Recent auction highlights from around the world...
1973 Holden HQ Monaro GTS V8 coupe
Sold: $129,900
Grays
Whenever a genuine HQ Monaro GTS Coupe with a 308ci V8 auto combo goes under the hammer, it never fails to generate a crowd of bidders keen to get their paws on an Aussie classic. This June 1973 build is finished in eye-catching Tangerine with Lone-O-Ranger stripes and black trim it retains the GTS features including the wheels and red-wall tyres, It also has all the impossible to find brightwork and chrome, And it is ready to get in and drive. Described in good condition, it was sold with the owner’s manual.
1990 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R
Sold: $261,000
Collecting Cars
Tortured by the motoring media, seen on many magazine covers, hounded around Bathurst by Mark Skaife and the 1992 Tooheys 1000 pace car.
This Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R packed in a lot of history in a short time. Adding to its provenance was its entry into the 1993 James Hardie 12-hour enduro at Mt Panorama. One of five Nissan GT-Rs built and beautifully preserved, it sold with a 400hp engine under the bonnet and its original motor on a stand. A mountain of spares also came with the car.
1985 Ford Laser Carla Zampatti
Sold: $3350
Collecting Cars
Here’s proof you don’t need a fortune to nab some motoring history. Ford made 108 of these Carla Zampatti 1.5lt KB Lasers, this one with an auto, aircon and cassette player. Wooing fashion-conscious buyers was the two-tone paint, a colour coded grill, unique rims and Carla Zampatti badging. Inside was tan trim with the fashion mogul’s name stamped through the interior.
1971 Porsche 911 Targa
Sold: $119,500
Collecting Cars
Auction an air-cooled Porsche and bidders come out of the woodwork. And there seems no end to the spiralling prices. This 911 S Targa sports the famous 2.2lt, S-specification flat six and has a five-speed manual bolted to it. It has undergone a bare metal resto with excellent attention to detail and where possible retained its original parts. Now this silver with black trim left hooker is ready to be enjoyed.
1988 BMW 325iS
Sold: $44,750
Collecting Cars
One of the sweetest models in the E30 range this one had a long list of buyers quick to snaffle the 2.5lt six with a five-speed manual and slippery diff and make it their own. This silver finished example has had its grey interior upgraded, and an M Tech steering wheel and Z3 shifter added. It rides on 16-inch Alpine wheels with the original wheels supplied. It sold with the original tool kit and period correct books. A perfect weekend toy or daily driver.
1994 Ford Falcon ED XR8 Sprint
Sold: $43,200
Grays
Here’s another limited-edition from the house of Henry. A mere 354 XR8 Sprints were produced or which 182 were fitted with a manual gearbox and of that only 88 were painted Cobalt Blue. So this rare car attracted many bids. It isn’t original though, with EL wheels and a Ghia interior. The odo is showing 90,079kms and the engine puts out 210kW at the rear wheels. That should keep the new owner amused.
1979 Ford TE Cortina Ghia
Sold: $20,900
Grays
When did you last see a TE Cortina? This is no ordinary Cortina, as you can tell by the price it realised. According to Ford it’s a genuine one-of-a-kind. A luxury model Ghia with the 4.1lt 250ci six in its nose tied to a four-speed manual box, finished in silver with camel velour (no camels were harmed) interior. It appears to be well kept, original and has factory air. A talking point at any car gathering.
1962 Lancia Flaminia GT 3C coupe
Sold: $98,900
RM Sothebys
Named after the Via Flaminia, a road leading from Rome to Rimini, only 672 left-hand drive Lancia GT 3Cs were made between 1961 and 1963. Advanced for its time and available as a convertible, coupe, and sedan the Lancia flagship had a 140hp 2.5lt V6 with triple Weber carbs coupled to a four-slot manual. This GT 3C left the factory November 1962 and underwent a resto in 2013 by Lancia specialists costing AUD$85,000. Since then it travelled just 3000 kilometres.
Auction watch – what’s movin’ & shakin’
Honda Accord Euro
Believe it or not come May it will be 19 years since Honda lobbed the sporty Accord Euro onto our roads.
The first-gen, two variant, front-wheel drive Euro had a 140kW 2.4lt four bolted to a 5-speed auto or six-speed manual. Double wishbone suspension at each end ensured outstanding ride and handling. It was updated in 2005.
Prices dropped as low as five grand in recent years but things are on the up. If serviced by the book they are very reliable. And still a hoot to pedal rapidly on a winding road.
From Unique Cars #462, Feb 2022