NOVEMBER 2003 – MG SPECIAL
Every so often we find a car that perfectly fits the definition of ‘unique’ and defies attempts to discover anything about it. The shape of this Special is familiar and likely it has been featured somewhere, but not somewhere accessible to Internet search engines. Running the rego plate through a database produced no result, but very likely it will have been switched to Concessional registration. As to its value and with ordinary MG TFs in stock condition making $50,000, this beauty would surely be worth at least half that money. Do you own it, or know where it’s been for 21 years?
THEN: $25,000
NOW: $25,000+
FEBURARY 1997 – CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 396 CONVERTIBLE
In years gone by, right-hand drive conversion was mandatory to qualify USA imports for local registration and that is what likely happened here. A shame a car this rare had to be hacked about, just to satisfy the bureaucrats, when UK authorities would have allowed it to be registered LHD. Official figures show 4889 Camaros in 1969 were built using the 396 cubic inch (6.6-litre) V8, with perhaps a fifth of those being convertibles. This car has likely been in Australia most of its life and the chances of it surviving to see its 60th birthday in a few years time are excellent.
THEN: $45,000
NOW: $90,000-$100,000
DECEMBER 1985 – ASTON MARTIN AM V8
For around $2500 less than the price of this Aston in 1985, you could have bought a new HDT VK SS Group A. Aston Martin’s engine was 353cc larger than the Brock V8, with estimated output of 253kW against 196kW. The VK easily accommodated five adults, while you would struggle to get two full-size and two under 10s in the Aston. Fast forward 39 years and local examples of the AM V8 advertised at up to $280,000 are likely sell at $240-260K. VK Group As rarely find their way to the open market and those that do, having peaked at over $300,000, now likely bring $200-220K. Your choice.
THEN: $27,990
NOW: $240,000-$260,000
JUNE 2004 – MGB LE
Black versions of the LE were produced for sale in the USA and are more common than gold, UK-spec cars. The US MGB Register confirms a production target of 5000 cars but 6668 were eventually delivered, before production ended in 1980. These and other North American MGs are easily converted to RHD and similar cars have come to Australia in significant numbers. The ad doesn’t mention distance travelled and that can be significant when setting a value for these collector-market cars. Best price recently was 29,990 Euros (about A$49,000) for a car showing 363 miles from new.
THEN: $16,250
NOW: $22,000-$28,000
JUNE 1985 – VOLKSWAGEN KARMANN-GHIA
My neighbour who owned a VW Beetle in the 1960s saw a Type 3 Karmann-Ghia and thought it was the most beautiful car in the world. At the time they cost more than a Holden Premier and two decades later this one was selling for the price of a Monaro GTS 327. The gloss wore off quickly though, mainly because North America didn’t like the shape and Type 3 K-Gs didn’t match the prices generated by the earlier and more rounded Type 1. Those cars remain easy to find and can exceed $40,000, while the Type 3 which sold here in tiny numbers has almost disappeared and is worth less.
THEN: $10,000
NOW: $30,000-$35,000
JUNE 2001 – HOLDEN HD PREMIER
HD Holdens took a long time to return from the walk of shame imposed on them by the used-car market. In reality, the HD with its confronting shape sold almost 200,000 units and helped reposition Holden in a changing world by introducing a more powerful X2 engine and improved (some say) Powerglide automatic. HD Premiers looked long, low and stylish, and were able to convince buyers that pleated vinyl seats were better than genuine leather. For years it was hard to find any in similar condition to this one but when prices took off, the buyer would have been happy.
THEN: $7500
NOW: $45,000-$50,000
SEPTEMBER 2000 – JENSEN INTERCEPTOR
Jensen’s Interceptor was described by the factory as a Saloon, but with two huge lounge chairs up front and narrow, sculpted buckets in the back it was more accurately deemed a ‘2+2’. Didn’t matter to the few with sufficient wealth to own one from new, or feed a massive Chrysler V8 that reportedly consumed 22 litres/100km. Driving one some years ago for a used-car review didn’t deliver great excitement, the 7.4-litre SP is more like an ocean-going cruiser than a ski boat when asked to accelerate. Prices have been flat for years and even a recent surge barely matched inflation.
THEN: $21,900
NOW: $55,000-$60,000