Holden HG GTS350 + Chrysler 77 Coupe + Sunbeam Tiger - Ones That Got Away

By: Cliff Chambers

Date: 06.12.2023

The cars we should have bought or are delighted we didn’t...

HOLDEN HG GTS350 (Advertised November 2007)

Hopefully, no one got too intense with their offers on this HG, because by late 2007 the market was settling in for a sustained plunge. By 2012, HG GTS350s rated as Condition 2 by the Unique Cars Muscle Car Guide were worth $65,000 and would continue to drift. Then in 2016, a sudden surge of interest in GTS327/350s would push values back to the same levels as in 2007. Although a GTS350 in HG form won’t make the same money as the HT version with Bathurst 500 heritage, that car someone bought in 2007 for more than it was worth, will by now have clawed back the difference.

Then: $140,000, Now: $185,000-205,000

AUSTIN-HEALY SPRITE MARK 3 (Advertised April 1991)

Before most Sprites would qualify for Concessional registration, they were still seen as terrific entry-level classics and well worth the $10,000 being asked. More than 30 years later, they still offer user-friendly fun and cars in average condition still cost less than $15,000. One in fully restored condition and accessorised like the ad car, will be worth more but unlikely to exceed $25,000. Sprite buyers in Britain are even better off, despite the scarcity of Mark 2-3A versions, with the money being paid for good cars remaining below A$15,000.

Then: $10,000, Now: $22,000-25,000

NISSAN GTR R34 V SPEC (Advertised April 2007)

Look back 15 years and the influx of R34 GTRs had barely begun, prices were sensible and you could viably run one in tarmac rallies. Today, the market is bulging with V Specs, but at over $250,000 almost everyone is too scared to use them in competition. The Americans are mostly to blame, with some cars in their market making US$300,000 and encouraging sellers elsewhere to seek silly money. At auction recently, a rare NUR version bettered $400,000 which is going to encourage vendors of more common versions to keep asking prices high.

Then: $98,000, Now: $220,000-240,000

CHRYSLER 77 COUPE (Advertised January 1997)

If you’ve got an SRT8, in a world full of standard 300Cs, then you know how Chrysler 77 owners might have felt 90 years ago. The 77 was a derivative of the cars that raced at Le Mans and in the Mille Miglia. It was named in recognition of its factory guarantee to cruise at 77 miles an hour and reach at least 90mph (145km/h). With hydraulic brakes and a four-speed gearbox, the 77 was a proper high-performance but not common car in Australia, or anywhere for that matter. Recently, a Roadster in the USA reached $75,000 with the 2019 median price for coupes being US$51,700.

Then: $26,500, Now: $65,000-80,000

SUNBEAM TIGER (Advertised June 2009)

If you fancied yourself as Agent 86 and had $58,000 to spend at a time when most of the known world wallowed in the backlash of the GFC, then this Sunbeam V8 would have been perfect. Max’s car in Get Smart was a Tiger with Ford’s 4.2-litre engine and somewhat exciting to drive. This one with a tweaked 4.9 would doubtless offer more excitement than the factory cars, but still cost less than a 4.7-litre Tiger Mark II. None of the Tigers are easy finds in Australia and if you own one today, you probably won’t be tempted to sell for much below $120,000.

Then: $58,000, Now: $100,000-115,000

FORD COUNTRY CUSTOM (Advertised April 1998)

Australia didn’t see wagon versions of the Customline, but with so many being built with ambulance and hearse bodywork, the temptation did exist for Bodycraft in Geelong (VIC) to knock out a few for civilian sale. They rarely appear on the market, but scouring the internet for confirmed sales, revealed several viable cars on Ford owners’ sites plus a few rusty wrecks, so they must have been built in decent numbers. Values for OHV Customline sedans have been rising over several years and must logically affect the price of derivative vehicles like the Mainline ute and wagons.

Then: $12,500, Now: $50,000-55,000

LANCIA MONTE CARLO (SCORPION) (Advertised June 1999)

Lancia’s Monte Carlo isn’t common in Australia and this quite likely was the only US-spec Scorpion to arrive here. Given the pace at which Lancias from this era developed rust, we'd be amazed if it has survived, however if you own it, please get in touch. Just 1805 Scorpions were built for US sale from 1976-77 (the name change to avoid conflict with Chevrolet) and none have been sold recently. However, a couple of Scorpions during 2021 managed US$5900 and US$9800. Over in Europe, the highest recent auction price was €15,500 (about A$25,000) for a car described as ‘highly original’.

Then: $10,000, Now: $25,000-30,000

From Unique Cars #485, Nov 2023

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