Holden WB Utes & Shannons Auctions: Classic Restos - Series 50

Fletch travels to Victoria and visits the Shannons Auction Showroom in Heatherton. His timing is impeccable as the showroom is packed with cars, bikes and memorabilia ready for their recent timed online auction. 

The state-of-the-art showroom is massive 70 metres x 30metres, and beautifully presented, as is the array of vehicles. Fletch spots a couple of classics, including the iconic FJ Holden 48-215, a 1972 HQ Holden 308 2-door coupe, a 1970 HT Monaro 253 V8, a 1974 XB Ford Falcon, and a 1962 Ford Consul Cortina sedan in original condition and all ready to go under the auction hammer. 

Christophe Boribon, from Shannons Auctions, has a long history with the company, having worked there for 25 years. He talks about the growth of the Auction business, which now averages a 90% sale rate, and the volume of vehicles and values that have grown significantly. Shannons have recently built new showrooms in Melbourne and Sydney and added a new showroom facility in Brisbane, all to the same exacting standards as Melbourne's Heatherton showroom. The auction showrooms are open six days a week (Mon-Sat) and have auction advisers on hand to talk all things cars, bikes and memorabilia. There is something there for all enthusiasts, from low-cost model cars to heritage & numerical number plates, and of course, cars and bikes. Fletch recommends a visit that is sure to impress at any of the three Shannons Auction Showrooms. 

Back on the road, Fletch drops in at a rural property to see Catriona Rowntree's partner James who has an enviable WB Holden Ute collection. First is a 1980 6-cylinder Ute with just 83,000 km on the clock that came with a full-service history. His second WB is a 1982 V8 Model, and as James says, "everyone has to have a V8 Ute". He saw it advertised and within 20 minutes was the second only owner. The previous owner worked on the factory floor at Holdens SA plant and, being an employee, was eligible for a staff discount and purchased the WB Ute. 

They are very honest vehicles, as Fletch puts it, but sometimes they need a bit of work, and Gaven admits that this one has had a complete engine and gearbox rebuild along with the suspension and converted from a gas model. The Holden WB Model Kingswood was only ever produced as a Ute and a Statesman de Ville and Caprice.