• ‘No reserve’ fabulous barn-find Cadillac Coupe de Ville
• Rare, restored and right hand drive 1951 Willy Overland
Remember the 1950s when motoring was once great in the USA? Shannons is winding back the clock to those ‘happy days’ at its August 13 Sydney Winter sale, with two very different vehicles of that era crossing the auction block and expected to sell for similar money.
First up at Lot 11 is a ‘barn find’ 1958 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe De Ville, fresh from long-term storage.
Professionally converted to right-hand drive many years ago, the winged and wonderful Caddy recently emerged from decades of hiding in a Sydney suburban garage, where it shared dust and cobwebs with a Jaguar XK120 sold recently by Shannons in similar condition.
The current long-term owner purchased the Cadillac from a Melbourne dealer in the early 1980s and commenced restoration of the car shortly after, the body was restored and repainted in its original Alpine White, the interior was completely refurbished in White Vinyl with red piping and Zebra patterned inserts, while all chrome- work was completely refurbished at the same time.
The Cadillac will require more recommissioning before gracing our roads once more, but it remains in surprisingly good condition, thanks to the dry, protected environment in which it was stored for more than two decades.
This remarkable survivor of the opulent 1950s will be offered with a spare used engine block, along with a small quantity of spares, with Shannons expecting it to sell with ‘no reserve’ in the $25,000-$30,000 range.
At the polar opposite end of the 1950s American automotive spectrum is a rare factory right hand drive 1951 Willys Overland 4x2 Station Wagon with an interesting history.
This quirky and seriously cool Willys spent most of its life in New -Zealand in a South Canterbury farming community before being comprehensively restored and re-registered by 2004.
After spending time in a prominent Christchurch car collection, it was imported last year by its current Melbourne collector/owner, but is now surplus to his requirements due to some recent acquisitions.
A rare sight in this country and a fabulous alternative to a Land-Rover or early Land Cruiser, the Willys is expected to sell in the $28,000 - $38,000 range.
View all Shannons August 13 Sydney Winter Classic Auction Lots
For more information on the auction contact Stuart Roberts (02) 8019 4179, or Damien Duigan (02) 8019 4180 or email auctions@shannons.com.au.
Protect your Classic. Call Shannons Insurance on 13 46 46 to get a quote today.
