Shannons Spring Auction Melbourne 2015

By: Scott Murray, Photography by: Shannons

Date: 22.09.2015

We’ve picked our favourite lots from the recent Shannons Spring Auction on Monday 21st September and what another great classic auction it was!

The Kombi thing is still a thing right now. There’s no doubt they are the flavour at auction right now, be it a paddock-find or nut-bolt resto. Lot 18 sold for $36,000 in a vibrant red and white combo, with a freshened four-speed manual, 1600cc flat-four and some gorgeous chrome accents that sing the songs of a summertime roadtrip around Australia.

However, the 1966 21-Window Samba (Lot 37) just took the entire cake.

The cloth-topped Lancia Montecarlo, rare in these parts, stood out in its garish aqua green/blue paint and hot BBS alloys. Enthusiasts will have no doubt had a look underneath with a well-trained eye, but with a bit spent on improvements (undecided on that very-70s brown leather) and perhaps a new lick of paint, someone’s bought a great mid-engined rally special, styled by Pininfarina.

From handling to heft now, and for $5000, stuff fuel economy and responsiveness ­– the Oldsmobile Toronado in left-hook was banging on the door for a cheap summer cruiser. With its thumping 250 cubic-inch V8 engine, front-wheel drive and a boot that would swallow ten, these Yank tanks do manage to sell despite their acquired taste.

Need some cheap Aussie muscle car action in your car-love life? Look no further than an HZ GTS Monaro. Lot 24 was a remarkably original example, with painted rocker covers (points for effort), a pop-up sunroof, that beloved lump of 308 cubic-inch Aussie V8 in the nose and the rock ‘n’ roll lip spoiler on the bum. For 20 grand it’s a bargain, and while the blue vinyl interior is quite faded, it is original. Hearing that signature 70s Holden door ‘thunk’ on a hot summers day, the seat belt buckle searing flesh as you buckle in to head home from the beach, right elbow on the window sill and a Golden Gaytime in your left hand, the new owner will be as happy as Larry.

At the other end of the spectrum was a stunning 1955 Fixed Head coupe Jaguar XK140 which went for $125,000. Lot 30, with its silky 3.4-litre straight-six, double H6 SU side-draught carburettors and an output of 140kW and 284Nm in right-hand drive (of which there weren’t even 850 built) makes this desirable and rare pussy cat. With a safe but luscious red leather and carpeted interior against the white body, with its super-sleek rear spats, makes you understand why it went for 125K. We knew this would sell.

Last but certainly not lonely with a grinning new owner was Lot 41, the immaculate 1969 XW GT Falcon in beautiful Vintage Burgundy and the mighty Cleveland 351 under the scooped bonnet, which went for a strong $77,000. Can’t afford an astronomically-priced XY? XWs are clearly holding their own in the marketplace now. Where they once looked poultry compared to the Phase III-wannabe XY GTs of the last few years, a really tidy example will not only offer something different enough to be different, but with very similar performance characteristics. Namely, a torquey, snorting thrust that’ll throw your head back and turn others’. The king is dead? Love live…

The next Shannons Classic Auction is in Sydney on November 9^th at 7pm. Check out the upcoming lots online by visiting www.shannons.com.au – we’ll bring you our preview and wrap-up right here at TradeUniqueCars.com.au

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