Sydney, AUS, June 15, 2008 – Bonhams & Goodman conducted another successful auction of Collectors’ Cars at their Bay East premises in Sydney’s Waterloo, with a 90% clearance rate. The NSW single digit number plate “6” has sold for an undisclosed amount post auction believed to be approaching a million dollars to a private Sydney collector/investor wishing to remain anonymous. The right to display NSW “6” was tipped by the auctioneers to fetch $700,000 – $1,000,000 prior to the sale. This is believed to be a new world record price for a number plate the previous record being $680,000 for NSW […]
Sydney, AUS, June 15, 2008 – Bonhams & Goodman conducted another successful auction of Collectors’ Cars at their Bay East premises in Sydney’s Waterloo, with a 90% clearance rate.
The NSW single digit number plate “6” has sold for an undisclosed amount post auction believed to be approaching a million dollars to a private Sydney collector/investor wishing to remain anonymous. The right to display NSW “6” was tipped by the auctioneers to fetch $700,000 – $1,000,000 prior to the sale. This is believed to be a new world record price for a number plate the previous record being $680,000 for NSW “2” sold by Bonhams & Goodman in 2003.
Head of Collector’s Cars at Bonhams, Robert glover said, “There have been four NSW single digit plates sold since 1983 and we have been privileged to have been appointed to sell them all. Since the RTA released several single digit plates in 1983 they have risen in value by around 40% per annum, a remarkable gain”.
One of the many highlights of the auction was a 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental from the Estate of the Late Gunnar Sundell. The attractive car came to Australia from the UK in 1938 when it was purchased by Australian Baritone legend Peter Dawson. Bidding was fiercely contested between a phone bidder in Austria and a local Sydney collector who was present in the room. The auction room fell silent before auctioneer, Tim Goodman’s hammer came down at $121,000 ($136,730 including Buyers Premium) to the local Sydney buyer and there was an outbreak of applause from the huge crowd packed into the sale room.
Other notable results included a 1909 Panhard Levassor that had been in the same family from new. Having been purchased by Bill Moss in 1909 for the princely sum of 975 pounds (cash), it was offered for sale for the first time since new. It sold to a New Zealand enthusiast for $64,410 (including Buyers premium).
The collection of the Late Jim Scott also created huge interest and all but one of the cars in the collection found a new home. The two Chrysler Valliant VH Chargers really caused a stir with both examples selling way over the top estimate.
Other strong results were
· 1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Saloon with coachwork by Park Ward. $74,580
· 1931 Cadillac V12 Dual Cowl Phaeton (lhd) $124,300
· 1958 Jaguar XK150 Coupé $73,450
· c1931 Austin Seven Tourer $11,300
· 1907 Humber 10-12hp $25,990
‘We are absolutely thrilled with the result of this sale’ commented Robert Glover, National head of Collectors’ Motor Cars at Bonhams & Goodman. ‘Not only did nearly all of the cars find new homes but we were extremely encouraged by the strong local interest in the sale in general, and particularly in the more valuable lots in the sale’
The next Bonhams & Goodman Collectors’ Motor Cars Auction will be held in Melbourne on 7 September with the inaugural New Zealand sale the weekend after. ‘With consistently successful sales worldwide and expansion both locally and overseas these are very exciting times for the Bonhams motoring network and we look forward to a hugely successful year ahead’ said Robert. ‘The results in the sale are very encouraging and serve to support our plans for expansion of the department through 2008/09’
