FEBRUARY 1997 – AUSTIN HEALEY 100S
The most significant car advertised in February 1997 did make the front cover but probably warranted an entire page inside as well. The white over blue Healey was one of 55 ‘Sebring’ versions produced and for part of its life was owned by 1950s radio star and racer Jack Davey. It is AHS3905, which arrived in Australia during September 1955 and was sold to former Australian Grand Prix winner John Crouch. It is believed to remain in Australian hands. UK prices a decade ago reached £675,000, however, the recent sale of Car 3901 brought a hammer price of just US$489,000.
THEN: $195,000
NOW: $750,000-$850,000
AUGUST 1996 – BUICK ELECTRA
Back before our politicians decided to emulate the common people and ride about in BMWs, our overlords and masters used big black Buicks like this one. It may not have seen Prime Ministerial or Premier’s Department service, but looking imperious and parking wherever you chose would be useful when doing the business as wedding-day transport. Almost thirty years later, and assuming an owner who understood its need for maintenance, this big Electra probably looks as good and goes as well as it did in the 1990s. It may also have made just enough to cover the tyre and servicing bills.
THEN: $22,500
NOW: $30,000-$35,000
NOVEMBER 2007 – DAIMLER 2.5 V8 SALOON
This car with any size Jaguar engine would, at that price, have been ranked just a step or two above being a basket case. Jaguar people didn’t like their brand being infiltrated by Daimler’s ‘little’ V8 and Daimler people didn’t like Jaguar. Period. The V8 Daimler lasted seven years before it and all the compact Jags were binned to make space for XJ6/Sovereign models. More than 17,000 of the 2.5 V8 were made and they survive in quite significant numbers. According to the UK’s How Many Left website, around 740 small Daimlers remain registered in the UK, with another 270 running but laid up.
THEN: $13,800
NOW: $24,000-$28,000
SEPTEMBER 2000 – HOLDEN TORANA LHL/34
Deep down, Holden would have known what a crook device the original SL/R 5000 Torana was and how much help was needed to get the nose-heavy Holden ready to race. In addition to a beefier engine block, bigger brakes, wider track and guard flares, the limited build L/34 offered a Race Pack that was fitted to just a few cars and upped the price by more than 20 per cent. Values during the 1990s hovered around $15,000 and didn’t move much until 2005-06 when came a sudden surge towards $50,000. Today an L/34 with Summernats cred will be worth many times that amount.
THEN: $18,000
NOW: $200,000-$240,000
JUNE 2004 – JAGUAR E-TYPE V12 FHC
Ten years after being described as ‘the most beautiful car in the world’ Jaguar’s E-Type had gained weight and was visibly ageing. V12 Roadsters still did okay in the enthusiast market, but Fixed Heads – especially automatics – were losing the battle and down significantly on the $55-60,000 they would make in the mid-1990s. Most V12s were built left-hand drive and sold in the USA, so an Australian delivery, wire-wheeled car should be enjoying renewed appeal and be worth at least twice the diminished amount that it might have made 20 years ago.
THEN: $41,950
NOW: $90,000-$100,000
JUNE 1989 – LEYLAND MINI GT
Having myself sold a part dismantled, ex-NSW Police Clubman GT for $2800 at around the time this car was advertised, I’m prepared to suggest that whoever bought it for $7K or thereabouts had snared a serious bargain. Local Clubman GTs were built from mid-1971 until January 1973, with a reported 1001 sold here and another 198 to New Zealand. Only 108 were Police specification so mine had scarcity on its side, however, it certainly wasn’t fit to run second at anything let alone a Mini Club Concours d’Elegance. Today, maintained in similar condition, $50,000 could be possible.
THEN: $7000
NOW: $45,000-$50,000
JANUARY 2005 – TRIUMPH TR4
Strange as it may seem, bigger, more comfortable and very nearly weatherproof Triumph TR4s sell in this country and overseas for significantly less than the earlier and more common TR2-3A. Local auction results show well presented though not show standard TR4s, selling during 2024 at $40,000 and $45,000 respectively; well adrift of the $50-65,000 being made by excellent TR3 and TR3A models. TR4s like this one, boost their desirability further by including a ‘Surrey’ top which, years prior to Porsche’s Targa 911, allowed a section of roof to be unclipped and stowed in the boot.
THEN: $19,000
NOW: $40,000-$45,000