The auction world is full of surprises, with ever changing values, along with the occasional bargain. Here are some of the highlights.
1982 DELOREAN DMC-12
Sold: $129,000
Iconic Auctioneers
This would have to be the most immaculate DMC-12 to hit the market in years. It has travelled just 1000 miles, yet has still undergone a full restoration. In very original condition, the vehicle’s history file contains rare DeLorean memorabilia and artefacts of auto history, specific to this car and the wider DeLorean story. This example has the rare and desirable manual transmission. First registered in Ohio in 1982, it made its way to the UK in 2016, where it underwent a meticulous restoration. It has always been kept in a temperature-controlled garage.
1966 HONDA S600
Sold: $36,500
Collecting Cars
The S600 Roadster was one of Honda’s first models in Aus and these days, the tiny 606cc, DOHC, four-carby-engined roadsters, are sought after. Just 111 of the chain-driven sports cars were made in 1966 and this one, which has been with the same owner for the past 12 years, has benefitted from a full resto back to its original condition. The odo shows 94,700km and it sold with a removable hard top.
1966 PLYMOUTH SATELLITE
Sold: $46,000
Bring A Trailer
Originally a California car, it underwent a refurb, before the seller acquired it in 2019 from the original owner’s grand daughter. Power comes from a 361ci V8 paired with a three-speed TorqueFlite auto and unassisted drum brakes all-round. Citron Gold with matching vinyl upholstery, it has Magnum 500-style wheels, dual exhaust, power-steer, a woodgrain tiller, a push-button AM radio, front bucket seats, and a centre console.
1961 DAIMLER SP250
Sold: $101,200
Iconic Auctioneers
Back in the late 1950s, English cops needed fast cars to stop the shenanigans of young blokes on motorbikes. The answer was the V8-powered Daimler SP250 convertible. This one, a rare survivor, has been fully restored to concours standard. Aimed at the USA market and launched in 1959, the SP250 has a fibreglass body, four-wheel discs and a 102kW, 2.5lt V8 that was good enough for 210km/h. The cops got this in June 1961 and disposed of it August ’67.
1978 FORD GRANADA GL AUTO
Passed In
Brightwells, Lot 13
Here we have a Ford Falcon XD GL wagon. Gotcha. Look again. It’s in fact the Falcon’s English cousin. But I bet if you put the pair side-by-side and ripped the badges off, you’d struggle to guess which is which. This silver GL wagon has travelled a reported 57,692 miles and is a two-owner car. Unlike our straight-six XDs, this one has a 2.5lt V6 and it had decent service history. Despite that, it failed to sell. So, if you want an XD wagon with a twist, you’ve still got time to put on a bid.
2006 BMW Z4M COUPE
Sold: $52,000
Collecting Cars
BMW’s bigger Z4, a successor to the Z3 is highly- regarded by enthusiasts, with only 4272 made. Powered by a naturally-aspirated 3.2-litre ‘S54’ straight-six, with 252kW fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. This three-owner car shows 139,451km. The Z4M makes for a fun daily driver and a weekend blaster. Black with black leather trim, it sold with the owner’s manual and stamped service book.
1886 BENZ PATENT-MOTORWAGEN REPLICA
Sold: $43,000
Iconic Auctioneers
This is where it began in 1886, and the birth of the car. Here is a highly-detailed replica of Karl Benz’s famous internal-combustion-engined Motorwagen. It was basically a tricycle with two large rear wheels, propelled by a chain-drive, single-speed, 954cc one-cylinder engine with 0.9-horsepower. Mercedes-Benz Classic commissioned around 100 of them, they are that good.
1968 PORSCHE 911L COUPE
Sold: $244,000
Bring A Trailer
A one-owner car bought new in Oregon USA then shipped to a US Naval base in Italy, before returning in 1972. Just 499 of the 911L variants (‘L’ for Luxury), were built in ’68, exclusively for the USA. This runs a 2.0lt flat-six and a five-speed manual. It rides on classic 15-inch Fuchs wheels, has four-wheel discs and sports a Lietz ski rack. Prior to sale, it had a big mechanical freshen up and sold with the owner’s manual, tool kit and partial service records.
1990 AUDI UR QUATTRO 2.2 TURBO 20V
Sold: $160,000
Iconic Auctioneers
The Quattro was a revelation, winning many rally championships, while introducing and popularising all-wheel drive in sporty vehicles. Regarded as one of the most influential vehicles of all time, a mere 295 right-hand drive examples of the five-cylinder 20-valve turbo-engined coupes were made. This one was with its original owner for 32 years. It has less than 53,000km from new.
2004 PORSCHE CARRERA 911 4S
Sold: $68,000
Collecting Cars
If you’ve hankered for a modern Porsche 911 on a budget, look at this. A one-owner 996-Carrera 4S in highly original condition. Out the back sits a naturally-aspirated 3.6lt flat-six, with 235kW, driving all-four-wheels via a six-speed manual. This Australia-market ‘C23’-code was first registered in September 2004 and features ‘911 C4S’ rego plates. Always garaged, it has done 157,474km from new.
2002 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK GTR ROADSTER
Sold: $15.6 million
RM Sotheby’s, Lot 38
So, you’ve won the lottery and want a new ride, Six were made and this is the third, with 170km on the clock. It’s the open-top version of Merc’s multiple GT Championship winner. Featuring a rear-mounted 457kW, 6.9-litre V12 with a top speed is 330km/h. It has an aluminium honeycomb frame and carbon-fibre body. Chassis 000034 is silver over black with a grey leather interior.
2004 RANGE ROVER
Sold: $253,000
Iconic Auctioneers
A mega price for an old Rangie, but as the first name on the rego papers was, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, no wonder. It was supplied by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations and specified with a modified grille with covert lights, front and rear seat covers, dog guard, load space mat, side-steps and mud flaps. Other specific fitments for Her Majesty were, dual rear window switches and rear grab handles, common features on royal 4x4s.
1989 DODGE SHELBY CSX-VNT
Sold: $9000
Bring A Trailer
Lee Iacocca was famous for the Mustang and being fired by Henry Ford II. He joined Chrysler and had Carroll Shelby make some cars. Based on the Dodge Shadow, the CSX was a joint venture between Shelby Automobiles and Chrysler. This is number 23 of the 500 made in their final production year and has 65,000km on the odo. Powered by a turbo 2.2lt four, mated to a five-speed manual. It has 15-inch wheels and sports suspension.
1985 TRITAN A2
Sold: $53,600
Mecum, Lot F52
Dominos wanted to set itself apart and a fleet of 10 Pizza delivery vehicles helped. Domino’s founder, Tom Monaghan commissioned Tritan Ventures to build the 10 A2s for a pilot program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Domino’s HQ. The 440cc rotary-engined vehicles were designed by James and Douglas Amick. A travelling billboard and a delivery vehicle. This restored example is the real deal and not a tribute.
2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE STREET EDITION
Sold: $24,000
Bring A Trailer
This is Pontiac’s crack at creating a small roadster in the Mazda MX-5 fashion. With just 21,000km on the clock, the Solstice is powered by a 2.4lt inline-four, mated to a five-speed auto and it has a limited-slip diff. Bilstein shocks and 18-inch alloys, are the ingredients for a fun steer. For comfort it has a manually-operated soft top, which has a glass window.
From Unique Cars #486, Dec 2023