'Ian Cummins Collection' auction produces $4.1m result
• 1969 Boss 429 Mustang top seller at $330,000
• Three Cummins Jaguars each make $200,000-plus
• Strong bidding on rare Cummins memorabilia
• Demand continues for black & white number plates
A large floor crowd, near-record numbers of phone and internet bidders and strong results, were the highlights on Shannons Melbourne Summer Auction on November 27 that featured vehicles and memorabilia from the lifelong collection of noted Jaguar authority and motoring enthusiast, the late Ian Cummins.
The Cummins’ Collection realised more than $2.5 million out of the total result of $4.1 million In the marathon auction, which saw 88 lots go under the hammer over nearly four hours at Shannons Heatherton, Melbourne showroom.
The top-selling lot of the auction was not a Jaguar, nor a Shelby – as expected – but a very rare and exceptionally well-documented left-hand-drive 1969 Boss 429 Mustang that went on estimate to a phone bidder for $330,000.
It outsold another one of the late Ian Cummins favourites – a low-mileage 1988 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe presented in fabulous condition – that sold for $275,000 to a floor bidder.
The two Jaguar E-Types in the Ian Cummins Collection both brought World-market’ prices, with a desirable, Series 1 1966 Series I Coupe selling to a NSW enthusiast for $206,000, while a stunning Australian-delivered, Series II Roadster with factory hardtop, almost matched it at $202,000.
Other notable Jaguar sales from the Ian Cummins Collection were the $222,000 paid for a hand-made, alloy-bodied Jaguar C-Type recreation and the above-estimate $132,000 achieved by a Bryson-delivered 1960 XK 150S 3.8 Fixed Head Coupe.
Other notable Shelby/Mustang sales from the Cummins Collection saw a rare left-hand drive 1966 GT350 Fastback (one of just 2,378 built that year), sell to a floor bidder for $200,000; a fully-restored 1969 Boss 302 Mustang Fastback went to a telephone bidder for $150,000 after a lengthy contest and a right-hand-drive 1968 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback made $140,000.
In other significant vehicle results from the Ian Cummins Collection:
• a desirable and well-maintained 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8 sold well above its high estimate for $108,000;
• a 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S in wonderful, restored condition brought $53,000;
• a stylish 1954 Sunbeam Alpine roadster in fabulous period condition sold for $49,000;
• a right-hand-drive 1942 Chrysler Airflow Sedan made $42,000;
• a lovely right-hand-drive Art Deco 1938 Plymouth two-door coupe brought $27,000.
‘No reserve’ memorabilia from the Cummins Collection generated some of the most exciting bidding of the auction, with a circa-1880 Singer & Co. 48-inch Penny Farthing bicycle creating the highlight, eventually selling for an amazing $12,000 against its pre-auction estimate of $2,000-$3,000.
Two circa-early 1950s Austin pedal cars also achieved excellent ‘World’ prices, with a 1.6-metre long Austin J40 bringing $6,500 and a 1.9-metre long Austin Pathfinder selling for $5,500.
Period accessories were also hot property, with a Ferrari 250/330 Wood-rimmed steering wheel selling for $4,900 against its $1,000-$1,500 estimate, while a wheel from a Porsche 356 brought $1,900 and a wood-rimmed Jaguar E-Type steering wheel sold for $600.
Rare, limited-edition hand-built models also generated strong interest, with a timber-mounted, Scratchbuilt Bugatti Brescia – one of five made – selling for $3,200; a 1:12 scale Fulgurex Mercedes-Benz SSK making $3,400 and a 1:8 scale hand-built Vichy Bugatti Type 35 bringing $3,600.
Other than the Ian Cummins Collection, the November 27 auction generated a number of impressive vehicle and number plate sales, with a highlight being the $100,000 paid for a unique, Australian racing car – the Smith Ford V8 Special – that was hand-built in Perth by Harold Smith to compete in the 1951 Australian Grand Prix held in the WA wheat-belt town of Narrogin, but retired on Lap 14.
Australian Muscle Cars also performed strongly, with a ‘second tier’ Adelaide-built 1968 Holden HK Monaro GTS 307 Coupe finished in Warwick Yellow and fitted with the desirable four-speed manual gearbox, selling above its high estimate for $138,000.
Also punching above its weight was a well-preserved Tangerine 1973 Holden HQ Monaro V8 4-speed manual that sold with ‘no reserve’ for $46,000, while a 1996 HSV Holden VS Commodore GTS-R sedan (Build No 73) went on estimate for $85,000.
In other notable results, a low-mileage, one-owner and unrestored 1955 MG TF 1500 Roadster sold with ‘no reserve’ for $33,000, while a 1929 Buick 6 Roadster in spectacular, restored condition, brought $40,000.
Classic motorcycles and scooters continued to produce strong results in the auction.
The two Classic Indian motorcycles on offer delivering the most impressive figures, with a 1941 Indian 841 750cc selling above its high estimate for $50,000, while a 1948 Indian Chief 1200cc motorcycle went for $45,000.
Two-wheelers with sidecars also delivered spectacular results, with an uber-stylish, restored 1974 Vespa 150cc scooter with matching bullet sidecar offered with ‘no reserve’ selling for $16,500, while a 1929 Harley-Davidson J model 1,000cc motorcycle with sidecar made an excellent $37,000.
Numerical, black and white number plates continued to attract investors, with a total of $749,000 spent on the 11 Victorian Heritage plates on offer.
The top-selling plate was the numerically-lowest – ‘451’ – that brought $117,000, followed closely by ‘876’ that went for $115,000. The standout four-digit plate, as expected, was the numerically significant ‘8.811’ which made $65,000, while $31,500 was paid for the five-digit ’99.000’.
For more information on the auction contact the Melbourne Auction Team on (03) 8588 0809 or email auctions@shannons.com.au.
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