• Auction record $745,000 for NSW plate ‘29’
• Stunning XY Falcon GT makes $180,000
• $91,000 paid for 1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R
• Award-winning 1949 Holden ‘Humpy’ brings $46,000
• Norton Commando with delivery km sold for $37,000
• $9,300 paid for 1950s childs’ pedal car
• Total sales of $2.4 million with 94 per cent clearance rate
Auction records were set in all shapes and sizes at Shannons Sydney Autumn Auction on May 22 as buyers invested in Heritage number plates, special interest cars, motorcycles and children’s toys.
The standout sale of the night was the $745,000 paid for the numerical NSW plate ‘29’, eclipsing the previous auction record of $689,000 paid for NSW ‘2’ back in 2003.
It also established an Australian auction record for a double-digit number plate, topping the $530,000 paid for the Victorian plate ‘21’ at Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction last July.
Other strong number plate sales on the night were $82,000 paid for NSW ‘9191’ and $35,000 for NSW ‘85758’, taking total sales on the night for the six Heritage plates on offer to $956,000.
Classic motorcycles were also hot property, topped by the believed auction-record price of $37,000 paid for an ‘as new’ Australian-delivered 1975 Norton Commando Mk3 850cc motorcycle with just 29 delivery kilometres on its odometer.
Automotive memorabilia was also in demands, with a nicely-restored and presented 1950s Austin J40 Pedal Car selling with ‘no reserve’ after spirited bidding for a believed Australian auction record of $9,300.
A more austere circa 1940s Australian-built Cyclops V8 pedal car also comfortably exceeded its pre-auction high estimate, selling for $2,000, while a circa-1960s child’s three-wheel scooter brought $275, contributing to overall memorabilia sales of $26,925.
Records also established by a number of the 26 classic vehicles in the auction, with a beautifully-presented and very original Australian-delivered 1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R coupe bringing a believed Australian auction record price of $91,000, while a superbly-restored 1970 Ford XY Falcon GT sedan sold to a Country Victorian enthusiast after a prolonged bidding duel for $180,000.
Other impressive results from the auction were:
• a restored 1964 Porsche 356C Coupe brought the second-best vehicle result on the night, selling for $137,000;
• a restored, award-winning 1949 48-215 ‘FX’ Holden commanded $46,000;
• a 1962 MGA 1600 Mk2 Roadster fully restored to MkII specification sold with ‘no reserve’ for $52,000
• an early model 1968 Jensen Interceptor Mk1 Coupe brought $54,000;
• a 1982 Australian-delivered, low kilometre Mercedes-Benz 380SL Convertible sold with ‘no reserve’ for $67,000;
• a stately and exceptionally low mileage Mercedes-Benz 300B ‘Adenauer’ limousine that was first owned by the Victa Lawnmower family sold with ‘no reserve’ for $50,000;
• an imposing right hand drive 1960 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible with ‘no reserve’ brought $55,000.
Shannons National Auction Manager, Christophe Boribon, said the auction result was impressive.
“We are seeing increasing demand for quality classic vehicles with good provenance, particularly 1980s and 1`990s former ‘supercars’,” he said. “The market is strong, but still growing for these vehicles as top examples become harder to find.”
View all May 22 Shannons Sydney Autumn Classic Auction Results
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