The auction world is full of surprises, with big numbers and the odd bargain: here are some of the highlights
1956 Chevrolet Corvette
Sold: $138,200
RM Sotheby’s, Lot 152
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This beaut looking early Corvette is one of just 166 examples finished in two-tone Aztec Copper and Beige and has been with the one family from 1979 to 2006. The ’56 Vette was the recipient of the first major styling revision, three years after debut and this one had a body-off resto in the 1980s. It won an NCRS Top Flight Award in October 2005. It features the RPO-419 option comprising twin four-barrel carbs, a cast aluminium manifold, 265ci V8, two-speed Powerglide auto, electric windows, and a powered convertible roof. It sold with an operations manual, restoration photographs, spare wheel, and correct-type steering wheel.
1995 Porsche 911 Carrera 2
Sold: $111,500
Silverstone, Lot 828
With the 993 came firsts and lasts. It was the first 911 to sport a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, and the first to have multi-link rear suspension. It was also the last to have an air-cooled engine and is loved by Porsche aficionados. This one-owner example is in fine fettle with an excellent service history. Finished in Polar Silver with a black leather interior it has optional sports suspension. Since new it has travelled 120,572km. It has always been garaged. The mats have lived over the carpet since new. A better example would be hard to find.
2007 Honda S2000
Sold: $112,500
Bring A Trailer
A 50th birthday present to itself, the Honda S2000 was big on tech and performance and low on compromise. Powered by a 2.2lt V-TEC four with a stratospheric redline and just about the best six-speed manual box going, along with double wishbone suspension and a slippery diff. This Imola orange with black leather cabin example has been driven a mere 33,000km.
1983 Isuzu Impulse
Sold: $25,251
Collecting Cars
This car is believed to be one of two prototypes imported by the General to display at motor shows. We know it as the Holden Piazza and there are so few of them they turn heads, on curiosity alone. The car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and lobbed here in the mid-1980s. This four-owner example shows 162,616 on the clock was given a resto at some point. It’s a 1.9-litre four and four-speed auto.
1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC
Sold (estimate): $106,000-$125,000
Classic Silverstone Festival August 25, Lot 654
A mere 99 right-hand drive Giulia convertibles were produced and this is number 54, and believed to be one of just 12 remaining in the UK. Launched in 1963, the Giulia Sprint GT was penned by Bertone’s Giorgetto Giugiaro using underpinnings from the recently introduced 105 series. Finished in Alfa 105 Rosso, this one was comprehensively restored some years ago by Alfaholics with an engine rebuild and the body refurbed, using a set of NOS body panels.
2006 BMW Z4 Couple SI Sport
Sold: $14,300
Brightwells, Lot 38
If you hanker for a modern BMW coupe that won’t break the bank and deliver endless smiles per mile, check out this modern Bavarian classic. This Titan Silver with oxblood leather interior Z4 coupe sport features the powerful 3.0lt straight six tied to a ZF six-speed tiptronic gearbox. Despite its obvious sports focus, inside its pure luxury with power windows, power sports seats, climate control and cruise. Since new it has covered 104,844 miles and had eight owners. It sold with an array of service and parts.
1966 Mercury Comet Coupe
Sold: $24,800
Barrett Jackson, Lot 36
The nameplate was derived from NASA’s Mercury rocket program. An early muscle car this ’66 coupe has been given a fair workover mechanically with a blueprinted 347ci stroker engine mated to a performance C4 “cut shaft” automatic transmission. This lot has travelled less than 100 miles since being shoehorned into the body. Finishing it off neatly are
its American Racing wheels with Cooper tyres.
1990 Mercedes-Benz (W124) 300 TE
Sold: $21,900
Collecting Cars
Anyone who knows Benzes will be smiling seeing this estate. It’s a 300TE and sports the three-litre six with four-speed auto. It shows 252,018km from new. Finished in smoke silver with rugged wearing ‘MB-Tex’ upholstery, this wagon would have been six figures when new. It sold with its original owner’s book, service and parts invoices, first aid kit, jack, original tool kit and the boot-mounted spare wheel.
1987 Honda Prelude 2.0SI 5-Speed
Sold: $118,766
Bring A Trailer
THIS HONDA Prelude was a landmark car for the Japanese brand and this original, superbly cared for example has only travelled 4200 miles. But $118,766 is a phenomenal result any way you look at it. Sold new in Vermont USA, the Prelude remained within the original owner’s family until April 2023. Phoenix Red in hue with black cloth trim its 2.0-litre four is paired with a five-speed manual. The Prelude was luxurious having a power sunroof, aircon, cruise control, power windows and AM/FM cassette stereo.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette
Sold: $224,000
Bring A Trailer
This split window Vette underwent modification and restoration in 2022 with black cherry metallic over tan leather. Under the long bonnet, a 350ci V8 crate engine was installed and hooked up to a Tremec five-speed manual. The resto included the fitting of an aluminium radiator, dual exhausts, discs all-round, 15-inch steel wheels and a Delco AM/FM radio. Offered with no reserve the odo shows 12,000 miles of which just 1000 have been added since the completion of the work.
1979 Ford Capri II 3000 GHIA
Sold: $16,790
Brightwells, Lot 73
The Ford Capri was a successful race car and a star on the talking furniture, popping up on many pommy 70s TV shows. This one was first registered in October 1979 and acquired by the vendor in 2019. The 3.0lt V6 was given a new clutch, power steering pipes, a set of standard exhaust manifolds, and an engine freshen-up. The body has also been spruced up and now it’s ready for a new owner.
1981 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Sold: $96,000
Barrett Jackson, Lot 136
Burt Reynolds and the cult flick Smokey and The Bandit made this car famous. This one-owner 81 Firebird Trans Am with 47,418 miles on the clock features a 305ci V8 with a 4-barrel carb and 4-speed manual. It’s one of 932 Y84 Special “Bandit” Editions produced. It went with a copy of the original title and build sheet. It has the famous T-top and Burt Reynolds signed the glovebox.
1998 Toyota Celica GT-Four
Sold: $28,750
Collecting Cars
Before Suby WRXs and Evo Mitsubishis became must-have rally weapons, Toyota’s Celica GT-Four did a decent job in the world championship. Here’s a lightly modified example of the lauded rally-derived performance hero. It has a turbo 2.0lt four with 188kW sent to all four wheels via a five-speed manual transmission and Torsen rear differential. A Japanese import it shows 129,224 km. A weekend thrasher or a daily driver.
2000 BMW Z8
Sold: $324,500
RM Sotheby’s, Lot 106
Here is a Beemer that blends semi-retro looks, derived from the 507 of the 1950s with the M5-sourced sledgehammer V8. After starring in James Bond’s The World is Not Enough, 5700 units were hand-made in a three-year production run. Here is a US-delivered example with black and cream Nappa leather trim. It came back to Germany in 2014 and has been with the vendor since 2015. It has only been driven 10,500 miles. A genuine collectable sports car from the turn of the century.
1964 Pontiac Catalina
Sold: $46,320
Barrett Jackson, Lot 137
The Catalina isn’t that dissimilar from the more familiar Pontiac Parisienne that sold here. This one spent a long time hidden in a Wyoming barn and has all its original sheet metal and interior along with its original 389ci V8 and Hydromatic auto. The body was recently painted in its original Sun Fire Red with the lower boot lid retaining the original paint. Straight to the pool room with this one.
2003 Holden HSV VY Series II Maloo R8
Sold: $21,320
Collecting Cars
HSV was quick to cash in on the sports ute phenomenon, The Maloo quickly became a favourite with cashed-up tradies. This VY series R8 brute ute has a 285kW LS1 in its snout mated to a four-speed auto. Showing 251,166 kms it’s one of 361 examples produced and being an R8 means it gets upgraded Harrop brakes. The Maloo sold with an HSV book, owner’s manual and partial service history.
1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt Tribute
Sold: $123,840
Hemmings Auctions
if the Ford Mustang wasn’t already iconic enough, Steve McQueen starring in the movie Bullitt, sent it off the Richter scale. This tribute, a 1968 Fastback, was sitting in a paddock for many years with the vendor buying it in 2019, and then turning it into a Bullitt Mustang clone. It soon had a ground-up resto with modifications including a blueprinted 302ci V8 in its snout, backed up with a four-speed manual and it has travelled just 500 miles since.
From Unique Cars #482, Aug 2023