Heritage Number Plates in Record Demand at Shannons Sydney Auction
By
Shannons -
07 March 2019
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Nearly $4.5m invested in B&W numerical plates
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World market price paid for Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle
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Excellent 97 percent clearance rate
Enthusiasts were in a buoyant mood at Shannons Sydney Autumn Auction on March 4, setting a Shannons auction record by spending more than $6.2 million on collectible cars, motorcycles, and heritage black and white number plates.
The NSW B&W Heritage number plate
‘217' was the top selling lot, contributing $215,000 to total plate sales of nearly $4.5 million.
A highlight of the auction was the $4.468 million bid for 30 early-issue black and white numerical NSW number plates. The top individual price of $215,000 was paid for the right to display the Heritage plate
‘271’ followed by ‘296’ at $210,000 – both amongst the 18, 3-digit plates on offer.
However, it was the four and five digit plates that inspired many bidders, with
‘1116’ selling for $126,000 and the numerically attractive ‘lucky’ plate
‘33388’ bringing $102,000.
Further underscoring the demand for Heritage plates, 25 of the 30 on offer sold for $100,000 or more.
Of the 13 motorcycles in the auction, the outstanding result was the world market price of $160,000 paid for a fabulously original
1953 Vincent Black Shadow Series C – the ultimate road bike of its era.
With its hand-assembled 998cc air-cooled V-twin engine designed by Australian Phil Irving, the Black Shadow re-wrote the rule book when it came to high-performance motorcycles, while it also proved a winner in competition, particularly in Australia and on the Bonneville salt flats.
American sporting classics were also popular with bidders, with the highlights being the $90,000 paid for a beautiful, restored left-hand drive
Chevrolet Bel Air Sports Coupe, while a right hand drive
1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS Coupe in lovely condition throughout surprised by almost doubling its pre-auction low estimate to sell for $84,000.