Torana LH L/34 + Bond Equipe GT4S + Cadillac Coupe DeVille - Ones That Got Away 462

By: Cliff Chambers

Date: 28.03.2022

Looking back through the Unique Cars classifieds...

Holden LH Torana L/34 - Advertised March 2000

If vehicles that appreciate tenfold in the space of 20 years are considered astonishing, how would you describe this Torana? In the dark days of 2000, the asking price was probably ambitious and someone with access to cash likely grabbed it for $15k. During the muscle car ‘boom’ of 2005-07, the value would have climbed past $100,000 but then retreated. Had the owner held their nerve until today though, the gains would be exceptional. L/34s rarely reach the market, but based on those seen since 2019, this one in rare Monteray Green could make $250,000. Howzat!

Then: $16,800. Now: $225,000-250,000

Bond Equipe GT4S - Advertised December 1987

Okay which one of you bought this Bond and what did you do with it? Bond began life in 1949 building three-wheeled Minicars – a decade before BMC pinched the name – then the fibreglass-bodied Equipe, with Spitfire mechanicals on a Triumph Herald chassis. They never sold as new cars in Australia and this one likely arrived as a personal import. Over 2500 of the later GT4S were built and survivors should be fairly easy to find and value. But they aren’t. UK sales of below average cars at £3000-4000 suggest that a well-kept one should now be worth three times that amount.

Then: $5500. Now: $15,000-18,000

Cadillac Coupe DeVille - Advertised August 1994

Low and long with fins and those intimidating over-riders, Cadillacs were symbols of post-WW2 opulence and magnets for the rich and famous. In later times, the classic market wasn’t so sure about older Caddy imagery and big money wasn’t always there unless a car was exceptional or the ultra-rare Eldorado. This Coupe de Ville (sedans have four doors) looks tidy, and the vendor claims a recent ‘concours’ resto, so we aren’t going to argue about the price. Ten years later, cars in similar condition were still making $40,000 and only recently have begun to achieve significant gains.

Then: $32,000. Now: $70,000-75,000

Reader's One That Got Away:

Fiat 500 - Emmanual Fattore

My uncle was a long term Bambino owner and by the mid-90s the Fiat was accumulating more dust than kilometres. It became a garage ornament and he offered it to my brother and I for free when we turned 18, but back then we were into Commodores and let the Fiat be sold out of the family, what a shame.

From Unique Cars #462, Feb 2022

Unique Cars magazine Value Guides

Sell your car for free right here