Classic Market Still Buoyant at Shannons

Gloomy talk of global warming, carbon offsets and fluctuating fuel prices didnt dull the enthusiasm of buyers at Shannons Sydney Winter Auction on July 21, with excellent prices achieved by a number of European, British and Australian classics.

An auction room crowd of around 400 bid enthusiastically for the 26 car and 17 memorabilia lots on offer, with 65 per cent of the vehicles on offer sold for total sales of $650,000.

The top result of the auction was the $135,000 paid for a 1970 Vermillion Fire Falcon XY GT in excellent restored condition, but featuring a non-matching Cleveland V8 engine and Top Loader manual instead of its original automatic gearbox.

Other muscle cars to sell well included a left hand drive 1969 Shelby Mustang GT 500 Fastback in good, but not outstanding condition, that went for $113,000, while a matching numbers, one owner Yellow Glo 1972 Falcon XA GT that had covered just 34,861 miles since new, but had spent virtually all its life in the UK, brought $70,000.

Heading the British and European classics, a 1967 Australian-delivered, right hand drive Mercedes-Benz 250SL Pagoda roof Convertible in good daily-driveable condition sold above estimate for $71,500, a well-presented 1948 Daimler DB18 Special Sports Drophead in good working condition sold for $41,000, a fully-restored 1936 MG TA Roadster made an excellent $35,000 and a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Coupe with a nice patina of age sold unreserved on estimate for $14,700.

Budget classic sporting cars found a ready market too, with a very well presented right hand drive 1972 Porsche 914 Convertible and a 1980 Fiat 124 Spider both bringing $12,000, a 1972 Volkswagen Beach Buggy sold unreserved made $9,500 and a very tidy 1960 Jaguar Mk2 3.4 litre manual sedan sold for $15,000.

Amongst the Americans, a 1960 Ford Thunderbird Golde Roof coupe sold for $16,000 and a very tidy four-speed manual 1966 Ford Mustang (LHD) coupe brought the hammer down at $25,000.

Vintage American cars also did well, with a 1926 Buick 6 Roadster and a 1928 Pontiac 6 Tourer both selling unreserved on estimate for $16,000 and $8,500 respectively.

High performance Australian sporting cars faired indifferently, with the delivery-mileage 2007 Ford FPV GT Cobra sedan, a 2003 Holden Monaro CSV Mondo GT coupe and a 1970 Bolwell Mk VII coupe fitted with a Boss 302 Ford V8 all failing to make their reserve prices.

However a very original 1971 Holden Sandman Ute sold for $14,000 and a 1965 Falcon XP Futura sedan went for $13,700.

Amongst the memorabilia, three period petrol pumps all brought good prices, with a restored 1950s Double Gilbarco electric pump selling for $5,250, an unrestored 1930s Gilbert & Barker 6-gallon manual pump going for $4,100 and an unrestored 1960s Wayne electric pump in BP livery selling for $3,100.

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