Molina Special, Chamberlain 8 and Dino Ferrari among headline lots at Mossgreen auction
The upcoming Mossgreen auction on November 27, at the Lorbek facility in Port Melbourne, is dominated by British and European cars, alhough there are two stand-out Australian race icons.
One is the unusual 1957 Lou Molina race special, which may be the best known of the two. The chassis and distinctive bodywork (the result of some creative thinking when it came to aerodynamics) are a one-off, while the powerplant is a much-upgraded Holden grey motor. It’s one of those cars that has a stunning story behind it.
Next is the Chamberlain, a fantastically advanced piece of engineering for its era – circa 1929-35. We’re talking a high-revving ‘straight-eight’ engine (8000rpm) with twin plug heads and driving through the front wheels. Actually ‘straight 8’ is a misnomer – in reality it has four combustion chambers, with eight vertically opposed pistons. Oh, and it’s a two-stroke, and it’s supercharged! Many (probably most) of the components are one-offs.
You’d like to think the two would find a home together, though it would be an expensive exercise.
Then of course there’s a safer bet for a high selling price, a Dino Ferrari expected to fetch somewhere in the $450-500,000 range.
Elsewhere there is a stunning range of coupes and softops, with a couple of Lancias and a Lagonda among the highlights.
The auction also has a small line-up of motorcycles on offer, including a couple of unusual and rare lots. The 350 Manx Norton will be the highlight with an estimate of $30-40,000.
If you’re looking for something a little less grand, there is a range of autombilia on offer – we’re a bit fond of the clockwork model of the Golden Arrow speed record car.