Theodore Bruce Classic Car Auction at Motorclassica

By: Scott Murray

Date: 14.09.2015

2005 Ford GT40

Restored Marlboro Holden Dealer Team SL/R 5000 Torana

1968 Bentley T convertible

The 1973 Ferrari Dino 246GT

1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1 "Exact Replica"

2005 Ford GT40

Restored Marlboro Holden Dealer Team SL/R 5000 Torana

1968 Bentley T convertible

The 1973 Ferrari Dino 246GT

1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1 "Exact Replica"

Motorclassica 2015 will once again provide the arena for the Theodore Bruce Classic Car Auction on Saturday night October 25th with some incredibly rare pieces of motoring up for sale.

There’s a bit of everything from Aussie motoring racing royalty to the epitome of vintage motoring and everything in between.

Our preview starts with one of the headline acts, the completely restored Marlboro Holden Dealer Team SL/R 5000 Torana, driven by the late great Peter Brock and Colin Bond. It’s expected to fetch a mighty $295,000-$365,000 and rightly so – it’s had a detailed history file put together including information from Manager of Holden Motor Sport (1970-1980) Joe Felice. This one will be one to watch as a significant indicator of the values on historical Australian Touring Cars to come.

With a full right-hand drive conversion by Mustang Motorsport, this 2005 Ford GT is estimated to rake in half a million Aussie dollars. With its Lysholm supercharged 5.4-litre V8 putting out 680Nm, it’s a modern-day marvel that attracts both old and young petrolheads. This car’s got the four optional extras: BBS wheels, McIntosh sound system, the killer retro-inspired racing stripes, and red brake calipers. It’s only done 3700 miles and has had a Ford Racing upgrade to give it 575 ponies at the treads.

The 1968 Bentley T convertible wasn’t around for long, just four years and only 41 cars were built including just 14 in right-hand drive. So there are grounds to expect this gorgeous Drophead Coupe might soar over its estimate of $77,500-$85,000. Can it crack $100k? Last year’s Continental R pipped $1.2M so anything’s possible. With luscious Connolly leather, a silky three-speed GM400 gearbox bolted up to the 6.2litre V8 and with Rolls-Royce overseeing the whole project, all second owner Lord Owen Lloyd George (grandson of the British PM David Lloyd George) had to do, was proceed with sufficient power, manipulated aptly with the Nardi steering wheel.

Anything Dino seems to be a hit at auction at the moment. The 1973 Ferrari Dino 246GT is likely to do the same, especially in sexy silver (courtesy of a thorough restoration) with a desirable right-hook configuration – considering on 488 were built so, it’s likely to be a hotly bidden lot, asking over half a million dollars.

Last but not least, we spotted one achingly good-looking redhead among the Theodore Bruce lots. Lot 29 – bite your bottom lip beautiful – it’s a 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1. Yeah, that’s a rare car right there. Sure it’s being touted as an "exact replica", but even still, super-desirable. Using all the original suspension, chassis, brakes, aluminium bodywork and all-important drivetrain, she’s a work of art. A 1.6-litre twin-plug four-cylidner with a kerb weight of just 658kg means it’ll punch 216km/h courtesy of ex-Ferrari engineer Carlo Chiti’s handiwork on the twin-cam screamer. Hand-built by master craftsman Giorgio Greppi in his Carrozeria workshop in northern Italy, this fiery redhead will be one of the stars of Motorclassica’s Theordore Bruce Classic Car Auction.

We’ll bring you the results, so watch this space. Visit www.theodorebruce.com.au for the full auction list. What’s your favourite lot? Tell us via email at uniquecars@primecreative.com.au

Motorclassica runs October 22-24, visit www.motorclassica.com.au for tickets and info.

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