The auction world is full of surprises, with big numbers and the odd bargain. Here are some of the highlights
1976 Holden A9X tribute
Sold: $165,500
Seven82Motors
Starting life as a V8 (253) manual, this LX SL hatch has undergone a restomod that has turned it into a pretty convincing-looking A9X replica. Power is now provided by an upgraded 308 V8 with L34-spec heads backed by a T5 Tremec five-speed manual transmission. That lot is going to a Ford FG rear. It’s running disc brakes all round. It was finished off with a coat of Absinth Yellow.
1971 Holden HG Belmont ute
Sold: $22,000
Shannons
Classic Aussie utes are now grabbing buyers’ attention. I’m guessing the first owner liked their cars with oomph given it has a factory fit 186ci six, tied to a three on the tree manual. The rest of it is typical workhorse with drums all round, rubber floor coverings, vinyl trim and no radio. The vendor has replaced the rusty floors and freshened the cargo area along with mechanical work.
1975 Ford Escort RS2000 tribute
Sold: $35,200
Grays
Find us a more cheerful sight than this car…
Go on! Our experieince with Escorts of this era is the cheerful looks are matched by a delightful light and fuss-free driving experience and we suspect this one would be quite a performer. It’s running a modern 2.0lt Zetec engine with a Sierra five-speed transmission. Potentially a lot of fun for the buck.
1951 Bristol 401 Saloon
Sold: $49,000
Shannons
Maybe a little obscure for most tastes, but the Bristol range has a fantastic history behind it and an exceptionally strong international owners group. This one is a local delivery, one of 62 sold in Australia. It now runs a 3.4lt straight six out of a Jaguar along with a five-speed transmission – so it could be a bit of a sleeper. The car received a number of other upgrades, including to suspension and brakes..
Market watch: what’s movin’ and shakin’
Jaguar XJS
With an incredible 21-year run from 1975, Jaguar’s XJS has long been controversial among collectors for a whole range of reasons, not least of which was the dramatic styling. Time seems to have softened the visuals a little and there are plenty of people out there who are fans.
Typically the car is running one of several versions of the V12, which is wonderful for bragging rights and potentially expensive to fix if you get the wrong one. Owners swear they’re reliable so long as you attend to items such as fuel lines before they perish. Of course if you want a simpler life, you could opt for the straight six versions. However collectors being what they are will cherish the V12s. In any case, values are on the climb.
From Unique Cars #480, Jun/Jul 2023