The auction world is full of surprises with ever changing numbers, plus the occasional bargain. Here are some of the highlights
1968 Dodge Charger
Sold: $105,000
Shannons, Lot 181
An iconic US muscle car, the ’68-70 Charger is sought after by Mopar fans. This one has a 383ci V8 tied to a three-speed auto. 1970 was its last production year and its distinctive fastback ‘Coke bottle’ styling. The Charger starred in the epic car chase in the movie Bullitt and the television series Dukes of Hazzard. Owned for 25 years by the vendor, it has had a repaint and been retrimmed in the factory style. With nothing to do but enjoy it, this one sold with an original owner’s manual.
1969 Datsun Fairlady Z432
Sold: $459,000
Mecum, Lot 582
Gotta 240Z in the shed? This is one of 299 made between 1969-70, and this award winner has been restored twice, once in Japan and once in London. Nissan sourced the 1989cc inline six from Prince which used it in the C10 Skyline GT-R and R380 race car. This matching numbers S20 with three Mikuni-Solex carbs coughs up 160hp, while the Z432 name comes from the engine’s four valves per cylinder, three carbs and two camshafts. It’s tied to a close-ratio five-speed manual. Finished in orange with black trim and magnesium Watanabe wheels, it is sure to light up any car show.
1957 Pontiac Custom Safari
Sold: $89,230
Hemmings
A rare car, one of 1292 produced and with its history traced back to the original owner, a doctor in Colorado. The seller says it was restored in the 1980s and has been well cared for since. While it’s showing its age outside, it’s claimed to be in excellent mechanical condition and has only done 90,500 miles. The interior, featuring a padded dash is in exceptionally good shape. The Safari’s 347ci V8 engine was rebuilt in the ’80s.
1969 Ford Cortina MK II GT
Sold: $25,000
Shannons, Lot 155
The Mk II GT had big shoes to fill, given the success of its predecessor. This one was bought new in Dubbo in November 1969 and with the same owner until 2019, when it was acquired by the vendor. It served as a daily driver and a competition car in local club events including at Bathurst. It was stolen and crashed in 1985 and remained in a shed for 50 years. An unrestored survivor it shows a genuine 123,852 miles.
1967 Saab 96 Monte Carlo V4
Sold: $41,500
Shannons, Lot 206
Named after the success of the 96 in the 1962 and ’63 Monte Carlo Rallies, this later version sports a Ford sourced V4 bolted to a column-change manual gearbox. An homologation special and built for one year only, this one was imported from the Netherlands and fully restored in 1995. The vendor bought it five years ago and ironed out any bugs. It is in superb condition. A left hooker with a large cloth sunroof, it shows 62,747km on the clock and came with a swag of receipts and a photocopied Saab Shop Manual.
1975 AMC Pacer X
Sold: $16,000
Seven 82 Motors, Lot 21
I’d like to know what was in the coffee of the folk who penned the AMC Pacer. It is one weird beast but found fame in the Wayne’s World movies. Offered with no reserve, this example has done just 18,993 miles and sports a 4.0lt six and three-speed auto, plus sports trim, air-con, an 8-track stereo, sports wheels and whitewalls. It is believed to have had a respray at some point, with the brightwork in good nick.
2002 Holden HSV Monaro GTO V2
Sold: $36,520
Collecting Cars
Prices have eased post COVID for later-gen Monaros and their HSV stablemates. The GTO was one of two HSV optimised Monaros. It’s number 303 of 500 and runs an LS1 and four-speed auto. A two-owner car, the vendor owning it for 11 years. It shows 163,120km on the odo and recently had its gearbox reconditioned and drive belt replaced. It sold with the owner’s book, and HSV certificate.
1966 Ford Mustang Convertible
Sold: $64,000
Shannons, Lot 146
April 14 1964 was M day for Ford. That was the day the world got its first glimpse of the famous Pony Car. Based on a Falcon platform, it was an instant hit in its three body styles. This one with a 289 V8 and C4 was professionally converted to right-hand drive and is from a long-term owner who pampered it for the past 20 years. It shows 93,370 miles and sold with receipts for the last 20 years. It was Repainted in 2019, the Mustang presents well outside and the two-tone Pony interior shows little wear in keeping with its limited use.
1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta
Sold: $48,000,000
Bonhams, Lot 67P
Won the lottery and need to fill your shed? Try this … and yes, it’s road legal and registered. Driven by many famous drivers to many victories, power for the 412P Berlinetta is a 4lt V12. It has matching numbers, something rare for a race car, and it underwent a nine-year resto. The body was by Ferrari, Fantuzzi, and Edmondo Casoli – aka the ‘father of the 250GTO’ and they produced what is considered one of the most beautiful pieces of performance engineering of all time.
1983 Porsche 911 SC
Sold: $110,000
Shannons, Lot 227
This month celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Porsche 911. The SC ran from 1978 to 1983, and this example has been with the vendor the past 36 years. When purchased, it had 34,116km on the clock, now it reads 394,806km. It was repainted in 2010 and the engine rebuilt at 246,116km. It sold with its full maintenance and servicing history, and the original book set in a factory Porsche wallet.
1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
Sold: $212,500
Hemmings
Fully restored 20 years ago (with receipts) and now with a Tri-Power 348ci V8 and auto. The convertible Impala was the top dog, and this finned leviathan was built in Canada and restored about 20 years ago adding a new donk and continental kit. It was a multi award winner in the East Texas area, but after the owner passed it sat for five years. But it is now back in good running order.
1960 Ford Ranchero Utility
Sold: $15,000
Shannons, Lot 142
No, it isn’t an XK ute, but an American Ranchero. Original Rancheros were Fairlane based, but from 1960 onwards, Falcon was their foundation hence the familiarity. Bought at a Mecum auction in 2018, it’s painted mid-green with a fine metallic fleck. There are a few chips and it sits lower on whitewall shod steel rims. The black vinyl-trimmed bench seat and carpets are in good condition. It now has a 260ci six-cylinder driving through a three-speed automatic and indicates 74,603 miles.
2000 Holden HJ Sandman
Sold: $89,750
Seven 82 Motors, Lot 42
There aren’t many genuine HJ Sandmans left and this one is a beauty. A Brisbane built XX7 plated Sandman has been repainted and retrimmed. It has a 253 and four-speed manual combo and sports a dual-headlight Statesman front and GTS dash. It rolls on widened Sandman GTS wheels and is a neatly restored example of an Aussie Icon, that defined the ’70s for a generation. No mention of drive-in passes in the glovebox, but there is a mattress and curtains in the back.
1980 Holden HZ Kingswood Wagon
Sold: $42,500
Shannons, Lot 159
This Kingswood wagon is Clark Kent on the outside, an innocent and tidy family wagon, and underneath Superman in the form of a 500hp LS1 Chev V8 and Trimatic auto. A real wolf in sheep’s clothing right down to its whitewall tyres. It has been repainted in its original Mirage Blue and since its thorough restoration, the wagon has covered just 3230km and, says the owner, drives like a dream.
1991 Honda CRX 1.6
Sold: $39,250
Collecting Cars
Honda’s first-gen CRX was popular and this four-owner, untouched and original gem has travelled 30,669km. It has a high-revving 1.6-litre four driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual. Sporty in nature, it came with power windows and mirrors, a sunroof, digital clock, air-con and a Honda radio-cassette player. It sold with books and original sales brochure.
1959 Borgward Isabella Coupe
Sold: $75,000
Shannons, Lot 202
Unique Cars featured a Borgward Isabella and it was very well received. Given the excellent sale price, this superb example was also well received. The Isabella was produced in small numbers between 1957 and 1962, with few surviving today. This one has received a refurb in the 1990s and is an Australian delivered car. It seems in fine fettle and sold with 81,000 miles on it, plus the original hand and accessories booklets.
From Unique Cars #483, Sep 2023