• Australian-delivered Series 1 Jaguar E-Type roadster
• Healthy mix of modern and classic convertibles on offer
Winter will be over and tops are coming down for Spring at Shannons Sydney Winter Auction with nine very desirable classic convertibles going under the hammer on August 29.
There is a folding roof vehicle for all tastes and budgets on offer as the nine span a wide background. They range from a cheap and cheerful 1950 Ford Anglia to a stunning 1950 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, while a pair of sporting Mercedes-Benz, a glorious black Series 1 E-Type Jaguar Roadster, a pair of ‘60s British icons and a very rare 1988 BMW C2 2.7-litre Alpina are also in the mix.
An entirely different Mercedes-Benz convertible in the auction is a beautiful Blue 1965 300SE Cabriolet, which benefitted from a full interior re-trim costing $45,000 in 2011 and an engine rebuild with a new cylinder head fitted in 2015.
The factory right-hand-drive car was imported early in its life, with Shannons saying its underbody is in strong original condition, with no visible corrosion or damage. It is expected to sell in the $105,000-$125,000 range.
Also from Germany there is a very rare and collectible 1988 BMW Alpina C2 2.7 convertible.
Ordered new in1988 and delivered through Trivett Classic Parramatta as a 320i cabriolet with full Alpina C2 drivetrain, suspension and bodywork at a (then huge) cost of $125,000, it is also rare as it features the highly desirable Series 1 E30 body, but is equipped with a Series 2 full folding roof.
Sold with a comprehensive history file, this now hugely-desirable E30 BMW variant is expected to sell with ‘no reserve’ in the $15,000-$20,000 range on August 29.
At the opposite end of the size and sporting scale is the gorgeous black 1950 Cadillac Series 62 convertible. With less than 7,000 sold, the black-with-cream leather-equipped vehicle has benefitted from a ground-up restoration to show-winning standards by internationally renowned master craftsman, Justin Hills, of Hills Custom Cars in Taree, NSW.
The Cadillac runs a stock-spec later 1950s 390-cid Cadillac V8 mated to a rebuilt four-speed Super Hydramatic automatic transmission and with its combination of its rarity, desirability and the quality of its restoration, Shannons expect it to command $100,000-$120,000.
Jaguar enthusiasts will be drawn to the beautiful black Jaguar E-type 3.8 Series 1 Convertible in the auction.
A Personal Export Delivery to Australia from new, the ‘Moss box’ car is being sold with a comprehensive receipt file detailing work carried out by leading Jaguar experts Ian Cummins and Graeme Lord including the replacement of its original triple SU carburettors with a bank of side-draft Webers.
With early E-Type values increasing rapidly worldwide, Shannons expect this very desirable early convertible to bring $140,000-$155,000.
As a sporting Jaguar alternative in the auction, there is an American-delivered 1957 Jaguar XK150 Drophead Coupe that was restored and converted to right-hand-drive during 2000-2005 after being imported by an Australian XK Jaguar expert.
The XK150 is being sold with a comprehensive receipt file and Jaguar Heritage Trust certificates and is expected to realise $105,000-$120,000.
Also from the UK are two Classic roadsters from the late 1960s – a 1967 Sunbeam Alpine Mk V Convertible and a rare 1968 Triumph TR5 ‘Surrey Top’ Coupe – both offered with ‘no reserve’.
The Sunbeam is the final iteration of the stylish Rootes Group Alpine series originally introduced in 1959, but by 1967 its engine had grown in size from 1494cc to 1725cc and the signature sharp tail fins of the original had been trimmed.
The neat and tidy car in the Sydney Winter Auction would make an ideal first Classic, according to Shannons, who expect it to sell with ‘no reserve’ in the $12,000-$16,000 range.
Even more desirable for English sports car enthusiasts is the 1968 British Racing Green TR5 Overdrive model fitted with the optional ‘Surrey Top’ that included a fixed glass rear window and both hard and emergency fabric infill panels.
Reportedly fully rebuilt in 1998, the TR5 is now showing some signs of wear on its paintwork, but remains a very desirable Classic according to Shannons, who expect it to sell with ‘no reserve’ in the $52,000-$62,000 range.
View all August 29 Shannons Sydney Winter Classic Auction Lots
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