Jensen Interceptor + VW Beetle + Fiat 2300 + Nissan Skyline - Ones That Got Away 431

By: Cliff Chambers

Date: 27.09.2019

Looking back through the Unique Cars classifieds...

JENSEN INTERCEPTOR CONVERTIBLE - Advertised June 2005

Jensen was just a year away from financial disaster when its first convertible since the 1950s was launched. Estimates of the number built vary alarmingly, ranging from 267 to an unlikely 450+. Wherever in that range the truth lies, there certainly weren’t many made. Add the influences of suspect build quality and 45 years exposure and there would today be few survivors. Some do exist in Australia though and barring something catastrophic we expect that this good-looking example might still be among them. Values have not increased a great deal, however.

Was: $79,000. Now: $100,000-110,000

ALFA ROMEO 2000 BERLINA - Advertised December 1996

Alfa sedans in the years before the 1750 Berlina arrived were great cars but a bit severe in the styling department . Yes, a Giulia Ti did win the first Six Hour endurance race at Sandown but it wasn’t a pretty car in the manner of the 1750/2000 Berlinas. With GTV coupes eligible for Bathurst in 1967 the sedans didn’t race again and didn’t sell especially well either, inflation following the 1973 Oil Crisis that pushed prices up by 50 percent didn’t help.

Berlinas today don’t get close to GTV money either, with a near-perfect car recently sold overseas for US$16,000.

Was: $6000. Now: $18,000-22,000

1963 PONTIAC PARISIENNE SPORT SEDAN - Advertised December 1997

Judging by its age-correct Victorian number-plates, this car would have come to Australia brand new but not in a packing crate from Canada as did most locally-sold Pontiacs. Holden’s ‘prestige’ models were sourced under ‘Imperial (Commonwealth) Preference’ which attracted lower levels of duty than was the case with cars from the USA. Hardtops weren’t locally assembled until 1965, making this a special-order car and rare in our market. A search revealed photos of several Sport Sedan survivors but none with this car’s distinctive rear-wheel spats. We hope it did survive.

Was: $12,000. Now: $30,000-35,000

VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ‘OVAL’ - Advertised May 1991

If you ran a VW dealership in the 1950s and wanted your ‘demonstrator’ to be a cut above the regular stock, you might have leant on the importer to provide a ‘roll back’ car like this. Or it might have arrived as a personal import via New Guinea which was the route for a lot of Australia’s early VWs.

Survival after that wasn’t guaranteed, especially with the potential these cars had to fill with water during downpours. The price as the 1990s recession hammered values was fair and demand today for Beetles with restricted rear vision remains strong.

Was: $8500. Now: $28,000-35,000

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