Unusual and high quality classic vehicles and motorcycles caught the eye of buyers at Shannons March 5 Auction in Melbourne, where 42 vehicle and 38 automobilia lots went under the hammer in Cheltenham.
A rare, five-passenger 1935 Packard Super 8 Model 1203 Sedan that was fully restored in the early 1990s at a cost of nearly $100,000 was the top selling vehicle in the auction, being pursued by several phone and floor bidders before being sold for $61,000.
Chasing the Packard hard for bragging rights was a beautifully-presented left hand drive 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible fitted with the model’s trademark 327-ci V8 engine, which brought $60,000, while a sought-after 1988 Holden Commodore VL Walkinshaw SS Group S Sedan (build No. 479) brought $57,750 after being pursued by a number of muscle car enthusiasts.
Bidders were also in the market for the unusual at the auction, with a very rare Australian-delivered 1934 Hupmobile Model J Coupe in need of total restoration selling for $25,000. This was considered an excellent price considering the rarity of these ‘Aerodynamic’ coupes, with only a handful known to exist in the world.
A rarely seen British 1959 Peerless GT fibreglass coupe based on Triumph TR sports car mechanical components exceeded its pre-sales estimate to sell for $26,500, while a unique Bedmore Special single seater race car built in 1948 from a combination of 1929 Morris Minor and Bedford parts sold with no reserve for an excellent $23,000.
Other interesting results for sporting cars were $48,000 paid for a low-kilometre and locally-delivered British Racing Green 1996 Aston Martin DB7 coupe offered with no reserve, $42,000 for a Torch Red 312-ci V8-engined 1957 Ford Thunderbird, $29,000 paid for a very tidy, red 1948 MG TC roadster and $15,000 for a well-presented six-cylinder 1968 MG C GT Coupe.
Classic motorcycles also sold well at the auction, with a superb 1948 Vincent HRD Rapide Series B 998cc V-Twin bringing $53,000 and a 1935 Norton International Model 40 350cc racing solo selling for $16,100.
However the two lots that garnered perhaps the greatest interest only had three wheels.
A spectacular 120cm long 1960s Murray Jet three-wheeler pedal car was pursued with vigour by a number of floor bidders before eventually being sold for $3,700 – around six times its estimate.
And an iconic Furphy Farm Water Tank on a three-wheeler wagon created a similar flurry of interest before selling for $2,500.
To view full auction results, visit www.shannons.com.au.