Hatchback that had been hidden in a Sydney’s Northern Suburbs storage ‘cage’ for 27 years before coming to auction.
Modern Classics also performed strongly, with record $112,000 paid for a 1995 Mazda RX-7 SP Coupe – one of just 25 homologation models built for racing in Australia.
Meanwhile, a rare and well-kept 2005 BMW M3 manual ‘Competition Coupe’ with he rare manual gearbox sold for $77,000.
Other standout vehicle results were:
• $187,000 commanded by a stunning Australian-delivered, white with red leather interior and matching hardtop 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible
• $181,000 achieved by a low kilometre Australian-delivered 1982 Porsche 930 Turbo Coupe
• $86,000 given for a fabulous ‘time warp’ first-generation 1969 Holden HK Monaro 186 Automatic Coupe that had been in the hands of its long-term lady owner for 47 years
• $72,000 for a ‘no reserve’ 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Limousine that had been laid-up on axle stands in a Sydney Eastern Suburbs garage since the early 1980s
• $69,000 paid for a restored and ultra-rare Holden HQ GTS 350 V8, four-speed manual sedan
• $45,000 for a restored, Australian-built 997cc Mini Cooper coming from long-term ownership.
In other results, reflecting the buoyant state of the Australian Classic market, commercial vehicles also performed strongly, with a restored 1983 Toyota BJ42 LX SWB Landcruiser Diesel 4WD bringing $45,000 and a 1962 Ford Falcon XL Utility upgraded to 302-cid V8 power selling with ‘no reserve’ for $37,000.
Shannons National Auction Manager, Christophe Boribon, said the result was a ‘win-win’ for both vendors and buyers.
“There were lots of smiling faces in the room,” he said. “This result confirms not only the on-going strength of the Classic vehicle market, but also Shannons status as Australia’s leading and most trusted Classic vehicle auction house”.
View all Shannons March 12 Sydney Autumn Classic Auction Results
For more information on the auction contact Stuart Roberts (02) 8019 4179 or Damien Duigan (02) 8019 4180 or email auctions@shannons.com.au.
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