'Barn find' Jaguar excites at Shannons Sydney auction
• ‘Barn find Jaguar XK120 sells for $128,000
• NSW B&W plate ‘201’ brings $222,000
• Strong results for Aussie Muscle Cars
An Australian-delivered 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster that had been stored, unused in a Sydney garage for around 30 years, has sold at Shannons Late Autumn Auction in Sydney for $128,000.
The original right-hand drive car– one of just 192 steel-bodied examples delivered in Australia– saw a duel amongst several floor and phone bidders, driving its price beyond its pre-auction estimate.
The result topped the money paid for two later-model Jaguar E-Type Coupes – an Australian-delivered, two-owner-from-new and low mileage 1971 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Series 2 Coupe in need of cosmetic attention that brought $65,000 and a factory right-hand drive 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 coming from long-term ownership and offered with ‘no reserve’ that sold for $50,000.
Shannons national Auction Manager Christophe Boribon said the XK120’s price reflected growing world values of early XK models, which he said are now achieving their rightful recognition alongside contemporary Aston Martin and Ferrari models.
The sale was one of the highlights of Shannons first auction held in conjunction with the Hot Rod & Custom Auto Expo, when 80 lots including 37 items of automobilia went under the hammer at Sydney' Rosehill Racecourse.
However, the best-selling lot of the auction was the New South Wales black and white numerical number plate ‘201’, which brought an excellent $222,000 after strong floor, phone and online bidding, while another enthusiast snapped up the ‘1943’ birth-year plate for $102,000.
Classic Australian Muscle Cars offered with ‘no reserve’ continued to perform well under the hammer, with a 1983 Holden HDT VH Commodore SS Group 3 sedan showing less than 100,000km on its odometer selling for $65,000; a 1971 LC Torana GTR painted in eye-catching ‘Yellow Dolly’ bringing $60,000; a ‘Barbados Green’ 1974 Holden HQ Monaro GTS 253 sedan with four-speed manual gearbox going for $55,500 , while a 1976 LX Torana V8 Hatchback upgraded with 308-cid running gear made $45,000.
Two other classic Holdens – a restored and mechanically-upgraded 1954 FJ Special Sedan and a 1972 HQ SS 253 V8 sedan offered with ‘no reserve’ – both brought $34,000.
The auction’s charity lot, a striking, ‘Lettuce Alone’ 1979 Holden HZ Ute rebuilt with a Holden 308-cid motor by five local Hunter Valley boys aged 15-17, sold well above estimate with ‘no reserve’ for an excellent $35,500, with proceeds from the sale going back to the Cessnock PCYC to fund future Project Rebuild schemes.
The best-performing ‘Australian’ vehicle in the auction was a 1989 Robnell ‘Cobra-replica’ Roadster fitted with a stroker 472-cid V8 that went for $76,000.
European sporting vehicles also performed well, with two high-performance BMW coupes, a low-kilometre 1986 M635 CSi and a rare 2003 M3 E46 – one of just 27 sold in Australia – selling for $100,000 and $120,000 respectively.
A pair of Mercedes-Benz SL models also performed well, with a 1996 SL500 making an excellent $35,500 and a 1987 560SL selling for $38,000. A rare 1973 Volvo P1800ES also went for $38,000 and a 1963 BMW Isetta made an excellent $37,250 after strong bidding.
Amongst the British classics, an Australian-assembled and superbly-restored 1970 Mini Cooper S MkII sold for $50,000 and a 1974 MG TF 1250 went for $35,000.
Classic American Fords also performed well, with a 1957, left-hand-drive Thunderbird Convertible selling for $58,000, a 1965 right-hand drive Mustang convertible bringing $41,000 and a huge, right-hand drive 1959 Ford Fairlane Galaxie 2-Door Hardtop sedan going for $31,000.
Finally, children and collectors also left the auction pleased, with a c1950s Austin J40 Pedal Car selling for $4,600, a Ford Model T powered by a 3.5HP Briggs & Stratton Petrol Engine going for $3,100 and a c1940s Cyclops Tricycle with Sidecar smashing is pre-auction estimate to sell after heated bidding for $2,100.
View all Shannons May 27 Sydney 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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